The art of using artillery in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 was the final strategic battle between our army and people and the invading French colonialists. It was also a fierce confrontation, a test of strength and strategy between the artillery forces of both sides.

During this campaign, we mobilized 100% of our howitzers, over 70% of our 75mm mountain guns, and 80% of our 120mm mortars. In each specific battle, we concentrated our artillery, outnumbering the enemy's artillery by 2-4 times. Therefore, even the French, considered masters of counter-artillery, had to surrender to the rudimentary, small-caliber cannons of the Vietnam People's Army.

Our troops haul artillery into position during the Dien Bien Phu campaign. (Archival photo)

On March 13, 1954, our artillery simultaneously opened fire, relentlessly bombarding the Him Lam stronghold. The Dien Phu campaign officially began. Throughout the campaign, the artillery units' nhiệm vụ was to suppress and destroy enemy artillery, control the airfield, harass and sabotage enemy command posts and depots, and provide support for the infantry's advance.

In the opening battle of the second phase of the campaign, three of our howitzer companies launched a fierce fire attack on two enemy artillery positions, paralyzing both of them.

Despite having many advantages, due to overconfidence and arrogance, the French artillery was completely overwhelmed by the relentless and unexpected attacks of the Vietnamese artillery.

Colonel Tran Ngoc Long, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Military History, analyzed: " Artillery was the pride of the French Expeditionary Force Command in Indochina. In terms of quantity, our artillery was larger. We had 261 cannons, while the French only had 126."

But it was clear that most of the French artillery was large, occupying strong fortifications on high ground. Therefore, they had a significant advantage. That's why the French artillery commander at Dien Bien Phu, Lieutenant Colonel Pirot, arrogantly declared he would silence the Viet Minh artillery .

Colonel Tran Ngoc Long.

In reality, what happened on the battlefield became a nightmare for the French. In the opening battle of the campaign, 240 of our artillery pieces fired continuously for an hour. After 15 minutes of firing, our firepower was almost overwhelming.

Charles Pirot, the deputy commander of the Dien Bien Phu fortified complex, in charge of artillery, committed suicide immediately after the opening battle with the last words, " There is no way to silence the Viet Minh's artillery ."

According to Lieutenant Colonel Cong Phuong Khuong of the Military History Institute, throughout the campaign and in each battle, we concentrated artillery to create a force advantage, supporting the infantry to ensure victory, destroying each stronghold from the outside in, and ultimately destroying all strongholds.

" In the Battle of Independence Hill, our artillery was 4.5 times greater than the enemy's. Generally speaking, throughout the campaign, our artillery was about 10 times stronger in suppressing enemy artillery fire. This shows that our artillery demonstrated a strong advantage on the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, " said Lieutenant Colonel Cong Khuong Phuong.

One of the outstanding successes in the art of artillery formation deployment during the Dien Bien Phu Campaign was the dispersed and widely spaced artillery positions, with distances of 3-5 km between companies, yet concentrating firepower on the main direction and primary targets.

The 45th Regiment's 105mm howitzers were deployed in an arc of over 30km surrounding the fortified complex. The artillery positions were 6-8km from the center of Muong Thanh, well within the effective range of our artillery. In addition, camouflage and deception tactics were employed extensively, rendering the French completely powerless in counter-artillery fire.

Artillery of the Vietnam People's Army unleashed a barrage of fire on the Dien Bien Phu fortified complex. (Archival photo)

Major General Nguyen Hong Phong, Commander of the Artillery Corps, analyzed: " During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, our artillery was positioned high up, firing at the French artillery positions. Our artillery also used skillful camouflage and deception; fake positions were set up, and when our artillery fired, these fake positions also detonated explosives, creating muzzle flashes, making it impossible for the French artillery to find our positions. This is a testament to the courage and creativity of the Vietnamese artillery troops ."

From the first units armed with captured enemy artillery, the fledgling artillery forces of the Vietnam People's Army embarked on a protracted resistance war, fighting and maturing simultaneously, contributing to the resounding victory of Dien Bien Phu, "renowned throughout the world and shaking the earth."

Inheriting and building upon the experience of artillery use in the strategic decisive battle of Dien Bien Phu, the artillery troops continue to apply and develop creative artillery military art in the new situation, focusing primarily on building a lean, efficient, and powerful ground-based artillery and missile force.

Major General Nguyen Hong Phong

" Currently, we have built up artillery forces across all three branches of the armed forces: the main army, the local army, and the militia. Artillery and ground-based missile units are crucial components of combat forces in strategic, operational, and tactical warfare, and are capable of providing effective fire support in various modes of warfare."

"The organization is implementing the construction of a lean, strong, and appropriate missile artillery force at each level, with the basic content being the establishment of an appropriate organizational structure, the gradual modernization of weapons and equipment, and the organization of good training, " said Major General Nguyen Hong Phong, Commander of the Artillery Corps.

To meet the requirements of national defense in the new situation, strategic reserve artillery units need a step-by-step roadmap to equip themselves with self-propelled artillery and rocket launchers with longer firing ranges.

For tactical artillery forces, the focus is on gradually researching and integrating equipment on artillery vehicles to enhance mobility and destructive power, conducting research on new technologies, and gradually automating artillery combat command to meet the urgent and complex operational requirements of modern warfare.

Truong Giang/Military Radio

Link: https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/nghe-thuat-su-dung-phao-binh-trong-chien-dich-dien-bien-phu-post1083601.vov

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nghe-thuat-su-dung-phao-binh-trong-chien-dich-dien-bien-phu-ar859933.html