Together with the three-service air defense force and local people, the Navy fought bravely, contributing significantly to defeating the US air force and navy. In the people's ground-to-air war, we shot down 8 modern jet planes and damaged many others; the US lost 12% of its aircraft sorties. This was a complete surprise to the US empire.
Victory of historical significance
Along with the achievement of repelling the destroyer Maddox on August 2, 1964, the victory on August 5, 1964 opened a new page in the history of fighting and winning of the Vietnam People's Navy. Prime Minister Pham Van Dong, who directly observed the battle of the Navy in the airspace and sea of Hon Gai at that time, said: "I am very proud of the fighting spirit of our Navy. This victory of your comrades is of great significance. I will report to the Party Central Committee and the Government what I have heard and seen about your great heroic spirit". With this achievement, the Navy was awarded the Second Class Military Exploit Medal by the Party and State, 5 Third Class Military Exploit Medals and 142 Military Exploit Medals to units, officers and soldiers with outstanding achievements; the Central Youth Union presented the young Navy with 20 honorary flags with the content: "Glorious feat - Glorious tradition".
On the anniversary of the first victory, on August 5, 1964, Uncle Ho sent a letter praising the Navy: “Although still young, thanks to the wise leadership of the Party, the trust and support of the people, and our own unceasing efforts, the Navy has fought bravely, actively destroyed the enemy, shot down planes and chased away American warships, united to make achievements, protected the people, protected the airspace and sea of the Fatherland. You have upheld the heroic tradition of our nation”. August 2 and 5 became the traditional day of the first victory of the Vietnam People's Navy and it was also the day of the first victory of the army and people of the North against the US Air Force.
Officers and soldiers of Ship 253, Squadron 512 (Brigade 127, Naval Region 5) practice handling air defense alarm situations.
Although defeated from the very first battle, the American authorities at that time were still pleased because they had found an excuse to launch a destructive war by air and naval forces in North Vietnam. From then on, the destructive war of the American imperialists climbed to the highest level of crime, but was completely defeated by our army and people.
The victory of the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964 originated from the far-sighted vision and wise strategic direction of the Party Central Committee and President Ho Chi Minh right from the time the US invaded Vietnam. It was the result of 10 years of actively building forces in peaceful conditions, the victory of Vietnamese military intelligence and art, the people's war policy of "using the weak to fight the strong, using the few to fight the many"; it was the victory of the close coordination and mutual support in combat between the Navy and the air defense forces, militia and self-defense forces of the Northern localities. The victory of the first battle was of utmost importance, creating a favorable premise, motivating the offensive spirit for the Northern army and people to defeat the escalation of the destructive war of the US imperialists, firmly protecting the great rear of the North, together with the Southern army and people to create a combined strength to defeat the US-puppet, liberate the South, and unify the country.
The victory in the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964 left us with many valuable lessons that are still valuable, such as: Always thoroughly grasp the situation, tasks and revolutionary vigilance, grasp the enemy's plots and tricks, not to be passive or surprised in any situation; uphold the spirit of self-reliance, daring to fight, determined to fight and determined to win; promote the combined strength, in which special importance is attached to the work of organizing, leading, commanding and firmly grasping the forces, closely directing each stage of the battle, ensuring the elements of secrecy and surprise, grasping the opportunity, applying reasonable fighting methods, achieving high efficiency; maintaining organization, discipline, solidarity, coordination and doing well the policy work in combat; quickly mastering military science and technology, effectively using weapons and equipment to ensure effective combat...
Promoting tradition, achieving many feats
Carrying forward the tradition of winning the first battle, generations of Navy soldiers have overcome all difficulties and hardships, achieving many glorious achievements. Notably: In the two wars of American imperialism to sabotage the North, the Vietnam People's Navy fought 716 battles, shot down 118 planes and damaged 102 others, damaged 45 American warships, together with the army and people of the North to defeat the destructive war by the air force and navy of the American imperialism. With the determination to "Fight the enemy and go, open the way to advance", the Vietnam People's Navy together with the army and people of the North removed, cleared, and neutralized thousands of enemy mines, opened the way, ensuring the operation of ships and boats to serve production and transport support to the battlefield in the South...
Along with Group 559 opening the Ho Chi Minh trail on the Truong Son mountain range, Group 759 (the predecessor of Group 125 Navy) was established to open the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea. During 16 years of transporting support for the Southern battlefield, the Vietnam People's Navy was ready to accept all sacrifices, hardships, and ingenuity to overcome siege and blockade lines, and deal with all the enemy's tricks; created many unique and daring methods of operation; formed many routes, opened dozens of wharves to most of the coastal provinces in the South and all the way to the gateway to Saigon; promptly transported more than 100,000 tons of weapons, ammunition, medicine and tens of thousands of people to support the battlefields in the South, especially places that the land-based Ho Chi Minh trail could not reach.
In the conditions of primitive military equipment, and having to face the modern navy of the US and puppets, the Vietnam People's Navy researched and found creative, unique and highly effective ways of fighting. On April 13, 1966, the 126th Naval Special Forces Group was established, overcoming the dense enemy blockade, relying on the people, penetrating deep into the ports, using small, elite units, using powerful weapons, fighting hard and dangerously. During 7 years of fighting on the Cua Viet-Dong Ha battlefield, the Naval Special Forces fought 300 battles, sinking and severely damaging 336 ships and boats, destroying many means of war, and destroying many enemy forces...
During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the Vietnam People's Navy coordinated operations and fought at sea, especially promptly coordinating with the troops of Military Region 5 to quickly, boldly, secretly, and unexpectedly liberate the islands of the Truong Sa archipelago, contributing to the great victory of the nation.
When the reactionaries Pol Pot-Ieng Sary waged war on our country’s southwestern border, the Vietnam People’s Navy fought bravely to protect the integrity of the country’s southwestern sea and islands. Responding to the call of the Cambodian National United Front for National Salvation and carrying out orders from superiors, the Vietnam People’s Navy fulfilled its glorious international mission, together with the Cambodian army and people and other forces, to save the Cambodian people from genocide.
Imbued with the teachings of beloved Uncle Ho when he visited the Army Corps (March 15, 1961): “In the past, we only had night and forest. Today, we have day, sky, and sea. Our coastline is long and beautiful, we must know how to preserve it”, the Vietnam People’s Navy has strived to overcome all difficulties and challenges, including blood sacrifices, steadfastly preventing plots and acts of encroachment on the sea and islands, truly being the core force protecting the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland.
The victory in the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964 left many valuable lessons for the generation of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy today to study and apply creatively in new circumstances; to firmly manage and protect the sovereignty of the sea, islands and continental shelf of the Fatherland; to build a revolutionary, disciplined, elite and modern Navy. Accordingly, the entire Navy focuses on doing well the following contents:
Firstly, proactively forecast and grasp developments at sea, promptly advise the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense on policies, strategic countermeasures, and measures for state management of the sea and islands, handling issues at sea, and defense diplomacy work in the sea direction. Comprehensively prepare in terms of ideology, forces, means, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure; handle promptly, avoid being surprised in any situation; maintain friendly relations with navies of other countries, and build peaceful and stable seas.
Second, promote the heroic tradition of the Navy, focus on building the Vietnam People's Navy to be politically strong, as a basis for enhancing the overall strength of the Navy. Raise the spirit of revolutionary vigilance, be ready to fight, and resolutely defeat all plots and tricks of hostile forces. Innovate and improve the quality of training and the ability to manage and protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
Third, promote the combined strength, the all-people national defense posture, the people's security posture, the defense zone and the people's war posture at sea, in which the Vietnam People's Navy is the core force. Proactively study, adjust and supplement plans, propose solutions and fighting methods suitable to the development of the armed forces and combat objects. Promote research and application of science and technology in management, command and operation of operations. Proactively coordinate closely with localities and forces managing, protecting and exploiting marine resources, mobilizing forces and means to fight to protect sovereignty over seas and islands.
Fourth, do a good job of ensuring logistics and technology; pay attention to developing scientific and technological potential; promote the spirit of self-reliance, dynamism and creativity in research, design, manufacturing, technology application, improvement and effective use of equipment and materials to meet mission requirements.
Fifth, actively participate in socio-economic development in sea and island areas. Proactively maintain close relations with local Party committees, authorities, organizations and agencies and units in the area. Strengthen mass mobilization, propaganda, mobilization, and help people eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, prevent and combat natural disasters, rescue, protect fishermen, and build a solid local political base. Continue to effectively implement the program "Vietnam Navy as a fulcrum for fishermen to go offshore and stick to the sea" and the activity "Navy sponsors fishermen's children", contributing to beautifying the image of "Uncle Ho's soldiers - Navy soldiers" in the new period, highlighting the glorious tradition of "Fighting bravely; being clever and creative; mastering the sea; determined to fight and win" of the Navy.
Lieutenant General NGUYEN VAN BONG,
Political Commissar of the Navy
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