308 Division (Vietnam)
Encyclopedia
The 308th Division is an infantry
division
of the People's Army of Vietnam, first formed in 1948-49.
As early as January 1947, the first regiment of the PAVN, the 308 'Capital' Regiment, was created for operations around Hanoi
. Over the next two years, partially at training camps in the Chinese towns of Wenshan
, Longzhou, and Jing Xi, Regimental Group 308, a divisional size force formed from the 308 Regiment, was established. It consisted of Regiments 98, 102, and 308, and soon became the 308 'Capital' Division. By late 1950 the 308 Division had a full three infantry regiments, one heavy weapons regiment, and support units.
Under Colonel Colonel Vuong Thua Vu, the division fought at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
in 1954. It fought at the Battle of Khe Sanh
in 1967-68. In October 1970, the division was in training in North Vietnam, and during the Tet Offensive it was working on flood protection dikes in North Vietnam. During Operation Lam Son 719
in 1971 the division fought as part of the B-70 Corps. In 1972 the division was commanded by Nguyễn Hữu An. It fought in the First Battle of Quang Tri. When the NVA I Corps was organized in the fall of 1973, the 308th, 312th, and 320B Divisions, having returned from the Quang Tri front, were all assigned to it.
Today the division is part of the 1st Corps (Vietnam People's Army)
located in the Red River Delta
.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the People's Army of Vietnam, first formed in 1948-49.
As early as January 1947, the first regiment of the PAVN, the 308 'Capital' Regiment, was created for operations around Hanoi
Hanoi
Hanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
. Over the next two years, partially at training camps in the Chinese towns of Wenshan
Wenshan
Wenshan may refer to:* Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Yunnan, PR China* Wenshan City , the seat of the Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture* Wenshan District , Taipei, Republic of China...
, Longzhou, and Jing Xi, Regimental Group 308, a divisional size force formed from the 308 Regiment, was established. It consisted of Regiments 98, 102, and 308, and soon became the 308 'Capital' Division. By late 1950 the 308 Division had a full three infantry regiments, one heavy weapons regiment, and support units.
Under Colonel Colonel Vuong Thua Vu, the division fought at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was the climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War between the French Union's French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. The battle occurred between March and May 1954 and culminated in a comprehensive French defeat that...
in 1954. It fought at the Battle of Khe Sanh
Battle of Khe Sanh
The Battle of Khe Sanh was conducted in northwestern Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam , between 21 January and 9 July 1968 during the Vietnam War...
in 1967-68. In October 1970, the division was in training in North Vietnam, and during the Tet Offensive it was working on flood protection dikes in North Vietnam. During Operation Lam Son 719
Operation Lam Son 719
Operation Lam Son 719 was a limited-objective offensive campaign conducted in southeastern portion of the Kingdom of Laos by the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam between 8 February and 25 March 1971, during the Vietnam War...
in 1971 the division fought as part of the B-70 Corps. In 1972 the division was commanded by Nguyễn Hữu An. It fought in the First Battle of Quang Tri. When the NVA I Corps was organized in the fall of 1973, the 308th, 312th, and 320B Divisions, having returned from the Quang Tri front, were all assigned to it.
Today the division is part of the 1st Corps (Vietnam People's Army)
1st Corps (Vietnam People's Army)
1st Corps or Quyết thắng Corps is one of the four regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army. First organized in 1973 during the Vietnam War, 1st Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign that ended the war...
located in the Red River Delta
Red River Delta
The Red River Delta is the flat plain formed by the Red River and its distributaries joining in the Thai Binh River in northern Vietnam. The delta measuring some 15,000 square km is well protected by a network of dikes. It is an agriculturally rich area and densely populated...
.