On December 22, 1944, exactly seventy-two years ago, the Vietnam People's Army (VNA) was founded. It was the Vietnam People's Army that subsequently had to not only take power in Hanoi, but also win the First Indochina War against the French colonialists, and then defeat the American imperialists in the bloody Second Indochina War and even repel the attack of the People's Liberation Army of China. All these circumstances make the Vietnam People's Army one of the most effective and powerful armed forces in the world, but the most important wealth of the VNA is not, not military equipment and not even the training of soldiers and officers, but the fighting spirit, which the Vietnamese people have always been very high.
The Vietnam People's Army began with the creation of a small detachment of regular troops on the basis of the partisan formations of the Vietnamese communists who opposed the French colonialists and the Japanese invaders. The number of this detachment was only 34 fighters. They were armed with 1 light machine gun, 17 rifles, 14 flintlock guns and 2 pistols. Already two days after its creation, on December 24 and 25, 1944, the detachment entered into battle with the French colonialists and was able to capture two fortified posts of French troops - in Nangan in the province of Cao Bang and in Faykhat in the province of Bac Kan.
The commander of this first detachment of the Vietnam People's Army was appointed Vo Nguyen Giap, a young Vietnamese revolutionary, still in his teens, in the mid-1920s, who joined the Vietnamese national liberation movement. At the time of the creation of the detachment, Vo Nguyen Giap was only 33 years old. He was born on August 25, 1911 in the village of Anxa in the province of Quang Binh, in Central Vietnam. By the way, the father of Vo Nguyen Ziap, the farmer Vo Quang Ngiem himself was an active participant in the struggle against the French colonialists. In 1919, Vo Quang Ngiem was arrested and after some time he died in prison from torture. Vo Nguyen Giap's sister also died in custody. Most likely, these circumstances had a serious impact on the life choices of Vo Nguyen Giap himself. While studying at the State Lyceum of Hue, he joined a revolutionary group and became a follower of Ho Chi Minh and his fellow communists. In 1927, Vo Nguyen Giap even organized a strike of lyceum students, and in 1930 received his first prison term. However, in 1933, after his release, he was able to enter the University of Hanoi and graduated a few years later with a degree in law. But not jurisprudence, but military history was the main passion of Vo Nguyen Giap. Even then, in him, still a purely civilian person, the talent of the future commander was felt.
When did the second World War, Vo Nguyen Giap fled to China. During this time, tragic events followed in his family - Vo Nguyen Giap's wife Minh Tai was executed, and his daughter died. Vo Nguyen Giap himself received an order from Ho Chi Minh to return to Vietnam and begin the deployment of underground activities, which he did. In 1944, from scattered rebels, he managed to assemble the first organized detachment, which became the core of the rebel armed forces. Given the small number of detachments of the Vietnamese partisans, initially they carried out operations against a few units of the French colonial troops, most often against scattered posts in the provinces. However, gradually the number of armed forces of the Vietnamese patriots increased and by April 1945 it already amounted to about 1 thousand fighters. In August 1945, the Viet Minh occupied Hanoi. Emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam abdicated. This is how the Democratic Republic of Vietnam appeared, one of the main tasks of which at an early stage of its existence was the formation and strengthening of its own armed forces. After all, the French colonialists were not going to lose one of France's most important possessions in the Asia-Pacific region. In order to effectively resist the French troops, it was necessary not only to equip the army well and train soldiers and commanders, but also to reorganize the structure according to the traditional principles of army organization.
In 1946, the First Indochina War began. Initially, the forces of the Vietnamese patriots were defeated by the French troops, as they were significantly inferior to them in many aspects. However, then, with the direct support of China, the reorganization of the Motherland Defense Army began. So, on January 7, 1947, the 102nd Infantry Regiment was created, which became the first regular regiment of the Motherland Defense Army. Almost three years later, on November 4, 1949, the Motherland Defense Army was renamed the Vietnam People's Army (VNA). The recruitment of the VNA began to be carried out by calling up citizens of the DRV, and not by recruiting volunteers, as before. By this time, the strength of the Vietnam People's Army was already over 40 thousand fighters. The VNA included 2 army infantry divisions and several infantry regiments, the strengthening of the people's army and giving its units the appearance of regular formations continued.
It is the period 1947-1951. became decisive for the formation of the Vietnam People's Army and its transformation into a truly combat-ready force. Thanks to the hard work of the command of the Vietnamese army to develop and strengthen it, by 1949 it was possible not only to increase the size of the army and form five full-fledged infantry divisions, but also to intensify hostilities against the French troops. In 1950, the VNA established control over the border with China, after which it was able to freely import Chinese weapons and other assistance.
The first epochal victory of the Vietnam People's Army was the successful siege of Dien Bien Phu in March - May 1954, as a result of which the French troops suffered a crushing defeat. The capture of Dien Bien Phu was led directly by General Vo Nguyen Giap, who turned out to be a much more talented commander than regular generals and senior officers of the French colonial troops. After the French troops in Dien Bien Phu capitulated, about 10,000 French troops were captured. The defeat at Dien Bien Phu produced a shock effect on French society and led to the end of the First Indochinese War.
The period after the First Indochina War was a time of further strengthening of the Vietnam People's Army. In 1955, the Naval Forces of the DRV were created, and in 1958, the border troops. Back in 1951, the first division-level artillery unit appeared as part of the VNA, and in 1959 the 202nd tank regiment, which was equipped with Soviet-made tanks. In 1963, the Air Force of the DRV was created. The Vietnamese People's Army gradually turned into one of the most serious armed forces in the Asia-Pacific region. The moral and psychological work in the units and formations of the Vietnam People's Army was also put on a high level. Its military personnel were distinguished by much higher morale and motivational attitudes than the soldiers and officers of the armed forces of South Vietnam. This circumstance, by the way, became one of the decisive factors in the victory of the Vietnam People's Army over the American aggressors and their allies and satellites in the Second Indochina War.
The most serious test for the Vietnam People's Army, as well as for the entire Vietnamese people, was the Second Indochina War, during which Vietnam, as well as Laos and Cambodia, were subjected to aggression by the United States of America and its many allies, including the armed forces of South Vietnam. An integral and main part of the Second Indochina War was the Vietnam War, which began as a civil war of communist guerrillas in South Vietnam against the pro-American South Vietnamese government. 
Over time, in addition to the South Vietnamese partisans, the armed forces of the DRV - the Vietnamese People's Army - were drawn into the fighting. The Vietnam War lasted from 1957 to 1975. In 1965-1973 there was a large-scale military intervention of the United States of America in the fighting in Vietnam. During many years of this bloody war, the command of the Vietnam People's Army was also carried out by Vo Nguyen Giap. Only in 1974 was he replaced as commander in chief by Army General Van Tien Dung (1917-2002), also a veteran of the national liberation struggle. It was under his leadership that the Spring Offensive of 1975 was carried out, which led to the complete victory of the DRV and the reunification of Vietnam. Subsequently, under the command of Van Tien Dung, the Vietnam People's Army overthrew the Pol Pot regime in neighboring Kampuchea.
Having received a serious baptism of fire in the Second Indochina War, the Vietnam People's Army has become the strongest army in Southeast Asia. Even the Chinese People's Liberation Army found it difficult to cope with it. When the armed conflict between the SRV and the PRC began in 1979, the Vietnamese People's Army again rose to the occasion, despite the obvious disparity between the forces of small Vietnam and the most populous country in the world.
Throughout its history, the Vietnam People's Army maintained close ties with the Soviet Union. The VNA was armed with Soviet military equipment, Soviet military specialists were present in Vietnam, and many Vietnamese military personnel were trained in Soviet military educational institutions. The share of Soviet military assistance has seriously increased after the deterioration of relations between Vietnam and China, which in the 1950s - 1960s. played a major role in providing military support to the fighting Vietnamese People's Army and the guerrillas of the People's Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
Currently, the Vietnam People's Army is one of the most powerful armed forces in Southeast Asia. The VNA includes ground forces, border guard forces, naval forces (they include not only the fleet, but also the marines and coast guard forces), the air force (including air defense forces). The ground forces include 7 military districts, 4 army corps and the command of the defense of the capital. The military districts include 21 infantry divisions, 7 military construction divisions (the army is actively involved in work in various areas of the national economy), 3 artillery brigades, 3 air defense brigades, 5 engineering brigades, 4 tank and 2 artillery regiments, 1 communications regiment . In addition, 4 army corps, which are the most combat-ready and well-trained formations of the Vietnam People's Army, include 11 infantry divisions, 1 mechanized division, 2 tank brigades, 2 artillery brigades, 2 engineering brigades, 2 air defense regiments, two artillery regiments , one tank regiment, one signal regiment, one engineer regiment and one force regiment special purpose. The main problem of the ground forces is outdated equipment. If the air and naval forces of the country are gradually beginning to modernize, then tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery pieces of Soviet production remain in service with the ground forces. The Vietnamese Air Force has three air divisions and six air defense divisions.
A distinctive feature of the Vietnam People's Army is the presence of a very powerful ground-based air defense force, which is associated with the legacy of the Vietnam War, when the country repulsed constant American air raids. Despite the fact that a significant part of the air defense equipment in service with the VNA is outdated, their total number is impressive. AT recent times with the help of Russia, Vietnam is actively modernizing its air defense system. Currently, the VNA has 9 divisions of the Kvadrat air defense system, 50 divisions of the S-75 air defense system, 25 divisions of the S-125 air defense system, 2 divisions of the S-300PS air defense system, and 20 Strela-10 air defense systems. The appearance of 4-6 Buk-M2 divisions and 8-12 Pantsir-S1 air defense missile systems is expected.
The country's naval forces are gradually rearming with the help of Russia. Thus, the Vietnamese Navy is armed with Russian-made submarines, Russian patrol ships and missile boats. The potential of the Vietnamese Navy is growing. The most significant contract was the purchase by the SRV from the Russian Federation of 6 multi-purpose diesel submarines of project 636.1 Varshavyanka. Gradually, Vietnam is also strengthening the naval aviation of the Navy, fully understanding its importance for the defense of the country's maritime borders and upholding the strategic interests of Vietnam. The coastal missile forces of the Vietnamese Navy are also well armed, possessing missile systems of Soviet, Russian and Indian production.
Thus, the Vietnam People's Army, which is celebrating its 72nd anniversary, is a very serious force. In fact, the only state in the region with a more serious military potential is only China. Among its other neighbors, Vietnam certainly has the strongest military forces. For Russia, military-political and military-technical cooperation with Socialist Republic Vietnam is of great interest, which is determined not only by long-term friendly relations, but also by strategic considerations. Further strengthening of the combat capability of the Vietnam People's Army, of course, will also depend on the state's policy on the purchase of weapons, including from the Russian Federation.
The predecessor of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (or South Vietnam) was the National Army of Vietnam, created in 1949 when France granted self-government to Vietnam, the former colony. Soldiers of the National Army, together with the French Expeditionary Force, took part in the Indochina War. The units of the Vietnamese army played, as a rule, a secondary role in the hostilities, since they were distinguished by low combat capability.
The National Army of Vietnam was disbanded after the conclusion of the Geneva Accords of 1954. The pro-American politician Ngo Dinh Diem, who came to power in South Vietnam, believed that the implementation of the Geneva Accords would inevitably lead to the establishment of control over South Vietnam by the communists.
On January 20, 1955, the governments of the United States, France, and South Vietnam signed an agreement on the training of the South Vietnamese army of 100,000 regular troops and 150,000 reservists.
On February 12, 1955, the US military mission in Saigon became responsible for organizing the South Vietnamese army, after which the replacement of French military instructors by US military advisers began.
In violation of the agreements, on October 26, 1955, the creation of the Republic of Vietnam was proclaimed, on the same day the creation of the South Vietnamese army was announced.
By the end of 1958, the South Vietnamese government had the following armed formations: armed forces - 150 thousand military personnel; civil defense corps - 60 thousand people, police corps - 45 thousand people, rural guard detachments - up to 100 thousand people.
Initially, the ARV was created on the model of the American army and with the active participation of American military advisers. The army immediately became the mainstay of Ngo Dinh Diem's regime. It was entrusted with the task of repelling a possible invasion of the army of North Vietnam. When in the late 1950s a civil war broke out in the country between government forces and communist partisans, the emphasis was shifted to waging a counter-partisan war.
In May 1961, at a meeting between US Vice President L. Johnson and South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem, an agreement was reached on increasing US military and financial assistance. As a result, if in 1961 South Vietnam ranked third in terms of military aid received from the United States (after South Korea and Taiwan), then since 1962 he took first place. The exact amount of American military assistance to South Vietnam is difficult to establish, since in the period from 1970 to 1975. appropriations were partially included in the budget of the US Department of Defense.
As a result, already in 1961-1962. the number of South Vietnamese armed forces was increased from 150 thousand to 170 thousand soldiers and officers, the number of "civilian guards" - from 60 thousand to 120 thousand people.
In 1962, four corps were formed, each of which was assigned a specific area of responsibility (tactical area). A feature of the ARV corps was that they were also administrative units. The corps commander handled all military and civil affairs on his territory. In addition to regular units, the ARV included the Regional Forces and the Popular Forces. Regional forces operated within their provinces and were paramilitary formations. The People's Forces were local village-level militias with minimal military training and armed only with obsolete small arms. It is noteworthy that the main enemy of the ARV - the Viet Cong - had the same structure.
I Corps(Da Nang).
Formed 1/6/1957. Controlled provinces: Kwang Tri, Thua Tien, Kwang Nam, Kwang Tin, Kwang Ngai.
Composition: 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 1st Ranger Group, 1st Armored Brigade.
II Corps(Pleiku).
It was formed on 10/1/1957. Controlled the provinces: Kontum, Bin Din, Pleiku, Phu Bon, Phu Yong, Darlak, Khan Hoa, Kwang Duk, Thuyen Duk, Nin Thuan, Lam Dong, Bin Thuan.
Composition: 22nd Infantry Division, 23rd Infantry Division, 2nd Ranger Group, 2nd Armored Brigade.
III Corps(Bien Hoa).
Formed on March 1, 1959 (on paper) and May 20, 1960 (in reality). Controlled the provinces: Phuoc Long, Long Khan, Bin Thiu, Bin Long, Bin Duong, Bien Hoa, Phuoc Thiu, Tai Nin, Hau Ngia, Long An.
Composition: 5th Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, 81st Ranger Group, 3rd Armored Brigade.
IV Corps(Can Tho).
Formed 1/1/1963 Controlled provinces: Go Kong, Khien Tuong, Din Tuong, Khien Hoa, Khien Fong, Sa Dek, Vin Long, Vin Bin, Chau Doc, An Giang, Fong Din, Ba Xuen, Kien Giang, Chuong Tin , Buck Lew, An Xuen.
Composition: 7th Infantry Division, 9th Infantry Division, 21st Infantry Division, 4th Ranger Group, 4th Armored Brigade.
During the course of the war, the ARV steadily increased in numbers: by 1972, it already had about a million servicemen. In 1961-1964. the army was constantly defeated in battles with the partisans. By 1965 the situation was so critical that American experts predicted the possibility of overthrowing the government of South Vietnam by communist forces. The politicization of the leadership of the army led to the fact that the ARV became the main lever of the numerous coups that took place in South Vietnam in 1963-1967. The inability of the ARVN to counter the guerrilla movement on its own was one of the key factors in the US administration's decision to send US ground troops to Vietnam. In parallel with this, the United States began rearming the South Vietnamese army.
As of 1968, the ground forces of South Vietnam numbered 370 thousand military personnel (a total of 160 battalions in 10 infantry divisions; one parachute division; one special forces group; 20 battalions of "rangers"; 10 tank battalions; six battalions of marines; 26 artillery battalions, as well as training, rear and auxiliary units), while some of the battalions were not fully staffed. The basis of the tank fleet was made up of American M41 light tanks and French AMX-13V tanks.
1st Infantry Division(Hugh), formed 1.9.1953 as the 21st mobile group (French), from 1.1.1955 - the 21st infantry division, from 1.8.1955 - the 21st field division, 1.11.1955 . - 1st field division, from 1.1.1959 - 1st infantry division. Composition: 1st, 3rd, 51st, 54th Infantry Regiments, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th Artillery Battalions, 7th Armored Cavalry Squadron, 3rd US Military Command observers.
2nd Infantry Division(Da Nang), formed 11/3/1953 as the 32nd mobile group (French), from 1/2/1955 - the 32nd infantry division, 1/8/1955 - the 32nd field division, from 11/1/1955 city - 2nd field division, from 1.1.1959 - 2nd infantry division. Composition: 4th, 5th, 6th infantry regiments, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd artillery battalions, 4th armored cavalry squadron, 2nd team of American military observers.
3rd Infantry Division(Ai Tu), formed on 10/1/1971 Composition: 2nd, 56th, 57th infantry regiments, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd artillery battalions, 20th armored cavalry squadron , 155th US Military Observer Team.
5th Infantry Division(Song Mao), formed on 1.2.1955 as the 6th Infantry Division, from 1.8.1955 - the 6th Field Division, from 1.9.1955 - the 41st Field Division, from 1.11.1955 - 3rd field division, from 1.1.1959 - 5th infantry division. Composition: 7th, 8th, 9th Infantry Regiments, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd Artillery Battalions, 1st Armored Cavalry Squadron, 70th US Military Observer Team.
7th Infantry Division(Tam Ku), formed on September 1, 1953 as the 2nd, 7th and 31st mobile groups (French), from January 1, 1955 - the 31st Infantry Division, from August 1, 1955 - 31 1st field division, from August 1955 - 11th field division, from 11/1/1955 - 4th field division, from 1/1/1959 - 7th infantry division. Composition: 10th, 11th, 12th Infantry Regiments, 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd Artillery Battalions, 6th Armored Cavalry Squadron, 75th US Military Observer Team.
9th Infantry Division(Fu Tang), formed 1.1.1962 Composition: 14th, 15th, 16th infantry regiments, 90th, 91st, 92nd, 93rd artillery battalions, 2nd armored cavalry squadron , 60th US Military Observer Team.
10/18th Infantry Division(Xuan Lok), formed 16.5.1965 (on paper), 1.8.1965 (in reality) as the 10th Infantry Division, from 1.1.1967 - the 18th Infantry Division. Composition: 43rd, 48th, 52nd Infantry Regiments, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd Artillery Battalions, 5th Armored Cavalry Squadron, 27th US Military Observer Team.
21st Infantry Division(Bak Liu), formed 1.8.1955 as the 1st light division, from 11.11.1955 - the 11th light division, 1.6.1959 3rd (1.8.1955), 11th and the 13th (1.11.1955) light divisions were merged into the 21st infantry division. Composition: 31st, 32nd, 33rd Infantry Regiments, 210th, 211th, 212th, 213th Artillery Battalions, 9th Armored Cavalry Squadron, 51st American Military Observer Team.
22nd Infantry Division(Bing Ding), formed 1.8.1955 as the 2nd Light Division, from 1.11.1955 - the 12th Light Division, 1.4.1959 4th (1.8.1955), 12th and the 14th (1.11.1955) light divisions were merged into the 22nd infantry division. Composition: 40th, 41st, 42nd, 47th Infantry Regiments, 220th, 221st, 222nd, 223rd Artillery Battalions, 19th Armored Cavalry Squadron, 22nd US Military Command observers.
23rd Infantry Division(Ban Me Tu), formed on 1.4.1959 on the basis of the 5th (1.8.1955) and 15th (1.11.1955) light infantry divisions. Composition: 43rd, 44th, 45th, 53rd Infantry Regiments, 230th, 231st, 232nd, 233rd Artillery Battalions, 8th Armored Cavalry Squadron, 33rd US Military Command observers.
25th Infantry Division(Ku Chi), formed 1.7.1962 Composition: 46th, 49th, 50th infantry regiments, 250th, 251st, 252nd, 253rd artillery battalions, 10th armored cavalry squadron , 99th US Military Observer Team.
Airborne Division(Kwang Tri), formed on 1.8.1951 as the 1st Airborne Battalion (French), from 1.5.1954 - the 3rd Aviation Group (French), from 1.5.1955 - Airborne Group , from 12/1/1959 - Airborne Brigade, from 12/1/1965 - Airborne Division. Composition: 1st airborne brigade (1st, 8th, 9th airborne battalions, 1st airborne artillery battalion), 2nd airborne brigade (5th, 7th th, 11th airborne battalions, 2nd airborne artillery battalion), 3rd airborne brigade (2nd, 3rd, 6th airborne battalions, 3rd airborne artillery battalion), 4th airborne brigade (4th, 10th airborne battalions), airborne reconnaissance battalion, airborne communications battalion, airborne support battalion, airborne medical battalion, air - Airborne Engineer Company, 162nd Airborne Command of US Military Observers.
Marine Division(Saigon), formed on 10/1/1954 as a Marine Infantry Battalion from the 1st and 2nd March Battalions (French), from 4/16/1956 - Marine Infantry Group, from 1/1/1962 - Marine Corps Brigade, from 1.10.1968 - Marine Corps Division. Composition: 147th Marine Brigade, 258th Marine Brigade, 369th Marine Brigade, 468th Marine Brigade.
The air force was formed in 1955 from several hundred personnel and squadrons of C-47 transport aircraft, light reconnaissance aircraft and F8F fighter-bombers. In the early 1960s consisted of 16 thousand military personnel, 145 combat aircraft (100 pieces of A-1 Skyrader; 15 pieces of F-5 jet fighters and 20 pieces of A-37 attack aircraft), as well as 80 pieces. light aircraft O-1A, 80 pcs. transport aircraft C-47 and Cessna 180 Skywagon and about 100 H-34 Choctaw helicopters. In 1972, there were 60 thousand people, 6 aviation divisions, 1.5 thousand aircraft, incl. F5A fighter-bombers, A-1 piston bombers, C-47, C-127, C-130 transport aircraft, UH-1, CH-47 helicopters, etc.
Aviation divisions(1973): 1st (Da Nang); 2nd (Nha Trang); 3rd (Bien Hoa); 4th (Can Tho); 5th (Tan Son Nhut); 6th (Pleiku).
The naval forces were formed in 1952 under the French command, since 1954 they have become national. In the early 1970s numbered 24 thousand people and were armed with 63 combat and auxiliary ships (including 8 escort ships, 3 minesweepers, 22 landing craft, 22 artillery boats) and a river "mosquito fleet" of 350 Saipan-type motor junks. Organizationally, they consisted of ocean forces, 5 coastal zones, 2 river patrol zones and special operations units.
The irregular forces consisted of 700 companies of "territorial forces" (142 thousand people), 4000 platoons of "local forces" (143 thousand people), detachments of "civil defense forces" (40 thousand people) and police. The irregular units were armed mainly with light small arms (including obsolete models), but the police were armed with several armored personnel carriers and helicopters.
In 1969, President Nixon proclaimed a policy of so-called "Vietnamization," the essence of which was to make the ARV an effective fighting force while simultaneously beginning the withdrawal of American troops from the country. The ARV began to receive more new weapons, its structure expanded. In 1970, the ARV successfully operated during the invasion of Cambodia, undertaken jointly with US troops. However, the independent invasion of Laos in 1971 ended in a heavy defeat for the South Vietnamese army, which showed that the main problem of the ARV was the incompetence of its leadership.
In 1972, the ARVN scored the biggest victory in its history, successfully repelling the North Vietnamese Easter Offensive. In this battle, the South Vietnamese soldiers showed that, with the support of American aircraft and under the guidance of American advisers, they were able to effectively resist an equally strong regular army.
In the period after the signing of the Paris Agreement (January 27, 1973), the combat effectiveness of the ARV was largely based on American military supplies: for example, only in the period after March 29, 1973, the United States provided the government of South Vietnam with financial assistance in the amount of $ 4 billion, transferred 700 aircraft and helicopters, 1,100 tanks, armored personnel carriers and armored vehicles and other weapons and military property.
However, after the final withdrawal of US troops from the country and against the background of a constant reduction in the volume of American military assistance (from 3 to 1.1 billion dollars a year), in 1973-1974. The ARV was faced with an acute shortage of resources to continue hostilities, which had the most negative impact on its combat capability.
In the spring of 1975, without the support of the United States, the South Vietnamese army failed to repel the new offensive of North Vietnam and, by the end of the campaign, had practically lost its combat effectiveness. On April 30, 1975, North Vietnamese troops entered Saigon, putting an end to the existence of the ARVN and the Republic of South Vietnam itself.
The Vietnamese armed forces are referred to as the People's Army of Vietnam (NAV) and consist of ground forces, navy, air force, border guards and coast guards.
The date of creation of the NAV is considered to be December 22, 1944, when the "armed propaganda group" of the Viet Minh was created under the leadership of Vo Nguyen Giap.
Then there were decades of revolutionary war - first against the French colonialists (1945-1954), then against South Vietnam and the Americans who supported it (1954-1975).
The wars continued after the departure of the Americans and the fall of Saigon until the very beginning of the 90s - against the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, various rebels in Laos and in southern Vietnam.
Finally, from the Chinese invasion of northern Vietnam in early 1979, in an attempt to save the crumbling allied Khmer Rouge regime, the border conflict with the PRC continued until the very normalization in 1991. And now it is the big northern neighbor that is the main probable adversary of Vietnam.
According to the Charter of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the army is under the "absolute, undivided and all-pervading leadership" of the Party (it is simply called Dang in Vietnamese).
The leadership is carried out by the Central Military Commission, headed by the General Secretary of the Party. His deputy is the Minister of Defense of Vietnam - this post is held by the most senior of the Vietnamese military.
The commission includes the president and the prime minister of the country, deputy ministers of defense, the head of the Main Political Directorate of the army (this post is occupied by the second-ranking military man) and his deputies, the chief of the general staff, commanders of the military branches and military districts.
The Vietnamese People's Army remains the most powerful army in Southeast Asia, currently numbering 482,000 regular forces and 3 million locals. The country spends 5% of GDP on defense. They serve in Vietnam on conscription for 2 years. Now girls can serve.
Weapons to Vietnam were traditionally supplied by the USSR / Russia, in recent years Israeli weapons have also been purchased for sappers, and issues of military cooperation with other countries are being worked out.
The ranking system corresponds to world traditions, except that all military ranks have original Vietnamese names, for example, colonel is "fuong ta".
(this is generally characteristic of the Vietnamese language, where it is customary to invent your own words for foreign things, and not borrow foreign terms).
Only the highest ranks are called in their own way - in the NAV, after the colonel, there are senior colonel, junior general, middle general, senior general and great general. The latter in Vietnam can be only one and he holds the post of Minister of Defense.
The ranks are identical in ground forces, air force, border guard and coast guard. Only in the fleet are already admirals.
Duplication is observed at all levels, there is a commander and a political commissar, usually in equal military ranks. At the same time, political commissars are not subordinate to the Ministry of Defense, but to the completely independent Main Political Directorate of the Army.
Ground forces they do not have a separate command, all ground units, army corps, military districts and various special forces such as sappers are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense.
The territory of the country is divided into 9 military districts.
The main forces of the army are concentrated in 4 corps, one is poetically called the Corps of Inevitable Victory, the other three in geography - the Fragrant River (Huong), the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta. The first two corps are now deployed in the capital area and near the border with China, the deployment of the other two corresponds to their name.
Corps headquarters are located in Tam Diepe (Ninh Binh Province), Bak Giang, Pleiku and Zi'an (Binh Duong Province).
Each corps includes 3 infantry divisions, a tank unit, separate air defense regiments, artillery, engineers, signalmen. Special Forces sappers are subordinate to their own command.
Each infantry division consists of three infantry regiments
All parts are numbered, and by number it is easy to establish its origin. Three-digit numbers have regiments and divisions formed in the north of Vietnam, one or two digits in the number are former units of the NLF (Viet Cong). The composition of the name of the parts includes the awards assigned to them.
Six infantry divisions formed in the early 50s during the war with the French colonialists - the 304th, 308th, 312th, 316th, 320th and 325th - bear the honorary names of "iron and steel divisions" and have colorful names. So the 316th, whose fighters hoisted the flag over, bears the full name "316th Order of Ho Chi Minh Miscanthus Division."
(Miscanthus is such an ornamental grass, a terrible weed that is practically impossible to get rid of.)
The tank fleet has not been updated since the beginning of the 80s, although at the beginning of the 21st century the Israelis modernized the Vietnamese T-54s. The same applies to infantry fighting vehicles, the local forces still use the M-113 left over from the South Vietnamese army.
The main tank is the T-62, assembled into two (202nd and 203rd) tank brigades and one separate (273rd) tank regiment. The 201st tank brigade is equipped with T-54, the 405th - PT-76. Also, a large number of tanks of various modifications are stored in local units.
In recent years, Vietnam has made the development of the fleet and aviation a priority, due to the aggravation of the situation around the disputed islands in the South China (in Vietnam called the East) Sea.
The NAV Air Force now has 3 air divisions and 6 air defense divisions. The main aircraft for many years were the MiG-21 and Su-22, but in recent years Vietnam has been changing them to the Su-27 and Su-30 purchased in Russia.
For air defense, S-300 systems are being purchased.
The Vietnamese fleet has 7 frigates, 11 corvettes, 5 submarines and about a hundred other ships. In the coming years, Vietnam will receive 2 more Gepards from Russian shipyards.
Negotiations are underway with the Dutch on the construction of the UDC. The main base of the Vietnamese fleet is Haiphong.
Creation of the first detachments of regular forces
December 22, 1944 is considered the date of creation of the Vietnam People's Army. On this day, the first detachment of regular forces was created, commanded by Vo Nguyen Giap.
At the time of formation, the detachment consisted of 34 fighters, armed with 1 light machine gun, 17 rifles, 2 pistols and 14 flintlock rifles. On December 24 and 25, 1944, the detachment carried out its first combat operations: two posts of the French colonial troops were attacked and captured - a post in Nangan (Caobang province) and a post in Faykhat (Bakkan province).
Later, Vo Nguyen Giap became the first Commander-in-Chief of the VNA.
In April 1945, the number of Viet Minh detachments reached 1,000 fighters, at which time the main military command was created and the first schools for training command personnel were opened.
On May 15, 1945, as a result of the unification of the Homeland Rescue and Liberation Units, the "Vietnam Liberation Army" was created.
In the First Indochina War (1944-1954)
During the ensuing First Indochina War, the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam were completely re-equipped with Chinese support and gained significant combat experience.
On January 7, 1947, the 102nd Infantry Regiment was formed - the first regiment of regular forces that had an army structure.
On November 4, 1949, the Vietnamese armed forces (formerly called Homeland Defense Army) got a new name - Vietnam People's Army. The conscription principle of manning the army was established.
By the end of 1949, the Viet Minh forces numbered about 40 thousand fighters (including two infantry divisions and several separate regiments of regular forces organized along army lines).
In 1951, the first artillery unit of the VNA was created - the 351st artillery battalion.
After the end of the war with France in 1954, the VNA continued to develop.
- On May 7, 1955, the naval forces were created;
- On November 18, 1958, border troops were created;
- in 1959, the first tank unit was formed - the 202nd tank regiment, equipped with T-34-85 tanks
- in 1963 the Air Force was created.
In the Second Indochina War
A serious test for the army was the Second Indochina War, during which the VNA units participated in full-scale hostilities in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and also provided air defense for North Vietnam.
In American sources dedicated to this period, she is referred to as PAVN (People's Army of Viet Nam, People's Army of Vietnam) or NVA (North Vietnam's Army, North Vietnamese army). In 1975, the war ended with the capture of Saigon.
After the victory, the Vietnamese People's Army received weapons and military equipment of American production, which were previously in service with the South Vietnamese army.
Vietnam People's Army in the Third Indochina War
In the second half of the 1970s, the VNA repelled the border attacks of the Cambodian Khmer Rouge, occupied Cambodia from 1979 to 1989, and was also located on the territory of Laos. In 1979, she took part in repelling the aggression of China.
Current state
Structure
All VNA units are in one of three groups: Main Forces ( Chủlực), local forces ( Địa phương), People's Defense Forces ( Dân quân-Tự vệ). Each of these groups has its own reserve.
As part of the VNA, there are the following types of troops:
- Ground forces
- Border Guard Force (Biên phòng Việt Nam)
- Navy (Hải quân nhân dân Việt Nam)
- Marines
- coast guard forces
- air force and air defense
VNA units are often involved in agricultural work and disaster relief.
The structure of the ground forces is as follows:
- 1st Military Region (Northeast Vietnam)- 2 infantry divisions
- 2nd Military Region (northwest Vietnam): 2 infantry divisions, 1 infantry regiment, 1 tank regiment, air defense brigade, engineering brigade, 5 industrial defense units.
- 3rd Military Region (northern Vietnam): 2 infantry divisions, 2 tank regiments, 2 infantry regiments, artillery brigade, air defense brigade, industrial facilities defense brigade.
- Capital Defense Command: infantry division, artillery regiment, armored battalion
- 4th Military Region (northern Vietnam): 3 infantry divisions, industrial facilities defense brigade, air defense brigade, engineering brigade, tank regiment
- 5th Military Region (central Vietnam): 3 infantry divisions, artillery regiment, engineer brigade
- 7th Military Region (Southern Vietnam): 4 infantry divisions
- 9th Military Region (Southern Vietnam): 4 infantry divisions, engineer brigade, artillery brigade
Separate parts:
- 1st Corps (northern Vietnam): 4 infantry divisions, air defense division, tank brigade, artillery brigade, engineering brigade
- 2nd Corps (on the territory of the 1st military district): 3 infantry divisions, an air defense division, a tank brigade, an artillery brigade, an engineering brigade
- 3rd Corps (on the territory of the 5th military district): 3 infantry divisions, tank regiment, artillery regiment, SOF regiment, engineer regiment
- 4th Corps (on the territory of the 7th military district): 3 infantry divisions, air defense regiment, artillery regiment, engineer regiment, SOF regiment
Equipment and weapons
At present, the Vietnamese People's Army has mainly weapons of Soviet and Chinese production. The specific share of Soviet weapons increased in the late 1970s due to the cooling of Vietnamese-Chinese relations.
According to the IISS The Military Balance for 2010, the Vietnam People's Army had the following equipment at its disposal.
| Weapons and weapons of the Vietnam People's Army as of 2010 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Production | Purpose | Quantity | Notes | |||
| Medium Tanks | |||||||
| T-34 | USSR USSR | medium tank | 45 | ||||
| T-54/T-55 | USSR USSR | medium tank | 850 | ||||
| Type 59 | PRC PRC | medium tank | 350 | ||||
| T-62 | USSR USSR | medium tank | 70 | ||||
| Light Tanks | |||||||
| Type 62/Type 63 | PRC PRC | light tank | 320 | ||||
| PT-76 | USSR USSR | light tank | 300 | ||||
| infantry fighting vehicles | |||||||
| BMP-1/BMP-2 | USSR USSR | Infantry fighting vehicle | 300 | ||||
| Armored reconnaissance vehicles | |||||||
| BRDM-1/BRDM-2 | USSR USSR | BRDM | 100 | ||||
| armored personnel carriers | |||||||
| BTR-40/BTR-50/BTR-60/BTR-152 | USSR USSR | armored personnel carrier | 1100 | ||||
| M113A3 | USA USA | armored personnel carrier | 200 | ||||
| Type-63 | PRC PRC | armored personnel carrier | 80 | ||||
| Operational-tactical missile systems | |||||||
| R-300 | USSR USSR | operational-tactical missile system | |||||
| Multiple launch rocket systems | |||||||
| Type 63 (MLRS) | PRC PRC | MLRS | 360 | ||||
| BM-21 "Grad" | USSR USSR | MLRS | 350 | ||||
| BM-14 | USSR USSR | MLRS | |||||
| Self-propelled field artillery | |||||||
| 2S3 "Acacia" | USSR USSR | self-propelled howitzer 152 mm | 30 | ||||
| 2S9 "Nona-C" | USSR USSR | self-propelled 120 mm | |||||
| Towed field artillery (about 2300 units) | |||||||
| M-1944 | USSR USSR | field gun 100 mm | |||||
| M101 | USA USA | howitzer 105 mm | |||||
| D-30 | USSR USSR | 122 mm towed howitzer | |||||
| M-30 | USSR USSR | 122 mm towed howitzer | |||||
| D-74 | USSR USSR | 122 mm gun | |||||
| M46 | USSR USSR | 130 mm gun | |||||
| D-20 | USSR USSR | 152 mm howitzer gun | |||||
| M-114 | USA USA | 155 mm howitzer gun | |||||
| mortars | |||||||
| BM-37 | USSR USSR | 82 mm mortar | |||||
| M-43 | USSR USSR | 120 mm mortar | |||||
| M-43 | USSR USSR | 160 mm mortar | |||||
| anti-tank artillery | |||||||
| SU-100 | USSR USSR | Assault gun 100 mm | |||||
| SU-122 | USSR USSR | Assault gun 122 mm | |||||
| T-12 | USSR USSR | anti-tank gun 100 mm | |||||
| Anti-tank missile systems | |||||||
| 9K11 "Baby" | USSR USSR | portable ATGM | |||||
| Air defense technology | |||||||
| ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" | USSR USSR | self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | |||||
| 9K38 "Needle" | USSR USSR | MANPADS | |||||
| S-300 PMU1 | USSR USSR/Russia Russia | SAM | 2 divisions | ||||
| Helicopters | |||||||
| Mi-24 | USSR USSR | transport and combat helicopter | 26 | ||||
| Ka-25 | USSR USSR | anti-submarine helicopter | 3 | ||||
| Ka-28 | USSR USSR | multipurpose helicopter | 10 | ||||
| Ka-32 | USSR USSR | multipurpose helicopter | 2 | ||||
| Mi-6 | USSR USSR | transport helicopter | 4 | ||||
| Mi-17 | USSR USSR | multipurpose helicopter | 30 | ||||
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | USA USA | multipurpose helicopter | 12 | ||||
| PZL W-3 Sokol | Poland Poland | multipurpose helicopter | 4 | ||||
| Aircraft | |||||||
| MiG-21 | USSR USSR | multirole fighter | 140 | ||||
| Su-22M4 | USSR USSR | fighter-bomber | 53 | Part performs reconnaissance missions | |||
| Su-27SK | Russia, Russia | multirole fighter | 7 | ||||
| Su-30MKK | Russia, Russia | multirole fighter | 4 | ||||
| Be-12 | USSR USSR | anti-submarine amphibious aircraft | 4 | ||||
| An-2 | USSR USSR | light transport aircraft | 12 | ||||
| An-26 | USSR USSR | transport aircraft | 12 | ||||
| Yak-40 | USSR USSR | VIP plane | 4 | ||||
| Yak-18 | USSR USSR | training aircraft | 10 | ||||
| Aero L-39 Albatros | Czech Republic Czech Republic | combat training aircraft | 18 | ||||
| MiG-21UM | USSR USSR | combat training aircraft | 10 | ||||
| Su-27UBK | USSR USSR | combat training aircraft | 5 | ||||
In May 2013, the Vietnamese army successfully tested its own UAV
Photos with comments.
Source: North Vietnamese Army Soldier 1958-75. // Osprey. Warrior 135.
01. Army of North Vietnam in photographs 1958-1975
02. Troops of North Vietnam (NVA) on maneuvers in the north of the country. Soldiers are armed with SKS carbines and camouflaged with grass, a standard measure when crossing rough terrain.
03. The Army of South Vietnam (ARVN) was the main enemy of the Viet Cong (VC), but the Army of North Vietnam (NVA) considered them a secondary enemy for the US military.
04. Political agitation in the NVA demanded from the soldiers full dedication and self-sacrifice in the fight against the American army and marines. The North Vietnamese soldier rarely showed hesitation and fear when facing his main enemy, the American soldier, even in the face of superior enemy firepower.
05. Most of the NVA soldiers were young guys. The photo also shows a young paratrooper of the French colonial troops (also Vietnamese) leading a wounded soldier of the Viet Minh army (Vietnam Independence League) taken prisoner.
06. Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) known as "Uncle Ho" - President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He was the "spiritual" leader of Vietnamese communism, and at the same time the political leader of the national liberation movement in that country.
07. Most commonly used NVA weapons, (from left to right): 7.62mm SKS carbine, 7.62mm AK-47, RPG-2 and RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launchers, 7.62mm Degtyarev light machine gun (RPD) machine gun. The weapon is mainly made in China, with the exception of the RPG-7 (Type 69).
08. Young Vietnamese, members of the Youth Vanguard paramilitary organization. Age from 16 to 30 years. The column is sent to the place of work to clean up the destruction caused by the bombing. The NVA used this organization for the pre-war training of young people.
09. Young girls also joined the Youth Vanguard and performed many tasks during the war. These girls in the photo are a street patrol, carrying a 7.62mm M1944 carbine. They reported violations of the rules, the places where small-caliber bombs hit, guaranteed compliance with the requirements for blackout at night.
10. A young NVA recruit armed with an AK-47. Note the field cap with the NVA badge. In the south, this cap was quite rare.
11. North Vietnamese society during the war was militarized to the maximum. The girl in the photo is wearing an NVA tropical helmet.
12. Combat training in NVA. The Vietnamese soldier training system focused on developing individual skills: shooting from various positions, throwing a hand grenade, camouflage, simple recoil tactics and command execution, individual movement methods. The development of the latter is shown in this figure, the emphasis was placed on a calm movement using any available shelter with the ability to freely return back. On occasion, such a movement had to be quick, but more importantly, and this was emphasized, secretly approach the positions of the enemy, observing maximum patience. Soldiers pictured in regular field uniform, sun helmet and jungle boots, wielding a 7.62mm (Type 56) carbine, a Chinese version of the Soviet Simonov self-loading carbine (SKS). Unlike the American army, the grid method was not used. The corporal wears a field cap and his rank is reflected in the insignia on his collar. Shoe in sandals. The stick he holds in his hands is used as a pointer, not for punishment. The soldier's lack of attention, mistakes in actions will be noted and indicated during the discussion, after training.
13. A Viet Minh soldier armed with an M1 carbine and dressed in a regular field uniform poses next to a French soldier during truce talks.
14. These girls, members of the rural self-defense militia, are armed with Springfield M1903 rifles, they are called to find a freshly shot down American airman. These rifles may have been supplied by China, at one time the Kuomintang received them in World War II under Lend-Lease.
15. UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT, NORTH VIETNAM. Even though a dark green uniform was adopted in 1966, brown and other colored uniforms continued to be used universally in the north. Private infantry (1 and 2) has a belt with ammunition, a flask. In the hands of a fighter is a Simonov self-loading carbine, made in China (3, 4). This weapon was widely used by the Vietnamese army. A belt with 10 pockets for cartridges (5) contained two dozen clips for a carbine (6). A personal kit for a carbine was provided to each fighter in various types of pouches, here black imitation leather (7). The army badge (8) was attached to the front of the tropical helmet (9), with a special plastic lining (10). Examples of two types of flasks (11), and a shortened spade (12). Insignia were worn only in the North. The following are the insignia: Private 2nd Class - Binh Nhì (13a), Private 1st Class - Binh Nhat (13b), Corporal/Corporal - Ha Sijiang (13c, Sergeant - Trung Sijiang (13-d) and Master- sergeant/master sergeant - Thuong Xijiang (13e).
16. Civil servants and their children also often wore uniforms, the photo will give one such example.
17. Bayonet training has a number of points common to all armies, first of all it is aggressiveness and improvement of coordination and stamina. The photo shows a recruit in a white uniform, often used in training units and the police. His weapon is a Chinese model 7.92mm Chiang Kai Shek rifle, an almost complete replica of the German Mauser 98 rifle.
18. Many future NVA soldiers served in the militia, where they gained good experience in using weapons, learned military discipline, the basics of tactics. This was a good help for army schools, since at the height of the war, training in schools for a young soldier was significantly limited in duration.
19. Young soldiers are taught to identify aircraft. which is important for air defense. Next to the scheme, a light 7.92mm machine gun of the Kuomintang China, a copy of the Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26.
20. Government official reads an appeal to the troops before sending them to the south.
21. In the South, neither officers nor junior officers wore insignia, the difference in uniform could only be in its quality.
22. "Regulars", as NVA soldiers were called in the US military. In the photograph, the soldiers were wearing forest green uniforms and were armed with AK-47s.
23. Team of 82mm PM37 (Type 53) mortar prepares to fire. The mortar was supplied by the Soviet Union. The soldiers are dressed in early brown uniforms and wide-brimmed hats.
24. Training of NVA troops in the North. The rank on the collar shows that the photo is a private 1st class. He is armed with a 7.62mm PPSh-41 (Type 50), a weapon rarely seen to the south.
25. This photo of two NVA soldiers, AK-47 on the chest, magazine belt and backpack. One person is wearing a black shirt. Mixing components of various forms of brown, green, black was common during the war.
26. IN THE NVA BACKPACK. The figure shows a typical list of the contents of an NVA fighter's backpack. Only personal papers, letters, etc. are not shown. 1. Spare uniform. 2. Briefs. 3. Sandals of Ho Chi Minh. 4. Raincoat-tent. 5. Hammock. 6. Mosquito net 7. Toothbrush, Chinese toothpaste, soap in a plastic box and a comb with a rag bag. 8. Flask, with a rarely seen cup; the inscription on the flask "Born in the north to die in the south." 9. Cup. 10. Dishes and chopsticks. 11. Tablespoon. 12. 1967 edition of Mao Zedong's Little Pamphlet. 13. Packs of cigarettes and Zippo. 14. Field accessories. 15. Engine oil for weapons. 16, 17. AK-47 (Type 56) tools.
27. Commando reconnaissance (sapper) in South Vietnam. Such training in the North was superficial and "according to the textbooks", while in the South the training of scouts was much more practical.
28. WAY TO THE SOUTH. Reinforcements going to South Vietnam were organized into groups from 5 to 500 soldiers. The troops usually received new uniforms and equipment plus new weapons, here the AK-47 and the RPD light machine gun (both Chinese). On the campaign, the fighter was also given pills against malaria, serums against bites of poisonous animals, water purification tablets, lighter flints, but not antibiotics. At that time, a trek could take up to six months, but usually lasted 1 to 3. The movement rate was 10-20 kilometers per day, depending on the terrain, the weather, and the occasional American air attack, which actually had little direct effect on the troops marching South. The monsoon showers greatly lengthened the journey, transforming mountain streams into torrential downpours, creating flash floods and inundating low areas, requiring a long detour. All weapons and necessities were carried on the back, including the main load of ammunition and a supply of rice for five days wrapped in neck bags ("elephant intestines"). New portions of rice were delivered to the soldiers every five days. The soldiers also carried the trench tool with them. Troops tended to wear the backpack very low on their backs.
29. This is a motorcycle courier. Dressed in athletic low-top sneakers; his cuffs are fastened to keep the dust out.
30. A team of PM37 82mm mortars prepare to fire among the ruins of Hue during the 1968 Tet Offensive, during which much of the city was destroyed.
31. An NVA veteran carries a bike across a bridge. He has already delivered his cargo, several hundred kilograms, to southern Vietnam. Horses and ponies were of limited use for hauling goods, as they were very susceptible to disease and harsh climates, certain fodder, and actually carried less weight than a cyclist.
32-33. Hidden troops depart for the South via Laos. Sickness, famine, hard to endure climate, American attacks accompanied the difficult transitions of the North Vietnamese army. Some of the branches of the Ho Chi Minh Trail led through the most unexpected landscapes, making it difficult for American intelligence teams to find them. The construction and maintenance of trails required considerable effort. In other areas, as shown in the photo on the right, the trail was cleared with herbicide sprays.
34. Entrance to the bomb shelter in the rest camp on the trail. The roof was built from tree trunks and earth. The shelters always had two exits to relieve the air pressure.
35. B-s2 bomber was lifted into the air after being spotted by NVA soldiers. The blow is applied to enemy positions with devastating fire of 500 and 1000 pound bombs.
36. Equipped section of the trail Ho Chi Minh Trail in South Vietnam. The trail also had various branches. The photo shows an American reconnaissance jeep. Such rops were equipped with vegetation from above and were difficult to detect from the air.
37. NVA attack tactics used firing on the move and maneuvers. The attack was supported by mortar and machine-gun fire. The rapid attack was accompanied by massive small arms fire, the photo shows the attack using AK-47s and RADs.
38. RPG-2 and 7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers were excellent weapons to support the attack. The grenade launcher strikes were mainly aimed at bunkers and other defensive structures of the enemy. The shooter in the photo is armed with an RPG-2, dressed in a paratrooper camouflage suit.
39. Battle for the city of Hue, 1968. Despite the fact that the soldiers of the NVA j, exfkbcm only fought in the jungle, the course of the war proved that the soldiers of northern Vietnam fought well in big cities.
40. NVA troops captured the air base of the army of South Vietnam (ARVN), where there were helicopters armed with missiles (Hue city).
41. Airfield and ARVN special forces base. Above the photo is the area of the government center. Firing positions and runway - on the right. It was through this runway 272 that the NVA attack took place.
42. Mines
43. INFANTRY UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT. SOUTH VIETNAM. Dark green uniforms were universally worn, but other colors were common. This fighter (1 and 2) is equipped to attack. His scarf is made from American parachute fabric and can be used for camouflage by knotting it around the neck and draping it over the back. He is armed with a Chinese-made AK-47 (3). His equipment includes an American-style belt (4) and a Chinese-made bag (5). Small pockets for oil, big clips and magazines. Other equipment available is a Chinese-made five-pocket magazine pouch (6), a Chinese-made plastic flask (7a, widely used at the end of the war) and an old aluminum flask (7b), four types of grenades (8, designations unknown except 8a, which is Type 59), four-pocket grenade pouch (9), 7x50 binoculars (10), Soviet compass (11) and camouflage mesh tropical helmet (12).
44. In attacks on the enemy, the Vietnamese often suffered significant losses. Even with successful attacks, losses often reached 50% or more.
45. A seriously wounded soldier is brought to a field hospital in the jungle.. This contraption in the photo on the right, which includes two bicycles at opposite ends, carrying two hammocks, also has a couple of extra seats on both bicycles, four seats.
46. NVA soldiers at a political meeting (1972). They are dressed in new dark green uniforms, collar insignia, and Soviet steel helmets. Armed with AK-47s.
48. Using local vegetation for camouflage, this soldier is preparing an RPG-2 for battle.
49. This is a 7.62 mm Goryunov model 1943 machine gun. The crew is dressed in tropical helmets with camouflage mesh. The machine gun is equipped with a device for anti-aircraft fire.
50. Shooting from a 7.62 mm machine gun Goryunov. These heavy machine guns were mainly used as infantry support weapons. The attacking soldiers, as seen in the photo, do not have bags with ammunition.
51. Victory, 1975. NVA soldiers in ARVN defensive positions. The fighters of the Black Vietnam with contempt compared such structures and their inhabitants with rats.
52. MEDICAL STATION.
53. A fighter prepares to load an 82mm PM37 mortar. The NVA made extensive use of this unpretentious and relatively portable weapon, which supported the advancing infantry units with firepower.
54. A group of NVA soldiers, including a machine gunner on the right, (1972).
PHOTO CAPITALS IN ENGLISH
02. NVA troops on maneuvers in the North. They are armed with SKS carbines and have attached camouflaging vegetation to their rucksacks, a standard measure when traveling cross-country.
03. The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was the principal enemy of the VC, but the NVA considered them a secondary enemy to the US armed forces.
04. By both policy and ingrained philosophy, the NVA focused on fighting the US Army and US Marines. They seldom demonstrated hesitation in engaging their main enemy, even when faced with superior firepower.
05. The soldiers of the NVA comprised youths. Here an equally youthful French Union Vietnamese paratrooper brings in a wounded Viet Minh fighter.
06. Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969) known as "Uncle Ho" – the president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. He was as much a "spiritual" leader of Vietnamese communism as he was a political leader.
07. The most numerous weapons employed by the NVA included(left to right): 7.62mm SKScarbine, 7.62mm AK-47 assaultrifle, RPG-2 and RPG-7 antitankweapons and (bottom) the7.62mm RPD light machinegun. The Chinese versionsof all of these weapons weredesignated the Type 56, withthe exception of the RPG-7(Type 69).
08. Young men of the VanguardYouth, a paramilitary laborforce of 16-30-year-olds, ontheir way to a work site to clearbomb damage. This is served as a form of preparatory training for the NVA.
09. Young girls also joined theVanguard Youth and performedlabor tasks. These girls are conducting a street patrol, one-armed with a 7.62mm M1944carbine. They reported trafficviolations and the locationof cluster bomblets andensured blackout restrictionswere followed.
10. A young NVA recruit armed with an AK-4? wearing thepeaked field cap with an NVAbadge. This cap was seldomseen in the South.
11. North Vietnamese society became highly militarized. Amultitude of organization swore the uniform and distinctive sun helmet of the NVA.
12. NVA RECRUITS UNDERGOING COMBAT TRAININGInfantry training was very basic and concentrated on individual skills: shooting from dIfferentpositions, hand-grenade throwing, camouflage, simple squad tactics and individual movementtechniques. The latter were heavily practiced, as shown here, with emphasis on keeping a lowprofile, making use of any available concealment, moving quietly and preparing to return fireimmediately. On occasion such movement had to be rapid, but it was also emphasized that, whencovertly approaching enemy positions, deliberate, patient and unhurried progress was essential.These recruits wear the older tan uniform, sun helmet and jungle shoes and carry 7.62mm Type 56carbines, the Chinese version of the Soviet SKS. Note they do not wear web gear. The sun helmet "sbroad all-around brim severely restricted vision in the prone position and presented a distinctivesilhouette. The corporal (ha si) wears the field cap and service jacket displaying his rank in theform of collar patches. He has chosen to wear sandals. The stick he carries is used as a pointer and not for punishment.
13. This 30-cal. M1 carbine-armed,tan-uniformed Viet Minhsoldier, posing beside a Frenchsoldier during truce talks,differentiated little in appearancefrom an NVA soldier fightingthe Americans some 10 yearslater. His sun helmet features plastic rain cover.
14. These girls, members of avillage self-defense militia,work the fields armed with 30cal.M1903 Springfield rifles incase they are called out tosearch for downed Americanflyers. These rifles may have been provided by China, as the Nationalist Chinese received them in World War II as part of the lend-lease program. Women from local populations in Laos, Cambodia and South Vietnam were pressed into serving as porters, mainly hauling locally produced rice"donated" to the cause.
15. RECRUIT UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT, NORTH VIETNAMEven though the dark green uniform began to replace the tan one in the south in 1966, the tanand other colors remained in general use in the north. This infantry recruit (1 and 2) is outfittedwith only an SKS 1a-pocket ammunition belt and canteen. Both Chinese Type S6 (3) and SovietSKS (4) carbines were used. The 1a-pocket cartridge belt (5) held two 1a-round charger clips (6)in each pocket. A cleaning kit was provided to each man in different types of pouches, here blackartificial leather (7). The Ground Forces badge (8) was affixed to the front of the sun helmet (9),which had an adjustable plastic headband (10). Examples of two types of canteen carriers areshown here (11), as well as a semi-pointed entrenching tool (12). Rank insignia was worn only in the North. The following are enlisted insignia: private 2nd class - binh nhi (13a), private1st class - binh nhat (13b), corporal - ha si (13cl, sergeant - trung si (13d) and mastersergeant - thuong si (13e).
16. Government officials and their children often wore uniforms in an effort to set an example.
17. Bayonet training. a common aspect of recruit drill in allarmies, taught aggressivenessand improved co-ordinationand stamina. This recruit wearsa white uniform, often issued torecruits and militia. His weaponis a Nationalist Chinese-made7.92mm Chiang Kai Shek rifle,a copy of the German Mauser.
18. Many future NVA troops hadserved in the militia and as aresult had basic experience ofthe use of weapons, drill andmilitary discipline, It aidedin keeping the School of theNew Soldier limited in duration,
19. Recruits undergoing aircraftidentification training, Theywere taught that any small armwas capable of downing evenhigh-performance aircraft,Just below the poster is aNationalist Chinese-made7,92mm Type 26 light machinegun, a copy of theCzechoslovak vz,26,
20. A government official reads aproclamation to troops earlyin the war as they prepareto march south.
21. In the South neither officers nor other ranks wore insignia, but officers could often be identified by the better quality of their uniforms. However,after lengthy service in theSouth they would end upwearing rank-and-file uniforms.
22. "NVA regulars," as they were called by American troops, parade in their forest green uniforms armed with AK-47s. They were known as "hardhats" (11011 coil after their distinctive helmets.
23. The crew of an 82mm PM37(Type 53) mortar prepares tofire a round from the Sovietmadeweapon. They wear the early tan uniform and bush hats.
24. NVA troops training in the North. The collar rank insigniaof the main figure denotes aprivate 1st class. He is armedwith a 7.62mm PPSh-41(Type 50) submachine gun,a weapon little seen inthe South.
25. This photograph of two NVAtroops provides a good viewof the AK-4? chest magazinepouch and rucksack. One manwears a black shirt. Mixeduniform components,with tan, green and blackitems, were common.
26. INSIDE AN NVA RUCKSACK. Whilst serving in Vietnam, the author had the opportunity to search a number of NVA rucksacks.. The following is a typical list of the contents. Not shown are ratios and personal papers, letters, etc. 1. Spare uniform. 2. Spare undershorts. 3.Ho Chi Minh sandals. 4. Rain cape/hammock cover/groundsheet. 5. Hammock. 6. Mosquito net 7. Toothbrush, Chinese toothpaste, soap in plastic box and comb with cloth bag. 8. Canteen, with seldom seen cup; the inscription reads "Born in the north to die in the south". 9.Cup. 10. Rice bowl and chopsticks. 11. Soup spoon. 12. 1967 edition of Mao Tse-tung's Little Red Book. 13. Cigarette packs and Zippo lighter. 14. Field dressing. 15. Weapon oil and solvent container. 16. AK-47 (Type 56) cleaning kit (left to right - carrying tube that fits into butt plate trap, bore jag for cleaning patch, takedown punch and bore brush) 17. AK-47 magazine charging adapter.
27. Reconnaissance-commando(sapper) training took place in the South. Training in the Northwas rather superficial and "bythe book," whereas in theSouth it was realistic andpragmatic in the face of FreeWorld firepower and securitymeasures.
28. THE PATH SOUTHReplacements infiltrating South Vietnam were organized into groups of between 5 and 500 men, but typically numbered between 40 and SO. Each man was issued a numbered infiltration pass with name and unit code. Troops usually received new uniforms and equipment plus Tay havebeen issued a new weapon, here AK-47s and an RPD light machine gun (both Chinese Type 56).They were also provided anti-malaria pills, antitivenom, water purification tablets and lighter flints, but not antibiotics. While the trip could take up to six months, it typically lasted between one andthree. The rate of movement might only be 6-12 miles (1 0-20km) a day, depending on theterrain, weather and the occasional American air attack, which actually had little direct effect onthe troops marching south. Monsoon rains greatly lengthened the trip by transforming mountainstreams into raging torrents, creating flash floods and flooding low areas, requiring lengthy bypassmaneuvers. Everything the bo dai needed was carried on his back, including a basic load ofammunition and rice for five days in their neck bags ("elephant intestines"). Once every five days they rested for a day and gathered new supplies. Carriers were seldom provided for entrenchingtools and they were carried beneath rucksack flaps. Troops tended to wear the rucksack very low on the back.
29. This motorcycle courier issporting low-topped runningshoes; his trouser cuffs arebuttoned to keep out dust.
30. An 82mm PM37 mortar crewprepares to fire amid the ruinsof Hue during the 1968 TetOffensive, which destroyedlarge portions of the city.
31. An NVA veteran carries an abicycle across a log bridge. Itscargo of a few hundred poundshas already been offloaded andcarried across by hand and willbe reloaded on the other side.Horses and ponies were usedto a limited extent to haulsupplies on the trails. However, they were highly susceptible todisease and the harsh climate,required forage and actuallycarried less weight than areinforced bicycle.
32-33. Camouflaged troops depart for the South through Laos. Moralewould often be high at thispoint, but this waned asthey pushed south owing tophysical effort over difficultterrain, disease, illness,hunger, the brutal climateand American attacks. Some of the Ho Chi Minh Trail"sbranches and spurs led acrossthe most unlikely terrain,making it difficult for Americanreconnaissance teams todetect. Construction andmaintenance requiredsignificant effort, as didtraversing the route. In otherareas, such as that shown here,the trail was totally exposeddue to naturally spearsevegetation or defoliationby aerial-sprayed herbicides.Rest stops were interspacedalong the foot trails, allowingsoldiers to sit on bench seatlogs.Besides crude foot trailsthe NVA also made use ofmetalled roads, which wereoften well maintained.
34. The entrance to a bomb shelterbunker in a trail rest camp.Note how heavily constructedthe roof is, being made up oflayers of logs and earth. Therewere always two entrances torelieve blast pressure. Bamboobenches and tables with athatched roof shelter top thebunker.
35. The B-s2 bomber was aterrifying threat to the NVAsoldier. There were instanceswhen entire battalions werecaught in bivouacs by thedevastating rain of 500- and1,ODD-pound bombs.
36. Extensions of the Ho Chi MinhTrail reached into SouthVietnam. These also possessednumerous branches andalternate routes. This one, being reconnoitered by American scout jeeps, is well camouflaged to prevent detection by aerial reconnaissance. Once in anarea of operations NVA units made their own trails, which were very difficult to detect, even from the air.
37. NVA assault tactics used little in the way of fire and maneuver. The assault would be preceded by mortar, recoilless rifle, rocket and machine-gun fire as wellas infiltration by sappers. from an AK-47and an RPD.
38. RPG-2 and 7 antitank weaponswere excellent fire supportweapons for the assault. Theywould be directed mainly atperimeter bunkers and otherdefensive positions and fired ata high rate. This RPG-2 gunnerwears a parachute-clothcamouflage cape.
39. Hue, 1968. Despite being trained only in jungle warfare, the NVA proved difficult to dislodge from buildings in South Vietnam's secondlargest city.
40. NVA troops overrun an ARVNairbase. where rocket-armedHuey helicopters are stillparked, in what is probably aged scene. The helicoptersrest on their tails, which is notnormal and there is otherobvious damage.
41. Loc Ninh Special Forces Campand the district governmentcenter near the photograph"stop; the town lies in the upperright corner. The fire supportbase is in the lower right at theend of the airstrip. It was acrossthis airstrip that 272 Regimentlaunched their assault.
42. FAR LEFT The US M18A1 Claymore antipersonnelmine set up on its folding metal legs, around which the electrical detonating wire is wrapped. The detonatorhas been removed from thismine, which would have beenin one of the two L-shapedfittings on either side of thesight on top. The Claymorewas much feared by NVAassault troops. LEFT A DH-1°directional commanddetonatedmine, what theSoviets called a MON-1 00,mounted on its tripod andwith its electrical firing Wireattached, which would beconnected to an EDP-R electricdetonator. It could also be detonated by a pull- or break-type tripWire. It weighed11 pounds, was gin. in diameterand 3.2in. thick. This one has been hit by two bullets from the rear.
43. INFANTRYMAN "S UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT, SOUTH VIETNAM. The dark green uniform was widely worn, but tan and other colors were common. This infantryman (1 and 2) is outfitted to conduct an assault on a Free World firebase. His scarf; is madefrom US cargo parachute cloth and can be used as a camouflage cape by knotting it around theneck and draping it over his back.He is armed with a Chinese Type 56 (AK-47) assault rifle (3).His equipment includes a web belt similar to the US pistol belt (4) and a Chinese-made threepocketAK magazine chest pouch (5). /solvent container, magazine charging adapter and cartridges in 1O-round clips or cartons.Other available equipment comprises a Chinese-made five-pocket magazine pouch (6),Chinese-made plastic canteen (7a, widely used late in the war and carried in a pouch-like carrier)and an old type aluminum canteen with web carrier (7b), four types of stick hand grenades(8, designs unknown except 8a which is a Type 59), four-pocket grenade pouch (9), Chinese7 x 50 binoculars (10), Soviet compass (11) and sun helmet with a rain cover cut from a plasticsheet and camouflage net, with camouflage parachute cloth bows tied to it (12).
44. Any assault on a Free Worldbase was devastating to theattacking NVA units, even ifsuccessful (which was rare).Casualties of 50 percent orhigher were common.
45. ABOVEDuring a major assault, casualties were heavy and the numbers ofwounded were staggering. ABOVEDuring a major assault,casualties were heavyand the numbers ofwounded were staggering.
46. NVA troops undergoing a political indoctrination lecture in North Vietnam in 1972. They wear new dark green uniforms, collar rank insignia, and Soviet steel helmets, and are armed with AK-47 (Type 56)assault rifles.
47. LAUNCHING THE ATTACKA cell of three bo do; cross the road running parallel to the Loc Ninh Special Forces Campperimeter wire to emplace two DH-l 0 directional mines (Soviet designation was MON-l 00)While it could be used as a Claymore antipersonnel mine and often attached to trees alongtrails, it was frequently set up on its issue tripod and used to blast gaps through barbed-wireentanglements with 450 steel 10 x 1Omm rod fragments backed by 1.79kg ofTNT. The third manwould drop back with the firing devices, which are connected to the mines by electrical cords.They carry only their assault rifles, four hand grenades and canteens. Most are bareheaded; sunhelmets and jungle hats would only restrict vision and even hearing, plus offer a more distinctivesilhouette. Their faces and hands are blackened by charcoal. Beyond them is another cell carrying a scaling ladder and wire-cutters. The ladder could be used to bridge wire; it was shoved underconcertina wire and then the outer end lifted about l8in. and propped up with V-shaped sticks.Then a man would crawl under, lifting up the far end and propping it up to create a "tunnel" forthe others to follow through. The ladders were also used to carry away any dead and wounded.The assault parties would move in unison to reduce the chance of detection.
48. Using local vegetation forcamouflage, this sun-helmetedsoldier sights an RPG-2(Type 56) antitank weapon.
49. This 7.62mm SGM heavymachine gun crew havecamouflaged their sun helmetswith camouflage-patternparachute fabric secured inthe netting. The ammunitioncontainer held a 2s0-round,non-disintegrating, metalliclink belt. The antiaircraft ringsight is fitted to the gun, butthis could also be used againstground targets.
50. A 7.62mm SGM crew providescovering fire in a posed photo(there are no cartridges in thebelt). These heavy machineguns were mainly used ascompany support weapons.A lighter conventional tripodmount was also available.
51. The final victory, 1975. Victorious NVA troops in an overrun ARVN fire support base. The NVA were particularly disdainful of their ARVNenemies who "hid in bunkerslike rats," in contrast to theirassaults across open groundand through barbed wire.
52. AID STATION Aid stations were set up in the rear and along withdrawal routes, but there was only so much that could be done for the severely wounded given the crude facilities on offer. many bo do; diedduring withdrawal and were buried in hidden graves. Pressure dressings and tourniquets were allthat were available to keep a man from bleeding to death. Discarded American field dressings and gauze pads were washed and re-used. One indicator that an operation would soon be mountedwas when large numbers of packages of sanitary napkins were bought in town stores. Local VCwould buy these up to use as field dressings. If the wounded bo do; long enough to ma "keit to an aid station, which might require at least an ali-day trip, blood transfusions might be available. Blood was "donated" by rear service troops, but there was a limited supply and itremained usable only for so long. Blood was often transported in discarded US 2qt plasticbladder canteens and preserved with ice acquired by the VC from towns large enough to have an anice-making machine. often resulted in gangrene, while serious gunshot wounds often resulted in amputation. Caffeine injections were used as a stimulant. There was little available for pain other than aspirin and marijuana; from China, Warsaw Pactcountries, France and American anti-war protesters, who believed they were sending thesupplies to treat bomb victims in North Vietnam.
53. The loader prepares to drop ahigh-explosive round into themmuzzle of an 82mm PM37(Type 53) mortar. The NVAmade wide use of thisrelatively portable weapon,which offered a considerableamount of firepower.
54. A group of NVA soldiers, including a machine gunner at right, photographed in 1972.
