3rd Corps (Vietnam People's Army)
Encyclopedia
3rd Corps or Tây Nguyên Corps ' onMouseout='HidePop("91665")' href="/topics/Tây_Nguyên">Tây Nguyên
) is one of the four regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army
. First organized in 1975 during the Vietnam War
, 3rd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. Today the corps is stationed in Pleiku
, Gia Lai.
after its 21st conference issued a resolution of strengthening the armed forces in order to unify the country. In executing the issue, three months later the Ministry of Defence
and the Military Commission of the Central Committee approved the plan of organizing regular army corps for the Vietnam People's Army. On March 26, 1975, General Võ Nguyên Giáp
, Minister of Defence, signed the edict that led to the establishment of the 3rd Corps in Tây Nguyên
, from which came the name Tây Nguyên Corps of the unit. The first headquarters of the corps consisted of party committee secretary (bí thư) Đặng Vũ Hiệp and commander (tư lệnh) Vũ Lăng.
During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
, it was 3rd Corps that advanced through the maritime regions of Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa
and later captured the Tan Son Nhat Airport. After the Vietnam War
, 3rd Corps continued to engage in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, the corps was awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) in 1979.
, 312th Regiment of Air Defence, 273rd Tank Regiment, 675th Artillery Regiment, 198th Regiment of Special Force, 29th Regiment of Signal and 545th Regiment of Engineers.
Tây Nguyên
Tây Nguyên, translated as Western Highlands and sometimes also called Central Highlands, is one of the regions of Vietnam. It contains the provinces of Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lâm Đồng....
) is one of the four regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army
Vietnam People's Army
The Vietnam People's Army is the armed forces of Vietnam. The VPA includes: the Vietnamese People's Ground Forces , the Vietnam People's Navy , the Vietnam People's Air Force, and the Vietnam Marine Police.During the French Indochina War , the VPA was often referred to as the Việt...
. First organized in 1975 during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, 3rd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
Ho Chi Minh Campaign
The Hồ Chí Minh Campaign was the final title applied to a series of increasingly large-scale and ambitious offensive operations by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam which began on 13 December 1974...
and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. Today the corps is stationed in Pleiku
Pleiku
Pleiku is a town in central Vietnam, located in that nation's central highland region. It is the capital of the Gia Lai Province; it is inhabited primarily by the Bahnar and Jarai ethnic groups, sometimes known as the Montagnards or Degar....
, Gia Lai.
History
In July 1973, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of VietnamCentral Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam
The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam established 1930, is the highest authority within the Communist Party of Vietnam elected by the Party National Congresses...
after its 21st conference issued a resolution of strengthening the armed forces in order to unify the country. In executing the issue, three months later the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Vietnam)
Ministry of Defence is the governmental ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that manages, coordinates and supervises military affairs, including all military units, paramilitary units, and similar agencies in the country. The major office of the Ministry of Defence is located within the...
and the Military Commission of the Central Committee approved the plan of organizing regular army corps for the Vietnam People's Army. On March 26, 1975, General Võ Nguyên Giáp
Vo Nguyen Giap
Võ Nguyên Giáp is a retired Vietnamese officer in the Vietnam People’s Army and a politician. He was a principal commander in two wars: the First Indochina War and the Vietnam War...
, Minister of Defence, signed the edict that led to the establishment of the 3rd Corps in Tây Nguyên
Tây Nguyên
Tây Nguyên, translated as Western Highlands and sometimes also called Central Highlands, is one of the regions of Vietnam. It contains the provinces of Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Lâm Đồng....
, from which came the name Tây Nguyên Corps of the unit. The first headquarters of the corps consisted of party committee secretary (bí thư) Đặng Vũ Hiệp and commander (tư lệnh) Vũ Lăng.
During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign
Ho Chi Minh Campaign
The Hồ Chí Minh Campaign was the final title applied to a series of increasingly large-scale and ambitious offensive operations by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam which began on 13 December 1974...
, it was 3rd Corps that advanced through the maritime regions of Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa
Khanh Hoa Province
Khánh Hòa is a province of Vietnam, located in the South Central Coast. It has a population of 1,066,300 and spans an area of 5,197 km². Its capital is Nha Trang...
and later captured the Tan Son Nhat Airport. After the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, 3rd Corps continued to engage in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, the corps was awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) in 1979.
Organization
The command structure of 3rd Corps consists of the High Command (Bộ tư lệnh), the Staff of 3rd Corps (Bộ tham mưu), the Political Department (Cục chính trị), the Department of Logistics (Cục hậu cần) and the Department of Technique (Cục kỹ thuật). The combat forces of the corps include the 10th Infantry Division, 31st Infantry Division, 320 Division (Vietnam)320 Division (Vietnam)
The 320th Division is a formation of the Vietnam People's Army.During the Vietnam War it was a well trained division of the North Vietnamese Army that operated in the DMZ area of South Vietnam. The division battled U. S. Marines in and around Dong Ha and Leatherneck Square. One of the major battles...
, 312th Regiment of Air Defence, 273rd Tank Regiment, 675th Artillery Regiment, 198th Regiment of Special Force, 29th Regiment of Signal and 545th Regiment of Engineers.
Commanders
| Time | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–1977 | Maj. Gen. Vũ Lăng | |
| 1977–1979 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Kim Tuấn | |
| 1979–1984 | Col. Nguyễn Quốc Thước | Later promoted to Lieutenand General, Commander of the 4th Military Region 4th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army) 4th Military Zone of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam, tasked to organize, build, manage and command armed forces defending the North Central Vietnam. The predecessor, 4th War Zone was established by the order of Ho Chi Minh on October 15, 1945, and this... . |
| 1984–1990 | Maj. Gen. Khuất Duy Tiến | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Director of the Department of Armed Forces, General Staff. |
| 1990–1991 | Maj. Gen. Trần Tất Thanh | |
| 1991–1993 | Col. Lê Quang Bình | |
| 1993–1997 | Maj. Gen. Đỗ Quang Mùi | |
| 1997–2002 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Hữu Hạ | |
| 2002–2005 | Col. Nguyễn Xuân Hùng | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff. |
| 2005–2007 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Trung Thu | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Commander of the 5th Military Region 5th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army) 5th Military Zone of Vietnam People's Army, is directly under the Ministry of Defense of Vietnam, tasked to organize, build, manage and command armed forces defending the South Central Vietnam include the Tây Nguyên and southern central coastal provinces... . |
| 2007–present | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Vĩnh Phú |