Battle of Xuan Loc

 The Republic of Vietnam Historical Society Blog

  

Airborne soldiers protecting refugees waiting to be evacuated, Xuan Loc, 1975.

 During this month in 1975 the last major battle in the twenty year long struggle of the Republic of Vietnam was taking place. Much about the battle has been written and discussed by veterans, historians, news commentators, students, and authors of all kinds in the subsequent four decades. In this posting, RVNHS would like to ask you to take a moment to reflect upon the battle not as an abstract historical event, but as the fierce physical and psychological ordeal for the servicemen and women as well as the countless civilians of the Republic of Vietnam who were caught up in the intensity of those April weeks forty (six) years ago.

 

Tank crew heading into Xuan Loc, 1975. Note the flags painted on the helmets of two of the crewmen - a show of loyalty and determination undertaken unofficially by soldiers during the battle.

The battle has often been discussed in terms of the last stand of the republic. Nearly all those soldiers who went into the forray to defend the republic`s cause would give their lives or lose their freedom this month. Of those who survived the battle many would spend years in "re-education" camps. The overall commander at Xuan Loc, General Le Minh Dao, would remain in capitivity until 1992, seventeen years after the battle ended. The sacrifice of these men and women in the eleventh hour of the republic stands testiment to the loyalty many held for the Republic of Vietnam. 

  

General Le Minh Dao, principal commander of the Republic of Vietnam

forces at Xuan Loc, 1975.

 

  

 

Much of the battle consisted of repeated repelling of assaults by Communist forces.

Here, republic soldiers pose with captured enemy flags, Xuan Loc, 1975.

 

  

 

Soldiers of the 18th Infantry Division, Xuan Loc, 1975.

 

 

 

General Le Minh Dao and Colonel Ngo Van Minh at the forward command

headquarters, Xuan Loc, 1975.

 

 

Evacuation of wounded and refugees, Xuan Loc, 1975.

 

 

Refugees fleeing the Communist advance flocked around the military of the republic,

clogging roads and generally making military movement of any kind difficult.

Nevertheless, the republic`s military felt a responsibility to the civilians, and thousands were

evacuated aboard military aircraft from the conflict area as shown in this photo,

Xuan Loc, 1975.

 

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"The Supermen": Battle of Xuan Loc April 1975 - ARVN 18th Division

Battle of Xuan Loc was the last major battle of the Vietnam War, the vastly outnumbered 18th Division stood and fought at Xuan Loc, 38 miles north of Saigon. It was commanded by General Le Minh Dao.

 

 They were decimated at Xuan Loc and Bien Hoa'

The Battle of Xuan Loc; Mar 17 – Apr 17, 1975 & The End

 

Xuan Loc was the last major battle for South Vietnam. This town sits astride Q. L. (National Road) #1, some 40 odd miles to the northeast of Saigon (on the road to Phan Thiet) and was the capitol of South Vietnam’s Long Khanh province. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attack fell on the Army Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 18^th Division.¹²

 

On March 17^th, 1975 the NVA 6^th & 7^th Divisions attacked Xuan Loc but were repulsed by the ARVN 18^th. On April 9^th the NVA 341^st Division joined the attack. After a four thousand round artillery bombardment, these three divisions massed, and spearheaded by Russian tanks and other armored vehicles, mounted a second assault on Xuan Loc. But again, the ARVN 18^th held its ground. The NVA reinforced with their 325^th Division and began moving their 10^th & 304^th Divisions into position. Eventually, in a classic example of the art of “Mass and Maneuver” the NVA massed 40,000 men and overran Xuan Loc.

 

During this fight, the ARVN 18^th had 5,000 men at Xuan Loc. These men managed to virtually destroy 3 NVA divisions, but on April 17^th, 1975 they were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and the weight of the “Mass.” Before overrunning Xuan Loc the NVA had committed six full divisions, plus a host of various support troops.

 

More @ FNC

 

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 They Would Run Out Of Ammunition In Two Months

 

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Detailed Analysis of The Battle Of Xuan Loc

 

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Fighting To The End

 

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Le Minh Dao at the battle of Xuan Loc

"The fierce fighting raged for two weeks. The 18th Division, outnumbered seven to one by communist People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces, virtually destroyed three North Vietnamese Army (NVA) divisions, but was overwhelmed by superior numbers on April 21, 1975. Saigon fell nine days later."

Read WIKI in total at the link above which gives the true numbers, not the biased ones by the reporter.  Infuriating.

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& Much More at NamSouth Memories Of The Republic Of South Vietnam and FNC