April 4, 1975: The Central Military Commission ordered the rapid liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago occupied by the puppet army.

During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, Group 125 established a squadron of three ships to transport naval commandos to liberate most of the islands in the Truong Sa archipelago. Photo: Documents-VNA release

The content of the telegram is as follows: “Special telegram dated April 4, 1975 sent to the Regional Party Committee, the Military Region V Command and the Navy Command. According to the Politburo's directive, the Standing Committee of the Military Commission assigned the Regional Party Committee, the Military Region V Command and the Navy Command to urgently study the combat plan and carry out all preparations so that when the opportunity arises, they can promptly liberate the Truong Sa archipelago, considering it a very important task.”

The secret telegram was quickly sent to comrades: Vo Chi Cong - Political Commissar of Military Region 5, Chu Huy Man - Commander of Military Region 5 and Navy Commander Nguyen Ba Phat who were present in Da Nang. Comrade Nguyen Ba Phat quickly discussed with the Standing Committee of the Navy Party Committee and assigned the task to Deputy Commander of the Navy Hoang Huu Thai, requesting the organization of forces to implement the Directive of the General Command of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, taking advantage of the opportunity to liberate the Truong Sa archipelago occupied by the puppet army, resolutely not allowing any other force to come and occupy it first.

Following that, the Politburo, the Central Military Commission and the General Command continued to instruct the Military Region 5 Command and the Navy Command on specific tasks to liberate the islands and archipelagos. The liberation of the Truong Sa archipelago affirmed Vietnam's sovereignty over this archipelago.

During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, Group 125 established a squadron of three ships to transport naval commandos to liberate most of the islands in the Truong Sa archipelago. Photo: Document/VNA

The order was carried out immediately. Military Region 5 and the Navy Command immediately deployed the combat plan. The forces of Military Region 5, along with a fleet of ships and the Navy's landing force, were reorganized, including: Transport ships 673, 674, 675 of Group 125, which had just come from Hai Phong to take over Da Nang - these "numberless ships" were familiar with the "Ho Chi Minh trail at sea", having passed through the Truong Sa archipelago many times, so they were familiar with the route, distinguished the islands, and had experience avoiding reefs; Team 1 of Group 126 Special Forces was a unit with a long history of secret and surprise attacks, sinking many enemy ships in the Cua Viet battlefield. The commander of the force attacking and liberating the Truong Sa archipelago was comrade Mai Nang - Head of Group 126; the deputy commander was comrade Duong Tan Kich of Group 125.

Also on April 4, 1975, the 3rd Corps was ordered to march into the Southeast region.

Meanwhile, on the same day, puppet President Nguyen Van Thieu sent an urgent telegram to the puppet 3rd Army Corps, instructing that at all costs they must organize a defense from Ninh Thuan onwards, if necessary, they would bring all their forces there to fight to the end; at the same time, he decided to merge the two provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan into Military Region 3, and organize the puppet 3rd Military Region Forward Command with Lieutenant General Nguyen Vinh Nghi as Commander, stationed in Phan Rang.

 

[Source: VNA; Historical Moments: Ho Chi Minh Campaign 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2005; Campaigns that were decisive for victory in the Great Spring Victory of 1975, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010; Historical Events and Figures, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015; Historical Decisions, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015; Ministry of National Defense - Vietnam Military History Institute: Vietnam Military History, Volume 11, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2019; General Van Tien Dung: Great Spring Victory, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024; From the Battle of Phai Khat, Na Ngan to the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, People's Army Publishing House, Hanoi, 2024].

Hoang Yen (Vietnam News Agency (synthesis))

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/nhan-vat-su-kien/ngay-441975-quan-uy-trung-uong-chi-thi-nhanh-chong-giai-phong-quan-dao-truong-sa-do-quan-nguy-chiem-dong-20250404072651888.htm