Brigade 172, Zone 3, conducting live-fire drills at sea. — Photo courtesy of the Việt Nam Government Portal

August 2 and 5, 1964, marked the first significant victory for the Việt Nam People's Navy on its combat operation which successfully expelled the US destroyer Maddox from Vietnamese waters and downed and damaged several of their aircraft. These victories set the stage for future success and continue to guide today's naval forces.

In an interview with the Government's online newspaper baochinhphu.vn, Colonel Vũ Anh Tuấn, Chief of Political Affairs of the Navy, talked about the key factors behind this historic triumph 60 years ago and how its legacy is being utilised to meet current challenges.

August 2 and 5, 1964 have become known as the days of the first victory for the Việt Nam People's Navy. Could you tell us about the historical significance?

The victories in the initial battles on the second and fifth of August 1964 resonated worldwide, demonstrating that the small nation of Việt Nam could challenge the might of the US air force right from the outset as the war expanded to northern Việt Nam. These victories brought hope and enthusiasm to millions fighting for national independence, democracy, peace and progress worldwide. At the same time, they affirmed the wise and skilful leadership of the Party and President Hồ Chí Minh, as well as the strength of the people's war strategy, Việt Nam's military intelligence and the military artistry, winning against the enemy using only available weapons and equipment.

This initial success laid a favourable foundation and inspired the offensive spirit of the military and people of the North to decisively defeat the escalating war of destruction by the US imperialists. It firmly protected the North, "the great rear area", creating a combined strength to defeat the US and its puppets, liberate the entire South and reunify the country.

The early victories imparted crucial lessons that continue to shape today’s naval forces. These foundational insights drive modern officers and soldiers to innovate and adapt, focusing on strengthening political and spiritual resolve, crafting a comprehensive national defence strategy and conducting effective maritime operations. They are ready to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty against any threat.

What were the factors that led to the first victory?

In my opinion, numerous factors contributed to the first victory on August 2 and 5, 1964. The most crucial and decisive factors were the strategic, creative and astute leadership of the Party and President Hồ Chí Minh.

Secondly, the spirit and determination of our military and people to be self-reliant, self-sufficient and resolute in their fight against the invading US imperialists played a vital role. This was evident in how effectively they exploited the enemy’s weaknesses. The enemy's illegal violation of our waters made them fear our ships’ attacks, their large destroyers were less manoeuvrable and their operations far from their base complicated their logistics.

Conversely, our military and people leveraged their existing strengths, including profound patriotism and intense hatred for the enemy. Everyone was eager to fight and achieve merits, vigilantly monitoring all enemy activities, proactively devising battle plans and seizing the most favourable opportunities to attack effectively.

Thirdly, the success was due to the comprehensive and self-reliant unity and coordination within our people's war strategy, including seamless cooperation among ships, combat groups, navy and air defence forces and local authorities.

Additionally, we excelled in implementing policies during combat, ensuring wounded soldiers were promptly rescued, treated and honoured, demonstrating our commitment to taking care of our personnel and maintaining morale.

Lastly, our officers and soldiers showed exceptional proficiency with technical weaponry, enabling swift, precise operations that greatly increased our chances of victory.

How will the navy use the historical significance of the first victory to address today’s challenges?

Currently, we are harnessing the historical significance of the first victory to advance the navy into a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern force. Our primary focus is on enhancing the political resilience and combat readiness of our personnel to safeguard maritime sovereignty in all situations. We are dedicated to instilling a resolute fighting spirit and the capability to overcome all invading threats.

We are committed to fortifying national maritime defence within a comprehensive security framework. This entails maintaining a thorough understanding of the situation, providing proactive and strategic advice and preventing any unexpected challenges. Our goal is to be decisive and strategic in protecting our sovereignty while ensuring a stable and peaceful environment conducive to national development.

We continuously innovate and elevate our training standards, ensuring adeptness with modern equipment and weapons, and refining joint operational tactics. Our training puts an emphasis on real-world scenarios, mission objectives and the protection of maritime sovereignty.

Furthermore, we are focused on enhancing the leadership and operational effectiveness of party committees and organisational structures, particularly at the grassroots level and bolstering the capabilities and resilience of our commanding officers to meet contemporary demands. — VNS