Unknown things about the "numberless" ship that just became a national treasure

Ship HQ671, also known by the number C41, 641, contributed to the legend of the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea.

The legendary ship…

The military transport ship HQ671, formerly known as C41, 641, is currently kept at the Navy Museum. The ship is 31.5m long, 5.8m wide, 11.7m high from the bottom to the top of the flagpole, has a displacement of 165 tons, is a Guangzhou type ship (50 tons) manufactured by China in 1962, and was donated to the Vietnamese Navy in 1964.

At that time, the ship was assigned to Group 125 (also known as the "no-number" ship group) with the mission of transporting support to the Southern battlefield along the strategic transport route in the East Sea named after President Ho Chi Minh - the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea.

From 1967 to 1971, the ship was tasked with secretly transporting weapons and goods on the strategic transport route to directly support the Southern battlefield and participated in the VT5 Transport Campaign (1968 - 1969), bringing weapons and goods from Hai Phong port to Gianh port, Quang Binh province, from which the forces continued to transport them along the Ho Chi Minh trail on the Truong Son mountain range to support the Southern battlefield.

From July 1971 to 1974, ship number 641 was responsible for transporting weapons, goods, vehicles and troops to Dong Hoi port, Quang Binh and Cua Viet port, Quang Tri to transfer to support the southern battlefield.

During the Spring General Offensive and Uprising in 1975, ship 641 transported people, weapons, and goods to support the Hue - Da Nang campaign to liberate the coastal provinces of Central Vietnam and carried Navy special forces to attack and liberate the Truong Sa archipelago. After 1975, the ship carried out the task of transporting and being ready to fight to protect the sovereignty of the Truong Sa archipelago.

In 1980, ship 641 was assigned the registration number HQ671 and in 1982 was assigned to Squadron 413, Naval Region 4, with the mission of being on combat readiness and transporting troops and goods to support the construction and protection of islands in the Truong Sa archipelago and patrolling and protecting the Cam Ranh military base area.

In 2002, ship HQ671 was assigned to Squadron 384, Naval Logistics Department, with the task of transporting logistics goods to serve units in the Navy. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea (October 23, 1961 / October 23, 2011), on September 20, 2011, ship HQ671 was brought from Squadron 384, Naval Logistics Department to the Museum of the Navy as an exhibit to promote the feat of "Ho Chi Minh Trail at sea".

Veterans of the Unnumbered Ships visit ship HQ671 in July 2016 (Photo: Navy Museum)

Become a national treasure

Along with the Truong Son trail, the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea was one of two strategic transportation routes to transport supplies to our army and people in the South to fight the enemy.

The people and ships carrying out secret transport missions on the sea route named after President Ho Chi Minh were brave, courageous, and willing to accept sacrifices and dangers to transport goods and weapons directly to support the most difficult and farthest battlefields in the South that the Truong Son road had not yet reached, namely the South and South Central regions; under conditions where the enemy had absolute superiority in air force, navy, and organization to fiercely block us from sea to shore, from North to South.

From there, it created a legendary path on the East Sea with many legendary feats, making important contributions to building and strengthening the fighting strength of the armed forces in the South at that time.

With the determination for the cause of liberating the South and unifying the country, from October 1962 to March 1975, Group 759, later renamed Group 125 Navy (also known as the "no-number" Ship Group), organized hundreds of brave, resilient, resourceful, and creative ship trips to overcome the hardships and dangers of the sea and the enemy's fierce blockade and prevention, transporting 97,596 tons of weapons, ammunition, and more than 300 officers, including many high-ranking officers of the Party, State, and army.

After the liberation of the South in 1975, the ship HQ671 was on a mission to transport support to units stationed in the Truong Sa archipelago. Continuing its exploits, in October 1978, the ship received orders to search for 7 officers and soldiers of Phan Vinh island who were swept away by the waves while on duty.

After 8 days and nights of persistently "plowing and re-plowing" on a vast sea area, overcoming big waves and strong winds, the ship rescued all 7 comrades and brought them back to the unit safely. In early 1988, the ship was on duty to protect Da Lon Island. The officers and soldiers of the HQ671 ship did not hesitate to sacrifice, calmly, bravely and steadfastly overcame the hardships, contributing with the unit to maintain the sovereignty of the Fatherland on Da Lon Island. After that, the ship continued to carry out the mission of transporting support for the construction and protection of Truong Sa archipelago.

With the above achievements, the HQ671 fleet (41, C41, 641) was twice honored by the Party and State with the title of Heroic Unit of the People's Armed Forces. Awarded with: 4 Military Exploit Medals, 8 Military Exploit Medals and many other noble awards.

There are 8 officers and soldiers of the ship through the periods who have been awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces, they are comrades: Bong Van Dia, Le Van Mot, Dang Van Thanh, Duong Van Loc, Huynh Van Sao, Ho Dac Thanh, Phan Nhan, Nguyen Son.

Historical facts show that ship HQ671 (with other numbers C41 and 641) is the only remaining ship of the "no-number" fleet - the heroic transport force that created the legend of the Ho Chi Minh trail at sea, a strategic feat, a special and unique feature of military art and people's war on the river and sea battlefield of our nation in the Ho Chi Minh era.

This is an artifact of special value, a treasure of significance not only to the Vietnam People's Navy but also to the entire nation.