Battle of Hoàng Sa was a sea battlte between the Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China from 17 to 19 January 1974 at the Paracel Islands. After French withdrawal from Indochina, the Republic of Vietnam controlled the islands. After the battle, the China controlled the region until now. National motto: ??? Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... (Redirected from 17 January) 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 (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... Indochina, or the Indochinese Peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. ... National motto: ??? Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

Historical background

The Paracel Islands composes of two main groups. When they were controlled by the Republic of Vietnam, the islands are named Hoàng Sa and the groups are called Nguyệt-Thềm (Crescent group) and Bắc đảo or An Vĩnh/Tuyên Đức (Amphitrite group). There existed a meteorolgical station, built by the French, which was then part of institute of meteorology of Đà Nẵng and was protected by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. When the Vietnam War was near its end, the military strength of the Republic of Vietnam here was reduced to a small local army protecting the Nguyệt-Thềm islands group. National motto: ??? Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 230,000 South Vietnamese wounded: 300,000 US dead...

In 1956, the People's Republic of China started invading Woody Island which belongs to the Bắc đảo group. 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, Hoàng Sa, Trường Sa , Macclesfield island, and Pescadores Islands. ^[1] 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Paracel Islands Paracel Islands location relative to the claimants The Paracel Islands (Chinese: 西沙群島/ in pinyin: XÄ«shā QúndÇŽo; Vietnamese: Quần Đảo Hoàng Sa/ 群島黃沙) are a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea and part of the South China Sea Islands, about one... The Spratly Islands are a disputed group of approximately 100 reefs and islets in the South China Sea. ...

On 22 September 1958, the Nhân Dân newspaper in Vietnam showed a letter sent by the President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Phạm Văn Đồng, to vice minister of foreign affairs of People's Republic of China, in which Phạm Văn Đồng recognized the claim of China on 4 September 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. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Vietnamese Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was founded by Ho Chi Minh and was recognized by China and the USSR in 1950. ... Pham Van Dong (Vietnamese: Phạm Văn Ðồng, Chu Nom 范文同) (March 1, 1906 – April 29, 2000) was an associate of Ho Chi Minh who helped establish the Indochinese Communist Party. ... 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, the Republic of Vietnam reaffirmed its claim of sovereignty over Hoàng Sa as part of Quảng Nam Province of Repbulic of Vietnam. 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 the Republic of Vietnam had several small battles in the region of Hoàng Sa, without casualty. ^[3] During this period, Republic of Vietnam also established a small air field at Hoàng Sa. For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... 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, receiving the protests from Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. In the same year Elmo Zumwalt, at a news conference in Guam, annouced that Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa were not the priority in United States military strategy in the region. From the view of the Republic of Vietnam, these were exchanges between United States and China, which presented a danger for the Republic of Vietnam in protecting Hoàng Sa. ^[4] 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Elmo R. Zumwalt Elmo Russell Zumwalt, Jr. ...

In 1971, the People's Republic of China and Republic of Vietnam continued having military confrontation in the region of Hoàng Sa. ^[5] 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

In 1974 the Republic of Vietnam decided to build a larger air base on Hoàng Sa islands which could support C-7 Caribou for better protection of Nguyệt Thềm. When a group of Army of the Republic of Vietnam started preparing the construction, they discovered the presence of the Army of the People's Republic of China; the battle started right after. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... 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). ... [ [ Image:ArmyoftheRepublicofVietnam. ...

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

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 PLAN had 8 vessels: two minesweepers designated No. 389 and 391 , four Krondstadt-class missile boats designated No. 271, 274, 282, and 281, two armed trawlers designated No. 402 and No. 407, and four companies of PLAN naval infantry. A plan is a proposed or intended method of getting from one set of circumstances to another. ... 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 Repbulic of 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 PRC 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 (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ...

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 Republic of China did not leave and also used light signal to require Vietnamese ships to leave Chinese territorial waters.

On 17 January, 1974, gunship Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-4) arrived in Hoàng Sa with two groups of armies to destroy 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. ...

Army of Republic of Vietnam naval commandos at Hoang Sa

On 18 January, 1974, Rear Admiral Lâm Ngươn Tánh urgently flied 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. January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnamese: Thành Chí Minh) is the largest city in Vietnam, located near the delta of the Mekong River. ...

RVNS cutter Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-5)

RVNS minesweeper Nhật Tảo (HQ-10)

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 Vietnameses were killed and 2 injured. The Vietnamese force was outnumbered and had to leave by HQ-5. 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] 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 distance of, and map, objects such... 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. ... Hainan (Chinese: 海南; Hanyu Pinyin: ) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located at the southern end of the country. ...

Results

From the sources of Republic of Vietnam, on the Chinese side, No. 274 was hit and was out of combat; No. 271 or No. 389 was sank; No. 389 and No. 391 was heavily hit. On Vietnamese side, HQ-10 was sank, 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 sank with the ship. On HQ-5, 3 killed and 16 injured. Two days after the battle, 20 January, 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. ...

From the Chinese source, 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 sank. 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 the whole islands after this battle. Republic of 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). ... 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. ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... 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. ...

References

• Document of Republic of Vietnam [13]