The first victory of the Vietnam People's Navy: The heroic epic that echoes forever

In the 70-year journey of building and developing the Vietnam People's Navy, the first victory on August 2 and 5, 1964 is one of the typical feats, a milestone in the struggle to protect national independence.

The victory of the first battle is not only a symbol of political strength and the spirit of "dare to fight, know how to fight and be determined to win," but also has great significance and value in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Facing the powerful US army, the Vietnam People's Navy was still very young at that time, having only been established for 9 years, but with courage, the new officers and soldiers in their eighteen and twenty years old, equipped with primitive weapons, fought tenaciously against an enemy many times stronger, creating a brilliant tradition of winning the first battle.

Proactive response

To carry out the plan to attack the North by air and naval force, the US empire determined that it had to have a campaign to create a pretext to deceive world public opinion.

Therefore, by July 1964, the US increased its provocative activities, using warships and aircraft to violate the Northern waters for reconnaissance, surveillance, and support of puppet commando ships to attack islands and coastal residential areas.

To proactively deal with the enemy's plot, as early as December 1963, at the 9th Conference of the Party Central Committee, term III, it was pointed out: We must be vigilant and ready to deal with the case that the US risks expanding the war with the "Local War" strategy...; at the same time, we determined to strengthen our forces in all aspects, especially the military force, to be ready to defeat the US if they expand the war to the North.

On March 27 and 28, 1964, President Ho Chi Minh convened a special political conference. The delegates expressed their solidarity and determination to fight to protect the North, promote the war to liberate the South, and unify the country.

During the Conference, Uncle Ho declared: "If the American imperialists dare to touch the North, they will certainly fail miserably. Because the people of our entire country will resolutely fight them; because the socialist countries and progressive peoples of the world will wholeheartedly support us; because the American people and America's allies will oppose them."

In June 1964, the Politburo issued a Directive on strengthening combat readiness to crush the US Air Force's plot to provoke and attack the North.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army ordered combat readiness in all armed forces in the North and directed "The Navy to quickly prepare all aspects to fight to protect the sea, coastal lines, seaports, river mouths and bases; quickly switch all unit activities to wartime."

From July 6, 1964, the entire Army Corps entered a state of war; established a forward command post at the Gianh River base; mobilized a number of ships to the areas; at the same time, increased technical and tactical training for the forces.

Make a tradition of glorious first victory

On the night of July 31, early morning of August 1, 1964, the US sent the destroyer Ma Doc of the 7th Fleet to deeply penetrate into Quang Binh waters, then move north, at times only 8 nautical miles from shore, both to spy and investigate our defense network, and to threaten and intimidate our fishermen's fishing boats.

With the determination not to let enemy ships invade our waters, on August 2, 1964, the Navy Command commanded Battalion 135 to use 3 torpedo boats of Squadron 3 (including ships 333, 336, 339), secretly marching from Van Hoa (Quang Ninh) to Hon Ne (Thanh Hoa) to ambush and attack American destroyers. Also participating in the battle were 2 patrol boats T142 and T146 of Patrol Zone 1.

At 1:30 p.m. on August 2, the American destroyer Maddox entered the Hon Me sea area (Thanh Hoa). The forward command post ordered the patrol boat and torpedo boat formation to launch an attack.

Despite being heavily bombarded by enemy bullets, artillery from ships and planes, our ships still bravely advanced towards the target, quickly took up advantageous positions to launch torpedo attacks, and used ship-based firepower to fiercely fight back against enemy aircraft and warships.

Comparing the correlation between us and the enemy, according to Mr. Do Manh Hoan, a former electromechanical employee of the 3rd Torpedo Boat Squadron, our ship only weighed 25-26 tons compared to the 1,000-ton American destroyer.

Our ship only had 2 launchers and 2 14.5mm gun barrels, plus 2 smoke grenades and 2 depth charges. Meanwhile, the American destroyer had hundreds of gun barrels. So the difference in force was huge. But the Vietnam People's Navy was not afraid of that, they invaded our waters and had to be fought and chased away.

With that spirit, our officers and soldiers chased the Maddox ship away from Vietnam's territorial waters; at the same time shot down one and injured one American plane, affirming the will to dare to fight, to be determined to fight and to defeat the American invaders.

Immediately after the Maddox ship was chased out of our waters by the Vietnam People's Navy, on the night of August 4, 1964, the US government fabricated the so-called "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" to falsely accuse the Northern Navy of attacking US warships operating normally in international waters, to deceive international public opinion and the American people; using that as an excuse to launch a "retaliatory" campaign called "Piercing Arrow."

On August 5, 1964, the US mobilized aircraft from two aircraft carrier formations, including dozens of modern fighter and attack aircraft, divided into 3 waves to suddenly and massively attack our Navy bases, warehouses, and ship shelters along the northern coast from Quang Binh to Quang Ninh, opening the way for escalating attacks on the North.

But due to prior preparation, in the first test of fire with the US Navy and Air Force, the Vietnam People's Navy closely coordinated with the Northern people and army to bravely fight, shot down 8 planes, damaged many others, and captured the first American pilot in the sea and airspace of the North.

The so-called "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" scenario was carefully staged by the US, but they could not have expected that a young army force would stubbornly join our army and people to create a glorious victory.

Speaking about this feat, at the Commendation Ceremony (August 7, 1964), President Ho Chi Minh praised "... you have made great achievements in the recent battles against American imperialism. You fought very bravely, shot down 8 American planes and damaged 3. Recently, I heard that 4 American planes were damaged in Bien Hoa. You captured American pilots and drove American warships out of our country's waters. That is very good."

Symbol of indomitable will, intelligence and Vietnamese military art

The victory in the first battle on August 2 and 5, 1964 had strategic significance, creating a favorable premise, bringing confidence, encouragement, and motivation for the offensive spirit of the army and people of the whole country to be determined to defeat the escalation of the war by the US imperialists, firmly protect the great rear in the North, and stand side by side with the great front in the South to defeat the US and the puppets.

The victory of the first battle was a victory of the political and spiritual strength of the entire nation, of the determination to dare to fight, know how to fight and win; it is a symbol of the mettle and intelligence of Vietnam, a nation that, though small, always loves freedom and independence, and never submits to invaders, even if they are many times more numerous and stronger than us.

The victory of the first battle is proof of the strategic talent, leadership and wise direction of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, directly the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense.

That is the victory of Vietnamese military art in general and naval warfare art in particular, which has promoted the combined strength of all forces and localities, creating a combined strength to defeat the invading enemy.

The victory of the first battle is a victory of our nation's tradition of "using small to fight big, using few to fight many"; is one of the typical feats of arms of the Vietnam People's Navy; the beginning of the heroic epic of the Vietnam People's Navy in the history of building, fighting, winning and growing./.