Liberation Army of South Vietnam explained

Unit Name:Liberation Army of South Vietnam
Native Name:Quân Giải phóng miền Nam Việt Nam
Dates:January 1961 – July 7, 1976
Allegiance: National Liberation Front
Type:Irregular military
Light infantry
Role:Asymmetric warfare
Unconventional Warfare
Size:24,000 (1961)
64,000 (1963)
290,000 (1974)
Nickname:Viet Cong
The Liberators / Liberation Army
Battles:Vietnam War
Identification Symbol Label:Military Flag

The Liberation Army of South Vietnam (LASV; ; Chữ Hán: 軍解放沔南越南), also recognized as the Liberation Army (or), was an irregular military force established by the Workers' Party of Vietnam in 1961 in South Vietnam[1] as the nominal armed wing of the Viet Cong and largely operated as a proxy of the existing People's Army of Vietnam. In 1962, the People's Revolutionary Party of South Vietnam separated from the Workers' Party of Vietnam in terms of external appearance, openly directing the Liberation Army's military. Politically, the South Vietnamese Liberation Army was under the direction of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam. The military forces from the North to the South of Vietnam, although collectively known as the Liberation Army of South Vietnam, still use the unit names, military badges and War flag of the Vietnam People's Army.

After the 1973 Paris Agreement, the forces of the South Vietnamese Liberation Army were merged into the Vietnam People's Army one by one. This merger was completed in 1975 and 1976. Although administratively the Liberation Army of South Vietnam and the People's Army of Vietnam are two different armies, they share the same leadership and can completely merge, split, and supplement forces according to their needs a unified principle. After 1975, the Workers' Party of Vietnam acknowledged leading both the South Vietnam Liberation Army and the Vietnam People's Army during the war. The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam also received the secret direction of the Workers' Party of Vietnam.[2]

The South Vietnamese Liberation Army is under the open direction of the High Command of the Armed Forces for the Liberation of South Vietnam, and secretly under the direction of the Politburo of Vietnam Labor Party and the Central Military Commission of the Vietnamese People's Army, Central Department for South Vietnam, the High Command of the Armed Forces for the Liberation of South Vietnam. Regarding secrecy, the Central Department for South Vietnam and the High Command of the Armed Forces for the Liberation of South Vietnam directed in the area B2 (Ninh Thuan to Ca Mau).[3]

Organization

According to 1954 Geneva agreements, the Viet Cong were not compulsorily removed to the North because it was a political entity, not a military force. North Vietnamese support for the Viet Cong to establish the NLF forces was allowed on the basis that it remained a militia in the South. The LASV was recognized as the official force on February 15, 1961 by North Vietnam. The LASV originally carried out operations ostensibly to protect South Vietnamese citizens from offensives by the Republic of Vietnam and the United States.[4] Most early soldiers in the LASV were South Vietnamese. However, casualties of war forced North Vietnam to provide volunteers for the LASV. As a result, many people mistakenly believed that the LASV was a part of the People's Army of Vietnam. North Vietnam and other communist nations recognised the LASV as the primary militarily force in South Vietnam and considered the People's Army of Vietnam to be its parent organization.[5]

Units of the Vietnam People's Army and the South Vietnamese Liberation Army in South Vietnam in April 1975:

1st Corps (PAVN) has three infantry divisions: the 308th Division, the 312th Division, and the 320B Division. (Particularly, Division 308 remained in the North as a strategic reserve force) . 45th Artillery Regiment (Doan Tat Thang); 202 Armored Tank Brigade;...

Army Corps 2 of the Vietnam People's Army includes Division 304, Division 325, Division 324; 673rd Air Defense Division, 164th Artillery Brigade, 203rd Tank Brigade,...assigned to the 3rd Division from the 5th Military Region and some units withdrawn from the 4th Military Region (North Vietnam)

3rd Corps (PAVN) includes: 10th Division, 316th Division, 320th Division, 2 artillery regiments (40 and 675), 3 anti-aircraft regiments (232, 234 and 593), 198th Commando Regiment...

4th Army Corps (B2) has 7th Infantry Division (LASV), 9th Infantry Division (LASV) and military units: 24th Artillery Regiment, 71st Air Defense Regiment, ...added Division 341 (Song Lam Division) of Military Region 4 (North Vietnam)

Division 232 (B2) includes the main 5th and 9th Divisions of the Region (LASV), and Phuoc Long Division (originally the C30B group); six independent regiments 16, 88, 24...After being reinforced by 8th Division (Military Region 8).

316th Infantry Division in western Nghe An province, Ha Tinh province (North Vietnam - Military Region 4). Division 341 stands in the south of Military Region 4. These two divisions are in the strategic mobile reserve of the Ministry. F341 assigned to the 4th Army Corps at the end of April 1975.

The main block of the Tri - Thien Military Region (B4- South Vietnam) consists of three infantry regiments (4th, 6th and 27th regiments)...The main force of Military Region 5 (B1- South Vietnam) includes Division 2 and Division 3...Under the Command of Military Region 5, there are also two artillery regiments (572 and 576), 573 anti-aircraft regiment...

The main force of Military Zone 6 (B2) has the 812th Infantry Regiment, the 130th Combat Support Battalion and the 200C commando battalion. The main troops of the military zones in the South (B2) are concentrated and built into four divisions and two infantry regiments: Division 3 belongs to the Regional Command, Division 4 belongs to Military Region 9, Division 8 belongs to Military Region 8, Division 6 belongs to Military Region 7 and two Gia Dinh regiments (1 and 2) belong Military Command of Saigon - Gia Dinh.

Command mechanism:

Public:

The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government led politically

The People's Revolutionary Party of South Vietnam and the Regional Command command military affairs throughout the South

Secret:

The Politburo and Central Military Commission of the Labor Party of Vietnam, the General Command of the Vietnam People's Army direct the entire South, directly on the battlefields B1, B3, B4, B5.

The Central Department of the South, the Military Commission of the South, the Command of the Region on the battlefield B2, under the general direction of the Labor Party of Vietnam

The Politburo, the Secretariat of the Labor Party and directly the Central Department of the South of the Labor Party secretly directed the National Front for Liberation and the Provisional Revolutionary Government.

After the reunification of Vietnam in 1975, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam was merged into the People's Army of Vietnam in 1976. In fact, all the Viet Cong army forces had been incorporated into the North Vietnamese army since early 1975.

Developments

In January 1961, the militia in South Vietnam became the official force there. On February 15, 1961, North Vietnam recognized it as the main battle force in South Vietnam. At the end of 1961, there were 24,500 soldiers and 100,000 militants in the LASV. The LASV had 11 battalions, with commanding generals Trần Văn Trà, Hoàng Văn Thái, Lê Trọng Tấn, Lê Đức Anh, Nguyễn Thị Định, and others.

The LASV initially confined its operations to rural areas due to Ngô Đình Diệm's tough crackdown on Communist sympathizers. However, the number of soldiers still went up to 64,000 in 1963. As the result, regiments were established. Since 1964, North Vietnam started providing soldiers for the LASV by voluntary mans. The number of the LASV soldiers reached over 290,000 in December 1974, including 90,000 from the South.[6]

The South Vietnamese and United States forces outnumbered the PAVN by at least 7 to 1 until 1965; even after 1965 the coalition forces still outnumbered the PAVN by 3 to 1.

The LASV also included urban fighting forces, especially in Saigon. These forces had mission of carrying out cover attacks against South Vietnam and American forces and its allies in urban areas, especially in Saigon. The urban special force in Saigon is famous in the 1968 Tet offensive.

Units of the Vietnam People's Army and the South Vietnamese Liberation Army in South Vietnam in April 1975:

1st Corps (PAVN) has three infantry divisions: the 308th Division, the 312th Division, and the 320B Division. (Particularly, Division 308 remained in the North as a strategic reserve force) . 45th Artillery Regiment (Doan Tat Thang); 202 Armored Tank Brigade;...

Army Corps 2 of the Vietnam People's Army includes Division 304, Division 325, Division 324; 673rd Air Defense Division, 164th Artillery Brigade, 203rd Tank Brigade,...assigned to the 3rd Division from the 5th Military Region and some units withdrawn from the 4th Military Region (North Vietnam)

3rd Corps (PAVN) includes: 10th Division, 316th Division, 320th Division, 2 artillery regiments (40 and 675), 3 anti-aircraft regiments (232, 234 and 593), 198th Commando Regiment...

4th Army Corps (B2) has 7th Infantry Division (LASV), 9th Infantry Division (LASV) and military units: 24th Artillery Regiment, 71st Air Defense Regiment, ...added Division 341 (Song Lam Division) of Military Region 4 (North Vietnam)

Division 232 (B2) includes the main 5th and 9th Divisions of the Region (LASV), and Phuoc Long Division (originally the C30B group); six independent regiments 16, 88, 24...After being reinforced by 8th Division (Military Region 8).

316th Infantry Division in western Nghe An province, Ha Tinh province (North Vietnam - Military Region 4). Division 341 stands in the south of Military Region 4. These two divisions are in the strategic mobile reserve of the Ministry. F341 assigned to the 4th Army Corps at the end of April 1975.

The main block of the Tri - Thien Military Region (B4- South Vietnam) consists of three infantry regiments (4th, 6th and 27th regiments)...The main force of Military Region 5 (B1- South Vietnam) includes Division 2 and Division 3...Under the Command of Military Region 5, there are also two artillery regiments (572 and 576), 573 anti-aircraft regiment...

The main force of Military Zone 6 (B2) has the 812th Infantry Regiment, the 130th Combat Support Battalion and the 200C commando battalion. The main troops of the military zones in the South (B2) are concentrated and built into four divisions and two infantry regiments: Division 3 belongs to the Regional Command, Division 4 belongs to Military Region 9, Division 8 belongs to Military Region 8, Division 6 belongs to Military Region 7 and two Gia Dinh regiments (1 and 2) belong Military Command of Saigon - Gia Dinh.

Main army - infantry - in South Vietnam in 1975:

The Liberation Army of South Vietnam merged into the People's Army of Vietnam after the reunification of Vietnam by the 1976 general election.

Equipment

The Viet Cong established the NLF in order to help create a Communist state in South Vietnam. PAVN forces that went to the South were sent with the express mission to aid the NLF. The NLF army had different uniforms, flags and badges to those of the PAVN.

Small arms

Handguns

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles

Bolt-action rifles

Submachine guns

Machine guns

Grenades and other explosives

Flamethrowers

Artillery

Aircraft weapons

Activities

The Viet Cong established the NLF army in order to create the status of independence with North Vietnam and People's Army of Vietnam. PAVN forces that were sent south had the express mission of supporting NLF operations in the south. The NLF forces had different uniforms, flags and badges to those of the PAVN. The People's Liberation Armed Forces of South Vietnam was recognized as the main battle force of the communist coalition in the Vietnam War by North Vietnam and other communist nations.

In the Vietnam War, members of the NLF army had differing and irregular uniforms, depending on circumstances.

There are few traits to distinguish between Liberation Army of South Vietnam (LASV) and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces. Over half of LASV and PAVN soldiers were members of the Labor Party of Vietnam, the old name of the Communist Party of Vietnam. However, LASV and PAVN forces used different flags. PAVN troops carried the North Vietnamese flag, while LASV troops carried the National Liberation Front flag. The PAVN was under the leadership of the Northern government, while LASV was under the leadership of the NLF. After the collapse of South Vietnam, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam merged into the People's Army of Vietnam. The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the start of a transition period, followed by the formal reunification of Vietnam under the Socialist Republic through government-controlled elections in 1976.[9]

For propaganda purposes of dividing forces of enemies, the ARVN and the US army always said that the LASV was comprehensively independent to the People's Army of Vietnam.

In South Vietnam, members of the Communist Party of Vietnam held membership of the People's Revolutionary Party.

According to American documents, the main battle force in South Vietnam was the NLF, not the People's Army of Vietnam.

List of military victories

Significant leaders

Commanders

No.Name (alias)Periodothers position
1Trần Văn Quang (Bảy Tiến)1961–1963 Tư lệnh kiêm Chính ủy Quân khu Trị – Thiên (1966–1973)
2Trần Văn Trà (Tư Chi)1963–1967 Phó Bí thư Quân ủy, Phó tư lệnh Miền (1968–1972)
3Hoàng Văn Thái (Mười Khang)1967–1973Phó Bí thư Quân ủy (1967–1973), Tư lệnh kiêm Chính ủy Quân khu 5 (1966–1967)
4Trần Văn Trà (Tư Chi)1973–1975Phó Bí thư Quân ủy, Phó tư lệnh Miền (1968–1972)

Political Commissars

No.Name (alias)Periodothers position
1Phạm Thái Bường (Ba Bường)1961–1962Bí thư Khu ủy 9 (1969–1974), Ủy viên thường vụ Trung ương Cục miền Nam (1965–1974)
2Trần Nam Trung (Hai Hậu)1962–1964Ủy viên Quốc phòng Mặt trận Dân tộc Giải phóng miền Nam (1961–1976)
Bộ trưởng Quốc phòng Chính phủ Cách mạng lâm thời Cộng hòa Miền Nam Việt Nam (1969–1976)
3Nguyễn Chí Thanh (Sáu Di)1964–1967Bí thư Trung ương Cục miền Nam (1964–1967)
4Phạm Hùng (Hai Hùng)1967–1975Bí thư Trung ương Cục miền Nam (1967–1975)

Chiefs of Staff

No.Name (alias)Periodothers position
2 Lê Đức Anh (Sáu Nam) 1964–1969 Phó Tư lệnh Miền (1964–1969, 1974–1975), Tư lệnh Quân khu 9 (1969–1974)
3Nguyễn Minh Châu (Năm Ngà)1969–1970Tư lệnh Quân khu 6 (1963–1969), Tham mưu phó Miền (1970–1974)
4Hoàng Cầm (Năm Thạch)1970–1974Tư lệnh Công trường 9
5Nguyễn Minh Châu (Năm Ngà)1974–1975Tư lệnh Quân khu 6 (1963–1969), Tham mưu phó Miền (1970–1974)

Other leaders

No.Name (alias)Position
1Nguyễn Thị Định (Ba Định)Deputy chief of commander (1965–1975)
2Đồng Văn Cống (Bảy Cống)Tư lệnh Quân khu 3 (1964–1968)
Phó tư lệnh Miền (1965–1972)
Tư lệnh Quân khu 1 (1972–1975)
3Nguyễn Hữu Xuyến (Tám Kiến Quốc)Phó tư lệnh Miền (1965–1974)
4Lê Trọng Tấn (Ba Long)Phó tư lệnh Miền (1965–1971)
5Trần Độ (Chín Vinh)Phó chính ủy Miền (1965–1974)
6Tư lệnh B5 (1968, 1971–1972)
6Chính ủy B5 (1968, 1971–1972)
7Chu Huy MânTư lệnh Quân khu 5 (1967–1975)
8Lê Văn Tưởng (Hai Chân)Chủ nhiệm Chính trị Miền (1961–1965, 1967–1975), Chính ủy Công trường 9 (1965–1967), Phó chính ủy Miền (1972–1975)
9Trần Văn Nghiêm (Hai Nghiêm)Tham mưu phó Miền (1965–1975)
10Đàm Văn NgụyTư lệnh Công trường 7 (1972–1973)
11Phó tư lệnh B5 (1967–1968), Tư lệnhCông trường 5 (1965–1966), Công trường 7 (1966–1967)
11Cục phó Chính trị Miền (1964–1966), Chính ủy Công trường 7 (1966–1967), Phó chính ủy Quân khu 3 (1968–1969), Chính ủy Quân khu 2 (1969–1974), Chính ủy Quân khu 7 (1974)
12Lê Tự ĐồngChính ủy B5 (1969–1972), Chính ủy Quân khu Trị Thiên (1972–1975), Tư lệnh Quân khu Trị Thiên (1974–1975)
12Đoàn KhuêPhó chính ủy Quân khu 5 (1963–1975)
12Trần Văn Phác (Tám Trần)Chủ nhiệm Chính trị Bộ tư lệnh miền
13Chủ nhiệm Hậu cần Bộ tư lệnh Miền
14Nguyễn Thành Thơ (Mười Khẩn)Tư lệnh Quân khu 3 (1961–1964)
15Nguyễn Văn Bé (Tám Tùng)
16Nguyễn ĐônTư lệnh Quân khu 5 (1961–1967)

Battle forces

If a LASV unit has the same name with a PAVN unit, the LASV name will have the letter "B" added after the unit number.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A look back at 60 years of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam - National Defence Journal. tapchiqptd.vn.
  2. Web site: National Liberation Front for South Vietnam in resistance war against the U.S., for national salvation - National Defence Journal. tapchiqptd.vn.
  3. Parameters: Journal of the US Army War College, p.36
  4. Web site: KỶ NIỆM 50 NĂM NGÀY THÀNH LẬP QUÂN GIẢI PHÓNG MIỀN NAM VIỆT NAM (15-2-1961 – 15-2-2011): Trang sử vàng của Quân Giải phóng miền Nam. baodanang.vn. 28 June 2016.
  5. Web site: Quân giải phóng miền Nam Việt Nam. mod.gov.vn. Digital Portal of the Ministry of Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 11 September 2020.
  6. Lịch sử Cục tác chiến. NXB Quân đội nhân dân. Hà Nội. 2001
  7. Web site: PAVN Infantry Weapons. tripod.com. 28 June 2016.
  8. Book: Dockery, Kevin. Weapons of the Navy SEALs. December 2004. Berkley Publishing Group. New York City. 0-425-19834-0. 382.
  9. Web site: I – CHÍNH PHỦ NHIỆM KỲ QUỐC HỘI KHÓA VI (1976–1981). mod.gov.vn. Digital Portal of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 11 September 2020.