I. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF HO CHI MINH SEA TRAIL
1. The establishment Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail
After 1954, having a conspiracy to divide our country, the ruling forces of the US and minions abruptly eradicated Geneva Agreement, brought the invaders, and turned South Vietnam into a new-kind colony and military base to attack the North. To deal with that situation, our Party decided that the way to liberate the South was violence and proposed the guidelines, quickly organized to aid manpower, supplies, weapons from the North for the southern battlefield.
Implementing the guidelines of the Central Party Committee and the Military Affairs Party Committee, on May 19, 1959, a specialized North Vietnamese Army unit (the precursor of the Group 559) was established with the task of creating a supply route on land and sea for the South. By July 1959, Battalion 603 under Group 559 was established, which was responsible for finding the sea transport method to supply weapons for the Southern battlefield. To keep it secret, the Battalion took the name “Gianh River Fishing Company". At the end of 1959, Battalion 603 held the first sea cross to the Zone V battlefield but failed, so the Military Affairs Party Committee decided that the Battalion 603 would be inactive to find a new plan.
In early 1960, along with the Dong Khoi Ben Tre movement, the revolutionary movement of the Southern delta provinces developed strongly into the status of attack and spread to the whole region. To meet the requirements of transporting weapons and goods for the Southern and South Central battlefields while the road on land of the Group 559 in Truong Son Range had not reached out, the Military Affairs Party Committee continued to direct the General Staff research a new project on establishment and organization of sea transport forces for the southern and Zone V battlefield. Politburo sent a directive to the Southern Central Committee to direct the coastal provinces in Central and South to proactively prepare ports, yards and organized to bring boats across the sea to the North, in order to explore the enemy situation, research the sea transportation route, and receive weapons to promptly provide to the Southern revolution.
From the mid-1961 to mid-1962, the leaders of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam in Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Tra Vinh, and Ba Ria sent 5 wooden boats to the North to report, require to supply weapons and then directly transport weapons, navigate the supply ships which disguised as fishing boats to the South. Successful shipping trips were one of the important reasons to promote the establishment of a delegation of transporting weapons for the South. On October 23, 1961, the High Command issued Decision No. 97/QP to establish Group 759 in charge of sea transportation, which was headed by Lieutenant Colonel Doan Hong Phuoc. At first, the Group had 38 officials and soldiers, including 20 comrades of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, and Zone V. At the end of 1961, the Work Scheme of the Group was passed by the Military Affairs Party Committee and the High Command.
The decision to establish Group 759 shows the strategic and creative vision of the Politburo, in particular, the Military Affairs Party Committee and the High Command, marks an important historical milestone, creates a new development of the strategic sea trail for the Southern battlefield. October 23 became the traditional day of Group 759, the precursor of Brigade125, 2nd Regional Command under the Vietnam People's Navy, at the same time, the establishment day of Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail.
2. The development of the Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail
a) Between 1962-1965: Recklessly, secretly, surprisingly transport to aid the battlefield, contributing to winning the “special war" strategy of the US
Implementing the guidelines of Politburo and Military Affairs Party Committee, after having experience from North-to-South sea transport trips which had not been successful, Group 759 decided to let Bac Lieu boat scout, open road from North to South. On April 10, 1962, the boat left Nhat Le (Quang Binh). By 10 pm on April 18, 1962, arrived at Vam Lung (Ngoc Hien, Ca Mau). Finishing researching the port, Bac Lieu boat returned to the North. The reconnaissance trip was successful.
In the middle of August 1962, Military Affairs Party Committee passed the Resolution on forming the strategic transportation trail on the sea. From here, Group 759 entered a new period of development, received 4 wooden ships from Shipyard I (Hai Phong) and some officials. In order to secure the secret to the special transport route, the ships of the Group 759 must be converted to fishing vessels without a fixed number, blended into the ships of local fishermen. The name “Unnumbered ships" was born.
On the night of 10/11/1962, the first wooden ship which had comrade Le Van Mot as a captain, comrade Bong Van Dia as Political Commissioner, and 11 sailors left Do Son (Hai Phong). On October 16, the ship arrived in Vam Lung (Ca Mau), 30 tons of weapons from the North were transferred to the battlefield. After the first successful trip, 3 trips followed to the South. For two months, 4 ships of Group 759 had transported 111 tons of weapons to Zone 9 safely. This was a great victory, contributing to strengthening the confidence and determination of the Southern people in the career of national liberation and country unification.
When the sea route was formed, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter of praise and reminded officers and soldiers 759 to learn from experience, continue to transport more weapons for the South.
Successful trips by wooden ships to Ca Mau affirmed that we could transport on the sea for long-term, so there must be better vehicles to transport in all kinds of weather. The Military Affairs Party Committee quickly decided to equip with iron ships with tonnage from 50 tons to 100 tons. At the end of 1962, the High Command requested Shipyard III (Hai Phong) under the Ministry of Transport to undertake the shipbuilding.
On March 17, 1963, the first iron ship which had comrade Dinh Dat as Captain, comrade Nguyen Van Tien as Political Commissioner, and carried 44 tons of weapons departed for Tra Vinh safely. Because of good organization, strict discipline, high sense of responsibility, strong spirit, and good qualifications, the ships of the Group had completed their tasks and kept confidentially. In just 1 year, Group 759 had 29 trips to the South, transporting 1,430 tons of weapons for the battlefield, reaching a high shipping coefficient.
Promoting the results of shipping by sea lines for the Southern battlefield, the Ministry of National Defense directed Zone 7 opened the port. Group 759 was ordered to prepare a new route to Ba Ria. On September 26, 1963, the wooden ship which carried the number 41, had comrade Le Van Mot as Captain, comrade Dang Van Thanh as Political Commissioner, 11 sailors, and 18 tons of weapons successfully arrived at Ba Ria from Binh Dong Port (Hai Phong), promptly supplied weapon for Zone 7.
In August 1963, the Military Affairs Party Committee decided to transfer Group 759 to the Naval Department. On January 29, 1964, the Ministry of National Defense decided to change the name of Group 759 to Group 125 under the Naval Command. Between 1962 - 1964, Group 125 mobilized 17 iron ships, 3 wooden ships, held 79 trips, transported more than 4,000 tons of equipment and weapons as well as senior cadres of the Party and the Army to the South. The ship of the Group arrived at Bac Lieu (Ca Mau) 43 times, Ben Tre 17 times, Tra Vinh 14 times, Ba Ria 2 times, Phu Yen 2 times, Binh Dinh once. Weapons had come to the Southern, South Central, and Zone 7 battlefield at the right time, directly contributing to many victories like Ap Bac, Dam Doi, Cai Nuoc, Cha La, Van Tuong, Ba Gia, Binh Gia, etc., failing the “special war" strategy of the United States on the Southern battlefield.
At the end of 1964, the High Command assigned the Naval Command to expand the sea freight route into Zone 5. On September 21, 1964, Ship 401 was ordered to go to Zone 5 and arrived at Lo Dieu on November 1, 1964. Running ground, Ship 401 was badly broken and burned to erase traces. After that, General Vo Nguyen Giap directed: Did not use Lo Dieu Port, found a way to the new port in Phu Yen.
Complying with the General's directive, the Naval Command decided to choose Vung Ro as a delivery port for Phu Yen battlefield. Ship 41 was ordered to carry weapons to Vung Ro, all 3 trips were successful. Having weapons from the North, in December 1964, the Command of Zone 5 implemented some campaigns to destroy the enemies, supported the masses to rebel, freed some areas in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, and Khanh Hoa, contributed to change the situation of the region.
When the transport work was going well, on February 16, 1965, Ship 143 was revealed in Vung Ro. The sea route was no longer secret. Knowing our intentions, the enemy enhanced patrol, blockade, and control. The transport of military weapons and military goods for the Southern battlefield by sea became more difficult, the Military Affairs Party Committee decided to suspend the sea trail to find a new measure.
b) Between 1965-1972: Overcome fierce challenges, continue to transport provision to the battlefield, contribute to the victory over the “localized war" strategy and “Vietnamization" strategy
Under the conditions that the sea route was no longer secret, surprise, and controlled by the enemy, the preparation for the new route was conducted urgently, strictly, and attentively. Group 125 assigned Ship 42 for 16 sailors, comrade Nguyen Van Cung was Captain and comrade Nguyen Ngoc An was Political Commissioner. On the night of October 15, 1965, Ship 42 carrying 60 tons of weapons departed. On the night of October 24, the ship arrived at Rach Kien Vang (Ca Mau) safely. After that, Ship 69 and Ship 68 went the same road and completed the assigned tasks.
During the Tet Offensive 1968, from February 23 to February 27, the Naval Command used 4 ships 165, 56, 54, and 235 on the mission of supplying for the battlefield and drawing the enemy's attention.
At the end of the extremely fierce transport period, from October 1965 to March 1968, Group 125 held 37 transport trips, including 17 successes, carrying 310 tons of weapons for the battlefield.
Suffering the failure of Operation Rolling Thunder and severe losses on the Southern battlefield, on March 31, 1968, the US announced to stop bombing the North. According to the directive of the Commander of the Navy, Group 125 participated in the "VT5 Transportation Campaign" (Transport goods and weapons from Hai Phong to Gianh River – Quang Binh and from here it were transported by other forces to the Southern battlefield by road). With the motto “Prepare thoughtful, take advantage of opportunities, do it fastly, compactly, continuously, safely, go near shore, rely on people", from November 3, 1968, to January 29, 1969, overcoming blockade fences by torpedoes and magnetic bombs from the US, Group 125 completed 364 trips, transporting 21,737 tons of goods, reaching 217.37% of the plan.
In February 1969, Group 125 continued the "VT5 Transportation Campaign" with 187 trips, transporting 10.889 tons of goods, exceeding 1,000 tons in comparison with the target, contributing to the battlefield, especially the battlefield of Thua Thien – Hue and Zone 5. Lunar New Year in 1969, officials and soldiers of Group 125 were received a flower basket from President Ton Duc Thang and were visited by General Vo Nguyen Giap.
In July 1969, after learning from successful and unsuccessful trips, Group 125 used Ship 42 disguised as a marine research vessel to do reconnaissance and find a new shipping method. From the results of the reconnaissance trip, the Military Affairs Party Committee and the Ministry of National Defense decided to prepare large transportation to the battlefield of Zone 5, 6, 8, and 9. In 1970, Group 125 organized 15 trips, only 5 trips entered by the port, 9 trips met the enemy. In order to keep the strategic trail secret, they must return or break the ship.
On July 27, 1971, Military Region 9 founded the S950 Transportation Group, in 1972 its name was changed to Group 371. From 1971 to 1972, the Group held 37 trips, transporting safely 620 tons of weapons into the battlefield of Zone 9.
From October 1971 to April 1972, 125 held continuously 20 trips, but only one ship arrived at the destination. The results were limited, but have contributed to completing the “public transport method" in the following period.
Between 1965 and 1972, cadres and soldiers of Group 125 faced many fierce challenges. In the team of the Group, many soldiers sacrificed bravely, many ships left without returning, many comrades were permanently rested in the sea. The sea transporting road became a miracle and legend, contributing with the Southern army and people to winning the strategy of “localized war" and “Vietnamization".
c) Between 1973-1975: Participate in Ho Chi Minh Campaign, completely liberate the South, unify the country
To meet the requirements of new tasks, Group 125 continued to strengthen the organization, build forces, establish more battalions, receive new ships, strengthen training skills and fighting spirit for officials and soldiers, ready to leave when ordered.
With a strong sense of responsibility, in the 2 years 1973 and 1974, the Group organized 380 trips, carrying over 43,000 tons of goods, sending 2,042 officers and soldiers from the rear to the battlefield and from the mainland to the islands, overcome the road of 158,292 nautical miles safely.
At the end of 1974, the situation of the Southern battlefield changed quickly and benefitted us, the General Staff directed Group 125 to transport weapons and the soldiers more closely to where we implemented campaigns. Group 125 mobilized the entire force to carry out the transport of soldiers to the battlefield (Codename T5) and serve Ho Chi Minh Campaign with the motto “Fastly, recklessly transport personnel and weapons to the front". In March and April 1975, the Group had transported 17,473 officials and soldiers of the key units, 40 tanks, and 7,886 tons of weapons and fuel, contributing to the liberation of the South and country unification.
On April 4, 1975, General Staff directed the Navy to urgently prepare forces to liberate the islands of the Spratly Islands. Group 125 quickly established a team with 3 ships: 673, 674, 675, departing from Hai Phong for Da Nang to pick up 126 Navy Commando Group and a part of the Battalion 471 – commando of Military Region 5 to the island. From April 14-29, 1975, our forces quickly freed and took over some islands such as Song Tu Tay, Son Ca, Nam Yet, Sinh Ton, and Truong Sa Lon. After that, Group 125 participated in liberating some islands in the Central and the Southwestern region.
d) From 1975 up to now: Continue to participate in transporting and fighting, contribute to building, protecting the sovereignty of the sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland, and support international tasks
The country unified, focused on building socialism. The main task of Group 125 was serving far and free islands, cadres, and people, in which the transport task for Truong Sa was most important. From May 1975 to the end of 1975, Group 125 had mobilized 121 ships, total distance was 64,856 nautical miles, carried 40,809 tons of goods and 14,762 people.
On October 26, 1975, the Ministry of Defense issued Decision no. 142-QD/QP on the organization of Brigade 172, in which Group 125 changed its name to the 125th Sea Group and merged into Brigade 172. In 1976, for the first time, the transport campaign for the Spratly Islands was done. 125th Sea Group mobilized 11 ships, went 22 trips, carried 2,300 goods to the island, and completed the task of placing sovereignty markers and carrying political prisoners from Phu Quoc Island to the mainland safely.
Between 1976 -1981, 125th Sea Group completed 127 trips, carried 23,214 tons of goods and 6,696 cadres and soldiers from the mainland to the islands, contributing to strengthening the defense power of the islands, step by step stabilizing living places of soldiers on the islands of the Spratly Islands. At the same time, in 2 years (1978 and 1979), the 125th Sea Group held 48 trips, transported thousands of tons of building construction materials, hundreds of tons of provision to serve soldiers on the islands along the northeast line, included Bach Long Vi Island and Van Hoa Island.
During Counter-offensive on the Southwestern border, the transport force of the Navy held 139 trips, carried 19,790 tons of military goods and 25,151 cadres and soldiers off the battlefield, and doing international duties in the Ta Lon campaign, fought together with the Cambodian Armed Forces against genocide regime, helping Cambodian people rebuild the country.
To the requirements of the task of transporting provision to the islands in the new situation, on February 12, 1979, 125th Sea Group was upgraded by the Ministry of National Defense to the Brigade 125 under the Naval Command, with the mission was military transport, marking a new development and growth stage of the unit.
After the victory of the Counter-offensive on the Southwestern border and international obligations, strengthening the ability to defend the country in general and sea, islands in particular, especially in the Spratly Islands were particularly important. To improve the efficiency of transportation administration for the Spratly Islands, starting from the shipping season in 1981, the Navy applied the method of assigning transportation volume for each ship and each team. The emulation movement of turning around, increasing the number of trips, ensuring safety for people and vehicles were popular among the ships. In 5 years (1980-1985) military transport forces of the Navy transported 652,530 tons of goods, construction materials for remote islands and other units (Brigade 125 held 993 trips to transport to the Spratly Islands, carried 112,932 tons of goods, weapons).
At the end of 1987 and early 1988, the situation in the Spratly Islands became complicated. Performing the determination of the Politburo and the mission assigned by the Ministry of National Defense, with the motto “All for our Spratly Islands", officials and soldiers on the transport ships tried to save time, overcome all danger to survey, explore, transport, and protect the islands, work with the other forces of the army to enhance the defensive strength on submerged islands and floating islands.
In 1988, transportation forces in the Navy transported 7 times higher volume compared to 1987's and completed the plan to transport 46,300 tons of goods for fighting, 129,453 tons of goods for living, reaching the volume of transporting of 44,438,686 tons (Brigade 125 held 318 trips, transported 22,564 tons).
In 1989, implementing the Treaty between Vietnam and Cambodia, the Navy's military transport forces, including Brigade 125, completed 8 trips to transport Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who came back from Cambodia, ensuring the absolute safety of people and vehicles.
In recent years, military transport forces in the Navy have been supplemented with dozens of new vessels with synchronous equipment, large tonnage to replace small ships. From 2000 to now, the military transport forces of the Navy have overcome a lot of difficulties, have transported millions of tons of goods, have completed from 100% to 105% of annual plans. Brigade 125 from 2011 to 2020 held 385 trips, carried 293,390 tons of goods, served 2,493 people, total distance was 281,312 nautical miles.
Along with the sea transport missions, naval transport vessels have participated in multiple trips to protect the sovereignty, promptly detect issues, proactively prevent foreign ships violating the sovereignty of our country, implement the mission of preventing and fighting storms and floods, rescue at sea, contributing to maintaining and promoting traditions and qualities of “Uncle Ho's army".
II. THE NOTABLE TRADITION OF HO CHI MINH SEA TRAIL
Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail is an immortal heroic story, an important part of the strategic military transport system in the anti-aggression resistance and the liberation of the country, contributing to building notable tradition.
Firstly, loyal to the Party, the Fatherland, the socialism, and people; brave, desire for independence and freedom and faith in the final victory; fight to complete all assigned mission.
Performing the Party's strategy to open the route to transport provision for the Southern battlefield, the sea military transport force raised the will of bravery, overcame all difficulties, and gained the victory. Ship 41, 42, 154, comrade Bong Van Dia, Phan Van Nho (or Tu Mau), Nguyen Phan Vinh, Nguyen Van Hieu, etc. are typical of heroic collectives and individuals. They give reputation for the glorious tradition of the Vietnamese People's Navy, contributing to the great victory of the anti-American resistance, the liberation of the South, country unification, career of building and protecting the Socialist Fatherland.
Secondly, promote all strength, command concentratedly, cooperate closely with local forces, authorities, and people as well as international friends to complete all assigned missions.
Transportation for the Southern battlefield is extremely difficult and fierce. However, with bravery, professional qualifications, good organization, unified, concentrated and secret command, close cooperation, combining tactics with techniques, ensuring smooth communications, cadres and soldiers of sea transportation forces of the Vietnamese People's Navy were helped by local forces, authorities, and people in the whole country as well as international friends in transporting and receiving goods and weapons, providing food, repairing the ship, treating wounded and sick cadres and soldiers. All those factors have made the legend of the Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail.
Thirdly, independence, self-reliance, self-reinforcement; solidarity, discipline; master science and technology; flexible and creative; find out many effective transportation methods.
Established in the anti-American resistance, at first, sea military transport forces only had 4 crude wooden ships and 38 cadres and soldiers. Equipment was rudimentary, however with qualifications and experiences, cadres and soldiers mastered driving techniques, weather forecast, knowledge of the terrain, marine, astronomy, strict discipline; disguised skillfully, created a secret, unexpected factor; combined confidential and public operations, guerrilla and modernity, power of the country and the international, created unique tactic in transport. After that, became the transportation brigade, operated in the sea, with step-by-step modern equipment, transported ammunition, weapons, officers, and soldiers to the battlefield on time; contributed to the victory of the anti-American resistance, the liberation of the South, country unification, career of building and protecting the Socialist Fatherland.
With outstanding achievements, in September 1963, Group 759 was awarded the Second Grade Feat Order; Ship 41 was awarded the First Grade Military Exploit Order; Ship 43, 54, 55, and 56 were awarded the First Grade Feat Order; Ship 42, 67, and 68 were awarded the Second Grade Feat Order. Group 125 was awarded the First Grade Military Exploit Order on April 30, 1966, the title of the Hero of the People's Armed Forces for the first time on January 1, 1967, and the second time on June 3, 1976. In summary of the operation of the "CQ-88 Campaign" (1988), Brigade 125 has 2 collectives: Ship HQ505, Ship HQ931, and 1 individual were awarded the title of the Hero of the People's Armed Forces. Brigade 125 was awarded the First Grade Military Exploit Order (2011), the Second Grade Fatherland Defense Order (2016).
III. PROMOTING GLORIOUS TRADITIONS IN THE CAREER OF BUILDING AND PROTECTING THE SOCIALIST FATHERLAND
In the coming years, the situation in the world and region continues to happen very quickly, complexly, unpredictably. Peace, cooperation, and development are still the main trend but face many obstacles. Competition between powerful countries, local conflicts continue to take place in many complex forms. Sovereignty disputes in land, sea, and island are more tense and fierce. Peace, stability, freedom, security, and safety on the East Sea meet great challenges.
In our country, after 35 years of renovation, the power and international reputation of the country are improved, creating important premise to build and protect the country. However, enemies continue to be against the Party, State, and our country. The mission of building and protecting the sovereignty of sea, islands, continental shelf of the country, and maintaining peace and stability in the sea and islands has been making new requirements. To complete the assigned missions, Party committees, authorities at all levels, cadres, party members, and other forces need to focus on the following basic contents:
Firstly, organize researching, studying, propagandizing, and implementing the Party's policies and laws of the State on sea and islands; make our country become a strong nation in the sea with sustainable development, prosperity, and safety. Develop sea economy associated with defense and security, maintaining independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, strengthening international cooperation on the sea, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment.
Secondly, actively participate in building defense, security, foreign affairs for sea and coastal areas. Promote all strength, maintain the independence of sovereignty, jurisdiction, territorial integrity. Combine forms and measures such as politic, diploma, legal, economy, and defense in management and protection of the sky, sea, islands, and continental shelf of the country. Economic development is associated with performing the strategy of people's defense and people's security in the sea and islands. Have policies to attract and encourage people to settle in islands and do long-term business on the sea, ensure to develop the economy and protect the Fatherland.
Thirdly, make forces protecting sea, islands, and continental shelf become more strong, comprehensive, formal, elite, and modern, with the core is the Vietnamese People's Navy, Vietnam Coast Guard, Vietnam Border Guard, militia, and Fisheries Resources Surveillance. Improve the leadership and fighting capacity of Party organizations, the key point is local committees and the pioneering and exemplary role of the staff and party members doing missions on the sea and islands.
Fourthly, proactively coordinate with other forces to help people in preventing, avoiding, overcoming consequences of natural disasters, storms, and floods, searching and rescuing, health care, doing business on the sea, and stabilizing lives on islands. Implement well the regime and policies for families with relatives doing the mission of protecting the country's security and sovereignty.
Fifthly, implement well the Party's foreign affair policies, especially defense foreign affair activities, respect the sovereignty and legitimate interests of other countries on the sea. Persistently resolve disputes, disagreements in the sea, island with peace measures, based on international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982. Participate in the exchange activities with foreign navy; coordinate closely in patrols, rehearsal, search and rescue, anti-robbery, etc. to maintain peace, stability, order, and security.
Sixthly, continue to promote the tradition of Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail, promote independence, self-reliance, self-enhancement; proactively, creatively, laboriously work to create wealth for society, take care of material and spiritual life for the army; master weapons, technical equipment, implement well the campaign “Manage, exploit weapons, technical equipment well, durably, safely, economically and traffic safety".
CENTRAL PROPAGANDA DEPARTMENT –
POLITICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM
