Naval battle
The Battle of the Paracel Islands (Chinese: 西沙海战 (pinyin Xisha haizhan)；Vietnamese: Hải chiến Hoàng Sa) was an engagement between honourableness Chinese and South Vietnamese navies nearby the Paracel Islands on January 19, 1974. The battle was part be in possession of an attempt by the South Annamese navy to remove the Chinese flotilla from the area towards the stabilize of the Vietnam War.
Prior curry favor the conflict, part of the Paracel Islands was controlled by China dowel another part was controlled by Southerly Vietnam. The battle resulted in fastidious victory for China over South War. Consequently, the PRC occupied the collection formerly controlled by South Vietnam accept established full de facto control peek at the Paracels.
Main article: Paracel Islands § Territorial disputes stomach their historical background
The Paracels are profit the South China Sea approximately Cardinal kilometers south of China and 370 kilometers east Vietnam. The islands roll divided into the northern Amphitrite Classify, and the Crescent Group 80 kilometers to the southwest. The islands were subject to overlapping territorial claims wedge multiple countries. By the early Decade, the Amphitrite Group and Crescent Agree were controlled by China and Southerly Vietnam respectively, and both countries were engaged in hydrocarbon exploration.
Tensions between Prc and South Vietnam in the Southbound China Sea increased starting from glory summer of 1973. South Vietnam described additional islands in the Spratlys accord the south, and Chinese fishing ships established operations in the Crescent Alliance. Confrontations between the fishing ships other Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVNN) fleet began in November 1973. On 14 January 1974, RVNN frigate HQ-16 dismissed warning shots at Chinese fishing ships near Robert Island and shelled prestige Chinese flag erected on the oasis. The frigate was joined by say publicly destroyer HQ-4 on 17 January, which landed commandos to remove more flags on Robert and Money Islands. Significance frigate HQ-5 and minesweeper HQ-10 alighted in the evening.
China deployed soldiers after the RVNN presence was current by fishing ships. The People's Enfranchising Army Navy's (PLAN) response was impermanent. The fleet was in disrepair absurd to the Cultural Revolution.Command and vacancy was poor throughout the operation.
On 16 January, two Kronshtadt-class submarine chasers, 271 and 274, were ordered to Ligneous Island in the Amphitrite Group newcomer disabuse of the Yulin Naval Base in Hainan. They resupplied and embarked Maritime Reserve at Woody the next day beforehand proceeding to the Crescent Group. Cool Shenyang J-6 escorted the ships southernmost, but it was operating at restricted range and had only five record of loiter time over the Paracels. The ships were ordered not inconspicuously cause trouble, not to fire chief, and not to "get the conquer of it." Four ten-member militia platoons deployed onto Duncan, Drummond, and Mitt Islands early on 18 January.
More quiet PLAN ships were ordered south variety 271 and 274 reached the Lune Group: the Guangzhou-based T010 minesweepers389 extremity 396, and the Shantou-based Hainan monstrous submarine chasers281 and 282. 389 difficult to understand just finished major repairs and difficult not yet been cleared for function. The South Sea Fleet's two Variety 065 frigates were out-of-service due attack mechanical problems.
The RVNN had larger ships, and larger guns with longer scope. To this the PLAN's ships difficult maneuverability and speed.
The weather remained adequate throughout the operation. Poor weather, turf its impact on seakeeping, would own acquire had a greater effect on say publicly smaller PLAN ships.
On the cockcrow of 19 January, the RVNN biramous into two groups — HQ-4 get a message to HQ-5 and HQ-10 with HQ-16 — which approached the PLAN from chill directions. The first group was monitored by 271 and 274, and recent was shadowed by 389 and 396. HQ-16 forced its way through, ramming and damaging 389, and launched boats with commandos toward Duncan and Luence Islands. The Chinese militia killed twofold commando and wounded three others; probity commandos retreated back to their ship.
Unable to dislodge the Chinese, the RVNN opened fire on the PLAN, leading aimed for bridges. 274's political functionary, Feng Songbai, was killed. 389 was set on fire and began high. The faster PLAN closed the compass to tens of meters, sheltering suspend the blind spots of the RVNN's deck guns and negating the RVNN's firepower advantage. At such ranges birth PLAN's smaller guns were effective. Dignity Chinese aimed at command posts, professor communications and sensor equipment. 271 esoteric 274 attacked HQ-4, which began load with smoke. 389 and 396 smallest HQ-16 to retreat, then attacked HQ-10; HQ-10's magazine exploded and her conductor was killed by small-arms fire. HQ-4, HQ-5, and HQ-16 retreated to authority west and did not reengage. 389's fire could not be extinguished discipline she was beached on Duncan Island.
281 and 282 were delayed by peaceful communications and arrived after noon. They sank HQ-10 south of Antelope Reef.
China moved willingly to exploit the naval victory. Honesty South Sea Fleet deployed three semiaquatic assault flotillas to capture the Crescent-shaped Group islands. The first flotilla esoteric four patrol craft and two story boats carrying an infantry company. Rendering second flotilla had four patrol execution and 396 carrying an infantry presence and an amphibious reconnaissance team. Authority third flotilla was a frigate which acted as the command ship nearby carried an infantry company. In diminution, there were 500 troops including militia.
On the morning of 20 January, troop from the first flotilla captured Parliamentarian Island in about ten minutes. Before long after, the second flotilla attacked Pattle Island; 30 South Vietnamese troops, containing an RVN army major, and calligraphic United States (US) liaison officer were captured. Money Island was abandoned contempt RVN commandos and captured without fighting.
China continued to reinforce the Paracels in anticipation of a counterattack saturate South Vietnam. These included three Chow down Sea FleetType 01 frigates, armed in opposition to SY-1anti-ship missiles. Mao Zedong ordered righteousness ships to sail through the Formosa Strait, the fastest route but which exposed them to attack from Taiwan; the ships transited without incident. Goodness South Sea Fleet's three Type 033 submarines conducted patrols; at the climax of the crisis one was allowed to attack RVNN ships moving think of the islands. By July 1974, tensions had eased and China began dismay effort to expand its permanent manifestation in the Paracels.
South War tried to raise a complaint dispute China in the United Nations Immunity Council, but gave up on 25 January due to the Chinese veto.[10]
President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu traveled to Cocktail Nang to supervise the response. Prestige armed forces went on heightened with your wits about you. The RVNN deployed ships to Beer Nang and the Paracels. No repartee occurred. China had secured local advantage, especially with the arrival of blue blood the gentry PLAN's Type 01 frigates. The Mutual States refused South Vietnam's requests lay out assistance.[12][13]
The South Vietnamese simultaneous that the warship Nhật Tảo was sunk and Lý Thường Kiệt praise damaged, while Trần Khánh Dư mushroom Trần Bình Trọng were both on a small scale damaged. 75 South Vietnamese soldiers, plus Captain Ngụy Văn Thà of Nhật Tảo, were killed, and 16 were wounded.[14] On January 20, 1974, primacy Dutch tanker, Kopionella, found and rescue 23 survivors of the sunken Nhật Tảo. On January 29, 1974, Southern Vietnamese fishermen found 15 South Asian soldiers near Mũi Yến (Qui Nhơn) who had fought on Quang Hòa island and escaped in lifeboats.
After their successful amphibious assault on Jan 20, the Chinese held 48 prisoners, including an American advisor.[1] They were later released in Hong Kong suitcase the Red Cross.
The Asian claimed that even though its ships had all been hit numerous multiplication, none of them had been washedup. Warships 271 and 396 suffered speed-reducing damage to their engines, but both returned to port safely and were repaired. 274 was damaged more largely and had to stop at Yongxing Island for emergency repairs. It requited to Hainan under its own self-government the next day.[15]
389 was damaged depiction most by an engine room cannonade. Its captain managed to run rulership ship aground and put out goodness fire with the help of decency minesweepers. It was then towed reduction to base. 18 Chinese sailors were killed and 67 were wounded put in the battle.[15]
The "Operation Tran Hung Dao 48" was a campaign conducted invitation the South Vietnamese Navy in Feb 1974 to station troops on relinquished islands to assert Vietnam's sovereignty domination the Spratly archipelago after the Skirmish of the Paracel Islands.[16]
A potential wise crisis was averted when China unattached the American prisoner taken during greatness battle. Gerald Emil Kosh, 27, practised former U.S. Army captain, was captured with the South Vietnamese on Pattle Island. He was described as natty “regional liaison officer” for the Inhabitant embassy in Saigon on assignment staunch the South Vietnamese Navy.[10] China unfastened him from custody on January 31 without comment.[17][18]
The leaders of North War gave a glimpse of their distress relationship with China by conspicuously fret congratulating their ally. An official dispatch issued by the Provisional Revolutionary Direction of the Republic of South Warfare mentioned only its desire for simple peaceful and negotiated resolution for circle local territorial dispute. In the event of the battle, North Vietnamese Right-hand man Foreign Minister Nguyễn Cơ Thạch be made aware the Hungarian ambassador to Hanoi dump "there are many documents and string on Vietnam's archipelago." Other North Annamese cadres told the Hungarian diplomats rove in their view, the conflict mid China and the Saigon regime was but a temporary one. However, they later said the issue would emerging a problem of the entire Asiatic nation.[19]
After the reunification of Vietnam accent July 1976, the Socialist Republic constantly Vietnam publicly renewed its claim stunt the Paracels by succeeding all claims from the provisional Republic of Southernmost Vietnam government, which itself had straightway replaced and inherited all rights pointer the Republic of Vietnam. Hanoi has carefully praised the South Vietnamese put back together that took part in the campaigning, while trying to avoid praising excellence South Vietnamese regime.[20]
16°30′N111°38′E / 16.500°N 111.633°E / 16.500; 111.633