The heroic epic of the Vietnam People's Navy and the army and people of the North

The victories on August 2 and 5, 1964 were the beginning of the heroic epic of the Vietnam People's Navy in its history of building, fighting, winning and growing.

The Central Military Commission met to discuss plans to fight the US and build armed forces to defend the North in 1963. (Source: Navy)

Due to the quagmire and failure of the "Special War" strategy In the South, the US empire decided to expand the war to the North in order to prevent support from the large Northern rear base for the Southern battlefield.

On the night of July 31, early morning of August 1, 1964, the US sent the destroyer Maddox of the 7th Fleet to deeply penetrate into Quang Binh waters, then move north, at times only 8 nautical miles from shore, both to spy and investigate our defense network, and to threaten and intimidate our fishing boats at sea.

With the determination to punish enemy ships that violated our waters, and to carry out the orders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, on August 2, 1964, the Navy Command commanded Battalion 135 to use 3 torpedo boats of Squadron 3 (including ships 333, 336, 339) commanded by comrade Nguyen Xuan Bot, Squadron Leader and Captain of ship 333, to secretly march from Van Hoa (Quang Ninh) to Hon Ne (Thanh Hoa) to ambush and attack the American destroyer. Coordinating the battle were 2 patrol boats T142 and T146 of Patrol Zone 1.

At 1:30 p.m. on August 2, the American destroyer Maddox entered the Hon Me sea area (Thanh Hoa). The forward command ordered the patrol boat and torpedo boat formation to search for the enemy ship Maddox. When the torpedo boat formation discovered the enemy ship, all three ships accelerated to approach the target. When the enemy discovered three high-speed boats approaching, they accelerated away and used large guns to fire heavily at the torpedo boat formation.

Despite being heavily fired upon by the enemy with bullets and artillery from ships and aircraft, our ships bravely advanced towards the target, both maneuvering to avoid bullets and quickly approaching to shorten the distance, taking up advantageous positions to launch torpedo attacks, and using ship-based firepower to fiercely fight back against enemy aircraft and warships.

The Maddox destroyer, number 731, of Squadron 77, US 7th Fleet, violated the waters of northern Vietnam. (Source: Navy)

The battle on August 2, 1964 was the first battle of the Vietnam People's Navy after 9 years of establishment. Although the force and equipment were still small, they directly fought with large warships and many modern aircraft of the US empire. However, with a heroic and resilient spirit, our officers and soldiers chased the Maddox ship away from Vietnam's territorial waters; at the same time, they shot down 1 aircraft, injured 1 US aircraft, affirming the will to dare to fight, to fight and to defeat the invading US enemy.

Immediately after the Maddox ship was chased out of our waters by the Vietnam People's Navy, on the night of August 4, 1964, the US government fabricated the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" and falsely accused the North Vietnamese Navy of attacking a US warship operating normally in international waters, to deceive international public opinion and the American people; using that as an excuse to launch a "retaliatory" campaign called "Piercing Arrow".

On August 5, 1964, the US mobilized aircraft from two aircraft carrier squadrons, Constellation and Ticonderoga, including dozens of modern fighter and attack aircraft, divided into 3 waves, suddenly and massively attacked our Navy bases, warehouses, and ship shelters along the northern coast from Quang Binh to Quang Ninh, opening the way for escalating attacks on the North.

Vietnam People's Navy anti-aircraft artillery battery shot down an aircraft in Vinh city - Nghe An on August 5, 1964. (Source: Navy)

Having been well prepared in advance, in the first test of fire with the US Navy and Air Force, the Vietnam People's Navy closely coordinated with the people and army of the North to bravely fight back fiercely. In this battle, the Vietnam People's Navy and the people and army of the North fought bravely, shot down 8 planes, damaged many others, and captured the first American pilot in the sea and airspace of the North.

The first victory on August 2 and August 5, 1964 of the Navy and the army and people of the North had strategic significance, creating favorable premises, bringing confidence, encouragement, and motivation for the offensive spirit of the army and people of the whole country to be determined to defeat the escalation of the war by the US imperialists, firmly protect the great rear of the North, and stand side by side with the great frontline of the South to defeat the US-puppet.

Vietnam People's Navy warships fought back against US aircraft at Lach Truong - Thanh Hoa on August 5, 1964. (Source: Navy)

It is the victory of the political and spiritual strength of the entire nation, of the determination to dare to fight, know how to fight and win; it is a symbol of the bravery and intelligence of Vietnam, a nation that, though small, always loves freedom and independence, never surrendering to invaders, even if they are many times more numerous and stronger.

That victory is a testament to the strategic talent, leadership and wise direction of the Party, the Government and President Ho Chi Minh, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense. It is a victory of Vietnamese military art in general and the naval art of warfare in particular, which has brought into play the combined strength of all forces and localities, creating a combined strength to defeat the invading enemy.

It is a victory of our nation's tradition of fighting "using small to fight big, using few to fight many". The victory in the first battle is one of the typical feats of the Vietnam People's Navy; it is the beginning of the heroic epic of the Vietnam People's Navy in the history of building, fighting, winning and growing.

Lach Truong - Thanh Hoa militia salvaged the wreckage of an American plane shot down by us on August 5, 1964. (Source: Navy)

With outstanding achievements in the battles on August 2 and August 5, 1964, the Navy and Air Defense Forces were commended by the Party, Government, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defense on August 7, 1964. At the commendation ceremony, President Ho Chi Minh praised “... you have achieved great achievements in the recent battles against American imperialism. You fought very bravely, shot down 8 American planes and damaged 3, and recently heard that 4 American planes were damaged in Bien Hoa. You captured American pilots and drove American warships out of our country's waters. That is very good”.

The Navy was honored to be awarded the Second Class Military Exploit Medal; Battalion 135 (now Squadron 135, Brigade 170, Naval Region 1) was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; 5 collectives were awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal; 142 collectives and individuals were awarded the First, Second, and Third Class Military Exploit Medal; 20 collectives were awarded the "Glorious Exploit - Glorious Tradition" Flag by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Labor Youth Union...

Promoting the tradition, experience and successful lessons from the first victory, the Vietnam People's Navy has inherited, applied and creatively developed in the cause of firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sacred sea, islands and continental shelf of the Fatherland in new historical conditions.

During the years of the resistance war against the US to save the country, officers and soldiers in the Army Corps fought intelligently, bravely, and tenaciously, shooting down hundreds of modern US jet planes, clearing thousands of mines, protecting the people, protecting industrial zones, important traffic hubs, and major cities in the North.

On the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea, Navy officers and soldiers accepted all hardships and sacrifices, transported officers and thousands of tons of weapons, effectively supported the South, and made an important contribution to maintaining and developing the war behind enemy lines. The Ho Chi Minh trail at sea will forever be an immortal legend in the great war of national salvation of the Vietnamese people.

Ceremony to honor the units that contributed to the victory in the first battle on August 2 and August 5, 1964, organized by the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. (Source: Navy)

During the general offensive and uprising in the spring of 1975, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, the Vietnam People's Navy coordinated activities at sea, especially with a part of the armed forces of Military Region 5, quickly, boldly, and proactively attacked and liberated the Truong Sa archipelago, contributing to the complete victory of the nation.

That is the patriotism and intelligence of the Vietnamese people; the tradition of humanity and friendship; the close relationship with the people; the indomitable fighting spirit, the effort to overcome difficulties and hardships to protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Promoting the tradition and spirit of ingenuity and creativity in the first victory, especially in the cause of national renewal, implementing the determination of the Party, State, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense, the Vietnam People's Navy has been striving to build and advance straight to modernity, truly becoming the core force of the all-people national defense and people's war at sea.

In the coming years, the world and regional situation is forecast to continue to develop in a complex and unpredictable manner; the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands has been and is placing new and urgent requirements on the Navy. From the traditional foundation and lessons learned from the first victory, it will be the valuable spiritual resources and resources for today's generation of Navy officers and soldiers to continue to strive, overcome all difficulties and hardships, become the core force together with the management forces, firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland, worthy of the trust and love of the Party, State, Army and People.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ban-hung-ca-oanh-liet-cua-hai-quan-nhan-dan-viet-nam-va-quan-dan-mien-bac-280662.html