After the Paris Agreement in 1973, the Truong Son air defense force had the 377th Air Defense Artillery Division (consisting of 6 regiments) and 9 air defense and missile artillery regiments under the Truong Son Command. In addition, there were air defense units under the infantry, engineering, and transport divisions...

The anti-aircraft regiments under the Command were deployed on Route 9 from Dong Ha to Ban Dong. The 377th Air Defense Division was deployed in a large area from Ban Dong to the intersection of Route 88 (Srepok).

Anti-aircraft artillery troops shot down enemy planes, protecting the Truong Son route during the resistance war against the US to save the country. Photo: Archive

After the Politburo and the Central Military Commission decided to start the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising with the Central Highlands Campaign, the air defense force and the forces of the Truong Son Army carried out the "19-5 Transport Campaign". The mission of the air defense force was determined: Actively and proactively grasp the enemy, have good fighting methods, good command, shoot down many enemy planes, effectively deal with the enemy's regular attacks along the entire front; be ready to receive combat missions in the combined arms formation, organize protection of the campaign's rear, protect the combined arms formation...

The border gate area is where the enemy often uses attack aircraft to attack. They often focus on attacking from dusk to night, when our convoys depart and at dawn when the vehicles return to base. During the day, the enemy uses OV-10 reconnaissance aircraft to guide F-4 aircraft to fire at our air defense positions. Therefore, the air defense force has to fight both day and night. In addition to the concentrated fighting method, we combine dispersed batteries and platoons to intercept enemy aircraft in areas where they often fly over to destroy and warn our convoys. On the artillery platform, we always ensure to fight according to pre-calculated elements, the remaining gunners hide in fortifications attached to the position. This initiative both stabilizes the gunners and protects the force for long-term fighting. The regiment also arranges 100mm artillery batteries against the cliffs, with solid fortifications, aiming directly at reconnaissance aircraft, limiting them from pointing out for attack aircraft to attack during the day.

Combining combat and diversion, Regiment 227 at the Route 12 border gate had a battle to attract the enemy, causing them to drop hundreds of bombs on the fake battlefield. The air defense units positioned firmly at the 4 border gates contributed effectively to the safety of the convoys crossing the border gates and going deep inside. Missile Regiment 275 advanced deep into the mountains and forests, maneuvering on both the East and West Truong Son, and was present at all 4 border gates.

During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, the Truong Son Air Defense Force, together with the campaign air defense force, formed a widespread, multi-layered, multi-level air defense fire network, attacking the enemy in all directions, at all altitudes and in all conditions and circumstances, protecting the mobile formations of the main army corps entering the campaign assembly area in Dong Xoai (Binh Phuoc). During the combat, the Truong Son Air Defense Force closely followed the formations of the combined arms divisions on the attack directions, promptly provided fire support to fight back the enemy air force and protect the attack formations of the combined arms units to destroy the enemy, attacking directly at the enemy's key targets in Saigon-Gia Dinh. During the campaign, the Truong Son Air Defense Force shot down 43 aircraft of all types (14 crashed on the spot), including 4 along the Truong Son strategic support line.

During the fighting process, the art of using and promoting the strength of the Truong Son Air Defense Force has constantly developed. From the small scale of each company to battalions, regiments, and then developed to the scale of a division. Throughout the process, the Truong Son Air Defense Force has closely coordinated with units of the Air Defense - Air Force in large-scale transportation campaigns at border gates, mastered tactical forms, fought both day and night, protected key points, maneuvered ambushes, fought on the march, protected combat formations in combined arms campaigns, defeated the enemy's plots, tricks, and tactical forms.

NGUYEN THANH THUY - NGUYEN QUOC HUNG

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/nghe-thuat-quan-su-vn/bo-doi-phong-khong-truong-son-trong-chien-dich-lich-su-828762