Organized marauders, a serious thorn in the back of regular armies

[dragoon500ly]

When I was doing research for a Dien Bien Phu campaign, I came across a book called the Last Valley, decent overview of the DBP battle, but also included useful information on the fighting in the years that took place prior to DBU. All of the horrors of classic guerilla warfare in mountainous jungles. And the French trying to maintain control with worn-out WWII aircraft, a handful of helicopters and a mostly road-bound military.

In the early years of the 1st Viet War, The French tried to withdraw their northern highland garrisions, out of some 6,000 troops, the French lost over 5,000...

Now picture the effects of a marauder band numbering say 1-200 men......pity the troops that would have to go out and hunt them down, talk about a death of a thousand cuts!