Special Forces – Part 2: Heroic Special Forces of the Country

On March 24, 1967, the 5th Water Commando Battalion (the predecessor of the 5th Water Commando Brigade) was established and stationed in Thuy Nguyen District (Hai Phong City).

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 1. — Navy commando unit landed on Sinh Ton island, on the mission to liberate Truong Sa archipelago, April 28, 1975.

During the resistance war to liberate the South and unify the country, the unit directly trained 50 company frames (from K1 to K50) with more than 5,000 officers and soldiers of special forces to supplement the battlefields.

In the harsh water commando combat environment, the soldiers trained at Battalion 5, supplemented to the battlefields, achieved many resounding victories such as the battles in Nha Be, Thanh Tuy Ha, Saigon - Long Tau River, the oil refinery at Kong-Pong-Xom port (Cambodia)...

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 2. — Fighters of the 5th Marine Special Forces Brigade train to capture the island.

After the country's reunification, the unit both trained and directly fought to protect the Fatherland, fulfilled international missions, and provided training to help Cambodia and Laos.

Entering the new period, the 5th Water Special Forces Brigade has done a good job of advising and proposing to superiors on building and developing the water special forces in the direction of being lean, compact, strong, and modern. It has done a good job of ensuring and serving well the tasks of combat training, combat readiness, and sudden missions.

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 3. — 5th Water Commando Brigade troops practice combat

The 5th Water Special Forces Brigade was honored by the Party and State with the title of Hero of the People's Forces (in 2004); awarded the First Class Military Exploit Medal (2002), Third Class Military Exploit Medal (1980), Second Class Fatherland Protection Medal (2021)... and many times received the emulation flag from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of National Defense, including 5 consecutive years (2001 - 2005) when the Prime Minister awarded the flag of the Leading Unit in the Emulation Movement to Win...

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 4. — Martial arts training of water special forces

126th Naval Special Forces Brigade

On April 13, 1966, the Ministry of National Defense issued a decision to establish the Special Forces Reconnaissance Training Group (now the 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade).

Immediately after its establishment, the unit directly fought the enemy on the rivers and seas of the South while training soldiers. During 7 years of fighting in the Cua Viet - Dong Ha battlefield (1966 - 1973), the brigade fought in over 300 battles; sank and damaged nearly 400 enemy ships. During the Ho Chi Minh campaign, the unit was the force that directly liberated the Truong Sa archipelago and then carried out an international mission to help the Cambodian people...

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 5. — Naval commandos training at Vinh Linh base (Quang Tri), 1968

Over the years, the unit has performed well its training tasks in line with the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands, combat objects and weapons and equipment in its establishment; using the battlefield as a training ground; closely combining training with competitions and sports, constantly improving combat readiness.

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 6. — 126th Naval Special Forces Brigade troops practice diving

In addition, the unit also performs well in search and rescue missions at sea. In 2020, the brigade successfully completed the mission of participating in the rescue of the crew of the Vietship 01 ship in the Cua Viet sea area (Quang Tri). Recently, the brigade directly participated in the search and rescue mission after the collapse of Phong Chau bridge (Phu Tho).

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 7. — Colonel Phan Van Canh (Commander of Naval Special Forces Brigade 126) assigned tasks to the troops.

“We focus on training soldiers to skillfully use existing weapons and newly acquired equipment; flexibly apply naval commando tactics in the new situation,” emphasized Colonel Tran Van Nghia (Political Commissar of Naval Commando Brigade 126).

Colonel Nghia said: “Focus on practical training, field training in remote sea and island areas; training according to situations, battles, confrontation training; constantly improving the ability to withstand waves, drifting at sea for long periods for soldiers”.

Bộ đội đặc công - Kỳ 2: Anh hùng đặc công nước- Ảnh 8. — Special forces of Brigade 126 train in plans to fight the enemy on Truong Sa archipelago

Brigade 126 has been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces three times (in 1969, 1971 and 2020). Team 1, Team 2, Team 3 and Team 4 (now a company) and 13 individuals were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces...