Battle of Phuoc Long

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Phuoc Long
partof=the Vietnam War


caption="Battle of Phuoc Long".
date=December 13,1974-January 6, 1975
place=coord|11|51|3|N|106|59|48|E|type:city|display=inline,title
Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam
result=Decisive North Vietnamese victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Tran Van Tra
commander2=Du Quoc Dong
Pham Van Huan
strength1=30,000
strength2=5,400
casualties1=1,300+
casualties2=3,000+
notes=

The Battle of Phuoc Long took place in Phuoc Long Province, about 100km from South Vietnam's capital, Saigon at present day Phuoc Binh. The campaign against Phuoc Long reflected North Vietnam's change in policy after the strategic raids of 1974, taking full advantage of South Vietnam's critical military situation. The North Vietnamese logistical situation, however, had not drastically improved and this hampered the speed of the offensive. Nonetheless, the North Vietnamese displayed both tenacity and skill as they assembled for combat during early December 1974.

The DRV opened their campaign on December 13, 1974, with elements of the VPA 301st Corps, that includes the newly-formed 3rd Division and the 7th Division launching their attacks from Cambodia. They were supported by one tank battalion of the M-26 Armour Group, one artillery and one anti-aircraft regiment as well as several local sapper units.

Background

To prepare for the Phuoc Long campaign North Vietnam launched diversion attacks in Tay Ninh, Binh Tuy and Long Khanh Provinces.

In Tay Ninh, tough soldiers of South Vietnam's Regional Forces battled with elements of the North Vietnamese 205th Regiment for the control of Suoi Da and Nui Ba Den. In each battle both sides suffered heavy casualties but the Regional Force often throw back Communist assaults, using heavy machine guns to mow down Communist infantry, often wiping out entire platoons within seconds. However, the fighting in Tay Ninh proved problematic for the South Vietnamese air force as they struggled to resupply ARVN troops against North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire, while SA-7 shoulder-launched missiles forced South Vietnamese fighter-bombers to fly at exessive altitudes. This lack of air support proved costly as the battle stretched on.

In Binh Tuy and Long Khanh Provinces, the offensive was spearheaded by the VPA 812th Regiment and the VC 274th Regiment. On December 8, the district town of Tanh Linh and Vo Xu village was successfully overrun by Communist forces, two 155mm howitzers were captured when the villages between and around Tanh Linh and Vo Xu were also captured. Special South Vietnamese commando teams used explosives to destroy a bridge outside Vo Xu, taking with it an entire North Vietnamese medical convoy. The occupying North Vietnamese lashed out in anger, torching many homes and shops in the surrounding villages.

Battle

After capturing many of the South Vietnamese outposts, the Vietnam People's Army overran Duc Phong, Bo Duc and Buard districts on December 14. Don Luan, which was protected by the 341st Regional Force Battalion, who continued to hold out and throw back successive North Vietnamese assaults. While the battle raged around Don Luan, the 340th Regional Force Battlalion at Song Be airfield was augmented by three reconnaissance companies as well as additional ammunition and other supplies. On December 22, the airfield was finally captured by VPA forces after artillery strikes destroyed one C-130 and heavily damaged another. South Vietnamese paratrooper units tried to re-enforce, overunning a North Vietnamese tent camp outside the airfield and capturing several Chinese advisors. The paratroopers soon fell victim, however, to the same North Vietnamese heavy artillery positions and were forced to make a hasty retreat. The airfield was rendered defeneless. The fall of Song Be airfield prevented further evacuation of non-combatants and wounded South Vietnamese soldiers.

On December 23 the ARVN 2nd Battalion and the 7th Infantry Regiment was flown in from Lai Khe with six 105mm artillery pieces. Later, with the insistence of South Vietnam's Assistant for Security Affairs, Dang Van Quang, part of the 81st Airborne Ranger Battalion was committed to reinforced the province alongside the beleaguered ARVN forces already there. On December 26 Don Luan was overran after diversionary attacks were made against ARVN positions around Phu Giao.

The 81st Airborne was airlifted to their new base at Suoi Mau. On December 30, the ARVN counter-attacked, they destroyed sixteen VPA T-54 tanks in an effort to retake the Ba Ra Mountain firebase. As the Communist VPA forces had an overwhelming advantage during the fight for Ba Ra Mountain, the 250-men of the 81st Airborne Ranger Battalion was sent in to join the battle in a desperate bid to save Phuoc Long.

The VPA stepped up their artillery attack on January 3, they striked at the city center, and trying to destroy the defensive perimeter from the resulting chaos and confusion. At the same time, the VPA's T-54 tanks, followed by Sapper squads, firing at South Vietnamese positions and establishing strongpoints after mopping up bypassing positions. During the heavy street fighting, North Vietnamese T-54 tanks equipped with new armour-plating proved more than a match for ARVN infantries and their M-72 rockets.

The 81st Airborne infiltrated Phuoc Long on January 4, they came under heavy enemy fire as air force F-5A pounded Communist positions in support of the ground troops. Despite an effortful attempt, the ARVN continued to take heavy casualties due to superior enemy firepower. North Vietnamese artillery had virtually wiped out several ARVN units.

Aftermath

After Phuoc Long had fallen to the Communist forces, three-thousand of the thirty-thousand inhabitants escaped, while the remaining South Vietnamese officials were executed according to official accounts. The ARVN sustained heavy casualties during the fight to save Phuoc Long: 80 of the original 250-men 81st Airborne Ranger Battalion as well as 200 of the men from the 2nd Battalion and 7th Infantry Regiment survived. About 850 South Vietnamese soldiers were evacuated altogether.

Politically and militarily the loss of Phuoc Long left the Saigon government in a vulnerable position, this was due in part to the decline in American aid, but the battle itself also had dire consequences for the defences of South Vietnam as the balance of power had tipped in North Vietnam's favour.

References

*Dougan. C, Doyle. E, Lipsman. S, Martland. T, Weiss. S (1983) The Vietnam Experience: The Fall of the South. Boston Publishing Company, USA.

External links

* [http://bcdlldb.com/phuoclong/81st_airborne_ranger_at_battle_Phuoclong.htm Phuoc Long!The Wound That Never Healed]