Battle of Trung Nghia
Battle of Trung Nghia | |||||||
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Part of the Vietnam War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
South Vietnam | North Vietnam | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
General Nguyễn Văn Toàn | |||||||
Units involved | |||||||
42nd Regiment, 22nd Division 44th Regiment, 23rd Division 53rd Regiment, 23rd Division |
24th Independent Regiment 28th Regiment, 10th Division 66th Regiment, 10th Division 95B Regiment, 10th Division 28th Reconnaissance-Sapper Battalion | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
30 percent[1] |
The Battle of Trung Nghia took place from 8 June to 16 September 1973 when North Vietnamese forces captured the village of Trung Nghia in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. The North Vietnamese were eventually forced out by the South Vietnamese.
Background
At the beginning of 1973 the
In mid-May,
Battle
On 7 June, a major attack by battalions of the 66th Regiment, 10th Division and the 24th Independent Regiment, supported by at least 10
The ARVN immediately tried to retake the position and casualties mounted on both sides as successive attempts failed to dislodge the entrenched PAVN, who enjoyed the advantage of observation from the heights of Ngoc Bay Mountain. In early July, the 44th Regiment gained a few meters and dug in on the eastern edge of the village of Ngoc Bay, but could move no further despite the employment of massive artillery preparations and air strikes.[3]: 52
Stalled in the attempt to take Trung Nghia by frontal assault, II Corps commander General Nguyễn Văn Toàn determined that an approach from the south against the positions at Plei Djo Drap, directly across the Dak Bla River from Trung Nghia, would strike the PAVN defenses in the flank and force a withdrawal. Toàn therefore directed the 23rd Division, reinforced with Rangers, to attack north from the base at Plei Mrong.[3]: 52–4
The southwest monsoon, in full force over the western highlands of
The PAVN was nevertheless suffering from the bombardment at Trung Nghia. Damage to the PAVN 24B Regiment was so severe that it was withdrawn to the
On 1 September 1973, the 42nd Regiment began the final assault on Trung Nghia, advancing cautiously to find that except for a few isolated riflemen the PAVN had withdrawn. The PAVN 28th Regiment, depleted by casualties and malaria, limped north along the Poko River. Some of its wounded, left behind and captured, revealed that PAVN forces defending Trung Nghia had suffered losses of 30 percent on the whole, and that in some units with considerable sickness casualty rates were as high as 60 percent. On the other hand, the 42nd's casualties were light. While the 42nd Regiment entered Trung Nghia, the 53rd Regiment, 23rd Division, advanced along the south bank of the Dak Bla River and occupied Plei Djo Drap, vacated by the withdrawing PAVN 66th Regiment, which crossed the river to recuperate.[3]: 54
Aftermath
Trung Nghia was cleared of all PAVN by 7 September, and the 42nd Regiment entered Polei Krong on 16 September. During the rest of the month, mopping-up operations cleared PAVN remnants from the slopes of Ngoc Bay Mountain, while skirmishing between the ARVN Rangers and elements of the 95B Regiment continued around Plei Mrong.[3]: 54
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ISBN 9781911512349.
- ^ ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ .