Company 2, Battalion 4 (Special Forces Regiment 198) was ordered to attack Mai Hac De depot. The “G” hour was 2:05 a.m. on March 10, 1975, which was also the command for the entire front.

Mai Hac De warehouse was the largest ammunition depot of the puppet army in the central highlands. To protect this ammunition depot, the enemy arranged 5 layers of barbed wire fences on the outside, with a two-story bunker every 50m; inside was a 2.5m high corrugated iron fence, with two headlights every 10m that could clearly observe the surrounding area. Through the corrugated iron fence was a 3m deep, 4m wide trench, with bamboo spikes and mines underneath; next was a patrol route with armored vehicles equipped with headlights and machine guns; next to the ammunition depot was a corrugated iron fence, with a 10m high observation post every 50m, with sandbag gun emplacements and field tents below. The enemy's guard and patrol forces always performed 24-hour duties around the depot.

Tank 980 of the 273rd Armored Regiment, Central Highlands Front, crashed through the iron gate of the 23rd Division Command, during the battle to liberate Buon Ma Thuot, March 11, 1975. Illustrative photo

Because the enemy had a very tight defense, approaching and capturing this ammunition depot was not easy. After many days of reconnaissance, mastering the enemy's fortification system and operational rules, the unit developed a combat plan by secretly infiltrating, lining up, destroying enemy troops in bunkers and the outer protection force, quickly penetrating deep inside to capture the depot headquarters, and controlling the battlefield. During the attack, if exposed or there was a situation, the unit would attack according to the intensive plan.

On the afternoon of March 9, 1975, the 3 attacking forces of the 2nd Special Forces Company began to march, approaching the target. At around 0:00 on March 10, when the force overcame the obstacle and the two B41 teams moved forward to the open door, suddenly the enemy on patrol threw grenades and fired at our formation, killing and injuring 5 comrades. After 1:00 a.m., the electric light from the protective fence was as bright as day, occasionally flares were fired, clearly illuminating every leaf and blade of grass. The “G” hour was approaching, the commander of the 2nd Special Forces Company decided to switch to plan 2 - intensive attack.

At 2:05 a.m. on March 10, the sound of explosives and gunfire against the enemy at the central airport of Buon Ma Thuot town resounded. The entire front began to attack the enemy in Buon Ma Thuot. At this time, comrade Dao Duy Hung, Deputy Captain of Special Forces Company 2, commanded the force to cross the trench and pass the enemy's patrol route; when the last layer of fence was opened, the enemy patrol force rushed forward, the soldiers secretly pressed close to the foot of the corrugated iron fence and opened fire to destroy them. We captured a soldier, he said that the enemy had sent a commando company of hundreds of soldiers and vehicles to protect the general warehouse, so near the foot of the guard tower, the enemy troops were very numerous. The special forces soldiers took advantage of the corrugated iron fence, approached the target, attacked with hand grenades and fired, and shot close to destroy the enemy.

At 5:00 a.m., the 2nd Special Forces Company captured 2/3 of the target, but the enemy force was still very large, supported by firepower, they counterattacked fiercely, recaptured the bunker at the open door in order to block our reinforcements. Taking advantage of the enemy's fortifications and favorable terrain, our troops fought resolutely. Deputy Company Commander Dao Duy Hung used the enemy's M79 gun to shoot at the bunker, the enemy was shouting on the 2nd floor of the bunker, when the bullet exploded, they immediately climbed down. Comrade Hung took the B40 gun of his fallen comrade and shot and destroyed the bunker, the remaining comrades used AK guns to sweep and use grenades to destroy the enemy around the bunker, opening the door for the reinforcements to enter.

At 10 o'clock, the enemy recaptured the central command area of ​​the warehouse, many comrades were sacrificed. The enemy's armored vehicles with 12.7mm machine guns and infantry forces advanced toward the open door and fired heavily. Comrade Dao Duy Hung and his soldiers used B40s and M79s to burn two armored vehicles. The enemy panicked and abandoned another vehicle, comrade Thang Quang Hoa immediately jumped up, turned the barrel of the gun toward the enemy, swept a long line, and enemy corpses lay scattered... The battle continued fiercely until the afternoon of March 10, 1975.

After nearly a day and night of fighting, with clever and daring tactics, the 2nd Special Forces Company, consisting of 37 officers and soldiers, destroyed an enemy force 10 times larger, with armored vehicles supporting them. Completing the mission of attacking Mai Hac De depot, after handing over the battlefield to the local armed forces, Deputy Company Commander Dao Duy Hung and his comrades continued to participate in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign.

PHAM THI HIEN - PHAM THI THUYET (Recorded according to the story of Colonel Dao Duy Hung, former Deputy Captain of Company 2, Battalion 4, Special Forces Regiment 198)

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/nghe-thuat-quan-su-vn/danh-chiem-kho-dan-lon-nhat-tay-nguyen-821704