Vietnam has successfully restored the full operational status of the US-made LST tank landing ships that it captured in 1975.
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| The article "Creative Application of Science and Technology to Serve Technical Advisory Work," published on the People's Army Newspaper Online, provided important details on the research program for improving and modernizing weapons and technical equipment. Specifically, for the navy, the General Department of Engineering, in coordination with relevant departments, successfully restored the LST landing ship. (Image source: Naval Television) |
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| Although the designation is not explicitly stated, based on the type of ship, it can be inferred that Vietnam successfully restored the operation of large tank landing ships (LSTs), which were war trophies captured in 1975. In total, we only captured two LSTs: HQ-501 (which we retained later) and HQ-503 (later renamed HQ-505). (Image source: Archival material) |
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| With these two LST landing ships, the Vietnam People's Navy significantly strengthened its power. The capabilities of the LST ships and other captured warships were fully utilized in the campaign to liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge genocide. Image source: Archival material. |
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| Later, during the CQ-88 campaign to defend sovereignty in the Spratly Islands in 1988, the landing ship HQ-505 contributed to maintaining sovereignty over Co Lin Island. However, after CQ-88, HQ-505 was severely damaged by Chinese ships and could not be repaired. It sank while being towed back to the mainland to be used as a museum exhibit. Therefore, to this day, perhaps only HQ-501 remains. Image source: Archival material |
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| With a ship built in 1944, after 70 years, its performance is naturally not as good as it was initially. This is where Vietnamese ingenuity comes into play. And as mentioned above, we have successfully restored the LST landing ship HQ-501 to operational status. In the photo, HQ-501 participates in a 2016 amphibious landing exercise. Image source: Naval Television. |
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| Not only did we restore the ship's operational status, but we also maintained the Bofor 40mm twin-barreled cannons and even managed to produce ammunition. (Image source: Naval Television) |
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| In the photo, the gun on the HQ-501 ship fires rounds to destroy targets at sea. Image source: Naval Television. |
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| The 501 landing ship has a full-load displacement of approximately 3,698 tons, is 100m long, and 15m wide. It is equipped with two General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 22 km/h. The ship is capable of carrying approximately 140 marines, two infantry landing craft (suspended along the sides), and PT-76 tanks and BTR-60PB armored vehicles. (Image source: VnmilitaryHistory) |
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| Additionally, the ship's deck is capable of carrying at least one helicopter. The image shows an LST carrying a UH-1 helicopter participating in the campaign to liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge genocide. (Image source: VnmilitaryHistory) |
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| The deck of the LST HQ-501 is marked with a white circle – the helicopter landing zone. Currently, it can accommodate both Mi-8/17 and Ka-28 helicopters. Image source: Naval Television. |
According to Kienthuc
