5th Infantry Division (Vietnam)
The VC 5th Infantry Division was a division of the Viet Cong (VC) during the Vietnam War and later became part of the People's Army of Vietnam.
| 5th Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1965–Present |
| Allegiance |  |
| Branch |  People's Army of Vietnam (1976–present) |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Guerrilla (1965–1976) Regular infantry (1976–present) |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | 7th Military Region |
| Engagements | Vietnam War
|
History
The Division was formed on 23 October 1965 from the 4th (Dong Nai) Regiment and the newly formed 5th Regiment drawn from local forces.[1]:156 The Division later comprised the 274th Regiment and 275th Regiment plus supporting units.[2]
The VC 5th Division's headquarters was located in Northeast Phuoc Tuy in the May Tao Mountains, the 274th Regiment's headquarters was located in the Hat Dich area and the 275th Regiment's headquarters was also located in the May Tao Mountains. The division operated in the Bien Hoa, Dong Nai, Phuoc Tuy and Long Khanh provinces. North Vietnamese regulars also reinforced the division during operations.[3]
As part of the campaign against Saigon it was tasked with isolating the eastern provinces by interdicting the main roads and highways, including Highways 1 and 15 and provincial routes 2 and 23. It this role it proved a major challenge to the ARVN, with the 275th Regiment successfully ambushing an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) battalion near Binh Gia on 11 November 1965.[4]
The PAVN claim that the Division's 4th and 5th Regiments attacked the U.S. base at Vung Tau on 12 March 1966 "killing 300 enemy and destroying 30 helicopters."[1]:177 No other sources confirm such an attack.
On 18 August 1966 the elements of the Division participated in the Battle of Long Tan against Australian Army forces.[5]
During the Tet Offensive the Division attacked on Bien Hoa and Long Binh. The attacks were a failure and total PAVN/VC losses were 567 dead and 47 captured and 11 U.S. killed.[6] Following the Tet Offensive the 174th Regiment was assigned to reinforce the Division.[1]:227
By 1971 the Division was operating in Cambodia and PAVN command formed the Corps-sized Group 301 comprising of the Division and the 7th and 9th Division, the 28th Artillery Regiment and the 12th Anti-aircraft Machine Gun Battalion.[1]:281 The Division fought in the Battle of Snuol in late May 1971.[1]:281
During the Easter Offensive the Division fought the Battle of Loc Ninh from 4-7 April 1972, capturing the town but suffering heavy casualties from U.S. airstrikes.[1]:295 The Division then joined other PAVN forces fighting in the Battle of An Lộc.
In early 1975 in preparation for the 1975 Spring Offensive the PAVN command formed the 232nd Group comprised of the Division and the 3rd Division. In early April the Division attacked ARVN outposts at Thủ Thừa and Bến Lức but were repulsed.[1]:408 In late April the Division cut Route 4 near Bến Lức blocking the movement of ARVN units from the southwest towards Saigon.[1]:414 On 30 April the Division advanced up Route 4 and attacked Tân An and Thủ Thừa forcing the surrender of the ARVN 22nd Division and 6th Ranger Group.[1]:420
Presently, the 5th Division is under the 7th Military Region.
Notable Members
- Nguyen Hoa - First commanding officer.
- Le Xuan Luu - First political commissar
References
- Military History Institute of Vietnam (2002). Victory in Vietnam: A History of the People's Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975. trans. Pribbenow, Merle. University of Kansas Press. ISBN 0-7006-1175-4.
- Rowe, John (1987). Vietnam: The Australian Experience. Time-Life Books Australia. p. 64. ISBN 0949118079.
- McNeill, Ian; Ekins, Ashley (2003). On the Offensive: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1967–1968. The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975. Volume Eight. Allen and Unwin. p. 45. ISBN 1863733043.
- McNeill, Ian (1993). To Long Tan: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1950–1966. The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975. Volume Two. Allen and Unwin. p. 222. ISBN 1863732829.
- Dennis, Peter (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand. p. 556. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
- Villard, Erik (2017). United States Army in Vietnam Combat Operations Staying the Course October 1967 to September 1968. Center of Military History United States Army. pp. 347–53. ISBN 9780160942808.
