Battle for Quảng Trị

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Battle for Quảng Trị
Part of: Vietnam War
Quảng Trị Province
Quảng Trị Province
date March 30 to May 1, 1972
place Quảng Trị Province
output North Vietnamese victory
Parties to the conflict

Vietnam North 1955North Vietnam North Vietnam Vietcong
FNL Flag.svg

Vietnam SudSouth Vietnam South Vietnam

Commander

Võ Nguyên Giáp

Vu Van Giai

Troop strength
30,000+ 8,000+
Battles and operations of the
Vietnam War

Battle of Tua Hai  (1960) - Battle of Ap Bac  (1963) - Battle of Nam Dong  (1964) - Tonkin Incident  (1964) - Operation Flaming Dart  (1965) - Operation Rolling Thunder  (1965-68) - Battle of Dong Xoai  (1965) - Battle of the Ia Drang Valley  (1965) - Operation Crimp  (1966) - Operation Hastings (1966) - Battle of Long Tan (1966) - Operation Attleboro  (1966) - Operation Cedar Falls  (1967) - Battle around Hill 881  (1967) - Battle of Dak To  (1967) - Battle of Khe Sanh  (1968) - Tet Offensive  (1968) - Battle of Huế  (1968) - Operation Speedy Express  (1968/69) - Operation Dewey Canyon  ( 1969) - Battle of Hamburger Hill  (1969) - Operation MENU  (1969/70) - Operation Lam Son 719  (1971) - Battle of FSB Mary Ann  (1971) - Battle of Quảng Trị  (1972) - Operation Linebacker  (1972) - Operation Linebacker II  (1972) - Battle of Xuan Loc  (1975) - Operation Frequent Wind  (1975)

The battle for Quảng Trị was the North Vietnamese's first major success during their Easter offensive in 1972 . The province of Quang Tri was repeatedly the scene of various operations of the Vietnam War . In 1972 US troops were gradually replaced by troops from the ARVN , the Army of South Vietnam . At the same time, the North Vietnamese planned a major attack with three divisions on the region. These were under the leadership of General Võ Nguyên Giáp .

A few months before the battle, the newly formed 3rd ARVN Division took over the American bases along the demilitarized zone . On the communist side were the 304th, 308th and 324B. Division involved.

The battle

The offensive began on March 30th with hours of artillery fire from the Viet Cong on important bases. A little later, infantry and armored units attacked various bases in the region. The speed of the attack came as a shock to the ARVN as it was unprepared and now faced a superior opponent.

Camp Caroll

Camp Caroll was a base of the 56th ARVN Regiment. The base had been under artillery fire for days , causing heavy losses. The soldiers' morale was low and it was clear that the South Vietnamese would have had no chance against a major attack.

So the commander decided to surrender to the North Vietnamese. The American military advisers refused to go into captivity and left the camp. The high command had been informed beforehand. On April 2, 1972, the camp officially surrendered to the enemy with a white flag. In order not to leave the vehicles and guns to the Viet Cong, an attack with B-52 bombers was flown against the camp. However, this came too late to the goal, the weapons had already been relocated.

Đông Hà

After losing Camp Caroll, the South tried to stop the enemy in as many places as possible. At Đông Hà , the South Vietnamese 3rd Marines Battalion was faced with the task of stopping the main enemy force with 20,000 soldiers and tanks . The South Vietnamese were supposed to defend an important bridge with some M48 tanks . The bridge soon had to be blown up by an American military advisor as defense seemed impossible. A few days later the Viet Cong had crossed another bridge and now trapped the regiment . In order not to be worn out, the ARVN troops had to fight their way south and leave the area to the enemy.

Dong Ha was captured on April 28, and on May 1, Quảng Trị Province was completely under North Vietnamese control.

consequences

After their first major victory of the year and the successful conclusion of their offensive, the Viet Cong immediately introduced the communist system, arresting opponents and nationalizing farms. An administration was also set up.

However, a few weeks later the south launched a counterattack to reclaim the lost territory. The operation lasted from June 28 to September 16, 1972. The ARVN managed to bring almost the entire area back under control. The northernmost part of the province remained under North Vietnamese control until the end of the war in April 1975.

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