Battle of Hoang Sa
Nhật Tảo HQ-10
Date January 18, 1974 Location Paracel Islands Result Chinese naval victory Continued dispute between China and Vietnam
Combatants
People's Liberation Army Navy	Republic of Vietnam Navy
Commanders
Unknown commander	Rear Admiral Lâm Ngươn Tánh
Strength
2 minesweepers 4 Krondstadt-class gunboats 4 naval infantry companies	2 WHEC 1 DER 1 MSF 1 commando company 1 demolition team 1 militia platoon
Casualties
4 boats malfunctioned	1 MSF sunk 3 killed 16 injured 48 captured

Battle of Hoàng Sa was a sea battle between the People's Republic of China and the former South Vietnam from January 17 to January 19, 1974 at the Paracel Islands. After France withdrew from Indochina, South Vietnam controlled the islands. After the battle, China controlled and administered the islands. Image File history File links HQ-10-NhatTao. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The VNN was the naval forces of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1952 to 1975. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Indochina, or the Indochinese Peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. ...

Historical background

The Paracel Islands comprises two main clusters. During South Vietnamese control of the islands, they were called Hoàng Sa and the two clusters were dubbed Nguyệt-Thềm (Crescent cluster) and Bắc đảo or An Vĩnh/Tuyên Đức (Amphitrite cluster). There existed a meteorolgical station, built by France, which was then part of institute of meteorology of Đà Nẵng and was protected by the South Vietnamese army. Near the end of the Vietnam War, the South Vietnamese military presence on the islands was reduced to a small local army protecting the Nguyệt-Thềm islands. Da Nang (occasionally Danang; in Vietnamese: Đà Nẵng) is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...

In 1956, the People's Republic of China invaded Woody Island part of the Bắc đảo cluster. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Woody Island is one of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. ...

In 1958, the People's Republic of China announced its claim of sovereignty over Taiwan, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands , Macclesfield Island, and Pescadores Islands. ^[1] 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Pescadores Islands (Traditional Chinese: 澎湖群島; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Peng-hu; Taiwanese POJ: Phêⁿ-ô·-kōan, from Portuguese, fishermen, pron. ...

On September 22, 1958, the Nhân Dân newspaper in Vietnam showed a letter sent by the President of the North Vietnam, Phạm Văn Đồng, to Vice Minister of foreign affairs of People's Republic of China, in which Vietnam recognized the claim of China's sovereignty on the islands on September 4 of 1958. ^[2] September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nhân Dân (The People) is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Vietnam. ... Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States (1861-1865) The majority of this article is about heads of states. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN), or less commonly, Vietnamese Democratic Republic (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cá»™ng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was proclaimed by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, September 2nd1945 and was recognized by the Peoples Republic of China and the... Pham Van Dong (March 1, 1906 – April 29, 2000) was an associate of Ho Chi Minh. ... A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister that helps to form foreign policy for sovereign nations. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1961, South Vietnam claimed Paracel Islands as part of Quảng Nam Province. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Quang Nam (Vietnamese Quảng Nam) is a province in central of Vietnam. ...

From 1964 to 1970, the People's Republic of China and South Vietnam had several skirmishes in the region of Hoàng Sa, without incurring any casualties. ^[3] During this period, South Vietnam also established a small air field at Paracel Islands. 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ...

In 1970, the United States and Japan signed the Okinawa Reversion Treaty which reverted sovereignty of the Diaoyu Islands (also known as Sento Shosho or Senkaku Retto in Japan) to Japan, which was met by protests from the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). In the same year Elmo Zumwalt, at a news conference in Guam, announced that Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands were not a priority in US military strategy in the Vietnam War. South Vietnam regarded these exchanges between United States and China, as a threat to South Vietnam's claim over the islands. ^[4] 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... The Pinnacle Islands (Japanese: 尖閣諸島; Senkaku-Shotō) are islands are currently under Japanese control but claimed by the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan), by which they are known as Diaoyutai Islands or Diaoyu Islands—both literally mean Fishing Islands. ... Motto: None Anthem(s): National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure)1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang Establishment Xinhai Revolution   - Declared... Elmo R. Zumwalt Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr. ...

In 1971, the People's Republic of China and South Vietnam there were several military confrontations in the region of Paracel Islands. ^[5] 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

In 1974 South Vietnam decided to build a larger air base on Paracel Islands which could support C-7 Caribou for better protection of Nguyệt Thềm. The battle began when a group of South Vietnamese soldiers discovered the presence of the Army of the People's Republic of China on the islands. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (known in the US military as the C-7 Caribou) was designed as a specialized transport for STOL (short takeoff and landing). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

RVNS High-endurance Cutter Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16)

Image File history File links HQ-16-LyThuongKiet. ... Image File history File links HQ-16-LyThuongKiet. ...

Order of battle

The Republic of Vietnam side had 4 vessels: two High-endurance Cutters (WHEC) designated Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-5) ^[6] and Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16) ^[7], a Destroyer Escort (DER) designated Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-4) ^[8], an Admirable-class minesweeper (MSF) designated Nhật Tảo (HQ-10)^[9], one company of South Vietnamese Navel commandos, one under-water demolition team, and one platoon of local militia stationed on Hoàng Sa.

RVNS Destroyer Escort Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-4)

The People's Liberation Army Navy had 8 vessels: two minesweepers designated No. 389 and 391 , four Krondstadt-class gunboats designated No. 271, 274, 282, and 281, two armed trawlers designated No. 402 and No. 407, and four companies of PLAN naval infantry. Image File history File links HQ-4-TranKhanhDu. ... Image File history File links HQ-4-TranKhanhDu. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A plan is a proposed or intended method of getting from one set of circumstances to another. ...

The battle

On 16 January 1974, a naval cutter from the South Vietnam, Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16), when surveying the Hoàng Sa island for the construction of a new air base discovered the gunship No. 402 and No. 407 of People's Repbulic of China near Cam Tuyền island, and found that Chinese army was in the process of setting People's Republic of China flags on Quang Hòa, Duy Mộng and Vĩnh Lạc islands. January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

After urgently communicating with Đà Nẵng, HQ-16 used light signal to demand that the Chinese ships leave Vietnamese territorial waters. The ships of People's Republic of China did not leave and also used light signal to require Vietnamese ships to leave Chinese territorial waters. Da Nang (occasionally Danang; in Vietnamese: Đà Nẵng) is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea. ...

On 17 January, 1974, gunship Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-4) arrived in Hoàng Sa with two groups of armies to destroy the Chinese flag on Cam Tuyền island. When the groups had finished destroying the flag and about to leave, two gunships No. 274 and No. 271 of People Republic of China arrived. January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The term gunship is used in several contexts, all sharing the general idea of a light vessel armed with heavy guns. ...

Army of Republic of Vietnam naval commandos at Hoang Sa

On 18 January, 1974, Rear Admiral Lam Nguon Tanh urgently flew from Saigon to Đà Nẵng to command the battle. He ordered restoring Cam Tuyền, Quang Hòa, Duy Mộng and Vĩnh Lạc islands to Republic of Vietnam's control. Two more vessels were sent, Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-5) and Nhật Tảo (HQ-10). At the time, HQ-10 had one engine failed, running on the only one left. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (802x486, 309 KB) South Vietnamese military men at Hoang Sa Work of the Government of South Vietnam. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (802x486, 309 KB) South Vietnamese military men at Hoang Sa Work of the Government of South Vietnam. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Admiral Lam Nguon Tanh Admiral Lam Nguon Tanh (born 1928, Sadec, Vietnam) was the Navy Chief of Staff of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. ... Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam and is located near the Mekong River delta. ... Da Nang (occasionally Danang; in Vietnamese: Đà Nẵng) is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea. ...

RVNS cutter Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-5)

On 19 January, 1974, HQ-5 arrived with two army groups on the south of Quang Hòa island while Army of People's Republic of China arrived on the north of the islands. After a short combat, 3 Vietnamese soldiers were killed and 2 injured. The Vietnamese force was outnumbered and had to leave by HQ-5. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (775x604, 62 KB) South Vietnamese gunship HQ 5 Tran Binh Trong. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (775x604, 62 KB) South Vietnamese gunship HQ 5 Tran Binh Trong. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

People's Republic of China Krondstadt No. 271. Image taken from a Vietnamese vessel just before the battle

Right after, gun ships of the two sides started engaging around Quang Hòa island. Gunships of Republic of Vietnam fired first. The firing lasted about 30 to 45 minutes. During the battle, Republic of Vietnam received a warning from United States: radar of the U.S. Navy had detected that a guided missile frigate and a MIG were on their way from Hainan to Hoàng Sa. Republic of Vietnam demanded an intervention of the United States, however the United States refused. All Vietnamese gunships were then ordered to withdraw. ^[10] Image File history File links PLAN-271. ... Image File history File links PLAN-271. ... This long range RADAR antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll[1]. RADAR is a system that uses radio waves to detect, determine the direction and distance and/or speed... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Sailing frigates were 4th, 5th, or 6th-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... MIG may refer to one of the following. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Results of the battle

From the sources of South Vietnam, on the Chinese side, No. 274 was hit and was out of combat; No. 271 or No. 389 was sunk; No. 389 and No. 391 was heavily hit. On Vietnamese side, HQ-10 was sunk, HQ-16 was heavily hit, inclined 15 degree, HQ-5 and HQ-4 was slightly hit. Nearly 50 Vietnameses including Ngụy Văn Thà on HQ-10 were sunk with the ship. On HQ-5, 3 killed and 16 injured. Two days after the battle, January 20, the Netherland ship "Kopionella" saved 23 men of HQ-10 who at the time floating around the region. Nine days after, 29 January, Vietnamese fishermen found a group of 15 Vietnamese army members near Mũi Yến (Qui Nhơn), who had participated in the combat on Quang Hòa islands, and escaped on small boat. ^[11] January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Qui NhÆ¡n is a coastal city in the centre of Vietnam. ...

From the sources of China, on the Chinese side, all No. 274, No. 271, No. 389 and No. 391 were hit, No. 281, No. 282, No. 402 and No. 407 malfunctioned; on Vietnamese side, HQ-10 was sunk. China captured 48 prisoners, including 1 American^[12]. China later released the prisoners in Hong Kong through the Red Cross. The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

People's Republic of China controls and governs the whole group of islands after this battle. South Vietnam and later the unified Vietnam continue to claim their sovereignty over the group of islands.

Notes

1. ↑  Security Implications of Conflict in the South China Sea: Exploring Potential Triggers of Conflict A Pacific Forum CSIS Special Report, của Ralph A. Cossa, Washington, D.C. Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1998, trang B-2
2. ↑  Nhân Dân No. 1653, 22 September 1958
3. ↑  Dyadic Militarized Interstate Disputes Data (DyMID), version 2.0 tabulations
4. ↑  Hải Chiến Hoàng Sa, Bão biển Đệ Nhị Hải Sư, Australia, 1989, page 101
5. ↑  DyMID
6. ↑  This vessel is formerly USCGC Chincoteague (WHEC-375), and was transferred to South Vietnam and renamed RVNS Tran Binh Trong (HQ-5). It was later transferred to the Philippines and renamed RPS Andres Bonifacto (PF-7) in 1975 when South Vietnam fell.
7. ↑  This vessel is formerly USCGC Bering Strait (WHEC-382), and was transferred to South Vietnam and renamed RVNS Ly Thuong Kiet (HQ-16). It was later transferred to the Philippines and renamed RPS Diego Silang (PF-9) in 1975 when South Vietnam fell.
8. ↑  This vessel is formerly USS Forster (DER-334), loaned to South Vietnam on 25 September 1971 and renamed Tran Khanh Du (HQ-04). Captured by North Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon and was renamed Dai Ky (HQ-03).
9. ↑  This vessel is formerly USS Serene (AM 300/MSF-300), and was transferred to South Vietnam 24 January 1964. It was re-designated as Nhut Tao (HQ 10)
10. ↑  Counterpart, A South Vietnamese Naval Officer's War Kiem Do and Julie Kane, Naval Institute, Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1998, chương 10.
11. ↑  Thế Giới Lên Án Trung Cộng Xâm Lăng Hoàng Sa Của VNCH. Tài liệu Tổng cục Chiến tranh Chính trị, Bộ Tổng tham mưu QLVNCH, Sài Gòn, 1974, trang 11.
12. ↑  西沙海战――痛击南越海军, Xin hua, 20 January 2003, online
13. 西沙海战详解[图], online.

September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... January 24 is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Captain Kiem Do was the former deputy chief of staff for operations in the Republic of Vietnam Navy. ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Naval history of China

There was archieve dating back very early about the ancient navy of China. ...

References

• Document of Republic of Vietnam [13]