Directing the promotion of the Special Forces' fighting strengths

During the resistance war against French colonialism, after the battle of Ba Kien bridge watchtower in 1948 and a series of other enemy watchtowers, the Southern Command and Zone 7 held a conference to summarize and draw conclusions on how to fight special forces, such as: Destroying watchtowers and destroying outposts with good results, with few casualties; equipping and equipping compact, powerful weapons, attacking the enemy's weak spots; using many special forces teams to attack important enemy positions at the same time, opening the way for infantry to charge; special forces can independently attack large enemy strongholds with many teams, one team, or even one person... These are important issues, affirming the role of special forces in combat; being the basis for developing the art of special forces warfare later on.

Fighters of the 1st Special Forces Brigade (Special Forces Corps) practice tactical rope rappelling techniques. Photo: VIET TRUNG

In the early years of the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Central Military Commission directed the Research Department to organize a conference to summarize the special forces and reconnaissance in the resistance war against French colonialism to serve the work of building, training and fighting of the BĐĐC in the new period. After the conference, the basic issues of the art of special forces warfare were pointed out: Special forces warfare uses small but elite forces, secrecy, surprise, deep penetration, close cover, quick attack, and complete destruction of targets; Attack important targets deep in the enemy's rear... This is the basis for researching, compiling, and publishing documents: "6 guiding ideas for special forces operations", "Secret approach and use of explosives", "Characteristics, requirements for special forces operations, fighting methods and military cooperation", "Summary of special forces tactics", "12 principles of combat guidance", "The importance of building footholds and corridors"... contributing to the development of the art of operations of special forces in fighting and defeating invading enemies.

After the liberation war, under the direction of the Central Command, the Special Forces continued to research and compile documents: "Special forces tactics to attack enemy airports"; "Special forces tactics to attack cities"; "Principles of secret operations of special forces at X"; "Combat regulations of the BĐĐC"; "Research on the art of special forces operations in wars with the enemy using high-tech weapons"; "Research on the operations of water special forces in operations to protect seas and islands"... These documents play a very important role in directing the art of operations, training, and improving the combat capabilities of special forces, meeting the requirements of assigned missions.

Flexible combat command, close coordination with other forces

During the resistance war against French colonialism, the special forces fighting method was increasingly developed and effective on the battlefields. The Central Military Commission instructed the Research Department to organize special forces reconnaissance units in the main units specializing in reconnaissance missions and attacking dangerous and important targets in the enemy's rear. This decision created conditions to promote the rapid development of special forces fighting methods and special forces, promoting combat effectiveness, opening up the possibility of coordinated operations between special forces and other forces.

During the resistance war against the US to save the country, based on the mission requirements, the Central Command promptly directed and oriented the combat operations of special forces, widely organized special forces teams to attack infantry, cities and special forces teams specialized in attacking waterways and roads. The main form of operation in the enemy's rear area was to use special forces to attack warehouses, ammunition depots, weapons, chemicals, gasoline, attack airports, wharves and places where machinery and artillery were concentrated, especially to destroy and wear down important forces, key and dangerous targets of the enemy.

Special Forces march through Ba Dinh Square at the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2. Photo: TRONG HAI

In particular, during the 1968 Tet Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising, the BĐĐC carried out simultaneous attacks on all battlefields at a unified time, with a powerful force, mobilizing almost all available forces, including main force commandos, local commandos, and guerrilla commandos as sharp spearheads, penetrating deep into the enemy's rear, attacking almost all key, dangerous, and important targets in terms of both campaign and strategy, and the enemy's central and local command centers, contributing to creating conditions for our infantry and other military branches to attack from the outside, combined with attacks from the inside, supporting the masses to rise up and seize power.

During the 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, implementing the intention of the Central Command, the Special Forces Command directed the Regional Special Forces Department on the direction of operations, emphasizing the need to deploy forces to stick to strategic bases and rear bases around and in the inner city of Saigon and the Mekong Delta; at the same time directing the way of operation, how to attack bases and traffic; consolidating and promoting the activities of special forces in cities and towns; meeting the requirements of offensives and uprisings. The highlight, demonstrating the wise direction of the Central Command in using special forces for combat operations, was to "concentrate and simultaneously" attack on dangerous targets deep in the enemy's rear. Along with that, using special forces for combat operations in coordination with the army and branches in operations and campaigns; Special forces carried out key battles, opened the campaign, gradually perfected the art of using special forces in joint operations between troops and branches... contributing to the complete victory of the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1975.

In the war to protect the border and carry out international missions, the General Staff determined the direction and combat missions of the special forces: Organizing forces, proactively attacking the enemy, fighting small, medium, and large-scale coordinated attacks, continuously destroying and wearing down the enemy's manpower and means of war with appropriate forces and fighting methods, protecting and maintaining assigned areas, strictly implementing policies. While fighting, they also researched fighting methods suitable for new combat targets. Accordingly, the special forces units have performed well the task of firmly protecting the Fatherland's border, and together with other forces, successfully completed international missions.

Currently, the General Staff regularly monitors and directs the Service and special forces units to organize training according to the motto "basic, practical, solid", focusing on advanced training, breaking into new, difficult, realistic combat content, high-intensity training, strengthening confrontation training according to plans and situations, training the ability to operate independently, be good at martial arts, shooting, swimming, diving, physical training, endurance, skills to handle unexpected and unplanned situations; improve camouflage skills, overcome obstacles, grasp the area and targets, build secret bases, parachute and air landing skills; train the ability to survive in difficult, arduous, and harsh conditions in all types of terrain and areas of operation; at the same time direct the research and development of weapons and equipment suitable for new combat conditions...

Major General HOANG MINH SON, Commander of the Special Forces

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/nghe-thuat-quan-su-vn/phat-huy-cao-nhat-vai-tro-cua-luc-luong-dac-biet-tinh-nhue-846013