NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Vietnam People's Army

The Vietnam People's Army (VPA) (Vietnamese: Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam) is official name for the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. During the Second Indochinese 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 Việt Cộng) (although certain elements disguised as such occasionally and after the reunification of the country in 1976, all former Việt Cộng forces that had not been demobilized were incorporated into the VPA). During the war against the French (First Indochina War, 1946-1954), the VPA was often referred to as the Việt Minh even though Việt 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: Vietnam People's Ground Forces (including VPA Strategic Rear Forces and Border Defence Forces), Vietnam People's Navy (including VPN Naval infantry), Vietnam People's Air Force, and Coast Guard. Image File history File links Flag_of_Vietnam. ... Flag ratio: 2:3 The flag of Vietnam, officially known as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is also known as Red flag with Yellow star. This flag was adopted as the National flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) on November 30, 1955. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... 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 Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... General VÃµ NguyÃªn GiÃ¡p (born circa 1912[1]) Vietnamese general and statesman. ... Tran Van Tra (1918 â€“ 20 April 1996) was the military leader of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam; a member of the Central Committee of the Lao Dong Party; a lieutenant general in the army of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam); chairman, Military Affairs Committee... Nguyen Chi Thanh (1914 - 1967) was from 1965 until his death the commanding general of North Vietnamese operations in South Vietnam. ... Image File history File links Vietnam_People's_Army_40_stamp_block. ... Image File history File links Vietnam_People's_Army_40_stamp_block. ... In philately, a block is a group of postage stamps still attached to each other. ... Alternate cover US 1979 and 2002 reissue cover, also known as paint spatter cover For the military meaning, see Armed forces. ... 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 Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Viet Cong redirects here. ... Combatants French Union France State of Vietnam Cambodia Laos Viet Minh Commanders French Expeditionary Corps Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque (1945-46) Jean-Ã‰tienne Valluy (1946-8) Roger Blaizot (1948-9) Marcel-Maurice Carpentier (1949-50) Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (1950-51) Raoul Salan (1952-3) Henri Navarre (1953-4... The Viet Minh (abbreviated from Việt Nam ộc Lập ồng Minh Hội, League for the Independence of Vietnam) was formed by Ho Ngoc Lam and Nguyen Hai Than in 1941 to seek independence for Vietnam from France. ... 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. ... 40th anniversary of Vietnam Peoples Army, commemorated on 1984 Vietnam postage stamp block The Vietnam Peoples Army (VPA) is official name for the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. ... The Vietnam Peoples Navy (or, commonly, Vietnamese Navy) is part of the Vietnam Peoples Armed Forces and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Vietname Peoples Coast Guard (Vietnamese: Bá»™ Ä‘á»™i BiÃªn phÃ²ng Viá»‡t Nam) is a part of Vietnam Peoples Army The Coast Guard is responsible for protecting the security of Vietnams coast line. ...

History

The predecessor of the VPA was the Armed Propaganda Unit for National Liberation, an organization that was formed by President Hồ Chí Minh on December 22, 1944 to drive the French colonialists and Japanese occupiers from Vietnam.[1] For the city named after him, see Ho Chi Minh City. ... is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

General Võ 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). 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 Invasions of South Vietnam the VPA sustained heavy losses. General VÃµ NguyÃªn GiÃ¡p (born circa 1912[1]) Vietnamese general and statesman. ...

In 1975 they militarily defeated the South Vietnamese government. Anthem Thanh niÃªn HÃ nh KhÃºc (Call to the Citizens) Capital Saigon Language(s) Vietnamese Government Republic Last PresidentÂ¹ Duong Van Minh Last Prime minister Vu Van Mau Historical era Cold War - Regime change June 14, 1955 - Dissolution April 30, 1975 Area - 1973 173,809 kmÂ² 67,108...

They would also participate in incursions into Cambodia, toppling the genocidal Khmer Rouge. Some of the Khmer Rouge leaders during their period in power. ...

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. 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. This article only contains information on the economy of Vietnam after the year 1986; contributions dealing with the pre-1986 period are welcome. ... A decidous beech forest in Slovenia. ... A fishery (plural: fisheries) is an organized effort by humans to catch fish or other aquatic species, an activity known as fishing. ... Copy of the original phone of Alexander Graham Bell at the MusÃ©e des Arts et MÃ©tiers in Paris Telecommunication is the assisted transmission of signals over a distance for the purpose of communication. ...

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.

Image File history File links QDNDVN_Howitzer2. ... Image File history File links QDNDVN_Howitzer2. ... Image File history File links KQNDVN_SA-3q. ... Image File history File links KQNDVN_SA-3q. ...

Organization

Minister of National Defense oversees operations of the VPA and is the Commander-in-Chief. He also oversees such agencies as the General Staff and the General Logistics Department. However, military policy is ultimately directed by the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam. A minister or a secretary is a politician who heads a government ministry or department (e. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ... A General Staff is a group of professional military officers who act in a staff or administrative role under the command of a general officer. ... The Communist Party of Vietnam (Äáº£ng Cá»™ng sáº£n Viá»‡t Nam) is the currently ruling, as well as the only legal political party in Vietnam. ...

The VPA is composed of a main force and local forces. As with most countries' armed forces, the VPA consists of standing, or regular, forces as well as reserve forces. During peacetime, the standing forces are minimized in number, and kept combat-ready by regular physical and weapons training, and stock maintenance. For other uses, see Weapon (disambiguation). ...

Branches

The Vietnam People's Army comprises various units of the main forces (Chủ lực), local forces (Địa phương) and the People's Defence Forces (Dân quân-Tự vệ).

As mentioned above, reserves exist in all branches and are organized in the same way as the standing forces, with the same chain of command, and with officers and non-commissioned officers. The Vietnam Peoples Navy (or, commonly, Vietnamese Navy) is part of the Vietnam Peoples Armed Forces and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force. ... France Marines is the name of a commune in the département of Val dOise, France. ... Vietname Peoples Coast Guard (Vietnamese: Bá»™ Ä‘á»™i BiÃªn phÃ²ng Viá»‡t Nam) is a part of Vietnam Peoples Army The Coast Guard is responsible for protecting the security of Vietnams coast line. ... Vietnamese Air force or KhÃ´ng QuÃ¢n NhÃ¢n DÃ¢n Viá»‡t Nam is the air force of Vietnam. ... For the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, see Chain of Command (Star Trek: The Next Generation). ... An officer is a member of a military, naval, or if applicable, other uniformed services who holds a position of responsibility. ... A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...

See Vietnamese military ranks and insignia. The Peoples Army of Vietnam distinguishes three careerpaths: Officers (sÄ© quan), non-commissioned officers (háº¡ sÄ© quan), and enlisted members (chiáº¿n sÄ©). // Commisioned Officers of the Peoples Army of Vietnam General Officers and Brass Highest Rank (Army Forces) Äáº¡i TÆ°á»›ng (General) Army Forces, Air and Air...

Note:Vietnam Strategic Rear Force (Lực lượng dự bị chiến lược) is also a part of the ground force.

International presence

The Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defense organizes international operations of the VPA.

Apart from its occupation of half of the disputed Spratly Islands, which have been claimed as Vietnamese territory since the 17th century, Vietnam has not had forces stationed internationally since its withdrawal from Cambodia and Laos in early 1990.

There is some evidence to suggest that Vietnamese forces were sent to Laos to quell the recent rebellion.

Components

Main Force

The main force of the VPA consists of combat ready troops, as well as educational institutions for logistics, officer training, and technical training. The current number stands at 450,000 regular soldiers.

Local Forces

Local forces are an entity of the VPA that, together with the militia and "self-defense forces," act on the local level in protection of people and local authorities. While the local forces are regular VPA forces, the militia consists of rural civilians, and the self-defense forces consist of civilians who live in urban areas and/or work in large groups, such as at construction sites or farms. The current number stands at 3-4 million part-time soldiers. Lebanese Kataeb militia A Militia is an army composed of ordinary [1] citizens to provide defense, emergency or paramilitary service, or those engaged in such activity. ...

Equipment

From the 1970s to 1991, the Soviet Union was the main supplier of military hardware to Vietnam:

After 1975 the NVA inherited equipment abandoned by the US Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam, many imported from the United States. Since 1991, the Chinese have been the biggest supplier of military goods to Vietnam. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was a military component of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam (commonly known as South Vietnam). ...

The Vietnamese have also produced their own equipment and repaired existing equipment.

Tanks

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank first produced in 1940. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The T-62 Soviet main battle tank is a further development of the T-55. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The T-54 and T-55 tank series was the Soviet Unions front-line main battle tank from 1947 until 1962, and remains in service throughout the world to this day, especially by former client states of the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The PT-76 is a Soviet amphibious tank which was introduced in early 1950s and soon became the standard reconnaissance tank of the Soviet Army and the other Warsaw Pact armies. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... The Chinese Type 59 Main Battle Tank is a copy of the ubiquitous Russian T-55/54 medium tank. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The M48 Patton was one of the U.S armys principal main battle tanks of the Cold War, with models in service from the early 1950s to the 1990s. ...

Missiles

[2] Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Two S-125 dual missile launcher trailers. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... A soldier posing with a Strela launcher The 9K32 Strela-2 (Russian 9К32 стрела-2 - arrow, NATO reporting name SA-7 Grail) is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) system similar to the US Army REDEYE, with... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... A single S-300-PM missile TEL ready to fire. ...

Trucks

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... ZiS-151 platformed with BM-13, Katyusha battery ZiS-151 platformed with BM-13, Katyusha battery The ZIS-151 is a general purpose Zvezda Model Truck. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... UAZ-469 The UAZ-469 is an all-terrain vehicle manufactured by UAZ. It was used by the Red Army and other Warsaw Pact forces, as well as paramilitary units in Eastern Bloc countries. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... BM-21 battery. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... M151 with top up and closed TOW missile being fired from M151A2. ...

APCs

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The BTR-152 was the Soviet armored personnel carrier. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... The Type 63(industrial designation YW 531) is a Chinese armoured personnel carrier. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The M113 is an armored personnel carrier family of vehicles in use with the US military and many other nations. ...

Infantry Weapons

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Tula Tokarev model 1933 Nationality Soviet Union Type Semi-automatic pistol Inventor Fedor Tokarev Date of design 1930 (TT-30) Service duration 1930 - 1951 Cartridge 7. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The M1911 is a single-action, semiautomatic handgun chambered for the . ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... The Type 56 assault rifle is a Chinese copy of the Kalashnikov AK-47, which has been manufactured since 1956. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947 g. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The AK-47 (shortened from Russian: English: Kalashnikovs assault rifle, model of the year 1947) is a gas-operated assault rifle that was used in many Eastern bloc nations during the Cold War. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... M16 Type Assault rifle Nationality United States Era Vietnam, modern History Date of design 1957 Production period 1960 to present Service duration 1960 to present Operators NATO War service Vietnam War, Gulf War, 2003_invasion_of_Iraq Specifications Type Assault Rifle Calibre 5. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... The SKS is a Russian semi-automatic carbine, designed in 1945 by Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The MAT-49 was a firearm developed by French arms factory Manufacture Nationale dArmes de Tulle (MAT) for use by the French Army. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... The Uzi is a compact, boxy, light-weight submachine gun. ... Type 63 may refer to: Type 63 antiaircraft gun, Chinese twin 37mm gun Type 63 light tank, Chinese version of the PT-76 Type 63 rifle, North Korean version of the SKS Category: ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... SVD may stand for: Semi-Virtual Diskette Singular value decomposition Snaiperskaya vintovka Dragunova or Dragunov Sniper Rifle (Ð¡Ð½Ð°Ð¹Ð¿ÐµÑ€ÑÐºÐ°Ñ Ð²Ð¸Ð½Ñ‚Ð¾Ð²ÐºÐ° Ð”Ñ€Ð°Ð³ÑƒÐ½Ð¾Ð²Ð°) Society of the Divine Word (Latin: Societas Verbi Divini) Spontaneous vaginal delivery Svenska Dagbladet (SvD â€“ Swedish newspaper) Swine Vesicular Disease Category: ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... The RPD is a belt-fed machine gun formerly manufactured in the Soviet Union and in China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... PK may stand for: Geography Pakistan (ISO country code PK) Pakistan International Airlines (IATA airline code PK) Peak (map abbreviation) Park (map abbreviation) Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas People Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article is about the . ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The M47, M48 and M60 Patton were the United States Armys principal tanks of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The RPG-2 was the first rocket-propelled grenade launcher designed in the Soviet Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The RPG-7 (Russian: ) is a widely-produced, portable, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket propelled grenade weapon. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW) is a portable one-shot 66 mm anti-tank weapon, designed in the United States by Talley Defense Systems, produced by Nammo Raufoss AS in Norway. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Commonly known as the Thump-Gun, Thumper, or Blooper, the M79 grenade launcher first appeared during the Vietnam war. ...

Guns/Artillery

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... A ZSU-57-2 SPAAG. Photo by GulfLINK. The ZSU-57-2 (Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka) is a lightly armoured, self propelled Soviet air defence cannon ( SPAAG). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The ZSU-23-4 Shilka is a lightly armoured, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system (SPAAG). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... BM-21 battery. ...

Helicopters

Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... The Mil Mi-24 is a large combat helicopter gunship and low-capacity troop transport operated from 1976 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Russia. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For the twin-engined military models, see UH-1N Twin Huey and UH-1Y Venom. ...

Manpower

Number of total troops per country This is a list of countries sorted by the number of total troops within the command of that country, including reserve forces that can aid a depleted active military and/or paramilitary. ...

External links

Contents