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People's Army of Vietnam

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Vietnam People's Army
Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam
Flag of the Vietnam People's Army. Slogan translates as "Determined to win."
ActiveDecember 22, 1944 – present
CountryVietnam, North Vietnam
AllegianceVietnam, North Vietnam
TypeArmed forces
Garrison/HQHanoi, Vietnam
Motto(s)Determined to win
AnniversariesTraditional Founding Date: December 22, 1944. Dien Bien Phu Victory: May 7, 1954. Liberation of the South: April 30, 1975.
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander		President of Vietnam(nominal commander): Nguyen Minh Triet
Secretary of Central Military Commission(de facto commander) : Nguyễn Phú Trọng
Notable
commanders		Võ Nguyên Giáp, Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Văn Tiến Dũng, Trần Văn Trà, Chu Văn Tấn, Vương Thừa Vũ, Lê Đức Anh, Nguyễn Thị Định, Hoàng Văn Thái, Chu Huy Mân, Lê Trọng Tấn, Nguyễn Bình, Trần Nam Trung, Hoàng Cầm, Trần Văn Quang, Đoàn Khuê, Nguyễn Hữu An, Nguyễn Minh Châu, Phùng Thế Tài, Trần Độ, Nguyễn Sơn etc.

The Vietnam People's Army (Vietnamese: Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam, variously translated as Vietnamese People's Army and People's Army of Vietnam) is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces (including VPA Strategic Rear Forces and Border Defense Forces), the Vietnam People's Navy (including VPN Marine Corps), the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.

During the French Indochina War (1946–1954), the VPA was often referred to as the Việt Minh. In the context of the Vietnam War (1959–1975), the army was referred to as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) or the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). This allowed writers, the US Military, and the general public, to distinguish northern communists from the southern communists, or Viet Cong. However, northerners and southerners were always under the same command structure. According to Hanoi's official history, the Vietcong was a branch of the PAVN.[2] The Vietnam People's Army recently[when?] undertook the role of leading their 1000th Anniversary Parade in Hanoi by performing their biggest parade in Vietnam's history.

History

The predecessor of the PAVN was the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation which consisted of 34 fighters headed by Vo Nguyen Giap who later became the first 4 Stars General of VPA on 28/5/1948, a famous military commander known for leading the PAVN to victories over French forces at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and against US backed South Vietnam in the Fall of Sai Gon in 30/4/1975. At first, This Propaganda Unit was formed under the guidelines of President Hồ Chí Minh on December 22, 1944 with the aim to introduce its members as main force to drive the French colonialists and Japanese occupiers from Vietnam.[1] The group was renamed the "Vietnam Liberation Army" in May 1945.[3] In September, the army was again renamed the "Vietnam National Defence Army."[3] At this point, it had about 1,000 soldiers.[3] In 1950, it was officially named after People's Army of Vietnam.

7 January 1947, its first regiment, the 102 'Capital' Regiment, was created for operations around Hanoi. Over the next two years, the first division, the 308 Division, later well-known as the Pioneer Division formed by the 88 Tu Vu Regiment and the 102 Capital Regiment. By late 1950 the 308 Division had a full three infantry regiments, when it was supplemented by the 36 Regiment. At that time, the 308 Division was also backed by the 11th Battalion that later became main force of the 312 Victory Division. Following disastrous failures against three French strongpoints in the Red River Delta, in late 1951, PAVN refocused on building up its ground forces further, with five new divisions, each of 10-15,000 men, created: the 304 Glory Division at Thanh Hoa, the 312 Victory Division in Vinh Phuc, the 316 Bong Lau Division in the northwest border region, the 320 Delta Division in the north Red River Delta, the 325 Binh Tri Thien Division in Binh Tri Thien province. In 1951, the first artillery Division, the 351 Division was formed but later before Dien Bien Phu Battle in 1954, first time in history, equipped by 24 howitzers given by China Liberation Army. Six first Divisions (308, 304, 312, 316, 320, 325) became known as the original PAVN 'Steel and Iron' divisions. In 1954 four of these divisions (the 308, 304, 312, 316, supported by the 351 Division's 24 Chinese howitzers) overwhelmed the French Union forces at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, ending 83 years of French rule in Indochina.

Soon after the 1954 Geneva Accords, the 330 and 338 Divisions were formed by southern Communists who had moved north in conformity with that agreement, and by 1955, six more divisions were formed: the 328, 332, and 350 in the north of the DRV, the 305 and the 324 near the DMZ, and the 335 Division of regroupees who had returned from Laos. In 1957, the 'interzones' of the war with the French were reorganised as the first five military regions, and in the next two years, several divisions were reduced to brigade size to meet the manpower requirements of collective farms. In May 1959 the first major steps to prepare infiltration routes into South Vietnam were taken; Group 559 was established, a logistical unit charged with establishing routes into the south via Laos and Cambodia, which later became famous as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. At about the same time, Group 579 was created as its' maritime counterpart to smuggle supplies into the South by sea. Most of the early infiltratees were members of the 338 Division, former southerners who had been settled at Xuan Mai from 1954 onwards. Regular formations were sent to South Vietnam from 1965 onwards; the 325 Division's 101B Regiment and the 66 Regiment of the 304 Division met U.S. forces on a large scale, a first for the PAVN, at the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in November 1965. The 308 Division's 88A Regiment, the 312 Division's 141A, 141B, 165A, 209A, the 316 Division's 174A, the 325 Division's 95A, 95B, the 320A Division also faced the US forces which included the 1st Cavalry Division, the 101st Airborne Division, the 173d Airborne Brigade, the 4th Infantry Division, the 1st Infantry Division, and the 25th Infantry Division. Those PAVN formations were seen as extremely brave forces by the US forces. Many of those formations later became main forces of the 3 Yellow Star Division in Binh Dinh (1965), the 5 Division (1966) of 7th Military Zone (Capital Tactical Area of ARVN), the 7 (created by 141 and 209 Regiments originated in the 312 Division in 1966) and 9 Divisions (first Division of National Liberation Front of Vietnam in 1965 in Mekong Delta), the 10 Dakto Division in Dakto - Highland in 1972 south of Vietnam.

By Lunar New Year eve of 1968, the PAVN launched a general offensive in more than 60 cities and towns throughout south of Vietnam against the US Army and ARVN. The US Embassy in Sai Gon, Presidential Palace, Headquarters of ARVN and ARVN's Navy, TV and Radio Stations, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Sai Gon were attacked and invaded by commando forces known as "Dac Cong". The offensives caught the world day-by-day attention and signaled the American of the first war the US Army could not win . PAVN sustained heavy losses of its main forces in southern military zones, its guerrillas and political hubs in Vietnam south. Its regular forces had to escape to Laos and Cambodia to avoid counter-attacks from the US forces and ARVN. Local guerrilla forces and political hubs in south Vietnam suffered heavy losses and were nearly wiped out of the delta area by Phoenix campaigns and military movements of the US Army and ARVN.

Though PAVN lost to the US forces and ARVN in south but it won political will of the US citizens to end the war. It was after the Tet Offensive, the hatred of the US people went to climax and the government had to think about a "decent" withdrawal ending its nightmare in Vietnam.[citation needed] Demonstrations increased in quality and quantity after Tet Offensive made the cabinet to promise a plan to bring their soldiers home. From 1968 to 1972, the 5, 7, 9 divisions had to fight for their existence in Cambodia against the US forces, ARVN and Cambodian Lon Nol's troops. They succeeded by supporting Khomer Rouge forces to fight Lon Nol's regime, battered and chased the ARVN from Cambodia and containing the US influences in Cambodia.

After the US's withdrawal from south Vietnam in 1973 according to Paris Agreement, in early 1975, the VPA launched a Great Spring 1975 campaign to unite Vietnam. The ARVN was totally defeated in 55 days by 4 VPA corps of regular armed forces. Then these 4 corps became regular forces of VPA until now.

Incursions

Towards the second half of the 20th century the armed forces of Vietnam would participate in organized incursions into the neighboring Indochinese countries of Laos, Cambodia and China.

  • Parts of Laos were invaded and occupied beginning in the mid 1960s, along with the Pathet Lao movement nurtured by Hanoi. In 1975 the Vietnamese military succeeded in toppling the Royal Laotian regime and installing a pro-Hanoi government, the Lao People's Democratic Republic,[4] that rules Laos to this day.
  • Parts of Cambodia were invaded and occupied beginning in the mid 1960s, upsetting the Cambodian military, which led to Lon Nol's coup in 1970 and the pro-US Khmer Republic state. In 1978, along with the FUNSK Cambodian Salvation Front movement nurtured by Hanoi, the Vietnamese military succeeded in toppling Pol Pot's Democratic Kampuchea regime and installing a pro-Hanoi government, the People's Republic of Kampuchea. Unlike in Laos, the PRK/SOC state would not be recognized by the United Nations, despite the genocidal record of the regime that had been overthrown.[5]
  • During the Sino-Vietnamese War and the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts 1979-1990, Vietnamese forces would conduct cross-border raids into Chinese territory in order to destroy artillery ammunition. This greatly contributed to the outcome of the Sino-Vietnamese War, as the Chinese forces ran out of ammunition already at an early stage and had to call in reinforcements.
  • While occupying Cambodia, Vietnam launched several armed incursions into Thailand in pursuit of Cambodian guerillas that had taken refuge on the Thai side of the border.

Both in Cambodia and in Laos, the heavily armed and battle-hardened Vietnam People's Army was the real power behind either the Pathet Lao or the FUNSK insurgencies.

Peacetime

During peaceful periods, the VPA has actively been involved in Vietnam's workforce to develop the economy of Vietnam, to coordinate national defense and the economy. The VPA has regularly sent troops to aid with natural disasters such as flooding, landslides etc. The VPA is also involved in such areas as industry, agriculture, forestry, fishery and telecommunications. The VPA has numerous small firms which have become quite profitable in recent years. However, recent decrees have effectively prohibited the commercialisation of the military.

File:Vietnamese Radio Division on parade.jpg
Radio Operators march in their 1000th Anniversary in Hanoi

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Organization

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is the President of Vietnam, though this position is nominal and real power is assumed by the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam. The secretary of Central Military Commission (usually the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam) is the de facto Commander and now is Nguyễn Phú Trọng. The Minister of National Defense oversees operations of the Ministry of Defence, and the VPA. He also oversees such agencies as the General Staff and the General Logistics Department. However, military policy is ultimately directed by the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.

The VPA is a "triple armed force" composed of the main force, the local force and the civil defense/guerrilla force. As with most countries' armed forces, the VPA consists of standing, or regular, forces as well as reserve forces. During peacetime, the standing forces are minimized in number, and kept combat-ready by regular physical and weapons training, and stock maintenance.

File:Vietnamese Army Parade.jpg
Vietnamese Soldiers parading

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Branches

Colonel Nguyen Trong Canh, Director of the Vietnamese Army Engineering Command's Technology Center for Bomb and Mine Disposal (BOMICEN)

The Vietnamese People's Army comprises various units of the main forces (Chủ lực), local forces (Lực lượng Địa phương) and the People's Defence Forces (Dân quân-Tự vệ).

It is subdivided into the following branches and sub-branches:

As mentioned above, reserves exist in all branches and are organized in the same way as the standing forces, with the same chain of command, and with officers and non-commissioned officers.

See Vietnamese military ranks and insignia.

Note:Vietnam Strategic Rear Force (Lực lượng dự bị chiến lược) is also a part of the ground force.

File:Vietnamese Army Marching.jpg
Hanoi Parade March

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International presence

The Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense organizes international operations of the VPA.

Apart from its occupation of half of the disputed Spratly Islands, which have been claimed as Vietnamese territory since the 17th century, Vietnam has not officially had forces stationed internationally since its withdrawal from Cambodia and Laos in early 1990.

Since the end of the Vietnam War, Vietnamese forces are sent to Laos repeatedly to quell the Hmong rebellion.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] For example, in late November 2009, shortly before the start of the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, the Vietnamese army undertook a major troop surge in key rural and mountainous provinces in Laos where Lao and Hmong civilians and religious believers, including Christians, have sought sanctuary.[16][17]

File:Vietnamese Soldiers.jpg
Soldiers ready to march

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Main Force

The main force of the VPA consists of combat ready troops, as well as support units such as educational institutions for logistics, officer training, and technical training.

In 1991, Conboy et al. stated that the VPA Ground Forces had four 'Strategic Army Corps' in the early 1990s, numbering 1-4, from north to south.[18] 1st Corps (Vietnam People's Army), located in the Red River Delta region, consisted of the 308th (one of the six original 'Steel and Iron' divisions) and 312th Divisions, and the 309th Infantry Regiment. The other three corps, 2 SAC, 3 SAC, and 4 SAC, were further south, with 4th Corps (Vietnam People's Army), in what was South Vietnam, consisting of two former PLAF divisions, the 7th and 9th.

The IISS Military Balance 2008 attributes the Vietnamese ground forces with an estimated 412,000 personnel.[19] Formations, according to the IISS, include nine military regions, 14 corps headquarters, 10 armoured brigades, three mechanised infantry divisions, and 67 infantry divisions whose strengths range from 5,000 to 12,500. The IISS estimate of 14 corps headquarters appears to be too high. Vietnamese Wikipedia entries suggest that a number of other corps heaquarters, including the 5th, 14th, and 68th, have indeed existed in the past, but now have been disbanded.

Smaller formations include 17 independent infantry regiments, one airborne brigade, various đặc công brigades and battalions of both of land combat - Đặc công bộ, urban combat - Đặc công biệt động and water-based combat - Đặc công nước (special task force units with unique high-level guerrila offensive combat tactics, sometimes incorrectly identified as "Sappers"; previously there had been a commando hunting force of this branch during Vietnam war, which has now evolved into an anti-terrorist force), more than 10 brigades of field artillery, eight divisions and more than 20 independent brigades of engineers, and 10-16 economic construction divisions. ‎

Local Forces

Local forces are an entity of the VPA that, together with the militia and "self-defense forces," act on the local level in protection of people and local authorities. While the local forces are regular VPA forces, the militia consists of rural civilians, and the self-defense forces consist of civilians who live in urban areas and/or work in large groups, such as at construction sites or farms. The current number stands at 3-4 million part-time soldiers.

Equipment

From the 1960s to 1975, the Soviet Union was the main supplier of military hardware to North Vietnam. After the latter's victory in the war, it remained the main supplier of equipment to the united Vietnam. The United States had been the primary supplier of equipment to South Vietnam; some of the equipment abandoned by the United States Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam came under control of the re-unified Viet Nam's government. NVA captured the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) weapons on April 30, 1975 after Saigon was captured.

  • 2800+ tanks: 990 T-55 (to be upgraded to T-55M3),480 T-72,220 T-62,360 T-59 and 665 light tanks
  • 3600+ APC: details below, ex Soviet, ex US and IS origin
  • 2889 Artillery
  • 201 Helicopters

The Vietnamese have also produced their own equipment and repaired existing equipment.

Tanks

IFV / APCs

Trucks

Infantry weapons

  •  Soviet Union AKS-74U Compact assault rifles (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong)
  •  Russia PP-19 Bizon Submachine guns (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong)
  •  Poland PM-63 Submachine guns (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong)
  •  Germany MP-5A4 Submachine guns (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong - 100 units)
  •  Israel Uzi Submachine guns (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong)
  •  Israel MiniUzi Submachine guns (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong)
  •  Israel MicroUzi Submachine guns (used by Special Force (a.k.a Dac Cong)

Artillery

Vietnamese troops on Spratly Island

Missiles

Helicopters

Manpower

The Vietnamese People's Army consists of:

  • Military manpower—military age: age for compulsory service: 18–25 years old; conscript service obligation: 18 months
  • Military manpower—availability:
    • males age 15–49: 21,341,813 (2005 est.)
  • Military manpower—fit for military service:
    • males age 15–49: 16,032,358 (2005 est.)
  • Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
    • males: 915,572 (2005 est.)
  • Military manpower—total troops:
    • 455,000
  • Military expenditures: $4 billion (Military Balance2007)
  • Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (Military Balance2007)

Notes

  1. ^ HISTORY - The Hmong
  2. ^ Military History Institute of Vietnam,(2002) Victory in Vietnam: The Official History of the People's Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975, translated by Merle L. Pribbenow. University Press of Kansas. p. 68. ISBN 0700611754.
  3. ^ a b c Early Day: The Development of the Viet Minh Military Machine"
  4. ^ Christopher Robbins, The Ravens: Pilots of the Secret War in Laos. Asia Books 2000.
  5. ^ David P. Chandler, A history of Cambodia, Westview Press; Allen & Unwin, Boulder, Sydney, 1992
  6. ^ THE HMONG REBELLION IN LAOS: Victims of Totalitarianism or terrorists?, by Gary Yia Lee, Ph.D
  7. ^ Vietnamese soldiers attack Hmong in Laos
  8. ^ Joint-Military Co-operation continues between Laos and Vietnam
  9. ^ Combine Military Effort of Laos and Vietnam
  10. ^ Vietnam, Laos: Military Offensive Launched At Hmong
  11. ^ 2008May20: Laos, Vietnam: Attacks Against Hmong Civilians Mount
  12. ^ Laos, Vietnam: New Campaign to Exterminate Hmong
  13. ^ President Obama Urged To Address Laos, Hmong Crisis During Asia Trip, Student Protests in Vientiane
  14. ^ Hmong: Vietnam VPA, LPA Troops Attack Christians Villagers in Laos
  15. ^ Laos, Vietnam Peoples Army Unleashes Helicopter Gunship Attacks on Laotian and Hmong Civilians, Christian Believers
  16. ^ Vietnam, Laos Crackdown: SEA Games Avoided By Overseas Lao, Hmong in Protest
  17. ^ SEA Game Attacks: Vietnam, Laos Military Kill 23 Lao Hmong Christians on Thanksgiving
  18. ^ See also http://www.defencetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6367
  19. ^ IISS Military Balance 2008, Routledge for the IISS, London, 2008, p.408
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