Battle of Nà Sản

Battle of Na San
	Part of First Indochina War
Date	November-December 2, 1952
Location	Na San, Son La Province, Vietnam
Result	French Union victory
Belligerents
French Union; France; State of Vietnam;	Viet Minh
Commanders and leaders
Robert Gilles; Louis Berteil	Vo Nguyen Giap
Strength
-	-
Casualties and losses
-	3,000 casualties

The Battle of Na San (French: bataille de Na San) was fought between French Union forces and the communist forces of the Viet Minh at Nà Sản, Son La Province during the First Indochina War.

the "Hedgehog"

During the battle French commanders used a new tactic, called "the hedgehog" (le hérisson), for the first time. The hedgehog defense consisted of an outpost surrounded by several armed positions (Points d'appui). The objective was to provoke an enemy frontal assault, rather than fighting off hit and run attacks or falling into ambushes.

This tactic earned the French a victory at the battle of Na San. As a result, the hedgehog defense became standard practice, until the defeat of Dien Bien Phu.

The evacuation of a similar outpost at An Khe led to the disastrous Battle of Mang Yang Pass that ended the war in 1954. Though the Na San camp was successfully evacuated itself in August 1953.