Ship without number in memory of hero Ho Dac Thanh: 3 times supporting the homeland

Ship without number in memory of hero Ho Dac Thanh: 3 times supporting the homeland - Photo 1.

Every time he commanded an unnumbered ship carrying weapons to support the Southern battlefield, passing through the Central sea, the heart of captain Ho Dac Thanh (from Phu Yen) was heavy. Many times he pointed to the mainland and told his comrades, sometimes he said to himself: "The direction of the setting sun, that is my homeland". He wished to receive an order to transport weapons to support his fellow countrymen in the fight against the enemy, to visit his homeland after more than 10 years away. At the end of 1964, the need for weapons in the battlefield of Zone 5 was very urgent. The provincial Party Committees of coastal provinces of Zone 5 sent people to bring letters to the Central Government asking for weapons support. According to the Central Government's directive, ship 41 was assigned to carry 63 tons of weapons to Vung Ro port (Phu Yen) to support the battlefield of Zone 5, at the same time opening a new branch of the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea. "When I was assigned the task of opening the road to Vung Ro wharf and providing weapons to the battlefield of Zone 5, I was very happy. My long-standing dream had finally come true. When I returned, my brothers and I rushed to prepare, study nautical charts, docks, etc., to make the trip perfect," said hero Ho Dac Thanh.

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 2. — People's Armed Forces Hero Ho Dac Thanh shares memories of 3 ships arriving at Vung Ro port

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 3.

On November 18, 1964, ship 41 carrying 63 tons of cargo left Bai Chay port ( Quang Ninh ). The Northeast monsoon blew in, the sea was rough with high waves as if it wanted to swallow the ship. Hero Ho Dac Thanh recounted that at around 12 o'clock on November 28, 1964, when it was 120 nautical miles from shore, the ship started heading towards Vung Ro. But to enter Vung Ro, ship 41 had to pass through 3 patrol routes of the enemy navy. When it was 20 nautical miles from shore, ship 41 did not receive a signal light from Mui Dien, suspecting that the ship had entered the wrong port, making the crew worried. Captain Thanh decided to continue the ship into the port in the planned direction. When it was 1 nautical mile from shore, the political commissar on ship 41 sent a signal but after 10 minutes, there was still no response from our people at the port.

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 4. — Remembering the comrades who sacrificed to protect the port

"After sending the coordinated light signal, our ship did not receive a response light. Once again, the suspicion of entering the wrong port flooded my mind. I slowed down ship 41, the camouflage net on the machine gun mounts was removed, and the crew got ready to fight. But at that moment, an island gradually appeared on the left side of the ship. That was Hon Nua. I knew that the Vung Ro gate was ahead," Mr. Thanh recalled. Ship 41 drifted in the middle of Vung Ro, a sampan was lowered carrying two soldiers carrying weapons to the shore to contact the port. Time passed slowly until there was a signal of recognition. At about 23:50 on November 28, 1964, ship 41 entered Vung Ro port. At the moment of meeting, everyone was choked with tears. According to orders, ship 41 was only allowed to stay at Vung Ro port until 3 o'clock and had to leave the port.

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 5. — Vung Ro Wharf - where shipments from unnumbered ships are received

"When I said that ship 41 was only allowed to stay at Vung Ro wharf from midnight to 3 a.m., Sau Rau (Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee Secretary, Vung Ro wharf chief) looked worried. Sau said that he only asked the Central Committee for 6-7 tons of weapons, now with 63 tons of weapons, there was not enough force to unload the goods," hero Ho Dac Thanh recalled. To find a solution, a party cell meeting was convened that night. Two options were proposed, one was to let ship 41 leave the territorial waters and wait until the next night to enter, and the other was to stay at the wharf in a very well-camouflaged manner to unload the goods the next night. Captain Thanh decided on the option of letting ship 41 stay at the wharf in a camouflage. This was a bold decision, if discovered by the enemy, not only would ship 41 have to be destroyed, but the secret route that had been kept for so long would be revealed, making it difficult for the Southern revolution. But if it left the territorial waters, when it re-entered, passing through 3 patrol gates was not an easy task.

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 6. — Burn incense and offer flowers to commemorate the heroic martyrs who sacrificed to protect Vung Ro wharf.

Captain Ho Dac Thanh let ship 41 dock at Bai Chua mountain. At 4 am, the ship was camouflaged, waiting for nightfall, the porters unloaded the cargo at full speed. "Everyone was working at full speed, seeing a soldier loading cargo in the basement, drenched in sweat, I brought him a cup of water to offer him. He accepted the cup of water and hesitantly told me that for the past few days the unit had to eat figs to hold out, because an enemy battalion had been ambushing all day on Highway 1, so the rice supplies could not reach, the soldiers had no food. I choked up when I heard that, promising myself that when I returned to the North, if there was a second trip to Vung Ro port, I would bring rice back for the people," Mr. Thanh said. On the night of December 25, 1964, ship 41 docked at Vung Ro port for the second time, carrying 3 tons of rice. That night, everyone was happy because they had a delicious meal. At 11:50 p.m. on February 1, 1965, ship 41 made its third trip to Vung Ro port at the moment of New Year's Eve to welcome the New Year of the Snake.

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 7.

In November 1966, ship 41 departed from Binh Dong port ( Hai Phong ) with the destination being Bai Ngang - Duc Pho ( Quang Ngai ). At 11:00 p.m. on November 27, 1966, the ship arrived at Bai Ngang port. At 4:00 a.m. on November 28, 1966, after dropping 2/3 of the cargo into the sea, ship 41 was hit by waves, bending its propeller and unable to maneuver. To ensure the secrecy of the cargo drop location and to avoid the ship falling into enemy hands, Captain Thanh detonated explosives, destroying ship 41. On the 11th trip, two soldiers Duong Van Loc and Tran Nho remained forever in Bai Ngang - Duc Pho.

Tàu không số trong ký ức anh hùng Hồ Đắc Thạnh: 3 lần chi viện quê hương- Ảnh 8. — Despite his old age, hero Ho Dac Thanh is still actively propagating and arousing the tradition of patriotism for the younger generation.

Two months later, the new ship, codenamed 41, continued its mission of transporting weapons to the South. Mr. Thanh was promoted by his superiors to be the Deputy Commander of Battalion 1, Group 125 Navy. Due to the needs of the battlefield, in 1969, Mr. Thanh was transferred to be the Captain of Ship 54. On November 31, 1969, Ship 54 left Ha Long (Quang Ninh) and its destination was Vam Lung (Ca Mau). Captain Ho Dac Thanh's 12th ship trip went around Southeast Asian countries, but when the ship entered Vam Lung port, it was discovered by the enemy. To avoid war and ensure a secret route, Captain Thanh sent the ship to Hainan Island (China). On February 3, 1970, Ship 54 returned to Hai Phong port. The journey of the unnumbered ship at sea of People's Armed Forces Hero Ho Dac Thanh ended.