North Vietnam - Vietcong
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The Vietnamese People's Army (VPA) (Vietnamese: Quân Đ?i Nhân Dân Vi?t Nam) is the official name of the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. During the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War) (1957–1975), the U.S. referred to it as the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), or People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and this term is commonly found throughout Vietnam War-related subjects. The VPA was not the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (also known as Vi?t C?ng) (although certain elements disguised as such occasionally and after the reunification of the country in 1976, all former Vi?t C?ng forces that had not been demobilized were incorporated into the VPA). |
 
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During the war against the French (First Indochina War, 1946-1954), the VPA was often referred to as the Vi?t Minh even though Vi?t Minh was the name of the overall independence movement that preceded the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945. The VPA now includes the: Vietnamese People's Ground Forces (including VPA Strategic Rear Forces and Border Defence Forces), Vietnamese People's Navy (including VPN Marine Corps), Vietnamese People's Air Force, and Vietnamese People's Coast Guard. |
 
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The predecessor of the VPA was the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, an organization that was formed by President H? Chí Minh on December 22, 1944 to drive the French colonialists and Japanese occupiers from Vietnam. General Vơ Nguyên Giáp was the first Commander and commander-in-chief of VPA and the fourth Minister of National Defence (after Chu Van Tan, Phan Anh, Ta Quang Buu). |
 
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This force was to launch many offensives, and eventually survive counter-attacks by United States forces in what was known as the Vietnam War in the United States. During the 1968 & 1972 Vietnam War, VPA sustained heavy losses.They would also participate in incursions into Cambodia, toppling the genocidal Khmer Rouge.During peaceful periods, the VPA has actively been involved in Vietnam's workforce to develop the economy of Vietnam, in order to coordinate national defense and the economy. |
 
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The VPA has regularly sent troops to aid with natural disasters such as flooding, landslides etc. The VPA is also involved in such areas as industry, agriculture, forestry, fishery and telecommunications. The VPA has numerous small firms which have become quite profitable in recent years. However, recent decrees have effectively prohibited the commercialisation of the military. |
 
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The main force of the VPA consists of combat ready troops, as well as educational institutions for logistics, officer training, and technical training. Osprey Publishing's 'The NVA and Vietcong' (1991), written by Conboy, Bowra, and McCouaig, (henceforth Conboy et al) traces the development of the VPA Ground Forces from their earliest origins. As early as January 1947, its first regiment, 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, Long Zhou, and Jing Xi, Regimental Group 308, a divisional size force formed from the 308 Regiment, was established. |
 
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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, and was backed by two further independent regiments, the 174 and 209. Following disastrous failures against three French strongpoints in the Red River Delta, in late 1951 refocused on building up its ground forces further, with four new divisions, each of 10-15,000 men, created: the 304 Division at Thanh Hoa, the 316 Division in the northeast border region, the 320 Division in the north Red River Delta, formed in Spring 1951, and the 351 Heavy Weapons Division. |
 
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With the 312 Division, formed at around the same time, and the 325 Division, formed in the northern summer period in central Vietnam, the six rifle formations (304, 308, 312, 316, 320, and 325) became known as the original PAVN 'Steel and Iron' divisions. In 1954 four of these divisions (the 308, 312, 316, supported by howitzers and AA guns of the 351 Division) overwhelmed the French Union forces at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. |