The pivotal battle in the Central Highlands campaign.

TP - Fifty years have passed, but the memories of those heroic days of fighting remain vivid in the minds of every soldier who contributed to the victory. The victory at Buon Ma Thuot on March 10, 1975, marked the beginning of the successful Central Highlands Campaign, creating a crucial historical turning point in the Spring 1975 General Offensive and Uprising.

The art of using armored vehicles

We met Lieutenant General, Doctor, Hero of the Armed Forces Doan Sinh Huong, former Commander of the Armored Corps, former Commander of Military Region 4, and a veteran who directly participated in the 1975 Central Highlands Campaign, at a scientific conference on the theme: "The 1975 Central Highlands Victory and Half a Century of Building and Developing Dak Lak" held in Buon Ma Thuot City.

Our artillery bombarded the town of Buon Ma Thuot.

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong's face was filled with emotion as he witnessed Dak Lak transforming day by day, taking on a new appearance, and the material and spiritual lives of the ethnic people constantly improving.

“In my military career, the battle that left me with the most profound reflections on the art of using armored vehicles in combat was the attack on Buon Ma Thuot town, the first crucial battle in the Central Highlands campaign. The war is long over, but on this very land of the majestic Central Highlands, so many of my comrades unfortunately perished. Their souls and bodies have merged with the red soil of the Central Highlands, allowing the trees and fruits to flourish and the villages to prosper,” he said, his voice trembling.

Lieutenant General Huong recalled that on January 17, 1975, the 273rd Tank and Armored Regiment was ordered to move its formation south into the Central Highlands. “My Company 9, part of the Regiment, secretly crossed 300km safely to the assembly point in Buon Gia Vam, 40km north of Buon Ma Thuot, ready to attack and liberate the crucial objective of Buon Ma Thuot. Preparations were extremely meticulous, both technically and tactically. Company 9 was equipped entirely with new generation T-54B tanks; we organized thorough training for each tank crew and were determined to ensure rapid and accurate combat operations. At the assembly point, Mr. Huong had the initiative to add 10 more artillery rounds to each tank and 10 more rounds to each K-63 armored vehicle, increasing the tank's combat ammunition capacity from 34 to 54,” Mr. Huong recalled.

"When we set off for the attack, with our experience in tank maneuvering in combat, I suggested departing 15 minutes earlier than ordered. Instead of departing at 2:00 AM, we departed at 1:45 AM," the Lieutenant General said.

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong shared about the mementos associated with the victory at Buon Ma Thuot.

The assault on the key target of Buon Ma Thuot began. While artillery and special forces attacked the town's airfield, the Mai Hac De warehouse area, and Hoa Binh airfield, Company 9, the spearhead of the deep penetration attack, consisting of 10 tanks organized into 4 echelons, launched its assault.

At 5:30 AM on March 10, 1975, while artillery adjusted its firing coordinates and shifted its fire, from all directions, our tanks, armored vehicles, and mechanized units accelerated to full speed, following the marked reconnaissance route, plowing through trees and charging straight out of the forest towards the town. Faced with the enemy's extreme panic, he ordered the lights to be switched on. The Central Highlands mountains and forests stirred in a storm of fire. The various types of firepower and the bright searchlights of the tanks ignited the determination of our officers and soldiers, creating confusion and terror in the enemy.

Pausing for a moment, Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong continued: “From 5:30 to 10:30 on March 10th, we engaged the enemy in fierce combat. By the evening of March 10th, the entire deep penetration assault force, including Company 9 and infantry, had surrounded the headquarters of the puppet 23rd Division. That night, we stopped to consolidate, replenish ammunition, and conduct reconnaissance so we could attack early the next day,” the Lieutenant General recalled with trepidation.

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong presented a commemorative gift to the representative of the Dak Lak provincial leadership.

At 6:00 AM on March 11th, as the tanks were ready to deploy, enemy military vehicles were spotted emerging from a coffee plantation. At this point, Mr. Huong ordered the tanks to immediately open fire. After a barrage of fire from our tanks, one enemy M-113 and one M-41 caught fire. The enemy panicked and fled. He ordered a pursuit, and they captured the Deputy Provincial Governor of Dak Lak, who was directly commanding the enemy counterattack. Following this, our tanks continued to advance and capture the Headquarters of the 23rd Division – the enemy's last stronghold in Buon Ma Thuot.

“At 10:00 AM on March 11th, all directions launched a simultaneous attack on the headquarters of the puppet 23rd Division. By 10:30 AM, tanks and infantry had reached the base of the flagpole. Our 9th Company's tanks deployed to hold positions controlling the enemy, supporting the soldiers of the 4th Battalion in quickly lowering the Saigon government's flag and raising the Liberation flag amidst the joyous celebration of victory,” Lieutenant General Huong recounted, his eyes welling up with emotion.