The key 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, a veteran who directly participated in the 1975 Central Highlands Campaign at a scientific seminar with 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 hit Buon Ma Thuot town.

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

“In my military career, the battle left me with many thoughts about the art of using armored vehicles in combat practice, especially the attack on Buon Ma Thuot town, the first key battle in the Central Highlands campaign. The war has long since ended, on this majestic land of the Central Highlands, many of my comrades have unfortunately remained, their souls and bodies have merged into the red soil of the Central Highlands so that the trees and fruits can bloom and the villages can prosper,” his voice trembled.

Lieutenant General Huong recalled that on January 17, 1975, the 273rd Armored Regiment was ordered to move its formation to the southern Central Highlands. “My 9th Company in the Regiment’s formation secretly traveled 300km safely to the assembly point in Buon Gia Vam, 40km north of Buon Ma Thuot, ready to attack and liberate the decisive key target of Buon Ma Thuot. The preparation work was extremely elaborate, both technically and tactically. The 9th Company was equipped with all new generation T-54B tanks, we organized each tank crew to practice thoroughly and determinedly to ensure fast and accurate combat. At the assembly point, Mr. Huong had the initiative to fix 10 more artillery shells on each tank and 10 more shells on each K-63 armored vehicle, increasing the tank’s combat ammunition from 34 to 54 shells,” Mr. Huong recalled.

“When starting the attack, with my experience in tank maneuvering in combat, I suggested starting 15 minutes earlier than ordered. Instead of starting at 2 a.m., we started at 1:45 a.m.,” said the Lieutenant General.

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong shares about the souvenirs associated with the Buon Ma Thuot victory

The attack on the key target of Buon Ma Thuot began. While artillery and commandos attacked the city airport, Mai Hac De warehouse area and Hoa Binh airport, Company 9, the deep assault spearhead, consisted of 10 tanks organized into 4 echelons.

At 5:30 a.m. on March 10, 1975, while the artillery was adjusting the coordinates of the firing, from all directions, our tanks - armored vehicles and mechanized troops opened up at full speed, following the marked reconnaissance route, knocking down trees and rushing out of the forest towards the town. Faced with the enemy's extreme confusion, he ordered the lights to be turned on. The mountains and forests of the Central Highlands were moving in a storm of fire. The various types of firepower and the bright headlights of the tanks ignited the determination of our officers and soldiers, creating confusion and fear in the enemy.

Pausing for a moment, Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong continued: “From 5:30 to 10:30 on March 10, we fought with the enemy. By the evening of March 10, the entire assault force, including Company 9 and infantry, approached the headquarters of the puppet 23rd Division. That night we stopped to consolidate, replenish ammunition, and go on reconnaissance to attack early the next day,” the Lieutenant General recalled with excitement.

Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong presented souvenirs to representatives of Dak Lak province's leaders.

At 6:00 a.m. on March 11, the vehicles were ready to launch when they discovered enemy military vehicles coming out of the coffee garden. At this time, Mr. Huong ordered the vehicles to immediately open fire. After a series of shots from our tanks, 1 M-113 and 1 M-41 of the enemy caught fire, they panicked and ran away. He ordered a pursuit, capturing the Deputy Governor of Dak Lak province who directly commanded the enemy counterattack. After that, our tanks continued to rush forward to capture the Command Headquarters of Division 23 - the enemy's last lair in Buon Ma Thuot.

“At 10:00 a.m. on March 11, all directions and spearheads simultaneously attacked the headquarters of the puppet 23rd Division. By 10:30 a.m., both tanks and infantry had reached the foot of the flagpole. Our 9th Company tanks spread out to hold positions to control the enemy, supporting the soldiers of Battalion 4 to quickly lower the Saigon government flag and raise the Liberation flag in the joy of victory,” Lieutenant General Huong said, his eyes filled with emotion.

The first man to plant the flag in the enemy's lair

Meeting Veteran Nguyen Duc Thinh (born in 1951, Cu Ebur Commune, Buon Ma Thuot City) at the 50th anniversary of the Buon Ma Thuot victory, he shared that he is a member of the Cu Ebur Commune Veterans Association and is currently a 3/4-class disabled veteran. Now, every time the weather changes, the wound on his thigh still torments him, but it is a proud vestige of a time of battle.

In 1972, young man Nguyen Duc Thinh volunteered to join the army and work in Division 316. 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 to occupy the battlefield. On the morning of March 10, 1975, his unit attacked and captured the Protestant Church area, developed to control the Military Church area, the puppet officers' quarters (now the Provincial Party Committee Hall and the surrounding area), then attacked the main gate of the puppet 23rd Division Command Headquarters.

But the enemy used fierce firepower from inside, and the comrade assigned to plant the flag was killed. On the evening of March 10, 1975, his Battalion 7 organized a review of experience and assigned combat missions to the squads. On the morning of March 11, 1975, the platoon organized a secret force to attack and occupy the enemy commander's office and staff area.

Veteran Nguyen Duc Thinh continued, here, there is a room displaying the "Spoils of War" of the 23rd puppet division. "At that time, my Ak gun was jammed and could not be repaired, I quickly took the "spoils of war" Ak gun, saw the puppet flag still on the pole, so I also took the Liberation flag - the enemy displayed, used a ballpoint pen to write the unit's name on the flag. At that time, our units attacked strongly from 4 directions. The enemy was forced into the ammunition depot but still stubbornly fought back fiercely. Taking advantage of that situation, I and 2 soldiers approached the flagpole. I quickly climbed to the top of the pole, cut down the enemy flag, hung the Liberation flag, at this time it was 10:30 a.m. on March 11, 1975, the Liberation flag was flying over the 23rd Division of the Republic of Vietnam Army. At noon on March 11, 1975, the 23rd puppet Division fell", Mr. Thinh recalled.

On the evening of April 6, the political and artistic exchange program "Epic of Peace" at Dak Lak bridge point was jointly organized by the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army. Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong presented Dak Lak province with a number of valuable souvenirs associated with the Buon Ma Thuot victory in March 1975. On this occasion, the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee also presented a Certificate of Merit to Lieutenant General Doan Sinh Huong.

Nguyen Thao - Tienphong.vn

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