The pivotal battle in the Central Highlands campaign.

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.

The first person to plant a flag in the enemy's stronghold.

Meeting veteran Nguyen Duc Thinh (born 1951, Cu Ebur commune, Buon Ma Thuot city) at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Buon Ma Thuot victory, he shared that he is a member of the Veterans Association of Cu Ebur commune and is currently a disabled veteran of category 3/4. Now, whenever the weather changes, the wound on his thigh still bothers him, but it is a proud mark of his time on the battlefield.

In 1972, young Nguyen Duc Thinh volunteered to join the army and served in the 316th Division. In mid-January 1975, the Division marched into the Dak Dam area to participate in the Central Highlands campaign.

On March 5, 1975, his unit received orders to cross the Serepok River and move into position. On the morning of March 10, 1975, his unit attacked and captured the Protestant Church area, then advanced to take control of the Military Church area and the South Vietnamese officers' quarters (now the Provincial Party Committee Hall and surrounding area), before attacking the main gate of the South Vietnamese 23rd Division Headquarters.

But the enemy used intense firepower from inside, and the comrade assigned to plant the flag was killed. On the evening of March 10, 1975, his 7th Battalion held a debriefing session and assigned combat tasks to the platoons. On the morning of March 11, 1975, the platoon organized a secret attack, seizing the enemy commander's office and staff headquarters.

Veteran Nguyen Duc Thinh continued, "Here, there was a display room showcasing 'war trophies' of the South Vietnamese 23rd Division. At that time, my AK rifle jammed and couldn't be repaired. I quickly grabbed the 'war trophy' AK, saw the South Vietnamese flag still on the pole, and took the Liberation Army flag that the enemy displayed, using a ballpoint pen to write the unit's designation on it. At this time, our units launched a strong attack from four directions. The enemy was pushed back towards the ammunition depot but still stubbornly resisted fiercely. Taking advantage of that situation, I and two soldiers approached the flagpole. I quickly climbed to the top of the pole, cut down the enemy flag, and hoisted the Liberation Army flag. It was 10:30 AM on March 11, 1975, and the Liberation Army flag flew over the headquarters of the South Vietnamese 23rd Division. At noon on March 11, 1975, the South Vietnamese 23rd Division headquarters fell," Mr. Thinh recalled.

On the evening of April 6th, at the political and artistic exchange program "Epic of Peace" held at the Dak Lak branch, jointly organized by the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong presented Dak Lak province with several valuable mementos associated with the victory at Buon Ma Thuot in March 1975. On this occasion, the People's Committee of Dak Lak province also awarded a Certificate of Commendation to Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong.

Nguyen Thao - Tienphong.vn

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tran-then-chot-trong-chien-dich-tay-nguyen-post1733405.tpo