Soldiers train shirtless to cross a river in freezing weather.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of November 23, the 335th Infantry Regiment, 324th Division (Military Region 4) conducted a river crossing exercise as part of its end-of-2017 live-fire drill. This was a realistic combat exercise closely simulating the operational area.

The scenario: The 6th Infantry Battalion, along with the fire support unit of the 335th Regiment, must secretly cross the Giang River in Thanh Chuong District, Nghe An Province.

Their mission involved carrying personal equipment as well as heavy firepower such as mortars and anti-aircraft machine guns, navigating a river nearly 180 meters wide and almost 5 meters deep with strong currents.

Concealing troops in preparation for crossing the river.

Crossing the river in formation.

Transporting weapons across the river by raft.

Using methods such as packaged swimming, armed swimming, and utilizing terrain and natural features like: swimming across rivers with infantry weapons, and constructing rafts from trees.

After more than an hour of tight command and seamless coordination between units, over 670 officers and soldiers, along with their weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and combat vehicles, crossed the river safely.

Ha Huu Tan