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| Navy troops fought back against American aircraft at Lach Truong ( Thanh Hoa ) on August 5, 1964. (Photo: Provided by Navy) |
To carry out the plan to attack the North by air and naval forces, the US imperialists determined that they had to have a campaign to create a pretext to deceive world public opinion. Therefore, by July 1964, the US increased its provocative activities, using warships and aircraft to violate the waters of the North to conduct reconnaissance and surveillance, and supporting puppet commando ships to attack islands and coastal residential areas.
Proactively dealing with the enemy's plot, as early as December 1963, at the 9th Conference of the Party Central Committee, term III, it was pointed out: We must be vigilant and ready to deal with the case that the US risks expanding the war with the "Local War" strategy...; at the same time, we determined to strengthen our forces in all aspects, especially the military force, to be ready to defeat the US if they expand the war to the North.
In June 1964, the Politburo issued a directive on strengthening combat readiness, crushing the US Air Force's plot to provoke and attack the North. The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army ordered combat readiness in all armed forces in the North and directed "The Navy to quickly prepare all aspects to fight to protect the sea, coastal lines, ports, river mouths and bases; quickly switch all unit activities to wartime".
The Party Committee of the Navy issued a resolution to lead the preparation of all aspects, putting the Navy into a state of combat readiness with the highest determination. From July 6, 1964, the entire Navy entered a state of war; established a forward command post at the Gianh River base; mobilized a number of ships to the areas, and at the same time increased technical and tactical training for the forces.
On the night of July 31, early morning of August 1, 1964, the US sent the destroyer Maddox of the 7th Fleet to deeply penetrate into Quang Binh waters, then move north, at times only 8 nautical miles from shore, both to spy and investigate our defense network, and to threaten and intimidate our fishing boats at sea.
With the determination to punish enemy ships that violated our waters, and to carry out the orders of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, on August 2, 1964, the Navy Command commanded Battalion 135 to use 3 torpedo boats of Squadron 3 (including ships 333, 336, 339) commanded by comrade Nguyen Xuan Bot, Squadron Leader and Captain of ship 333, to secretly march from Van Hoa (Quang Ninh) to Hon Ne (Thanh Hoa) to ambush and attack the American destroyer. Coordinating the battle were 2 patrol boats T142 and T146 of Patrol Zone 1.
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| The destroyer Maddox entered the northern waters in 1964. (Photo: Navy Service provided) |
At 1:30 p.m. on August 2, 1964, the American destroyer Maddox entered the Hon Me sea area (Thanh Hoa). The forward command ordered the patrol boat and torpedo boat formation to launch a search for the enemy ship Maddox. When the torpedo boat formation detected the enemy ship, all three ships accelerated to approach the target. When the enemy detected three high-speed boats approaching, they accelerated away and used large guns to fire heavily at the torpedo boat formation.
Despite being heavily fired upon by the enemy with bullets and artillery from ships and aircraft, our ships bravely advanced towards the target, both maneuvering to avoid bullets and quickly approaching to shorten the distance, taking up advantageous positions to launch torpedo attacks, and using ship-based firepower to fiercely fight back against enemy aircraft and warships.
The battle on August 2, 1964 was the first battle of the Vietnam People's Navy after 9 years of establishment. Although the force and weapons were still small, they directly fought with large warships and many modern aircraft of the US empire. However, with a heroic and resilient spirit, our officers and soldiers chased the Maddox ship away from Vietnam's territorial waters, affirming the will to dare to fight, to fight and to defeat the invading US enemy.
Immediately after the Maddox ship was chased out of our waters by the Vietnam People's Navy, on the night of August 4, 1964, the US government fabricated the "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" to falsely accuse the Northern Navy of attacking US warships operating normally in international waters, to deceive international public opinion and the American people; using that as an excuse to launch a "retaliatory" campaign called "Piercing Arrow".
On August 5, 1964, the US mobilized aircraft from two aircraft carrier squadrons, including dozens of modern fighter and attack aircraft, divided into 3 waves, suddenly and massively attacked our Navy bases, warehouses, and ship shelters along the northern coast from Quang Binh to Quang Ninh, starting the escalation of attacks on the North.
Due to careful preparation in advance, in the first battle against the US Navy and Air Force, the Vietnam People's Navy closely coordinated with the Northern people and army to fight bravely, shooting down 8 planes, injuring many others, and capturing the first American pilot in the sea and airspace of the North.
With outstanding achievements in the battles on August 2 and 5, 1964, the Navy and Air Defense Forces were commended by the Party, Government, Central Military Commission, and Ministry of National Defense on August 7, 1964. At the commendation ceremony, President Ho Chi Minh praised "... you have achieved great achievements in the recent battles against American imperialism. You fought very bravely, shot down 8 American planes and damaged 3, and recently heard that 4 American planes were damaged in Bien Hoa. You captured American pilots and drove American warships out of our country's waters. That is very good".
After the first victory, the Navy was honored to be awarded the Second Class Military Exploit Medal; Battalion 135 (now Squadron 135 under Brigade 170, Naval Region 1) was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces; 5 collectives were awarded the Third Class Military Exploit Medal; 142 collectives and individuals were awarded the First, Second, and Third Class Military Exploit Medal; 20 collectives were awarded the "Glorious Exploit - Glorious Tradition" Flag by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Labor Youth Union...
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| Ka28 helicopters of the 954th Naval Brigade practice landing and taking off on ships. (Photo: Provided by the Navy) |
The victory in the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964 had strategic significance, creating favorable premises, bringing confidence, encouragement, and motivation for the offensive spirit of the army and people of the whole country to be determined to defeat the escalation of the war by the US imperialists, firmly protect the great rear in the North, and stand side by side with the great front in the South to defeat the US-puppet.
It is the victory of the political and spiritual strength of the entire nation, of the determination to dare to fight, know how to fight and win; it is a symbol of the bravery and intelligence of Vietnam, a nation that, though small, always loves freedom and independence, never surrendering to invaders, even though they are many times more numerous and stronger than us.
That victory is a testament to the strategic talent, leadership and wise direction of the Party, the Government and President Ho Chi Minh, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense. It is a victory of Vietnamese military art in general and the naval art of warfare in particular, which has brought into play the combined strength of all forces and localities, creating a combined strength to defeat the invading enemy.
It is a victory of our nation's tradition of fighting "using small to fight big, using few to fight many". The victory in the first battle is one of the typical feats of the Vietnam People's Navy; it is the beginning of the heroic epic of the Vietnam People's Navy in the history of building, fighting, winning and growing.
The victory of the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964 has engraved in the history of the anti-American, national salvation cause of the Navy and the people of the North a glorious milestone, leaving us many valuable lessons. That is an important theoretical and practical basis for Navy officers and soldiers to study, apply and develop in the process of organizing and implementing tasks, building agencies, units, and the Navy in new conditions and circumstances.
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| Missile attack destroys target. (Photo: Provided by Navy) |
The 61st anniversary of the First Victory is an opportunity to review the tradition of the first outstanding feat of arms of the Navy and the people of the North in the resistance war against the US to save the country. Thereby enhancing pride, respect and honor for the contributions, dedication and sacrifices of previous generations, continuing to multiply the great significance of the glorious historical event and the valuable lessons in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland and building a revolutionary, disciplined, elite and modern Vietnam People's Navy.
Continue to consolidate and build firm belief, political mettle, determination, heighten revolutionary vigilance, successfully complete all tasks, be ready to smash the enemy's plots and tricks at sea, firmly manage and protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chien-thang-tran-dau-ban-hung-ca-cua-hai-quan-nhan-dan-viet-nam-va-quan-dan-mien-bac-323111.html
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