Spring comes to the military port

They walked in the returning Spring with joy and mixed feelings. But they only completed their mission when the areaislands of the FatherlandPeace, people across the country celebrate Tet, enjoy Spring in the joy of the New Year.

Happy New Year but don't forget your duty

In the last days of the Year of the Tiger, we had the opportunity to visit Cam Ranh International Military Port, Khanh Hoa province, just when officers and sailors of the submarine 187 Ba Ria - Vung Tau returned after a long training session at sea.

Looking at the national flag flying on the command tower, everyone felt excited because the modern submarine of the Vietnam People's Navy named Ba Ria - Vung Tau had successfully completed its mission, returning to the mainland in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao 2023.

Two “ocean black holes” at Cam Ranh international military port. Photo: Mai Thang

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tien Doat - captain of submarine 187 Ba Ria - Vung Tau excitedly said: "We have just returned from a long mission at sea and on islands. Although we are happy to welcome Tet and Spring, we are not allowed to be careless even for a minute. The more holidays and Tet, the more we raise our vigilance and readiness to fight. We are used to celebrating Tet away from home. Although we still understand that Tet makes us miss our homeland, our parents, our wife and children, but since it is a special mission, we are all happy. This year, officers and soldiers of submarine 187 are given leave according to the ratio. All of them have followed the leave discipline well. Those who stayed behind are happy and determined in the spirit of "welcoming the New Year with a steady hand and gun", "enjoying the New Year without forgetting our duties".

Maintenance after a long sea voyage. Photo: Mai Thang

Professional military lieutenant Nguyen Van Thang, information officer of ship 187, has spent many years celebrating Tet away from home. This year, he will once again celebrate Tet with his comrades at the naval port. Before being assigned to submarine 187, Thang served in the 171st Anti-Submarine Brigade of Navy Region 2.

Having been attached to the “black hole of the ocean” called Ba Ria - Vung Tau for 6 years, Thang has many happy and sad memories in his military life. But perhaps the most memorable and emotional memory is New Year’s Eve 2016.

“That night, two soldiers and I were on guard duty. After the captain and political commissar went to each position to wish everyone a Happy New Year and give lucky money, suddenly there was a distress signal from the sea. Through the TZK lens and the radar screen, we identified a fishing boat of fishermen urgently asking for rescue. As fast as lightning, we deployed the rescue mission. The boat was quickly lowered into the sea. Under the command of the military deputy captain, we overcame the waves in the pitch-black night of the 30th of Tet. It was bitterly cold. When we approached the fishing boat, I put on a life jacket and jumped into the sea to save the fisherman who was drifting away. We pulled the fisherman onto the boat safely, just as the sky was getting light. We stayed up all night on the 30th of Tet, but the joy was immeasurable. That was also a memorable memory in my life as a marine soldier,” Thang confided.

Inter-level training. Photo by Mai Thang

Asked about the spirit of welcoming the Year of the Cat of the officers and soldiers, Political Commissar Tran Ngoc Tho said: In addition to the military supply standards of the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy, the officers and sailors of the ship receive gifts sent by people from all over the country. On New Year's Eve, we will organize democratic flower picking and a performance competition. Folk games will also be held on the ship. All officers and sailors are assured, have a steady hand on their guns and are ready to go to sea to perform their duties in all situations.

Firmly hold the gun to protect the sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland

On the days approaching the Year of the Cat, the sailors of the 189th Submarine Brigade are both proud to be the only force in the Vietnam People's Navy that owns 6 of the most modern smart ships today, and proud to enter the new Spring - Spring of the Cat 2023 with joy multiplying in the hearts of the sailors.

Patrolling at sea. Photo by Ngoc Tho

Colonel Nguyen Van Quan - Brigade Commander said: Being assigned by the Navy to receive and manage modern submarines, the officers and soldiers of the Brigade are managing and using a very large asset of the country. We are very proud to be trusted by the Navy and the people of the whole country. We will continue to study and practice to contribute to improving our professional qualifications, gradually mastering the ships, weapons and equipment, striving to excellently complete the task of protecting the sovereignty of the sea, islands and sacred continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Teammates meet in the new Spring. Photo: Mai Thang

Over the years, the submarines have traveled tens of thousands of nautical miles to carry out training missions and other missions at sea, ensuring absolute safety for people and technical equipment. The Brigade has successfully completed the missile firing mission, affirming its ability to master modern technical equipment and weapons, and has been praised by the Ministry of National Defense and the Navy.

Show of force. Photo: Dac Thang

Colonel Nguyen Van Quan - Brigade Commander added: “Currently, we regularly maintain and deploy combat readiness work. Focus on training according to the motto “Basic, practical, solid”; attach importance to synchronous, in-depth training, focusing on practice; closely combine military training with political education, education and training with building discipline, discipline management; train closely with plans, combat objects, battlefields. Continue to make the breakthrough “Basic, mastery, in-depth in exploiting and using weapons and technical equipment and implementing safety rules”. In the process of performing tasks, we always put the requirement of building discipline and discipline in the top position.

Decorating the altar to welcome the Year of the Cat. Photo: Ngoc Tho

Focus on implementing the 3 exemplary and 3 definitive contents associated with building submarine cultural criteria with 3 special qualities (special solidarity, special discipline, special secrecy), contributing with other forces in the Service to firmly protect the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland in all situations. 11 years of building and growing, generations of officers and sailors of the 189th Submarine Brigade have cultivated the tradition of "Solidarity, discipline, secrecy, determination to win".

That tradition is a source of encouragement and motivation for officers and soldiers of the entire Brigade to continue to strive to achieve many achievements, contributing to enhancing the overall strength, combat readiness, excellently completing assigned tasks, firmly protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland during the coming of Tet, Spring and at all times and on all tasks" - Colonel Quan affirmed.

The Year of the Cat Spring has filled the Cam Ranh International Port. Hundreds of sailors on the 6 “ocean black holes” are both welcoming the Spring and ready to fight. In the hearts of these special marine soldiers, their love is for the peace of the sovereignty of the sea and islands. They will only complete their mission excellently when the sea and islands of the Fatherland are peaceful during the New Year and Spring.