dienbienphu
Entraînement
"The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"- Final message from DBP
Posts: 24
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Post by dienbienphu on Mar 20, 2016 20:27:28 GMT -5
Bonjour groupement Indochine,
I am so excited to finally find a significant amount of Indochina aware people with a well put together forum. I just dug this subject up and have been very interested with it sense reading The Street Without Joy, it is helpful to have such a handy information base available so I can extend a pretty basic knowledge of this war. Currently I am trying to put together a 5 BPVN para kit together, unfortunately I purchased an MLE 47 uniform witch I do not think was used by these troops. I came to this forum wondering if I could put this uniform to use in another paratrooper kit and also to contribute to a clearly well educated group of people. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Thanks,
M
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Post by craigtx on Mar 20, 2016 22:54:55 GMT -5
Howdy Morgan! Bienvenue!
As far as I know the Mle 47 TTA was not used by paras. You've got a good start with The Street Without Joy. There's a lot more out there.
Please peruse the forum there's a lot of good information here. Be sure to fell free to ask questions. We mostly don't bite, well except for Lew (Steve)...
Craig
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dienbienphu
Entraînement
"The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"- Final message from DBP
Posts: 24
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Post by dienbienphu on Mar 21, 2016 6:15:14 GMT -5
Craig,
Well thats disappointing to know but I have seen the jacket in use by local Tai's and regular army units, just to add it is a lizard pattern TTA witch excited me to purchase it. I know I've seen elsewhere on the forum where there were discussions about the 6 BPC kit witch is not that hard to find and not over expensive.
M
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Post by craigtx on Mar 21, 2016 9:59:18 GMT -5
Sorry to give you bad news, however Lizard TTA is a good thing (tm). I haven't seen much of them. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the lizard TTA is more common to Algerie than Indo. Don't take that as Gospel as I'm not sure.
Indo is such a conglomeration of things there really are very few absolutes.
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Post by lew on Mar 21, 2016 21:29:48 GMT -5
TTA lizard camo was far more common in Algeria than Indochina. With the massive buildup up of troops from 1955 to 1958, TTA camo uniforms were very often seen supplementing TAP uniforms in para units. After about 1959, many TTA units also sported the uniforms.
5e BPVN was predominately outfitted with the Tenue TAP Mle. 47/53 throughout its existence, as were the other three bataillons parachutistes de vietnamiens.
Bienvenue sur notre forum, Morgan! We are delighted to have another interested party in our ranks. I'm in Arizona; Craig's in the PNW. I stopped biting since I lost my teeth, but I've been known to kick for no apparent reason. Take a look a round and feel to ask questions.
Salut!
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dienbienphu
Entraînement
"The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"- Final message from DBP
Posts: 24
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Post by dienbienphu on Mar 22, 2016 12:37:40 GMT -5
Thanks for this info! I'll definitely look into some other uniform options, I know I've seen the olive uniforms go for fairly cheap. The TAP para uniforms are totally out of my price range (I'm not qualified for a work permit yet and I only have $60), once I start to settle into the groove of things I will be purchasing the 53 version common to the BPVN. Honestly interested in anything used in Indochina so if you see anything please let me know, you know better than I.
M
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Post by lew on Mar 22, 2016 13:33:24 GMT -5
47/53 uniforms show up on Delcampe or eBay.fr fairly regularly, but be prepared to shell out a few hundred for a decent condition uniform.
With Craig's help, I orchestrated a group buy of 47/52 repro uniforms from eBay member Panzerfaust1943 a few months back. Cary should have some sets left. I've seen a couple BPVN troops in 47/52 uniforms (way outnumbered by 47/53's, though), and 1e BPColonial, 35e RALP, 17e RGP all used the 47/52 TAP set.
Most troops in theater were TTA, so your Mle. 47 set gives you a lot of (non-para) options.
Since you're 13, make sure to take into account when buying clothing the fact that you will grow.
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dienbienphu
Entraînement
"The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"- Final message from DBP
Posts: 24
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Post by dienbienphu on Mar 22, 2016 15:30:57 GMT -5
I've seen Panzerfaust1943's eBay profile with the British windproof pants and the TAP 47/52 Repros and I looked into them but they're very expensive. I'm going to send Craig a message inquiring about them, thanks for letting me know.
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Post by lew on Mar 22, 2016 17:52:33 GMT -5
Happy to help. This is not a cheap hobby; you have been warned.  |
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Post by craigtx on Mar 23, 2016 6:10:31 GMT -5
And very addictive...
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Post by lew on Mar 23, 2016 12:09:52 GMT -5
I can quit anytime... Damnit! Something else I need! And I'm off! Morgan, just curious, but where in Maine are you? I'd suggest reading Bernard Fall's Hell In a Very Small Place and Ted Morgan's Valley of Death for a well-rounded account of Le Bataille de Dien Bien Phu from both the on-the-ground perspective and that of the political and military behind-the-scenes. |
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dienbienphu
Entraînement
"The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"- Final message from DBP
Posts: 24
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Post by dienbienphu on Mar 23, 2016 15:25:27 GMT -5
Oh, forgot to tell you I've read Hell in a Very Small Place and am just about to start The Last Valley. Bernard Fall does an amazing job painting a picture of Dien Bien Phu and Indochina, very good book!
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