French mobile group 100

                 I believe the Chaffee was brought into Dien Bien Phu in pieces and re-assembled on the ground as it wasnt possible to bring them in otherwise,saw pics somewhere or a video clip on youtube talking with a french trooper who was there,This guy was able to re-visit his actual tank now a battlefield relic,As far as MG100 having any on that fateful day they were ambushed???

                                               Greg"Detailfreak"Rowley

I remember that video clip, it was on Military History I believe, he said he snuck out his hotel and went and saw the tank right. As far as MG100 i know they had what was considered light armor, so im not sure if the Chaffee is Light to the French or not?

                     Is the book "We Are Soldiers Still afollow of the book We Were SoldiersOnce,And Young, By Moore and Galloway?

                                        Gre"Detailfreak"Rowley

Yes it is!

These two accounts of the loss of GM 100 may be of interest.

1) Chapter 9 (End of a Task Force) in Bernard Fall's classic Street Without Joy.  The chapter includes discussion of the GMs in general and the background/prelude to the final battle of GM 100.

2) An excellent article in Armor Journal (Jan-Feb 2001, pp 24-29) titled Death on the Highway: The Destruction of Groupement Mobile 100.  Fall's book is cited as a primary source for this article.  If you have AKO access you can find the back issue here:

     http://www.benning.army.mil/Armor/ArmorMagazine/content/BackIssues.html

The article has been reprinted (with permission) online here:

     http://a70thvets.com/file/Savage/G100/G100.htm

My impression is that while GM 100 did have M-24s previously, they weren't present during the battle in which the unit was effectively destroyed.  M-8 armored cars and 105mm towed artillery were there. 

Thank you Jeff for the links, those will be a big help