320th Division (Vietnam)

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320th Division
Active1951-present
Allegiance 
Cambodian-Vietnamese War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Văn Tiến Dũng

The 320th Division or Đồng Bằng Division (Vietnamese: Sư đoàn Đồng Bằng, Delta Division) is a

formation and one of the six original "Steel and Iron Divisions" of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). It was established in January 1951.[1]
: 149 

First Indochina War

The Division was the target of

13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade held out all night against one Viet Minh battalion. This initial action was followed by two weeks of probing by GM 4 and paratrooper units. These columns fought major engagements in the surrounding countryside against the Division, particularly on 2 November. The French withdrew overnight on 6–7 November.[1]: 222  The French claimed over 1,000 Viet Minh killed and 2,500 wounded, while 182 were captured, along with "500 infantry weapons, plus 100 bazookas and recoilless guns and 3,000 mines."[1]
: 222  Windrow notes that this would amount to one third of the Division.

The Division's 48th Regiment was stationed at Điện Biên Phủ when the French launched Operation Castor, however after some small skirmishes the Viet Minh abandoned the valley rather than engaging the French paratroops.[1]: 239 

In late December 1953 General Giáp ordered the Division to infiltrate into the Red River Delta and assist Viet Minh local regiments to increase the pressure on the French in this region while he concentrated his forces for the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.[1]: 280  They were sent to disrupt the region between Hanoi and Haiphong, behind the De Lattre Line.[2] French forces from Cochinchina and Annam were sent northwards to interdict this.[2] The French further claimed that they were put out of action for at least two months.[2]: 170–2 

Vietnam War

On 23 August 1965, the PAVN General Staff ordered the Division to split into 320A Division and 320B Division.[citation needed] This section details the history of the 320A Division.

On 1 November 1967, the Marines launched Operation Kentucky as part of the continuing operations to secure the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) around Con Thien. The operation concluded on 28 February 1969, the Division and 324th Division lost a total of 3,839 killed and 117 captured while the Marines lost 520 killed.[3]: 449 

The Division played a supporting role in the

2nd Battalion 9th Marines killing nine Marines.[3]: 119–20  The subsequent Marine clearing operation, including the "Battle of Mike's Hill", lasted until 29 January and resulted in 21 Marines killed and 130 PAVN killed and six captured.[3]
: 121–6 

In early March 1968 following an action at

Thua Thien Province.[3]
: 242 

On 29 April the Division attacked

3rd Battalion 9th Marines arrived to support the Marine/ARVN force and was ambushed north of Cam Vu, 20 Marines and 41 PAVN were killed.[3]: 293  Also on 30 April, a PAVN unit opened fire on a United States Navy Clearwater patrol from entrenched positions near Dai Do, 2.5 km northeast of Đông Hà. It was later discovered that four PAVN Battalions including the 48th and 56th from the Division had established themselves at Dai Do.[3]: 294  The Battle of Dai Do lasted until 3 May and resulted in 81 Marines and over 600 PAVN killed.[3]: 295–304  The Division engaged U.S. and ARVN forces elsewhere around Đông Hà from 4–6 April, on the evening of 6 April the 2nd Brigade 1st Cavalry Division was deployed into Tru Kinh and launched Operation Concordia Square. On 9 April the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment was ambushed by a division unit resulting in 16 U.S. dead for the loss of 80 PAVN. On 10 April a night attack north of Nhi Ha was broken up by air, artillery and naval support, 159 PAVN were killed. After this the Division broke into small groups and was moving back towards the DMZ, from 9–17 May the 2nd Brigade reported killing 349 PAVN for the loss of 28 killed.[3]
: 306 

While it seemed that the Division had abandoned their attempts to take Đông Hà this was just a temporary lull. On 22 May a unit from the Division ran into a company from

1st Battalion 4th Marines encountered another PAVN unit setting off a two-day battle as the PAVN tried to escape back through the DMZ resulting in 23 Marines and 225 PAVN killed.[3]: 308–9  On 25 May in actions at Dai Do and Nhi Ha 350 PAVN were killed.[3]: 309  In two actions at Tru Kinh on 26 May over 56 PAVN were killed for the loss of 10 Marines, while the ARVN killed 110 PAVN north of Thuong Nghia.[3]: 309  On 27 April the Marines killed 28 PAVN and by 30 May the Division was attempting to escape through the Marine and ARVN cordon. Total PAVN losses in the second Battle of Đông Hà were over 1,000 killed.[3]
: 309–10 

On 12 August 1968, a deserter from the 64th Regiment revealed that the Division had once again crossed the DMZ and was moving to positions near Cam Lo. In response to this the 3rd Marines deployed north of the

Cam Lo River on 13 August and engaged the 8th Battalion of the 64th Regiment, killing 43.[3]: 397  The operation continued until 26 October resulting in over 1,500 PAVN killed for the loss of less than 200 Marines.[3]
: 405–6 

In early 1970 the 320B Division was converted from a training division to a mobile division subordinate to the PAVN High Command.[4]: 265 

In 1971, the Division, together with the

308th Divisions formed part of the PAVN B-70 Corps based in southern Laos.[5] The entire B-70 Corps opposed ARVN forces during Operation Lam Son 719. By 19 March the Division's 64th Regiment was operating east of Ban Dong/A Luoi (16°38′06″N 106°25′48″E / 16.635°N 106.430°E / 16.635; 106.430) in an attempt to prevent ARVN withdrawal along Route 9.[6]
: 113 

During the

Kontum.[4]
: 294 

On 20 January 1973 during the War of the flags period before the Paris Peace Accords came into effect on 28 January 1973, the Division attacked Đức Cơ Camp and by the next day seized the camp.[7][4]: 306 

During the

Ban Me Thuot cutting Highway 14.[4]: 368  On the night of 16 March the Division was ordered to pursue the ARVN and civilians from the Central Highlands who were withdrawing down Highway 7 towards the coast and by the next day the Division's 64th Regiment had cut Highway 7 at Cheo Reo, blocking the retreat in what became known as the "Highway of Tears".[4]
: 375–6 

On 29 March 1975 the PAVN formed

Saigon.[4]
: 417 

As part of the 3rd Corps, the Division participated in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War.

Present day

Today it remains part of PAVN 3rd Corps.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-297-84671-X
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 9780195067927
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 0160491258.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-7006-1175-4
    .
  5. ISBN 0-15-601309-6
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1984054463.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  7. ISBN 9781410225429.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
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