Battle of Thượng Đức (1974): Difference between revisions
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|conflict=Battle of Thường Ðức |
|conflict=Battle of Thường Ðức |
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|partof=the [[Vietnam War]] |
|partof=the [[Vietnam War]] |
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|image=[[File:Statue of Vietnam People's amy in Thượng Đức Battle.jpg| |
|image= [[File:Statue of Vietnam People's amy in Thượng Đức Battle.jpg|350px]] |
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|caption=Statue |
|caption=Statue of victory of Vietnam People's amy in Thượng Đức Battle |
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|date=18 July – 3 November 1974 |
|date=18 July – 3 November 1974 |
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|place={{coord|15.852|N|107.948|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}<br />[[Quảng Nam Province]], [[South Vietnam]] |
|place={{coord|15.852|N|107.948|E|type:city|display=inline,title}}<br />[[Quảng Nam Province]], [[South Vietnam]] |
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|result={{flagcountry|North Vietnam}}'s victory<ref>http://www.baodanang.vn/channel/5399/201407/y-nghia-lich-su-cua-chien-thang-thuong-duc-2340582/</ref><ref name=vov>http://vov.vn/chinh-tri/chien-thang-thuong-duc-buoc-phat-trien-vuot-bac-ve-kha-nang-tac-chien-396115.vov</ref><ref name=dangnang>http://www.danang.gov.vn/portal/page/portal/danang/chinhquyen/gioi_thieu/thang_canh_di_tich?p_pers_id=&p_folder_id=6904985&p_main_news_id=29467954&p_year_sel=</ref> |
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|result=South Vietnamese Pyrrhic victory<ref name="Duong"/><ref name=Veith/>{{rp|277}} |
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|combatant1={{flagcountry|North Vietnam}} |
|combatant1={{flagcountry|North Vietnam}} |
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|combatant2={{flagcountry|South Vietnam}} |
|combatant2={{flagcountry|South Vietnam}} |
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*3rd Brigade |
*3rd Brigade |
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[[ARVN Rangers]] |
[[ARVN Rangers]] |
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|casualties1= |
|casualties1=921 dead and 2000+ wounded<ref name=vov/> |
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|casualties2=7,200 dead and wounded |
|casualties2=7,200 dead and wounded |
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|notes= |
|notes= |
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The Rangers held out against the initial attack, but the PAVN renewed their attack in early August using 37mm anti-aircraft guns as direct fire weapons against the Rangers' positions. Given Thường Ðức's strategic location on the south-western approach to Danang, the [[I Corps (South Vietnam)|I Corps]] commander General Ngô Quang Trưởng released a Ranger group and a Regiment from the [[1st Division (South Vietnam)|1st Division]] from his reserve forces to supplement units from the [[3rd Division (South Vietnam)|3rd Division]] to push the PAVN out, but the PAVN had also sent an additional Regiment to support their attack and dug in on the western approaches to Thượng Ðức. Losses on both sides were heavy with the ARVN losing more than 4,700 killed and wounded.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|96}} |
The Rangers held out against the initial attack, but the PAVN renewed their attack in early August using 37mm anti-aircraft guns as direct fire weapons against the Rangers' positions. Given Thường Ðức's strategic location on the south-western approach to Danang, the [[I Corps (South Vietnam)|I Corps]] commander General Ngô Quang Trưởng released a Ranger group and a Regiment from the [[1st Division (South Vietnam)|1st Division]] from his reserve forces to supplement units from the [[3rd Division (South Vietnam)|3rd Division]] to push the PAVN out, but the PAVN had also sent an additional Regiment to support their attack and dug in on the western approaches to Thượng Ðức. Losses on both sides were heavy with the ARVN losing more than 4,700 killed and wounded.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|96}} |
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Despite ARVN efforts, Thuong Duc finally fell to the PAVN on 7 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.nhandan.org.vn/society/item/2709002-thuong-duc-victory-monument-inaugurated-in-quang-nam.html|title=Thuong Duc Victory monument inaugurated in Quang Nam|publisher=Nhân Dân Online|accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref> With the situation at Thuong Duc apparently stabilised, General Trưởng withdrew his reserve units to counter a PAVN buildup in the mountains southeast of [[Huế]], however this redeployment allowed the PAVN to capture Hill 1062 ({{coord|15.904|N|107.984|E}}) 5 km northeast of Thượng Ðức putting Danang within range of PAVN artillery. To counter this new threat General Trưởng ordered his elite [[Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division|1st and 3rd Airborne Brigades]] to retake Hill 1062.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|96}} On 18 September the ARVN Airborne captured Hill 1062, but they were driven off by a PAVN counterattack the next day. The battered Regiment of the 324th Division was soon replaced by a fresh Regiment from the [[304th Division (Vietnam)|304th Division]]. On 2 October the ARVN Airborne launched a new attack recapturing the hill and killing over 400 PAVN soldiers. The PAVN was then reinforced with a second and later a third Regiment of the 304th Division in an increasingly gruelling effort to retake the hill. On 1 November following a two-day artillery barrage the PAVN recaptured the hill only to be pushed off again by the Airborne two days later. This marked the end of the battle, Hill 1062 remained in ARVN hands while the PAVN controlled Thượng Ðức. The airborne had lost 500 dead and more than 2,000 wounded, while PAVN casualties were estimated to exceed 7,000.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|97}} |
Despite ARVN efforts, Thuong Duc finally fell to the PAVN on 7 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.nhandan.org.vn/society/item/2709002-thuong-duc-victory-monument-inaugurated-in-quang-nam.html|title=Thuong Duc Victory monument inaugurated in Quang Nam|publisher=Nhân Dân Online|accessdate=7 December 2014}}</ref> Before losing Thuong Duc, [[Ngô Quang Trưởng]] ordered two [[Cessna A-37 Dragonfly]] to bomb that killed a large number of civilians.<ref name=dangnang/> With the situation at Thuong Duc apparently stabilised, General Trưởng withdrew his reserve units to counter a PAVN buildup in the mountains southeast of [[Huế]], however this redeployment allowed the PAVN to capture Hill 1062 ({{coord|15.904|N|107.984|E}}) 5 km northeast of Thượng Ðức putting Danang within range of PAVN artillery. To counter this new threat General Trưởng ordered his elite [[Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division|1st and 3rd Airborne Brigades]] to retake Hill 1062.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|96}} On 18 September the ARVN Airborne captured Hill 1062, but they were driven off by a PAVN counterattack the next day. The battered Regiment of the 324th Division was soon replaced by a fresh Regiment from the [[304th Division (Vietnam)|304th Division]]. On 2 October the ARVN Airborne launched a new attack recapturing the hill and killing over 400 PAVN soldiers. The PAVN was then reinforced with a second and later a third Regiment of the 304th Division in an increasingly gruelling effort to retake the hill. On 1 November following a two-day artillery barrage the PAVN recaptured the hill only to be pushed off again by the Airborne two days later. This marked the end of the battle, Hill 1062 remained in ARVN hands while the PAVN controlled Thượng Ðức. The airborne had lost 500 dead and more than 2,000 wounded, while PAVN casualties were estimated to exceed 7,000.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|97}} However, PAVN claimed only 921 deaths and more than 2000 wounded.<ref name=vov/> |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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The Battle of Thượng Ðức was costly for both sides. Despite successfully stalling the PAVN advance, the ARVN failed to recapture the town due to shortages of supplies and replacement troops.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|96}} In the opinion of one ARVN commander, the PAVN goal had been to secure the left flank of I Corps to continue the building of the eastern corridor of the [[Ho Chi Minh Trail]],<ref name="Duong">{{cite book|last=Van Nguyen|first=Duong|title=The Tragedy of the Vietnam War: A South Vietnamese Officer's Analysis|publisher=McFarland|year=2008|isbn=9780786432851|pages=183–184}}</ref> while another believed that had it not been for the actions of the Airborne, Danang would have fallen in 1974.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lâm|first=Quang Thi|title=The Twenty-five Year Century: A South Vietnamese General Remembers the Indochina War to the Fall of Saigon|publisher=University of North Texas Press|year=2001|isbn=9781574411430|page=328}}</ref> Moreover, the ARVN had suffered irreplaceable losses among its elite forces and expended large amounts of ordinance which could not be replaced due to decreased U.S. aid. The 304th Division was rendered combat ineffective and would play only a marginal role in the [[1975 Spring Offensive]], however ARVN intelligence did not appreciate the 304th's weakness and so General Trưởng maintained substantial forces west of Danang to counter any thrust by the 304th from Thường Ðức.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|277}} |
The Battle of Thượng Ðức was costly for both sides. Despite successfully stalling the PAVN advance, the ARVN failed to recapture the town due to shortages of supplies and replacement troops.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|96}} In the opinion of one ARVN commander, the PAVN goal had been to secure the left flank of I Corps to continue the building of the eastern corridor of the [[Ho Chi Minh Trail]],<ref name="Duong">{{cite book|last=Van Nguyen|first=Duong|title=The Tragedy of the Vietnam War: A South Vietnamese Officer's Analysis|publisher=McFarland|year=2008|isbn=9780786432851|pages=183–184}}</ref> while another believed that had it not been for the actions of the Airborne, Danang would have fallen in 1974.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lâm|first=Quang Thi|title=The Twenty-five Year Century: A South Vietnamese General Remembers the Indochina War to the Fall of Saigon|publisher=University of North Texas Press|year=2001|isbn=9781574411430|page=328}}</ref> Moreover, the ARVN had suffered irreplaceable losses among its elite forces and expended large amounts of ordinance which could not be replaced due to decreased U.S. aid. The 304th Division was rendered combat ineffective and would play only a marginal role in the [[1975 Spring Offensive]], however ARVN intelligence did not appreciate the 304th's weakness and so General Trưởng maintained substantial forces west of Danang to counter any thrust by the 304th from Thường Ðức.<ref name=Veith/>{{rp|277}} |
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The victory in battle of Thượng Đức is valuable to the coalition of [[People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam]] and PAVN. This victory helped the coalition gain ARVN's camps of Hòn Chiêng, Núi Gai, Động Mông, Lạc Sơn and Đá Hàm and forced ARVN withdraw to Cấm Dơi and Quế Sơn. Those developement helped Division 2 of [[People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam]] and guerrillas in Quảng Nam-Đà Nẵng destroy other 70 camps of ARVN, military vessels in Đà Nẵng Port and airplanes in Đà Nẵng Airport. The victory in battle of Thượng Đức also helped [[People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam]] recognize weaknesses of ARVN and destroyed ARVN's defense system of Đà Nẵng city.<ref>http://www.baodanang.vn/channel/5399/201407/y-nghia-lich-su-cua-chien-thang-thuong-duc-2340582/</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:23, 31 August 2016
| Battle of Thường Ðức | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Vietnam War | |||||||
| File:Statue of Vietnam People's amy in Thượng Đức Battle.jpg Statue of victory of Vietnam People's amy in Thượng Đức Battle | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 North Vietnam |
 South Vietnam | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Hoàng Đan |
Ngô Quang Trưởng Nguyễn Duy Hinh | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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3rd ARVN Division elements
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 921 dead and 2000+ wounded[2] | 7,200 dead and wounded | ||||||
The Battle of Thượng Ðức was a decisive battle of the Vietnam War which began on 18 July and concluded on 3 November 1974.
Battle
On 18 July 1974, a regiment of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 324th Division overran the An Hoa Industrial Complex and then attacked the town of Thượng Ðức 40 km southwest of Danang, which was defended by Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Rangers.[4]
The Rangers held out against the initial attack, but the PAVN renewed their attack in early August using 37mm anti-aircraft guns as direct fire weapons against the Rangers' positions. Given Thường Ðức's strategic location on the south-western approach to Danang, the I Corps commander General Ngô Quang Trưởng released a Ranger group and a Regiment from the 1st Division from his reserve forces to supplement units from the 3rd Division to push the PAVN out, but the PAVN had also sent an additional Regiment to support their attack and dug in on the western approaches to Thượng Ðức. Losses on both sides were heavy with the ARVN losing more than 4,700 killed and wounded.[4]: 96
Despite ARVN efforts, Thuong Duc finally fell to the PAVN on 7 August.[5] Before losing Thuong Duc, Ngô Quang Trưởng ordered two Cessna A-37 Dragonfly to bomb that killed a large number of civilians.[3] With the situation at Thuong Duc apparently stabilised, General Trưởng withdrew his reserve units to counter a PAVN buildup in the mountains southeast of Huế, however this redeployment allowed the PAVN to capture Hill 1062 (15°54′14″N 107°59′02″E / 15.904°N 107.984°E) 5 km northeast of Thượng Ðức putting Danang within range of PAVN artillery. To counter this new threat General Trưởng ordered his elite 1st and 3rd Airborne Brigades to retake Hill 1062.[4]: 96 On 18 September the ARVN Airborne captured Hill 1062, but they were driven off by a PAVN counterattack the next day. The battered Regiment of the 324th Division was soon replaced by a fresh Regiment from the 304th Division. On 2 October the ARVN Airborne launched a new attack recapturing the hill and killing over 400 PAVN soldiers. The PAVN was then reinforced with a second and later a third Regiment of the 304th Division in an increasingly gruelling effort to retake the hill. On 1 November following a two-day artillery barrage the PAVN recaptured the hill only to be pushed off again by the Airborne two days later. This marked the end of the battle, Hill 1062 remained in ARVN hands while the PAVN controlled Thượng Ðức. The airborne had lost 500 dead and more than 2,000 wounded, while PAVN casualties were estimated to exceed 7,000.[4]: 97 However, PAVN claimed only 921 deaths and more than 2000 wounded.[2]
Aftermath
The Battle of Thượng Ðức was costly for both sides. Despite successfully stalling the PAVN advance, the ARVN failed to recapture the town due to shortages of supplies and replacement troops.[4]: 96 In the opinion of one ARVN commander, the PAVN goal had been to secure the left flank of I Corps to continue the building of the eastern corridor of the Ho Chi Minh Trail,[6] while another believed that had it not been for the actions of the Airborne, Danang would have fallen in 1974.[7] Moreover, the ARVN had suffered irreplaceable losses among its elite forces and expended large amounts of ordinance which could not be replaced due to decreased U.S. aid. The 304th Division was rendered combat ineffective and would play only a marginal role in the 1975 Spring Offensive, however ARVN intelligence did not appreciate the 304th's weakness and so General Trưởng maintained substantial forces west of Danang to counter any thrust by the 304th from Thường Ðức.[4]: 277
The victory in battle of Thượng Đức is valuable to the coalition of People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam and PAVN. This victory helped the coalition gain ARVN's camps of Hòn Chiêng, Núi Gai, Động Mông, Lạc Sơn and Đá Hàm and forced ARVN withdraw to Cấm Dơi and Quế Sơn. Those developement helped Division 2 of People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam and guerrillas in Quảng Nam-Đà Nẵng destroy other 70 camps of ARVN, military vessels in Đà Nẵng Port and airplanes in Đà Nẵng Airport. The victory in battle of Thượng Đức also helped People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam recognize weaknesses of ARVN and destroyed ARVN's defense system of Đà Nẵng city.[8]
References
- ^ http://www.baodanang.vn/channel/5399/201407/y-nghia-lich-su-cua-chien-thang-thuong-duc-2340582/
- ^ a b c http://vov.vn/chinh-tri/chien-thang-thuong-duc-buoc-phat-trien-vuot-bac-ve-kha-nang-tac-chien-396115.vov
- ^ a b http://www.danang.gov.vn/portal/page/portal/danang/chinhquyen/gioi_thieu/thang_canh_di_tich?p_pers_id=&p_folder_id=6904985&p_main_news_id=29467954&p_year_sel=
- ^ a b c d e f Veith, George (2012). Black April The Fall of South Vietnam 1973–75. Encounter Books. p. 95. ISBN 9781594035722.
- ^ "Thuong Duc Victory monument inaugurated in Quang Nam". Nhân Dân Online. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- ^ Van Nguyen, Duong (2008). The Tragedy of the Vietnam War: A South Vietnamese Officer's Analysis. McFarland. pp. 183–184. ISBN 9780786432851.
- ^ Lâm, Quang Thi (2001). The Twenty-five Year Century: A South Vietnamese General Remembers the Indochina War to the Fall of Saigon. University of North Texas Press. p. 328. ISBN 9781574411430.
- ^ http://www.baodanang.vn/channel/5399/201407/y-nghia-lich-su-cua-chien-thang-thuong-duc-2340582/