People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces

People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces
People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces logo
Founded	19 March 1967; 54 years ago (1967-03-19)
Country	Vietnam
Allegiance	Communist Party of Vietnam
Branch	Vietnam People's Ground Force
Type	Special operations force
Role	Covert operations Counter-terrorism Hostage rescue Direct action Deep reconnaissance Unconventional warfare Intelligence gathering High-value targets Counter narcotic operations Counter-proliferation Close protection
Size	10,000 people
Garrison/HQ	Thanh Trì, Hà Nội
Motto(s)	Đặc biệt tinh nhuệ, Anh dũng tuyệt vời, Mưu trí táo bạo, Đánh hiểm thắng lớn (Unique and elite; Heroic and superb; Ingenious and daring; Deadly attacks yield great victories)
Anniversaries	March 19, 1967
Decorations	Hero of the People's Armed Forces Gold Star Order (Vietnam) Ho Chi Minh Order Military Exploit Order x2
Commanders
Current commander	Major General
Ceremonial chief	Major General
Notable commanders	Major General Senior Colonel Major General
Insignia
Identification symbol

The People's Army of Vietnam Special Forces (Vietnamese: Binh chủng Đặc công) is the elite combat armed service of the People's Army of Vietnam, led by the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army. It is uniquely organized, equipped, and trained with special fighting skills, bravery and heroism, resourcefulness and boldness to attack and destroy key enemy’s targets.

The VSF has the task of focusing on researching and advising the Ministry of Defence to build and develop Vietnamese special forces capabilities.^[1][2]

History[]

Pre-history[]

In the 13th century, during the Mongol invasions of Vietnam, the Trần army developed a way of ambushing with small, elite forces, good at fighting on land, on rivers, and at sea. Trần Quốc Tuấn has directed: "Being reckless on the boat is not as good as stabbing under the boat, destroying the enemy's army is not as good as destroying the enemy's boat". Implementing that direction, General Yết Kiêu organized and trained Trạo Nhi teams consisting of strong and good swimmers who specialized in destroying the enemy's naval base. In many battles, the Trạo Nhi team secretly entered the naval base, burned the boat with flammable substances and dived into the muddy water, destroyed many Mongol troops in Chương Dương, Phả Lại, and Chí Linh and once captured them live the enemy general.^[3][4]

In 1410, Trần Nguyên Hãn utilized the doctrine of "Quân cốt tinh, không cốt nhiều" ("The core of an army is its quality, not quantity") and organized a famous battle with nearly 200 insurgents, stripped naked and camouflaged, and secretly infiltrated the Xương Giang citadel, Việt Trì to attack the Ming army in the citadel.^[5][6]

First Indochina War[]

On the Southern battlefield, France strengthened the construction of a system of posts around towns and cities and on important roads in order to encircle, separate and hinder the Viet Minh armed forces. Through many successful trials, especially the battle to destroy Bà Kiên bridge post in the night of March 18 and early morning, March 19, 1948, opened a new possibility to defeat the enemy in a solid entrenched position.^[7]

In November 1949, Military Region 7 command held a symposium on fighting the watchtower with the participation of officers and soldiers who had participated in fighting the watchtower and proposed a new way of fighting the watchtower. With the FT wall-breaking weapon (Trái phá FT), on the night of March 21 to the morning of March 23, 1950, on the battlefield of Biên Hòa, 50 battle groups simultaneously used FT to attack 50 watchtowers, causing great confusion for the enemy. From this battle, the Biên Hòa Provincial Army and the General Staff of Military Region 7 held a conference to learn from experience and use commando tactics.^[8]

The South focused on research and development, constantly perfecting commando tactics. Stemming from the combat mission and the enemy's goals, units in the South had a new development with an increasingly large scale. A commando battle is organized with 3 components: ground commando, water commando, and mobile special forces with the common organizational scale of team, battalion, standing at the base across strategic locations.

During the last period of the First Indochina War and during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the Viet Minh developed on the battlefields, had a knack for fighting in the enemy's rear, initially gained experience in synergistic warfare in the area. campaigns. The special forces fought the enemy on both front and rear. Some typical battles of the commando troops such as Phú Thọ bombing, Tân An bomb depot, Cát Bi airport, Gia Lam Airport.^[9][10]

Vietnam War[]

After the 1954 Geneva Conference was signed, the Communist Party of Vietnam and army selected and sent special forces from the North to the South to build up forces and fight. In June 1958, the Southeast Command was established and the Eastern armed forces had a special commando company with the code name 60th Company. This was the first commando company in the South. Company 60, along with special commando groups and groups in the localities, began to attack Republic of Vietnam government buildings and posts.

In September 1962, specialized commando teams began to enter the southern battlefields, supplementing combat units in military zones and provinces. In the two years 1961 - 1962, 10 specialized commando companies, 1 mobile battalion with 1,122 men were reinforced for zone 5 and the South. The birth and rapid development of mobile and specialized commando forces in the North marked a new development in the organization of special forces troops.^[11]

During the period of the implementation of the Staley–Taylor Plan, one of the most prominent features of special operations was that for the first time, participated in combat with the main army in special operations campaign quality and won many victories. Some typical battles during this period were the destruction of the Plây Cơ Rông commando base, the raid on Pleiku airport and the American barracks Holloway, the Brinks Hotel bombing, the Attack on USNS Card. The feats of North Vietnamese commandos in the period of counter-strategy Staley–Taylor Plan marked an important development of the art of combat behind hostile lines to destroy the enemy's forces the headquarters and center of war operations of the US-RVN.^{[12][13][14][15]}

During the 1968 Tet Offensive, North Vietnamese commandos led the attack on ARVN headquarters and vital installations in most South Vietnamese cities, contributing to a 1968 Mậu Thân victory, creating a turning point in the Vietnam War.^[16]

Present[]

The current ground special forces units consist of the 113th Commando Brigade (3 times being awarded the Hero of the People's Armed Forces in 1975, 1979, 2000), located in Vinh Phuc, the 198th Commando Brigade (established in 1974), located in Dak Lak, 429th Commando Brigade stationed in Binh Duong.

The current naval special forces unit include the 5th Commando Brigade stationed in Ninh Thuan under the Commando Command and the 126th Naval Commando Brigade.

The special task force currently have the , formerly based in Gia Lâm but now (M1 Brigade) stationed in Hanoi.

• 

  Commandos of Binh Chủng Đặc Công in a parade.

• 

  Commandos of Binh Chủng Đặc Công in joint training operation with Singapore.^[17]

Uniform equipment[]

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Night vision
Night vision		Night-vision device	Vietnam	Manufactured locally.[18]
Helmets
Bulletproof helmet		Combat helmet	Vietnam	Manufactured locally. It has been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.[19]
Type A2 Helmet		Combat helmet	Vietnam	The PAVN's standard issue bump shell is a hard plastic replica of the PASGT helmets. It is used for training exercises and combat drill.
Utility Cover		Kepi	Vietnam	Standard issue soft cover, consisting of a four point front panel and an elastic backstrap. The cap's camouflage print is worn matching with field fatigues during patrols.
SSh-68		Combat helmet	Soviet Union	Limited use.
SSh-40		Combat helmet	Soviet Union	Limited use.
PASGT Helmet		Combat helmet	United States  Vietnam	Limited use with Special Forces, Border Guards, and the Navy. They are gradually replacing older helmets in all branches of the Army. Most helmets are a Vietnamese-made version of the PASGT Helmet. Earlier models were imported from Israel.[20][21]
M1 Helmet		Combat helmet	United States	Limited use.
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet		Combat helmet	United States	Manufactured locally.[22]
Type High Cut Helmet		Combat helmet	United States	Manufactured locally.[22]
Body equipment
AG K53T Body Armour		Body armor	Vietnam	Manufactured locally.It has been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.[19]
7,62 K56 Body Armour		Body armor	Vietnam	Manufactured locally.It has been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.[19]
AG K51T Body Armour		Body armor	Vietnam	Manufactured locally.It has been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.[19]
Body Armour		Body armor	Vietnam	Limited use. Manufactured locally. NIJ level III[23]
Body Armour		Body armor	Vietnam	Modern battle uniform for standard Vietnamese infantry. It will be standard issue in the future. Manufactured locally at the Z176 factory.[1][2]
Marom Dolphin Fusion System		Body armor	Israel	[3]
Flak jacket		Body armor	United States	Limited use by Anti riots units.
Tatical Vest		Tatical vest	Vietnam	Manufactured locally.[24]
Combat Leather Pads		Knee Pads Elbow Pads	Vietnam	Standard Issued along with the new K20 Military Uniform.[25]
Camouflage patterns
K-17 Woodland		Camouflage pattern	Vietnam	Former standard-issue camouflage for ground forces. Similar coloration to the K-07, there are also multiple variants for the other branches of the military.[26][27]
K20 Pattern, K21 Field Uniform[28]		Camouflage pattern	Vietnam	Standard issue as of 2021, the PAVN's K20 Camouflage pattern was developed based on existing ERDL and K07 patterns, with more subdued coloration.[25]
Modified Duck Hunter Pattern		Camouflage pattern	Vietnam
Thermal imaging anti-reconnaissance clothing		Camouflage pattern	Vietnam	It has been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.[19]
Ghillie suit		Ghillie suit	Vietnam	Manufactured locally.It has been introduced in International Army Games's exhibition.[19]

Equipment[]

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Accessories
ITL MARS		Red dot sight	Israel	Mounted on Uzi, AKM-1, IWI Tavor.
Meprolight m21		Red dot sight	Israel	Mounted on Uzi, AKM-1, IWI Tavor, STV Rifles and IWI ACE
Night vision sight		Night vision sight	Vietnam	Mounted on Uzi, AKM-1, IWI Tavor, STV Rifles and IWI ACE.[29]
Small arms
IWI Jericho 941		Semi-automatic pistol	Israel
K14-VN		Semi-automatic pistol	Vietnam
TT-33		Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
CornerShot			Israel
Shotgun
Armsel Striker		Shotgun	South Africa	Limited use[30]
Sub machine gun
Uzi		Submachine gun	Israel
PM-63		Submachine gun	Polish People's Republic	[31]
SN9P		Submachine gun	Russia  Vietnam
Assault rifle
STL-1A		Assault rifle	Vietnam
AKS-47		Assault rifle	Soviet Union	Early variant of the AK-47, featured a downward-folding metal stock similar to that of the MP 40.
AKMS		Assault rifle	Soviet Union
IWI Tavor		Bullpup	Israel
STV		Assault rifle	Vietnam
IWI ACE		Assault rifle/Battle rifle	Israel
M-18		Carbine	United States  Vietnam (operator)	A version of the assault rifles improved by Vietnam from the CAR-15 XM177 series of spoils obtained after the Vietnam War.
APS underwater rifle		Underwater assault rifle	Soviet Union
Light machine gun
IWI Negev		General-purpose machine gun/Squad automatic weapon	Israel
PKM		General-purpose machine gun/Squad automatic weapon	Soviet Union
RPK		General-purpose machine gun/Squad automatic weapon	Soviet Union
FN Minimi		Light machine gun/Squad automatic weapon	Belgium	[32]
Sniper rifle
Orsis T-5000		Sniper rifle	Russia	[33]
WKW Wilk		Anti-materiel rifle	Poland
IWI Galatz		Semi-automatic sniper rifle	Israel	A derivative of the Galil ARM that is used in conjunction with high-quality 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition for consistent accuracy.
OSV-96		Anti-materiel rifle	Soviet Union
VSK-94		Designated marksman rifle	Russia	[34]
Dragunov SVD		Designated marksman rifle	Soviet Union	A compact variant of the SVD was introduced In the early 1990s.
Grenade launcher
Milkor MGL		Revolver grenade launcher	South Africa  United States
OPL40M/T-40		Grenade launcher	United States  Vietnam	Manufactured locally by Z111[35]
RPG-7		Rocket-propelled grenade launcher	Soviet Union	Designated as B41 in Vietnam.[36]
Mortars
STA-50		Light mortars	Vietnam	Manufactured locally at the Z117 Factory.[37]

Vehicles[]

Vehicle	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Ford F350		Mobile Adjustable Ramp System	United States	Mobile Adjustable Ramp System [38]
BTR-60		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union
BTR-152		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union
Isuzu Forward		Medium transport truck	Japan
BRDM-2		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union

Aircraft[]

Aircraft	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Mil Mi-8		Helicopter	Soviet Union
Antonov An-2		Military transport aircraft	Soviet Union	Used for paratroopers training

Notes[]