320th Division (Vietnam): Difference between revisions
→Vietnam War: added details of 1968 |
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On 1 November 1967, the Marines launched [[Operation Kentucky]] as part of the continuing operations to secure the DMZ around [[Con Thien]]. The operation concluded on 28 February 1969, the 320th and [[324th Division (Vietnam)|324th Division]] lost a total of 3839 killed and 117 captured while the Marines lost 520 killed and 2698 wounded.<ref name=Shulimson>{{cite book|last=Shulimson|first=Jack|title=U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year|publisher=History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps|year=1997|isbn= 0-16-049125-8}}{{rp|449}}</ref> |
On 1 November 1967, the Marines launched [[Operation Kentucky]] as part of the continuing operations to secure the DMZ around [[Con Thien]]. The operation concluded on 28 February 1969, the 320th and [[324th Division (Vietnam)|324th Division]] lost a total of 3839 killed and 117 captured while the Marines lost 520 killed and 2698 wounded.<ref name=Shulimson>{{cite book|last=Shulimson|first=Jack|title=U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year|publisher=History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps|year=1997|isbn= 0-16-049125-8}}{{rp|449}}</ref> |
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The 320th played a supporting role in the [[Battle of Khe Sanh]], largely tasked with keeping [[National Route 9 (Vietnam)|Route 9]] from [[Ca Lu]] to the [[Khe Sanh Combat Base]] closed.<ref name="Shulimson64">Shulimson, p. 64.</ref> On 24 January 1968 elements of the 320th ambushed a Marine "Rough Rider" convoy between [[Dong Ha]] and [[Camp Carroll]] and then ambushed the relief force from the [[2nd Battalion 9th Marines]] killing 9 Marines.<ref name="Shulimson119-20">Shulimson, p. 119-20.</ref> |
The 320th played a supporting role in the [[Battle of Khe Sanh]], largely tasked with keeping [[National Route 9 (Vietnam)|Route 9]] from [[Ca Lu]] to the [[Khe Sanh Combat Base]] closed.<ref name="Shulimson64">Shulimson, p. 64.</ref> On 24 January 1968 elements of the 320th ambushed a Marine "Rough Rider" convoy between [[Dong Ha]] and [[Camp Carroll]] and then ambushed the relief force from the [[2nd Battalion 9th Marines]] killing 9 Marines.<ref name="Shulimson119-20">Shulimson, p. 119-20.</ref> The subsequent Marine clearing operation, including the "Battle of Mike's Hill", lasted until 29 January and resulted in 21 Marines killed and 130 NVA killed and 6 taken prisoner.<ref name="Shulimson121-6">Shulimson, p. 121-6.</ref> |
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In 1971, the 320th, together with the [[304th Infantry Division (Vietnam)|304th]] and [[308th Division (Vietnam)|308th]] Divisions formed part of the VPA B-70 Corps based in southern Laos.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sorley|first=Lewis|title=A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam |publisher=Harvest Books |year=2000|isbn=0-15-601309-6|page=248}}</ref> |
In 1971, the 320th, together with the [[304th Infantry Division (Vietnam)|304th]] and [[308th Division (Vietnam)|308th]] Divisions formed part of the VPA B-70 Corps based in southern Laos.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sorley|first=Lewis|title=A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam |publisher=Harvest Books |year=2000|isbn=0-15-601309-6|page=248}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 14:37, 31 July 2014
| 320th Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1951-present |
| Allegiance |  Vietnam |
| Branch | Vietnam People's Army |
| Typ | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Nickname(s) | Đồng Bằng (Delta) |
| Engagements | First Indochina War Battle of the Day River Operation Bretagne Operation Mouette Operation Castor Vietnam War Operation Kentucky Operation Lancaster Battle of Khe Sanh Easter Offensive Battle of Kontum |
The 320th Division or Đồng Bằng Division (Vietnamese: Sư đoàn Đồng Bằng, Delta Division) is a formation and one of the six original "Steel and Iron Divisions" of the Vietnam People's Army. It was established in January 1951.[1]: 149
First Indochina War
The 320th Division was the target of Operation Mouette, launched on 15 October 1953, with the aim "to fix and destroy a major element of the Chu Luc before Giáp could deploy it."[2] The route for the Viet-Minh between Thanh Hoa and the Delta contained a crossroads at Lai Cac which was targeted by the operation. Seven Mobile Groups (Groupes Mobiles) were deployed with river and amphibious units; tank units (largely the M24 Chaffee); half-tracks and paratroopers at designated landing sites, after counter-intelligence mislead the Viet-Minh into defending the wrong locations.[2] GM 2 and GM 3 took Lai Cac and established a camp. The night of 18 October saw heavy counterattacks, which the French resisted. The 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade held out all night against one enemy battalion. This initial action was followed by two weeks of probing by GM 4 and paratrooper units. These columns fought major engagements in the surrounding countryside against the 320th, particularly on 2 November. The French withdrew overnight on 6-7 November.[3] The French claimed over 1,000 enemy killed and 2,500 wounded, while 182 were captured, along with "500 infantry weapons, plus 100 bazookas and recoilless guns and 3,000 mines."[3] Windrow notes that this would amount to one third of the 320th Division.
Regiment 48 of the 320th was stationed at Điện Biên Phủ when the French launched Operation Castor, however after some small skirmishes the Viet Minh abandoned the valley rather than engaging the French paratroops.[4]
In late December 1953 General Giáp ordered the 320th Division to infiltrate into the Red River Delta and assist Viet Minh local regiments to increase the pressure on the French in this region while he concentrated his forces for the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.[5]
Vietnam War
On 23 August 1965, the VPA General Staff ordered the division to split into 320A Division and 320B Division [citation needed]. Later in 1967, 320A (later renamed 320) moved to fight in the front in South Vietnam while 320B (later renamed 390) remained in Hanoi and became a training division [citation needed].
On 1 November 1967, the Marines launched Operation Kentucky as part of the continuing operations to secure the DMZ around Con Thien. The operation concluded on 28 February 1969, the 320th and 324th Division lost a total of 3839 killed and 117 captured while the Marines lost 520 killed and 2698 wounded.[6]
The 320th played a supporting role in the Battle of Khe Sanh, largely tasked with keeping Route 9 from Ca Lu to the Khe Sanh Combat Base closed.[7] On 24 January 1968 elements of the 320th ambushed a Marine "Rough Rider" convoy between Dong Ha and Camp Carroll and then ambushed the relief force from the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines killing 9 Marines.[8] The subsequent Marine clearing operation, including the "Battle of Mike's Hill", lasted until 29 January and resulted in 21 Marines killed and 130 NVA killed and 6 taken prisoner.[9]
In 1971, the 320th, together with the 304th and 308th Divisions formed part of the VPA B-70 Corps based in southern Laos.[10]
Present Day
Today it is part of the 3rd Corps (Vietnam People's Army).
References
- ^ Windrow, Martin (2004). The Last Valley: Dien Bien Phu and the French Defeat in Vietnam. Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 0-297-84671-X.
- ^ a b Windrow, p. 221.
- ^ a b Windrow, p. 222.
- ^ Windrow, p. 239.
- ^ Windrow, p. 280.
- ^ Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 0-16-049125-8.: 449
- ^ Shulimson, p. 64.
- ^ Shulimson, p. 119-20.
- ^ Shulimson, p. 121-6.
- ^ Sorley, Lewis (2000). A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America's Last Years in Vietnam. Harvest Books. p. 248. ISBN 0-15-601309-6.