Directive to liberate Truong Sa archipelago

Soldiers on Chim Island (Truong Sa archipelago) guard and protect the island. Photo: VNA

On the afternoon of April 4, 1975, after discussing and agreeing with the Central Military Commission and Campaign Commander Le Trong Tan, General Vo Nguyen Giap signed secret telegram No. 990B/TK.

The content of the telegram is as follows: “Special telegram dated April 4, 1975 sent to the Regional Party Committee, the Military Region V Command and the Navy Command. According to the Politburo's directive, the Standing Committee of the Military Commission assigned the Regional Party Committee, the Military Region V Command and the Navy Command to urgently study the combat plan and carry out all preparations so that when the opportunity arises, they can promptly liberate the Truong Sa archipelago, considering it a very important task.”

The secret telegram was quickly sent to comrades: Vo Chi Cong - Political Commissar of Military Region 5, Chu Huy Man - Commander of Military Region 5 and Navy Commander Nguyen Ba Phat who were present in Da Nang.

Comrade Nguyen Ba Phat quickly discussed with the Standing Committee of the Navy Party Committee and assigned the task to Deputy Commander of the Navy Hoang Huu Thai, requesting the organization of forces to implement the Directive of the General Command of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, taking advantage of the opportunity to liberate the Truong Sa archipelago occupied by the puppet army, resolutely not allowing any other force to come and occupy it first.

Following that, the Politburo, the Central Military Commission and the General Command continued to instruct the Military Region 5 Command and the Navy Command on specific tasks to liberate the islands and archipelagos. The liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago affirmed Vietnam's sovereignty over this archipelago.

The order was carried out immediately. Military Region 5 and the Navy Command immediately deployed the combat plan. The forces of Military Region 5, along with a fleet of ships and the Navy's landing force, were reorganized, including: Transport ships 673, 674, 675 of Group 125, which had just come from Hai Phong to take over Da Nang - these "numberless ships" were familiar with the "Ho Chi Minh trail at sea", having passed through the Truong Sa archipelago many times, so they were familiar with the route, distinguished the islands, and had experience avoiding reefs; Team 1 of Group 126, a special forces unit with a long history of secret and surprise fighting, sank many enemy ships in the Cua Viet battlefield.

The commander of the attack force to liberate Truong Sa archipelago was comrade Mai Nang - Head of Group 126; the deputy commander was comrade Duong Tan Kich of Group 125.

Also on April 4, 1975, the 3rd Corps was ordered to march into the Southeast region.

Meanwhile, on the same day, puppet President Nguyen Van Thieu sent an urgent telegram to the puppet 3rd Army Corps, instructing that at all costs they must organize a defense from Ninh Thuan onwards, if necessary, they would bring all their forces there to fight to the end; at the same time, he decided to merge the two provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan into Military Region 3, and organize the puppet 3rd Military Region Forward Command with Lieutenant General Nguyen Vinh Nghi as Commander, stationed in Phan Rang.

VN (according to VNA)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ngay-4-4-1975-chi-thi-giai-phong-quan-dao-truong-sa-408702.html