50 years of national reunification: April 16, 1975: Liberation of Ninh Thuan

Liberation Army captured Thanh Son airport ( Ninh Thuan ). (Photo: Dinh Quang Thanh/VNA)

After losing the Central Highlands, Hue, Da Nang and many important areas in the provinces along the Central Coast, the Republic of Vietnam government panicked and tried every way to defend Saigon.

They hastily built a strong defense line in Phan Rang, calling for a "death defense" to protect Saigon from afar, with the intention of establishing a "steel shield" here to block our army's land and sea routes.

In Phan Rang, the enemy increased its forces, including the 6th Air Division, 2 Infantry Regiments and Battalions, the 31st Ranger Group, 2 Tank Battalions, and a fleet offshore, ready to support.

All of the above units were arranged to form a dense defense line from Du Long to the center of Phan Rang town and Thanh Son airport, directly commanded by Lieutenant General Nguyen Vinh Nghi, the forward commander of the puppet 3rd Corps.

To destroy the enemy's long-distance defense line, the Commander of the coastal army, Senior Lieutenant General Le Trong Tan decided to use the 3rd Division (Military Region 5), the 325th Division, the 25th Regiment of the Central Highlands and Military Region 6, along with forces in Ninh Thuan to plan an attack on the enemy's "steel shield" of Phan Rang; at the same time, he assigned the task to the Ninh Thuan armed forces, mainly special forces, to provide information, conduct reconnaissance and guidance, coordinate attacks on the enemy, and hunt down the remaining troops.

At dawn on April 16, 1975, from all directions, our infantry and tanks simultaneously attacked targets in Phan Rang town.

The 101st Regiment of the 325th Division led the attack on the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 31st Ranger Group defending Hoi Dien, An Xuan, then advanced towards the Ca Du intersection, Dai Son hamlet. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions followed with mechanized troops. The 164th Artillery Brigade provided fire support.

Division 3, Military Region 5 and Regiment 25 coordinated with the deep thrust of Division 325 to attack a number of targets in Phan Rang town and Thanh Son airport. Regiment 101 and Division 3 bravely repelled enemy counterattacks and captured Thanh Son airport.

At 7 o'clock the same day, our troops completely controlled Phan Rang town.

A part of our army quickly went to occupy Tan Thanh and Ninh Chu ports. Another part followed Route 1 to the south of the town and occupied Dao Long bridge, Phu Quy district. Having lost Phan Rang town in a flash, the enemy was extremely terrified and fled in panic.

At 9:30 a.m. the same day, the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam flew on the roof of the Ninh Thuan Provincial Administration Building, marking the complete liberation of Ninh Thuan province.

Faced with the stormy attacks of our army from all directions, the enemy's resistance gradually weakened, then they abandoned their weapons and fled in chaos.

More than 10,000 enemy troops at the Phan Rang defense line were destroyed and disintegrated. Lieutenant General Nguyen Vinh Nghi, Commander of the 3rd puppet Corps, and Brigadier General Pham Ngoc Sang, Commander of the 6th Air Division, along with many enemy officers and soldiers were captured.

Our army captured many weapons and war vehicles of the enemy, including intact A37 aircraft.

The attack on the enemy's Phan Rang defense line with the combined strength of the armed forces was a resounding victory. The enemy's Phan Rang "steel shield" was smashed, weakening and shaking the enemy's main defense line in the East from Phan Thiet to Xuan Loc, creating a position to open the way for our army to continue along Route 1 to liberate Saigon.

At 10:00 p.m. on April 16, 1975, General and Commander-in-Chief Vo Nguyen Giap sent a telegram praising all officers and soldiers for their victory in Phan Rang.

On the same day, the Central Military Commission issued an order to the 2nd Army Corps: to quickly pursue the enemy, develop rapid, bold, and unexpected attacks, determined to gain new victories; urgently consolidate forces, continue combat operations, and participate in the Saigon Liberation Campaign in time.

On April 16, 1975, at the Command Center in Dong Xoai, the 1st Corps Command organized the assignment of tasks to its subordinate units.

Several units of the 3rd Corps, such as the 675th Artillery Regiment, the 593rd Air Defense Regiment, the 575th Engineer Regiment and Battalion 1 (Engineer Regiment 7), the 29th Signal Regiment, the 198th Special Forces Regiment and the 3rd Corps logistics force, were present at the assembly location and deployed preparations for the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

On the same day, in the US, US President G. Pho ordered Ambassador Matin in Saigon to persuade and pressure puppet President Nguyen Van Thieu to resign in hopes of saving the situation./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/50-nam-thong-nhat-dat-nuoc-ngay-1641975-giai-phong-ninh-thuan-post1032007.vnp