The Army at the Edge of the World

In order to interdict the Chinese supply lines, the Japanese Canton Army wished to take control of French Indochina, which had been left isolated and without direction by the defeat of France in June of 1940. Japanese troops attacked border posts from the north and attempted to disarm French garrisons. …

1940-09-25

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In order to interdict the Chinese supply lines, the Japanese Canton Army wished to take control of French Indochina, which had been left isolated and without direction by the defeat of France in June of 1940. Japanese troops attacked border posts from the north and attempted to disarm French garrisons. On September 23, at Na Cham, a Japanese column tried to break through to Colonial Road 4. With no precise orders from his superiors, the local commander decided not to give in and to interdict the movement. The next day, a strong Japanese attack was beaten back with heavy losses to the attackers. That night, a platoon led by Lt. Seguin left the Na Cham fort and crossed CR 4 to establish itself on the rocky outcrop of Ban-Tich, in anticipation of a Japanese attack the next day.

Na Cham Border Post, French Indochina

The Japanese invasion of French Indochina was a short undeclared military confrontation between Japan and France in northern French Indochina. Fighting lasted from 22 to 26 September 1940, simultaneous with the Battle of South Guangxi in the Sino-Japanese War. The main objective of the Japanese was to prevent China from importing arms and fuel through French Indochina along the Kunming–Hai Phong Railway, from the Indochinese port of Haiphong, through the capital of Hanoi to the Chinese city of Kunming in Yunnan. Although an agreement had been reached between the French and Japanese governments prior to the outbreak of fighting, authorities were unable to control events on the ground for several days before the troops stood down. Per the prior agreement, Japan was allowed to occupy Tonkin in northern Indochina and effectively blockade China.

Japanese

Vichy French

Scenario Type = Standard