With a spirit of vigilance and determination to win, in the first battle against the large-scale US air and naval war of destruction in the North, Squadron 111, Coastal Region 1 of the Vietnam People's Navy dealt heavy blows to the US Air Force. (Photo: Nguyen Thu/VNA)
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On August 2 and 5, 1964, the Vietnam People's Navy coordinated with other forces to steadfastly repel large warships and many modern aircraft of the US imperialists, creating the tradition of "winning the first battle" of the Vietnam People's Navy.
More than 60 years have passed, but the heroic spirit and lessons of the first victory of the Vietnam People's Navy still retain their historical and contemporary value in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.
Victory of Vietnamese intelligence and spirit
Entering 1964, facing the risk of bankruptcy of the "Special War" strategy, the US imperialists expanded the war of destruction to our strategic rear, aiming to prevent the North from supporting the Southern battlefield.
Since March 1964, the US and the Saigon government regularly used reconnaissance aircraft and warships to penetrate deep into our territorial waters, shelling along the coast from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh (now Quang Tri).
In particular, on the night of July 31, 1964, the US Navy destroyer USS Maddox sailed along the coast from Quang Binh province (now Quang Tri), Ha Tinh , Nghe An to Thanh Hoa to scout, provoke and threaten Vietnamese fishing boats, at times only 8 nautical miles from the coast.
On August 2, 1964, the US ship Maddox invaded the waters between Hon Me Island and Lach Truong estuary ( Thanh Hoa ).
With the determination to fight and dare to fight, on August 2, 1964, the torpedo boat squadrons: 333, 336 and 339 launched despite enemy resistance. The officers and soldiers of the 3 ships of the Vietnam People's Navy fought back bravely and steadfastly, forcing the Maddox to flee from the waters of the Northern region.
After this incident, the US government fabricated the so-called "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" and falsely accused the Vietnam People's Navy of "intentionally" attacking a US destroyer in international waters, in order to deceive public opinion and create an excuse to attack the North.
To carry out that plot, on August 5, 1964, the US imperialists immediately launched Operation "Piercing Arrow," using the maximum force of aircraft from two aircraft carrier squadrons (Constellation and Ticonderoga) to attack economic targets, bases, warehouses, and shelters for our Navy ships, initiating the escalation of the war of destruction in the North.
Although having to face enemy forces equipped with modern weapons, with high fighting will, determination, and courage, the Navy coordinated and coordinated with the three-service air defense force and the people of coastal localities to fight bravely, shooting down 8 planes and injuring many others, capturing enemy pilots, and initially thwarting the US imperialists' plot to sabotage the North.
The victories on August 2 and 5, 1964 opened a glorious history of fighting and victory for the Vietnam People's Navy, contributing to encouraging the entire Party, the entire army, and the entire people to compete to kill the enemy, gain achievements, and drive out the US-puppet regime.
That victory has become the glorious tradition of "winning the first battle" of the Vietnam People's Navy; forever a shining symbol of revolutionary heroism; affirming the will to "dare to fight, be determined to fight and know how to defeat" the American invaders of the Navy in particular and our entire people and army in general.
This is also a victory of the spirit of solidarity, coordination in combat, of the intelligence and military art of Vietnam "using the small to defeat the big, using the few to fight the many"; promoting the total strength of the entire nation to defeat an enemy many times stronger with existing weapons and equipment, affirming the correctness of the people's war policy led by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.
The first victory on August 2 and 5, 1964 - when three small torpedo boats bravely attacked the destroyer Maddox - was the heroic prelude of the Navy. This was the opening battle for the spirit of "dare to fight, know how to fight and be determined to win", which became the guiding principle for all future actions of the Vietnam People's Navy. In the photo: The US destroyer Maddox (DD-731) violated Vietnam's waters on August 2, 1964. (Photo: International documents/VNA)
On August 7, 1964, the Ministry of Defense held a ceremony to honor the achievements of the Navy and Air Defense-Air Force. President Ho Chi Minh attended and praised: "You fought very bravely, shot down 8 American planes and damaged 3... You captured American pilots and drove American warships out of our country's waters. That is very good."
A year later, on August 5, 1965, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the victory of the first battle, Uncle Ho sent a letter praising the Navy: “Although still young, thanks to the wise leadership of the Party, the trust and support of the people, and our own unceasing efforts, the Navy has fought bravely, actively destroyed the enemy, shot down planes and chased away American warships, united to make achievements, protected the people, protected the airspace and sea of the Fatherland. You have upheld the heroic tradition of our nation."
The epic echoes forever
Carrying forward the tradition of winning the first battle, generations of Navy soldiers have overcome all difficulties and hardships, achieving many glorious achievements. During the two wars of destruction by air force and the blockade of the rivers and seas of the North, the Vietnam People's Navy, together with the army and people of the whole country, resolutely fought back, firmly protecting the vital sea route.
With the spirit of "All for the beloved South," the Navy was intelligent and creative, opening the legendary strategic transportation route - "Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea," transporting hundreds of thousands of tons of weapons and ammunition, bringing thousands of officers and soldiers across the sea to the South, contributing to the victories of Ba Gia, Van Tuong..., the Mau Than Campaign and the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign.
In particular, during the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, the Navy not only surrounded and controlled sea routes, ports and islands, but also closely coordinated with Military Region 5 and other forces to quickly liberate the Truong Sa archipelago and islands in the central and southwestern seas of the Fatherland, contributing to the nation's complete victory.
Squad X, Vietnam People's Navy, constantly practices to improve combat techniques (1970). (Photo: Hua Kiem/VNA)
In response to the requirement of building a modern Navy, the Navy has focused on improving the quality of training, exploiting and mastering many types of new-generation, modern weapons and technical equipment; successfully organizing large-scale exercises with the participation of all components of the force. Along with building a regular, elite force, the Navy always attaches importance to building and consolidating the national defense posture at sea, and a solid defense posture for the coast, sea and islands.
On the morning of May 7, 2025, in Hai Phong, President Luong Cuong attended the ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Navy (May 7, 1955 - May 7, 2025) and received the Ho Chi Minh Medal. (Photo: VNA)
Appreciating and praising the outstanding achievements and feats of arms that the Navy has achieved at the Ceremony to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Navy and receive the Ho Chi Minh Medal on May 7, 2025, President Luong Cuong emphasized that officers and soldiers of the Navy need to thoroughly grasp and grasp the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws; especially the Resolution of the 8th Central Committee, Session XIII, on "Strategy for protecting the Fatherland in the new situation", Resolution No. 36, Session XII of the Party on "Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, vision to 2045", the viewpoints of our Party and State on the task of protecting sovereignty over seas and islands and resolving disputes at sea.
Grasp the situation, advise the Party, State, Central Military Commission, Ministry of National Defense on correct, accurate, timely policies, countermeasures, and solutions, firmly protect the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Fatherland's seas and islands "early on," "from afar," and maintain a peaceful and stable environment at sea to build and develop the country.
The President believes that all officers and soldiers of the Navy will be more deeply aware of their glorious position, role and responsibility on the new journey, continue to uphold and promote the tradition of "fighting bravely; being resourceful and creative; mastering the sea; determined to fight and win," worthy of the title "Uncle Ho's soldiers," to join the entire Party, people and army in confidently bringing our country into a new era, an era of strong development and prosperity of the Vietnamese nation.
Honored, proud and carrying forward the tradition of "winning the first battle" of the previous generation, officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Navy today continue to strive to build a "revolutionary, disciplined, elite, modern" force, worthy of being the core force to firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland./.
(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chien-thang-tran-dau-cua-hai-quan-nhan-dan-viet-nam-ban-hung-ca-vang-mai-post1053285.vnp
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