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==Vietnam War==
==Vietnam War==
In March 1970 the 209th Regiment engaged the U.S. [[11th Armored Cavalry Regiment|2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment]] near Lộc Ninh, losing over 200 killed.<ref name=Woodruff>{{cite book|last=Woodruff|first=Mark|title=Unheralded Victory|publisher=Harper Collins|year=2000|isbn=0-00-472540-9}}</ref>{{rp|164}}
In March 1970 the 209th Regiment engaged the U.S. 2nd Squadron, [[11th Armored Cavalry Regiment|11th Armored Cavalry Regiment]] near Lộc Ninh; at the time, U.S. units claimed a [[body count]] of over 200 killed.<ref name=Woodruff>{{cite book|last=Woodruff|first=Mark|title=Unheralded Victory|publisher=Harper Collins|year=2000|isbn=0-00-472540-9}}</ref>{{rp|164}}


On 20 July 1974, the High Command of the PAVN created the 4th Army Corps with Major General Hoang Cam appointed as its first commander. The 4th Army Corps comprised the 3rd and 7th Infantry Divisions, the 429th Special Forces Regiment, the 25th Engineers Regiment, the 210th and 235th Logistical Groups and the [[Viet Cong]] [[9th Division (Vietnam)|9th Division]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the 4th Army Corp-Cuu Long Army Corp|publisher=People’s Army Publishing House|date=2004}}</ref>
On 20 July 1974, the High Command of the PAVN created the [[4th Corps (Vietnam People's Army)|4th Army Corps]] with Major General Hoang Cam appointed as its first commander. The 4th Army Corps comprised the 3rd and 7th Infantry Divisions, the 429th Special Forces Regiment, the 25th Engineers Regiment, the 210th and 235th Logistical Groups and the [[Viet Cong]] [[9th Division (Vietnam)|9th Division]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the 4th Army Corp-Cuu Long Army Corp|publisher=People’s Army Publishing House|date=2004}}</ref>


On 12 December 1974 the 4th Corps launched their [[Battle of Phuoc Long|assault on Phước Long]]. On 13 December the 7th and 3rd Divisions attacked [[Army of the Republic of Vietnam]] (ARVN) positions at [[Bố Đức]] and [[Duc Phong]] overrunning them the next day. On 26 December Regiment 141 attacked the ARVN base at [[Đôn Luân]] overrunning it within 5 hours. On 31 December the 4th Corps had surrounded [[Phước Long, Bình Phước|Phước Long]] and began their assault on the city and by the evening of 5 January 1975 Phước Long had fallen. The battle was a turning point in the war because it showed that the United States was no longer prepared to intervene militarily to save South Vietnam and that the ARVN was overstretched with limited ability to respond forcefully to PAVN offensive action.<ref name=Dougan>{{Cite book|author1 =Dougan, Clark|author2 =Fulgham, David |title=The Vietnam Experience: The Fall of the South |publisher=Boston Publishing Company |year=1985|isbn=0-939526-16-6}}</ref>{{rp|18–20}}
On 12 December 1974 the 4th Corps launched their [[Battle of Phuoc Long|assault on Phước Long]]. On 13 December the 7th and 3rd Divisions attacked [[Army of the Republic of Vietnam]] (ARVN) positions at [[Bố Đức]] and [[Duc Phong]] overrunning them the next day. On 26 December Regiment 141 attacked the ARVN base at [[Đôn Luân]] overrunning it within 5 hours. On 31 December the 4th Corps had surrounded [[Phước Long, Bình Phước|Phước Long]] and began their assault on the city and by the evening of 5 January 1975 Phước Long had fallen. The battle was a turning point in the war because it showed that the United States was no longer prepared to intervene militarily to save South Vietnam and that the ARVN was overstretched with limited ability to respond forcefully to PAVN offensive action.<ref name=Dougan>{{Cite book|author1 =Dougan, Clark|author2 =Fulgham, David |title=The Vietnam Experience: The Fall of the South |publisher=Boston Publishing Company |year=1985|isbn=0-939526-16-6}}</ref>{{rp|18–20}}

Revision as of 00:54, 1 June 2018

7th Infantry Division
Active1966-present
Allegiance Vietnam
BranchPeople's Army of Vietnam
TypeInfantry
RoleInfantry
SizeDivision
Part of4th Corps
Garrison/HQBình Dương Province, Vietnam
EngagementsBattle of Snuol
1975 Spring Offensive
Battle of Phuoc Long
Battle of Xuân Lộc

The 7th Infantry Division is a division of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), first formed in 1966 in the Mekong Delta region from the 141st Infantry Regiment and the 209th Infantry Regiment which were detached from the 312th Division.

Vietnam War

In March 1970 the 209th Regiment engaged the U.S. 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment near Lộc Ninh; at the time, U.S. units claimed a body count of over 200 killed.[1]: 164 

On 20 July 1974, the High Command of the PAVN created the 4th Army Corps with Major General Hoang Cam appointed as its first commander. The 4th Army Corps comprised the 3rd and 7th Infantry Divisions, the 429th Special Forces Regiment, the 25th Engineers Regiment, the 210th and 235th Logistical Groups and the Viet Cong 9th Division.[2]

On 12 December 1974 the 4th Corps launched their assault on Phước Long. On 13 December the 7th and 3rd Divisions attacked Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) positions at Bố Đức and Duc Phong overrunning them the next day. On 26 December Regiment 141 attacked the ARVN base at Đôn Luân overrunning it within 5 hours. On 31 December the 4th Corps had surrounded Phước Long and began their assault on the city and by the evening of 5 January 1975 Phước Long had fallen. The battle was a turning point in the war because it showed that the United States was no longer prepared to intervene militarily to save South Vietnam and that the ARVN was overstretched with limited ability to respond forcefully to PAVN offensive action.[3]: 18–20 

For the 1975 Spring Offensive, in March the 4th Corps attacked ARVN installations in Tây Ninh Province and Bình Dương Province. On 11 March the 4th Corps attacked Dầu Tiếng taking it within 2 days they then proceeded to attack other ARVN units and by 2 April controlled all of Bình Long Province. The 4th Corps then began to approach Xuân Lộc part of the last defensive line before Saigon from the northeast.[3]: 116  Two regiments from the 7th supported the main assault by the 341st Division. The ARVN 18th Division withstood the initial attacks and on 12 April were reinforced by men of the elite 1st Airborne Brigade and Vietnamese Marines.[3]: 117  By 16 April the battle was turning in favour of the PAVN and on 19 April the ARVN General Staff ordered the units defending Xuân Lộc to withdraw to defend Biên Hòa.[3]: 129–34  The 4th Corps pushed on towards Biên Hòa and at 5pm on 26 April they attacked Bien Hoa Air Base and Long Binh Post.[3]: 154  By the morning of April 28 troops from the 4th Corps overran ARVN positions at the eastern end of the Newport Bridge.[3]: 155 

Present day

Today the division is part of the 4th Corps (Vietnam People's Army).

References

  1. ^ Woodruff, Mark (2000). Unheralded Victory. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-472540-9.
  2. ^ History of the 4th Army Corp-Cuu Long Army Corp. People’s Army Publishing House. 2004.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Dougan, Clark; Fulgham, David (1985). The Vietnam Experience: The Fall of the South. Boston Publishing Company. ISBN 0-939526-16-6.