Route One

Second Phase of Operation Camargue: Tightening the Loop After the successful launch of Operation Camargue, in which French armored platoons, airborne units and troops were delivered by planes and landing craft to the coast of central Annam, the French must now attempt to sweep forces of the communist Viet Minh from the critical route through fierce fighting in the marshes. Route One, also known as Route Coloniale One (or RC1), had been the main north–south artery along the coastline of Vietnam since the outbreak of violence in 1949. Communications and convoys along these lines suffered from regular attacks by Viet Minh irregulars, prompting the French command to begin preparations for clearing the Viet Minh back from Route One.