Victory News April 26, 1975: Opening of the Ho Chi Minh campaign

On the morning of April 26, 1975, enemy soldiers guarding the outer perimeter of Nuoc Trong base searched the surrounding areas and clashed with reconnaissance troops of Division 304. At 7:30 a.m., the enemy sent two planes to attack the formation of Regiment 9, Division 304.

During the day, the enemy used artillery to continuously attack the Northwest area of ​​Nuoc Trong and Long Thanh. Before the G-hour of the campaign, the enemy used the air force to fiercely attack the battlefield area of ​​the 2nd Army Corps.

At 5:00 p.m. on April 26, the Ho Chi Minh Campaign began. Artillery from the 2nd Corps, 4th Corps, and Military Region 7 simultaneously opened fire, pouring firestorms on Trang Bom, Ho Nai, Bien Hoa, Nuoc Trong, Long Thanh, Duc Thanh, Ba Ria...

The Eastern direction was taken by the 2nd Corps: The 304th Division, 9th Regiment attacked the Armored School; the 24th Regiment attacked the Infantry School at Nuoc Trong base. At 18:45, the 9th Regiment captured the Armored School, the enemy retreated to the area of ​​the Infantry School and the Commando School, and at the same time, more forces were sent from Bien Hoa to organize a counterattack.

At 5:35 p.m., Regiment 101 (Division 325) attacked Long Thanh district, Regiment 46 infiltrated deep behind the enemy to capture Phuoc Thieng intersection, Regiment 18 surrounded the enemy in Binh Son and acted as a reserve for the Division.

At 8:00 p.m. the same day, Regiment 12 (Division 3, Military Region 5) captured Duc Thanh, Dat Do, Long Dien, and then together with local forces eliminated a series of coastal positions.

The 1st Corps' deep penetration force crossed Route 16 to liberate Saigon. (Photo: Quyet Thang Corps Museum)

The Southeast direction was taken by the 4th Corps: The 270th and 273rd Regiments (341st Division) attacked Trang Bom base, while the 266th Regiment attacked the enemy's defense area from Hung Nghia - Bau Ca hamlet, destroying the remaining forces of the 18th Division and the 5th Armored Regiment. On the same day, the 6th Division deployed south of Highway 4 to attack Ho Nai. The 52nd Brigade was in reserve at Dau Giay intersection.

The coastal forces in the two directions of East and Southeast simultaneously organized to capture the bridges: Ghenh, Rach Chiec, Rach Cat. The enemy counterattacked and recaptured them, we prepared to continue the attack. Special Forces Group 116 captured the Dong Nai Highway Bridge, defeated the enemy counterattacking forces, and held the bridge.

In the North, by April 26, the units of the 1st Corps had taken up positions ready to launch the attack. In the West and Southwest, the 232nd Division and the main force of Zone 8 deployed and completed preparations. The 8th Division quickly advanced to cut Highway 4 from Long Dinh to Tan Hiep. The 5th Division approached Highway 4 from Ben Luc to Tra Cao, crossed the river from Ninh - Loc Giang. The 16th Infantry Regiment attacked An Lac - Binh Dien.

On April 26, 1975, the Military Commission and the Regional Command sent a letter of encouragement to all officers and soldiers: "The historic strategic battle to achieve the nation's final victory has begun. All units of the liberation armed forces have the responsibility to devote all their efforts to attack and liberate their homeland and base areas, and at the same time have the responsibility to closely coordinate to create conditions for the Saigon - Gia Dinh front to achieve complete victory."

Also on April 26, the Regional Party Committee and Military Region 9 sent letters calling for and launching a strong offensive movement throughout all districts and communes with the spirit of a general offensive and uprising to liberate their own communes and districts. The Military Region ordered the forces of the provinces to close in on the outskirts of the towns so that on the night of April 29 and the early morning of April 30, they could simultaneously launch a decisive attack according to the approved plan.

Libra

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ban-tin-chien-thang-26-4-1975-mo-man-chien-dich-ho-chi-minh-ar939973.html