(Translated from the French via Google Translate)

SPMBT Vietnam Order of Battle

Jean-Charles James and Laurent Touchard

  After the fall of Dien Bien Phu in May 1954, the Geneva Accords between France and the Viet Minh take effect on the ground from 27 July to 11 August 1954. The State of Vietnam and South Vietnam, became truly independent 17 May 1955. The last French units, they are repatriated to Metropolis September 27, 1956. With their withdrawal, the French influence decreases, supplanted by that of the United States. She initially through financial assistance, through the delivery of arms. More directly, military advisers are on hand since 1950, under the MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group). This presence is increasing gradually: in November 1957, the first Special Force are deployed in South Vietnam; in 1961, Kennedy authorizes the sending men.
  Political unrest in South Vietnam, the impasse posed by armed confrontation, lead Kennedy to consider a withdrawal. He was assassinated before. Contrary to legend, his successor Johnson, is not more favorable to war. US forces commit yet more to support the South Vietnamese ally. This is not only opposed the pugnacious communist Vietcong guerrillas, but also to the well-armed troops from North Vietnam. On 04 August 1964, the North Vietnamese torpedo attack stars destroyer of the US Navy, the USS Maddox.
  The US Respond: early 1965 a bombing campaign against North Vietnam begins. In March, the first Marines landed in Da Nang. Nothing can prevent conflict. The fire quickly ignite in South Vietnam Laos and Cambodia, will bring the US withdrawal in 1973. It will burn until May 1975 with the fall of Vientiane, capital of Laos, to the Communists ...

  Its flexibility, the possibilities of the editor of units and scenarios SPMBT appears as an ideal medium to simulate, to the tactical level, the terrible battles of that period. Use an order of battle for a given period and a specific area of ??operations allow to detail meticulously units and formations of the belligerents. Thus, they are orders of battle entirely devoted to the Vietnam war and conflicts corollaries of Laos and Cambodia, between 1955 and May 1975.
  They were carried out with maximum accuracy. However, conflicting documentary evidence, sometimes incomplete involve some approximations or extrapolations. The fact remains that they recreate as closely as possible those of then.
  Documentation exploited comes from multiple sources, starting with the Osprey books (The War in Cambodia from 1970 to 1975, South East Asian Special Forces ...), various magazines (aircraft ...). The Internet also offers tremendous database. French sources are, in turn, less numerous: the Indochina war is much better explained than that of Vietnam. Now unobtainable titles as In Vietcong scrub Madeleine Riffaud were used. A war of thirty-five, Indochina Vietnam Raymond Toinet to Lavauzelle editions, is a relative exception. Very interesting about the work of French Indochina, it proves confusing and sometimes wrong about the American intervention.

  In orders of battle, units appear more according to their date of operational engagement rather than their actual availability. For example, helicopters delivered by China to North Vietnam in March 1966 were used in South Vietnam at the end of the conflict. They are therefore in the order of battle in 1966 but not in 1975.
  The features many weapons were reviewed, starting with small arms. The assault rifle AK-47 (and its Chinese variant, the Type 56) now has a 4 Kill HE instead of 3. This change can simulate the power of 7.62mm ammunition. The M-16 retains HE Kill 3, but Accuracy is increased to 2. These values ??represent a greater rate of fire that Kalashnikov and an ammunition 5.56 mm more lethal than Soviet missiles or Chinese.
  All semi-automatic weapons now have a HE Kill 2 instead of 1: this is so for M1 Garand rifles, carbines and the Simonov SKS Type 56, M1 carbines. M2 carbines that can shoot in bursts, have a Kill HE 3. handguns are now identified by name rather than the mere term of "Pistol". The M1911A1 Colt 45 has a Kill HE 2 instead of 1 for other pistols and revolvers. Indeed, the stopping power of its ammunition 11.43 mm exceeds that of other calibers (9mm and 7.62mm Tokarev mostly).
  Similarly, precision weapons not only exist as a sniper rifle. Different models are now represented. The United States and have a whole range of sniper rifles: old M1903 to M-21, while this category of weapons comes in SVD Dragunov Mosin Nagant or communist side. Assault rifles and carbines without specific sighting accessory is attributed to communist snipers. These units simulate sniper, sniper, no particular notion of sniping. As an illustration, the film Full Metal Jacket S. Kubrick. In this one, a group of Marines is undermined by a Vietcong woman ambushed with an AK-47.
  The main changes to the heavy weaponry focus on US bombs. Before 1965, they come mostly old stocks of the Second World War. Thereafter, it is more powerful projectiles: the Mk.81, Mk.82, Mk.83 and Mk.84. American artillery now have several types of shells: delay fuse (with a delay rocket: the shells into the ground before exploding, hence a larger HE Penetration as a shell classic), WP round (smoke phosphorus shells, with incendiary capacity) or beehive. The latter ammunition, also available for recoilless guns, contains thousands of tiny steel darts. Used only direct shot, the effect is devastating against infantry loads.
  To install these odb, simply place them in the SPMBT folder, replacing the previous ones. It is recommended to copy and save the original obat files in another location. So it will not be necessary to reinstall the game to recover. It will be enough to re-move from their backup location to the game folder Similarly, the Text folder is to replace it joined the battle orders (taking the precaution of also always back the original file). Without replacing the file, the information available in the encyclopedia, for modified odb, will not match anything. As for the pics, they are simply placed in the folder of the same name.

Obat 12
For the US Army and the US Air Force, with the presence of military advisers in 1955. The B-52 have not been classified as level bomber instead represent medium bombers and not heavy equipment. They are therefore classified as Rocket Artillery (off-map), which simulates reasonably well the dispersion bombs after their release. Use a flight of B-52 near Allied troops is not recommended ... American formations are characterized by excellent firepower. Support units, such as battalion commands, battery is included. This is not the first units of lines and the American player will be required to ensure their safety, with the introduction of defensive perimeters on its back.

Obat 13
For the US Navy and US Marine Corps; US Naval Aviation is in the order of battle. It also boasts the UDT (Underwater Demolition Team), the SEALs and supervision of PRU units (Provincial Reconnaissance Unit) that they are included in the order of the South Vietnamese fight. Note a small "fancy": it is possible to acquire, for SEALs mission penetration on the coasts of North Vietnam, mini submarines: SDV Convair 14. They are classified Snorkel Tank!

Obat 14
This is the Republic of China units deployed in Popular Northern Ho Chi Minh trail. They provide the air defense, his bodyguards and maintenance. These units could be aligned in scenarios simulating the action of reconnaissance units infiltrated along the communication channel (vital artery for the Vietcong, with the port of Phnom Penh until 1970). China military advisors People have likely been killed in the raid against the Son Tay prison in North Vietnam.

Obat 15
Australia deployed a large contingent to Vietnam. The material is Australian or American. The size of the armored squadron is not a mistake: these would have lined up a small number of Centurion. New Zealand forces are considered to be integrated with the order of the Australian battle.

Obat 20
After the United States, South Korea sent the largest contingent in Vietnam. This demonstrates exceptional fighting qualities. The Vietcong quickly learns to fear the opponent. South Koreans are also proving excellent craftsmen in the pacification campaign, knowing win hearts and minds better than the Americans and much better than the South Vietnamese. For lack of data, cavalry training is organized on the model of those of South Vietnam, with some differences.

Obat 23
One of the main actors in the conflict, North Vietnam has powerful forces and a suitable armament. Also contrary to legend, North Vietnam is far from helpless against the Americans (except in the airline industry, and time in the air defense). His aviation is available to support only from 1973. Before that date, no ground attack is reported, except for a bombing in Laos, led by An-2 Colt transformed into improvised bombers. One of them is also killed by a burst of Uzi fired from a Huey Air America!. Helicopters are available even later.

Obat 24
The odb of South Vietnam is distinguished by the French designation of its units until the end of 1955. It includes indigenous forces under the de facto authority of the US Special Forces, that is to say, main ethnic minorities. Because of their numbers, not all appear in the odb. A scenario involving Special Forces and Mike / CIDG units will be achieved by selecting Special Force in obat 12 and native troops in obat 24. Several units identical weapons but different as to the dates of availability and costs appear. This is not a mistake: these units have M-16. Before the Tet offensive, only a few ARVN formations perceive. The weapon then spreads the cost thus decreases.

Obat 29
At first, the presence of Norway seems incongruous ... However, the SOG employs Norwegian mercenaries on boats loaded to operate along the coast of North Vietnam. Under the command of Norwegians, sometimes -in any illégalité- Americans, these ships (overwhelmingly Nasty Boats) are operated by South Vietnamese crews ...!

Obat 50
This odb brings the Pathet Lao (Lao communist guerrillas) and the Khmer Rouge (Communist guerrillas in Cambodia). Some units and formations are available for both guerrillas (support units), others are specific. Establish a difference was necessary. The units of the "main force" of the Khmer Rouge demonstrate a range greater than the Pathet Lao (to be massively strengthen North Vietnam troops from 1969).

Obat 54
Thailand sent a large contingent to South Vietnam. She is also involved directly in Laos at the border between Laos and Cambodia. His forces, including battalions Unity Laos, show a high combat effectiveness. Yet they suffer heavy losses. In addition to its direct involvement, Thailand leads many special units and elite Lao

Obat 58
Although Cambodia is plagued with many problems since 1967, the war really began in March 1970 with the ouster of neutralist Sihanouk. Cambodian units and formations are nearly all French designations. Few details were found on their organization. This one has been modeled on that of French troops in Indochina (itself strongly inspired by the American organization, adopted with the reset in 1943 in Tunisia). Among the many ethnic minorities of South Vietnam were Khmers. These were integrated into the CIDG program. So this odb it includes such units. Apart from a few units (reconnaissance units, paratroopers, marines and Khmer Krom former CIDG / Mike Force established in South Vietnam and sent urgently Cambodia in May 1970), Cambodian forces are of very poor quality.

Obat 67
Like Cambodia, Lao units and formations are named in French. This odb includes many guerrilla units, usually controlled by Vang Pao, a fierce enemy of the Pathet Lao. Well-armed, trained by Thailand, they will have a level of experience and moral than most other Laotian units, to Paris Agreement in 1973. After this date, guerrilla battalions are integrated forces Regular and efficiency decreases significantly.

Obat 72
The Vietcong communist guerrillas in South Vietnam appears in 1956. Due to the carelessness of the South Vietnamese government, she manages to recruit and enlist the support of many people, many of them rural. With this situation, deliveries of North Vietnamese arms, it grows and causes heavy losses to the South Vietnamese. The help lavishes North Vietnam, its infiltrated units reach the South via the Ho Chi Minh trail. From 1965, the Vietcong is firmly supported by the North Vietnamese regulars. In 1968, the Tet Offensive results in the elimination of much of the guerrilla. But this one does not disappear. Divisions are formed, comprising regular regiments of North and Vietcong.

Obat 83
Normally for the Salvador, obat 83 is used for the Philippine contingent deployed in Vietnam, pending the odb Philippines appear (perhaps) in a later version of the game.

Taiwan is not included in these odb. The Nationalist Chinese authorities nevertheless offer the United States to send troops to South Vietnam. Washington refuses, fearing that this deployment does not cause more involvement of the People's Republic of China. The Soviets are also absent, although military advisers (many experts from verifying the effectiveness of SAM, questioning the American pilots shot down, see the novel Without Remorse Tom Clancy) are sent to North Vietnam. At the Son Tay raid, it seems that some of them, in addition to Communist Chinese, were killed. Rumors indicate that the British SAS would secretly operated alongside the Australian SAS, in the region. Their action in Malaysia, almost simultaneously, does not make it impossible that assertion. Finally, Indonesia led Cambodian units.

  These are designed for odb preview version of SPBMT. When the finished product will be available, they will be updated and certainly changed, with new classes of units, new icons ...