Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division
Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division | |
---|---|
Saigon | |
Nickname(s) | Bawouans (in French) Lính nhảy dù (in Vietnamese) Thiên thần mũ đỏ (Angels in Red Berets) Thiên binh (Heavenly Army) |
Motto(s) | Thiên Thần Sát Cộng (Angels Kill Communists) |
Colors | Red |
Anniversaries | 1 January |
Engagements | First Indochina War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Đỗ Cao Trí Nguyễn Văn Vỹ Cao Văn Viên Nguyễn Khánh Dư Quốc Đống Nguyễn Chánh Thi Nguyễn Khoa Nam Đoàn Văn Quảng Lê Quang Lưỡng |
Insignia | |
Division flag |
The Vietnamese Airborne Division or VNAD (
The Airborne Division, alongside the Vietnamese Rangers and the Marine Division were often regarded as among the most effective units, with former airborne advisor General Barry McCaffrey noting that "those of us privileged to serve with them were awestruck by their courage and tactical aggressiveness. The senior officers and non-commissioned officers were extremely competent and battle-hardened."[2] Eight of nine battalions and three headquarters had earned US Presidential Unit Citation (United States)[1] of which eight of these were earned by the Airborne between 1967-1968 which included the Tet Offensive period.[3] Airborne commanders were often highly rated, with Airborne Commander Ngô Quang Trưởng once described by former Airborne-adviser and Gulf War commanding General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. as "the most brilliant tactical commander I have ever known".[4]
History
The Airborne Division had its origins in Indochinese-specific units raised under the "jaunissement" program, separating Indochinese members of French paratrooper units of the French Far East Expeditionary Corps forming separate battalions under the Vietnamese National Army. Among these are the 1e BPVN, 3e BPVN and 5e BPVN who were airdropped into combat during the Siege of Dien Bien Phu. Most were killed afterward upon capture by the Viet Minh, who regarded them as traitors, rather than bargained as the French had been.[5] They were later reformed into the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces and restructured upon the expulsion of the French by Ngo Dinh Diem following the Geneva Accords.
Vietnamese Airborne Division was among the elite fighting forces in the ARVN and placed as a reserve unit along with the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division. Headquarters of the Airborne Division was outside of Saigon. The Airborne Division would mobilize anywhere within the four corps at a moment's notice. The main use of the Airborne was to engage and destroy People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Viet Cong (VC) forces, not hold a specific region like the infantry units.
On the afternoon of 10 June, 1965 during the Battle of Đồng Xoài, the 7th Airborne Battalion was landed in Đồng Xoài to reinforce the defenders in the camp. The following day the battalion marched 4 km north into the Thuận Lợi rubber plantation where elements of the 1st Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division had been ambushed the previous day and they collected seven survivors and 55 bodies. In the afternoon, as elements of the battalion continued searching the plantation, the VC 271st Regiment started attacking them. Taking advantage of the poor weather conditions that had limited US airstrikes, as well as their numerical superiority, the VC broke the battalion into small groups and destroyed many of them. On 12 June, the strength of the 7th Airborne Battalion was reduced from 470 to just 159 soldiers.[6]: 401
On 11 December 1965 a United States Air Force (USAF) C-123B Provider #56-4376 crashed en route from Pleiku Air Base to Tuy Hoa Air Base killing all four USAF crewmen and 81 soldiers of the 7th Airborne Battalion on board.[7] The remains of the crew and passengers were recovered, but the identities of the Airborne soldiers could not be established and they were kept at the Laboratory at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam for more than 30 years before being interred at the Vietnamese cemetery in Westminster, California in October 2019.[8]
From 4–7 March 1966 the 1st and 5th Airborne Battalions participated in
From 20–25 March 1966 the 5th Airborne Battalion participated in Operation Texas with the ARVN 2nd and 3rd Battalions, 5th Regiment, 2nd Division and elements of the US 1st Marine Division fighting elements of the PAVN 21st Regiment and VC 1st Regiment around Hill 141 northwest of Quảng Ngãi.[9]: 120–8
On 4 August 1967 as part of Operation Greeley the 8th Airborne Battalion was deployed to aid the 1st Battalion, 42nd Regiment, 22nd Division which was locked in combat with a PAVN force on a hilltop west of Dak Seang Camp. After a three-day battle ARVN forces found 189 PAVN bodies, large quantities of ammunition and equipment, and a sophisticated regimental command post with training areas and an elaborate mock-up of the Dak Seang Camp.[10]: 298
1968
The
During the
At the start of the
From 11 March to 7 April 1968 the division participated in
From 8 April to 31 May 1968 the 1st Airborne Task Force participated in Operation Toan Thang I to continue pressure on PAVN/VC forces in III Corps. The operation involved nearly every combat unit in III Corps. The operation was a success with allied forces claiming 7645 VC/PAVN killed, however, the operation did not prevent the VC/PAVN from launching their May Offensive attacks against Saigon.[11]: 464–6
From 20 April to 12 May 1968 the 6th Airborne Battalion participated in Operation Delaware with the US 1st Cavalry Division.[15]: 91
During the May Offensive at 10:00 on 5 May the Airborne was engaged by VC north of Tan Son Nhut Air Base.[16]: 22
On 13 September 1968 during the
From 3 December 1968 the 2nd Airborne Task Force participated in Operation Goodwood under the operational control of the 1st Australian Task Force.[17] On 15 January 1969 the 1st Marine Battalion replaced the 2nd Airborne Task Force.[18]: 31
1969-71
In June 1969 the new II Field Force, Vietnam commander Lt. Gen. Julian Ewell initiated the Dong Tien (or "Progress Together") Program with III Corps commander, General Đỗ Cao Trí, to "buddy up US and ARVN units to conduct combined operations [that would]... maximize the effectiveness of both forces [and] achieve in 2, 3, or 4 months a quantum jump in ARVN and RF/PF performance."[19]: 409 The Airborne, now a complete nine-battalion division with three regimental and one division headquarters, artillery and supporting services, was still part of the general reserves under the supervision of the Joint General Staff, Saigon had never employed the force as an entire division and was still parceling it out in small multi-battalion task forces that continued to suffer more than their share of wear and tear. In contrast, other elements of the Airborne force, including the division headquarters and many of the support units, had seen little action in the field, rarely moving from their Tan Son Nhut base camp.[19]: 415
Something had to be done to revitalize this key unit that would someday have to serve as the mobile reserve force for the entire country, and in October 1969 Ewell nominated the US 1st Cavalry Division for the task. Since its arrival in III Corps in late 1968, the 1st Cavalry Division had been operating along the sparsely populated Cambodian border, engaging regular PAVN forces that ventured south across the frontier. Although the division had conducted a number of minor combined operations with assorted ARVN units, it had remained aloof from the main Dong Tien Program. However, the reduced amount of PAVN activity along the border during the second half of 1969 enabled Ewell to expand the missions of the airmobile unit.[19]: 415
In October and November representatives of II Field Force and III Corps met in a series of meetings at Trí's Bien Hoa headquarters, and laid out the ground rules for the Cavalry-Airborne Dong Tien operation. Trí emphasized the need for close coordination of commands and staffs at the division and brigade/regimental levels but felt that integrated operations at the battalion level were unnecessary. Presumably, the Airborne battalions were experienced enough to take care of themselves, but the Airborne brigade and division staffs needed much work. The Cavalry would have to make helicopters available and supply certain airmobile and communications equipment that the Vietnamese lacked. With these exceptions, the Vietnamese were to be in charge of their own operations, including their logistical needs.[19]: 415–6
Trí also wanted the Airborne Division to establish a forward headquarters with a full tactical operations center alongside the US division headquarters. Almost immediately the 2nd Airborne Brigade moved into
After several months in the field, Trí rotated other airborne units through the 1st Cavalry Division's "training area" until the program ended in April 1970. The effort was a mixed success. As in similar programs, American air, communications, and logistical support enabled the South Vietnamese units to run extended operations well beyond their normal supply and support capabilities. However, the Airborne never operated as an entire division. Because the division commander, General Đống, failed to establish a tactical command post and rarely took to the field, his staff and support units benefited little. Americans still considered Đống a problem child and felt that the Airborne had significant weaknesses that Dong Tien had been unable to address. Nevertheless, the combined effort set the stage for more ambitious undertakings in Cambodia one month later.[19]: 416
On 1 May 1970 as part of Operation Toan Thang 43 (Total Victory), an early phase of the
From 8 February to 25 March 1971 the 2nd Airborne Battalion and the 3rd Airborne Brigade Headquarters and the 3rd Airborne Battalion participated in
Easter Offensive
In late February 1972 in response to intelligence reports of a PAVN buildup including tanks and artillery in the Central Highlands, the 2nd Airborne Brigade was placed under the control of II Corps and deployed to secure a string of firebases along a backbone of mountains stretching south-west from
On the morning of 3 April Firebase Delta 25 km northwest of Kontum, defended by one company of Airborne and one of Rangers came under attack by the PAVN 52nd Regiment, the assault was repulsed using intensive tactical airstrikes and the PAVN suffered 353 killed.[25]: 86 On 21 April the PAVN launched an assault on Firebase Delta by three tanks supported by infantry and by the evening had succeeded in overrunning the base.[26]: K-6 From 23 to 24 April the PAVN overran the main ARVN bases at Tân Cảnh and Đắk Tô Base Camp. With the loss of these camps, the remaining firebases along Rocket Ridge were abandoned and the PAVN had a clear approach to Kontum.[26]: K-12
During the Battle of An Lộc on 15 April 1972, the 1st Airborne Brigade was lifted by helicopters into An Lộc to support the besieged garrison.[27]: 80 After the initial direct assaults on the town had been repulsed, the PAVN bombarded the town and gradually reduced the defensive line, while all the time being battered by US and South Vietnamese airstrikes. On 11 May the PAVN 5th and 9th Divisions launched a massive all-out infantry and armor assault on An Lộc, suffering severe losses to airstrikes but further squeezing the defenders.[27]: 145 Another assault on 12 May failed to take the city.[27]: 153 The PAVN launched a final attack on 19 May in honor of Ho Chi Minh's birthday. The attack was broken up by U.S. air support and an ambush by the Airborne.[27]: 157 After the attacks of 11 and 12 May the PAVN directed its main efforts to cut off any more relief columns. However, by 9 June this proved ineffective, and the defenders were able to receive the injection of manpower and supplies needed to sweep the surrounding area of PAVN and by 18 June the battle was over and the 1st Airborne Brigade was released to Division command.[24]: 135
Following the defeat of the ARVN in Quảng Trị Province in the initial phase of the Easter Offensive, on 2 May 1972 the remnants of the 3rd Division, the 147th and 258th Marine Brigades and the 1st Division established a new defensive line along the Mỹ Chánh River northwest of Huế. On 3 May I Corps commander General Hoàng Xuân Lãm was replaced by Lieutenant general Ngô Quang Trưởng, commander of IV Corps and this change of command and reinforcement by forces of the general reserve stabilized the ARVN position in Thừa Thiên Province.[24]: 50–3 The remainder of the Marine Division was deployed to Huế and was given responsibility for north and northwest Thừa Thiên Province, while the 1st Division was given responsibility for the area southwest and south of Huế blocking any further PAVN advance from the A Sầu Valley.[24]: 54 On 8 May the 2nd Airborne Brigade arrived at Huế and came under the operational control of the Marine Division on the My Chanh Line. The entire division arrived in late May and was given responsibility for a sector between the Marine Division and the 1st Division.[24]: 56–7
From 11 to 18 June the division and the Marine Division conducted probing attacks to test PAVN strength ahead of the launch of Trưởng's
In 1972 Thiệu finally moved Đống out of the division which he had commanded since September 1964, appointing him to command the Capital Military District and replacing him with General Le Quang Luong who had performed well at An Lộc.[19]: 487
From August to 3 November 1974 the 1st and 3rd Airborne Brigades fought the PAVN 304th Division in the Battle of Thượng Đức. The Airborne lost 500 dead and more than 2,000 wounded, severely weakening the strength of this elite unit at a crucial time, while PAVN casualties were estimated to exceed 7,000 and the 304th Division was rendered combat ineffective.[30]: 96
1975
In late December 1974 Trưởng took advantage of the temporary calm to pull the 2nd Airborne Brigade out of the line west of Huế, placing it in reserve in
The initial PAVN attacks in Quảng Trị Province struck Regional Force outposts and strongpoints in the foothills and the hamlets of the coastal lowlands. By 8 March, PAVN and local VC were in control of seven hamlets in
On 11 March a battalion of the PAVN 6th Regiment infiltrated through Phú Lộc, and two of its companies seized 12 fishing boats, which ferried them across Dam Cau Hai Bay to Vinh Loc Island. There they attacked Vinh Hien Village on the southern tip of the island and swept north to attack Vinh Giang. Some of the battalion pushed into Phu Thu District east of Huế. The 8th Airborne Battalion, reinforced with two companies of the 1st Battalion, 54th Infantry, and a troop of armored cavalry, moved against the PAVN battalion and badly mauled and dispersed it. On the same day, PAVN artillery-supported infantry assaults were launched against the 3rd Division, Airborne Division and territorial positions from Đại Lộc to Quế Sơn. Nearly all these assaults were repelled with heavy PAVN losses.[31]: 155
On 12 March, General Trưởng received the JGS order to pull the Airborne Division out of the line and start it moving to Saigon. The deployment was to begin on 17 March. Trưởng immediately called Viên to protest the decision but learned that Thiệu had personally directed the deployment so that the Airborne Division could participate in the offensive to retake Ban Me Thuot. Viên told Trưởng that, if possible, two battalions of the new 468th Marine Brigade and a Ranger group would be sent north to replace the Airborne Division. To adjust to the loss of the Airborne Division, Trưởng decided to pull the Marine Division out of Quảng Trị and northern Thua Thien Provinces and shift it south to cover Phú Lộc District and Da Nang. I Corps was to defend Huế and Da Nang, even if it had to give up Quang Tri, Quang Tin, and Quang Ngai Provinces. Trưởng and General Thi agreed, however, that their ability to hold Huế after the Marine Division moved south was questionable indeed. Trưởng flew to Saigon on 13 March to participate in a secret meeting with Thiệu, Prime Minister Trần Thiện Khiêm and Viên during which Trưởng was told about the evacuation from the Central Highlands and ordered to prepare a plan for the eventual evacuation of I Corps. He also was permitted to delay the first airborne brigade's departure to 18 March and the rest of the division until 31 March. Thiệu's reasoning was that Da Nang was most important, but that the rest of the region could be sacrificed. He would send the 468th Marine Brigade north to help defend Da Nang as soon as the Airborne Division arrived in Saigon. This division was vital to the defense of III and IV Corps, without which South Vietnam could no longer survive.[31]: 156
On 15 March, the 14th Ranger Group was to begin the relief of the 369th Marine Brigade in Quảng Trị Province. While one marine brigade would remain in the Song Bo Valley for the defense of Hue, the 369th Marine Brigade would deploy to Đại Lộc District in Quảng Nam Province, and relieve the 3rd Airborne Brigade for movement to Saigon.[31]: 157
On 17 March the 258th Marine Brigade pulled out of Quảng Trị to relieve the 2nd Airborne Brigade in southern Thừa Thiên and on 18 March the 2nd Airborne Brigade moved to the Da Nang docks for shipment to Saigon.[31]: 157
While the entire division was to move the Saigon, the 3rd Airborne Brigade was diverted at
From 7 to 8 April the 2nd Airborne Brigade flew into Phan Rang to replace the remnants of the 3rd Airborne Brigade which moved back to Saigon.[30]: 395 On 8 April the 3rd Airborne Battalion cleared Highway 1 and recaptured the villages of Bà Râu (11°43′08″N 109°03′47″E / 11.7188°N 109.063°E) and Ba Thap (11°40′48″N 109°02′17″E / 11.68°N 109.038°E) from the VC and the 11th Airborne Battalion then deployed by helicopters to recapture Du Long town (11°46′52″N 109°04′41″E / 11.781°N 109.078°E) and the Du Long Pass (11°47′35″N 109°05′31″E / 11.793°N 109.092°E), meanwhile the 5th Airborne Battalion secured the area around Phan Rang AB and cleared Route 11.[30]: 396 On 11 April the 5th Airborne Battalion was withdrawn to Saigon and on 12 April the rest of the 2nd Airborne Brigade was ordered to withdraw to Saigon. On 13 April the 31st Rangers arrived by air from Bien Hoa while the ARVN 4th and 5th Regiments of the reformed 2nd Division arrived by road from Phan Thiết to replace the Airborne. The 31st Rangers deployed to Du Long to replace the 11th Airborne Battalion on the evening of 13 April.[30]: 410–1 [31]: 173 The PAVN meanwhile had decided to eliminate Phan Rang and at 05:30 on 14 April the PAVN 3rd Division began an artillery attack on the 31st Rangers at Du Long Pass and the 3rd Airborne at Bà Râu. At 06:30 PAVN tanks and infantry attacked to 31st Rangers' position but were forced back. At 07:00 two A-37s accidentally bombed the Rangers. The PAVN then bypassed the Rangers and attacked Du Long Town quickly defeating the Regional Forces there and outflanking the 31st Rangers at the pass. Reinforcements from the 52nd Rangers were sent to support the 31st Rangers but they were unable to break through and at 16:00 the 31st Rangers were ordered to withdraw with only 80 Rangers successfully returning to Phan Rang AB.[30]: 411–2 At the same time as the attack on Du Long, the PAVN 25th Regiment infiltrated to attack Phan Rang AB. Despite helicopter gunship fire they successfully penetrated the base and headed for the hangar area where they were met by the 11th Airborne Battalion awaiting transport back to Saigon and four M113 armored personnel carriers which together with air support from the helicopter gunships and A-37s forced the PAVN back outside the perimeter, killing over 100 for the loss of six ARVN killed and one M113 destroyed.[30]: 412–3 At dawn on 15 April the PAVN shelled the 3rd Airborne Battalion at Bà Râu and Kien Kien (11°42′14″N 109°03′34″E / 11.704°N 109.0595°E) on Route 1 and then attacked their position. Although outnumbered, the Airborne held back the assault until midday when it blew the highway bridge and then withdrew onto Ca Dau mountain to the east.[30]: 413 At 02:00 on 16 April an RVNAF EC-47 intercepted a PAVN radio transmission indicating an armored attack on Phan Rang would start at 05:00. A-37 aircraft were launched to attack PAVN positions along Route 1 and at 03:00 reconnaissance reported a large PAVN force moving through the Du Long Pass. Meanwhile, VC forces began attacking the base perimeter and on Ca Dau Mountain.[30]: 419–20 At 05:00 the PAVN artillery bombardment commenced and this was soon followed by an armored spearhead of 20 tanks and armored personnel carriers of the 4th Battalion, 203rd Tank Brigade supported by truck-mounted infantry of the 101st Regiment and anti-aircraft guns.[30]: 416 While the lead tank was destroyed by an ARVN rocket, the PAVN force quickly cut through the 3rd Airborne platoon holding Kien Kien. The RVNAF at the base mounted numerous airstrikes on the armored column destroying vehicles, taking losses from the antiaircraft fire and by 08:00 the armored vehicles were on the outskirts of the city. However the truck-mounted infantry had dispersed to avoid the airstrikes and the anti-aircraft vehicles had not kept up with the advance, leaving the 101st Regiment vulnerable to further air attacks which destroyed or damaged another 16 vehicles and killing numerous PAVN soldiers.[30]: 420–1 The PAVN 3rd Division then attacked the Airborne troops on Ca Dau Mountain and allowed the 101st Regiment to resume its advance. After overcoming a Regional Force roadblock on the outskirts of the city for the loss of two tanks and many infantry, the PAVN pushed into the city capturing the Provincial Headquarters. By 09:30 the PAVN had captured the port and a bridge on Route 1 south of the city sealing off all sea and land escape routes.[30]: 422 At 08:45 a battalion-sized PAVN mechanized force attacked along Route 11 towards the base. While one element attacked the 5th Regiment defending Route 11, the other moved around it to attack the base directly and at the same time, the 25th Regiment attacked the north of the base. The 5th Regiment soon broke and ran allowing the PAVN to attack the base's main gate while the 25th Regiment penetrated the north perimeter with explosives and captured the bomb storage area. The Airborne attempted a counterattack against the 25th Regiment, but were forced back and then squeezed between the PAVN and by 09:30 the PAVN had captured the base. Lieutenant general Nguyễn Vĩnh Nghi ordered his remaining forces to retreat from the base to the Ca Na peninsula (11°20′44″N 108°52′37″E / 11.3455°N 108.877°E) 19 miles (31 km) south of the base and after cutting through the perimeter fence a large group of RVNAF, ARVN, and South Vietnamese civilians fled the base joining up with the 11th Airborne outside the base. At midnight on 17 April, the Airborne attacked a PAVN force on Route 11, but in the confusion of the attack Nghi and his command group became separated and at 02:00 were captured by the PAVN.[30]: 423–5
On 11 April the 1st Airborne Brigade was deployed south of
Airborne brigade and divisional commanders
- Đỗ Cao Trí (1954-1955)
- Nguyễn Văn Vỹ
- Cao Văn Viên (1960-1964)
- Nguyễn Khánh
- Dư Quốc Đống
- Nguyễn Chánh Thi (1955-1960)
- Nguyễn Khoa Nam
- Đoàn Văn Quảng
- Lê Quang Lưỡng
Structure and organization
Airborne Advisory Detachment
Like all major
Units
- Colonial units[32]: 23–4
- 1st Indochinese Parachute Company (1ére CIP)
- 3rd Indochinese Parachute Company (3e CIP)
- 5th Indochinese Parachute Company (5e CIP)
- 7th Indochinese Parachute Company (7e CIP)
- 1st Airborne Guard Company (1ére CPGVN)
- 3rd Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (3e BPVN)
- 5th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (5e BPVN)
- 6th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (6e BPVN)
- 7th Vietnamese Parachute Battalion (7e BPVN)
- 3rd Vietnamese Parachute Engineers Company (3ére CPGVN)
- Airborne Group units[32]: 24
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company (HHC)
- 1st Airborne Battalion (1 TDND)
- 3rd Airborne Battalion (3 TDND)
- 5th Airborne Battalion (5 TDND)
- 6th Airborne Battalion (6 TDND)
- Airborne Combat Support Battalion
- Airborne Brigade units[32]: 25–7
- Headquarters & Headquarters Company
- 1st Task Force HQ
- 1st Airborne Battalion (1 TDND)
- 6th Airborne Battalion (6 TDND)
- 7th Airborne Battalion (7 TDND)
- 2nd Task Force HQ
- 3rd Airborne Battalion (3 TDND)
- 5th Airborne Battalion (5 TDND)
- 8th Airborne Battalion (8 TDND)
- Airborne Combat Support Battalion
- Airborne Division units[32]: 27 [33]
- Headquarters Battalion
- U.S. Airborne Advisory Team 162
- 1st Task Force/Brigade HHC
- 1st Airborne Battalion (1 TDND)
- 8th Airborne Battalion (8 TDND)
- 9th Airborne Battalion (9 TDND)
- 1st Airborne Artillery Battalion
- 2nd Task Force/Brigade HHC
- 5th Airborne Battalion (5 TDND)
- 7th Airborne Battalion (7 TDND)
- 11th Airborne Battalion (11 TDND)
- 2nd Airborne Artillery Battalion
- 3rd Task Force/Brigade HHC
- 2nd Airborne Battalion (2 TDND)
- 3rd Airborne Battalion (3 TDND)
- 6th Airborne Battalion (6 TDND)
- 3rd Airborne Artillery Battalion
- 4th Task Force/Brigade HHC
- 4th Airborne Battalion (4 TDND)
- 10th Airborne Battalion (10 TDND)
- Division Troops
- Airborne Signal Battalion
- Airborne Support Battalion
- Airborne Medical Battalion
- Airborne Reconnaissance Company/Battalion
- Airborne Engineer Company/Battalion
Weapons and equipment
The South Vietnamese airborne forces used the standard weaponry and equipment of French and U.S. origin issued to ANV and ARVN units. Paratrooper companies also fielded crew-served heavy weapons, such as mortars and recoilless rifles, whilst divisional artillery batteries were provided with Howitzers.
- M1917 revolver
- Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver
- MAS-35-S pistol (7.65mm Longue)
- Colt.45 M1911A1 pistol
- Smith & Wesson Model 39 Pistol
- MAT-49 Submachine gun
- M1A1 Thompson submachine gun
- M3A1 Grease Gun
- M1A1 Carbine
- M2 Carbine
- M1 Garand rifle
- MAS-36Bolt-action rifle
- M16A1 Assault rifle
- CAR-15 Assault carbine
- FM 24/29 light machine gun
- M1918A2 BAR Light machine gun
- M60 machine gun
- Browning M1919A4 .30 Cal Medium machine gun
- Browning M2HB .50 Cal Heavy machine gun
- M72 LAW Anti-tank rocket launcher
- M79 grenade launcher
- M2 mortar 60 mm
- M19 mortar 60 mm
- M29 mortar 81 mm
- Brandt mle 27/31 mortar81 mm
- M67 recoilless rifle 90 mm
- 3.5 inch M20A1 Super Bazooka
- M101A1 105mm towed field howitzer
- M102 105mm light towed field howitzer
- Hurricane Aircat Airboat patrol boat[34][35]
See also
- ARVN
- Army of the Republic of Vietnam Special Forces (LLDB)
- First Indochina War
- MIKE Force
- Republic of Vietnam Military Forces
- Royal Lao Army Airborne
- Vietnamese National Army (ANV)
- Vietnam War
- Weapons of the Vietnam War
References
- ^ a b "Angels in Red Hats". vnafmamn.com. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ "Ragged Edge of Vietnamization | HistoryNet". www.historynet.com. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ "'The Most Brilliant Commander': Ngo Quang Truong | HistoryNet". www.historynet.com. 15 October 2007. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
- ^ Jean-Jacques Arzalier, Les Pertes Humaines, 1954–2004: La Bataille de Dien Bien Phu, entre Histoire et Mémoire, Société française d'histoire d'outre-mer, 2004
- ISBN 9780521869119.
- ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Fairchild C-123B-18-FA Provider 56-4376 Tuy Hoa". Aviation Safety network. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "81 South Vietnamese soldiers who fought with US finally laid to rest". NBC News Today. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ .
- .
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 0891417699.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 9780752492506.
- ^ .
- ^ Thompson, A.W. (14 December 1968). The Defense of Saigon. Headquarters Pacific Air Force. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 0044422199.
- ^ "AWM 95-1-4-136 Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force Commander's Diary Annexes E-N 1–31 Jan 1969" (PDF). Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ .
- ^ "Cambodia PSYOP". www.psywarrior.com. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 9780939526109.
- )
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ngo, Quang Truong (1980). The Easter offensive of 1972 (PDF). U.S. Army Center of Military History. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 13, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ISBN 9780813134017.
- ^ a b "U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Command History 1972, Annex K. Kontum, 1973. MACV" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ ISBN 9781574412765.
- ^ .
- ISBN 9780781802864.
- ^ ISBN 9781594035722.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 0850459419.
- ISBN 9781849081818.
- NARA National Archives at College Park, catalog entry here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/33275
- NARA National Archives at College Park, catalog entry here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/31509
Further reading
- Martin Windrow and Mike Chappell, The French Indochina War 1946-1954, Men-at-arms series 322, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 1998. ISBN 1 85532 789 9
- Michael N. Martin, Angels in Red Hats: Paratroopers of the Second Indochina War, Goshen, KY: Harmony House Publishers, 1995. ISBN 978-1564690258
External links
- The War: Belfries & Red Berets
- Angels in Red Hats by General Barry R. McCaffrey
- The Vietnamese Airborne Division and Their Advisors
- Red Berets of South Vietnam Video
- Family photos of Red Berets