In the selection of examples of our army's operations against Vietnam in 79, there was an interspersed operation called the "bow interspersed battle", which was a very successful battle and a magical battle. The protagonist of this battle was the 11th Battalion of the 31st Regiment of the 91st Division of the 2nd Army, whose task was to penetrate from the high ground of the Vietnamese army to the bow area of the enemy's rear, cut off the enemy's retreat and reinforcements, and provide support for our army to destroy the enemy in the Ban Nan Stick and Mali Po areas. What was the process and outcome of this battle? Let's take a look.
1. Preparation and start of interspersed operations.
On the night of 16 February, the 2nd Battalion began a covert operation to engage the enemy at the assembly area near Taiyangzhai. They followed a small road and quietly crossed the rattan river on the border and entered the territory of Vietnam. They did not make any noise and were not discovered by the Vietnamese army. They found a hidden place on the 668 heights on the other side of the Rattan River, waited for a while, and then moved on.
On the morning of February 17, the 2 battalion received an order from the division headquarters and began interspersed operations. Their target was the 929 heights, which was an important position of the Vietnamese army and a breakthrough point for the 2 battalions. The 2 platoon of the 4 company of the 3 battalion was responsible for attacking the 929 heights, and with grenades and submachine guns, they quickly rushed to the high ground, eliminated a squad of the Vietnamese army, and opened a passage for the 2 battalion.
While commanding the 3rd Platoon to attack the 929 Heights, the commander of the 4th Company, Deng Duodian, also ordered the 1st Platoon to act as an interspersed spearhead along the flank of the 929 Heights and interspersed with the enemy's rear in a roundabout way. He told the 1st platoon not to entangle with the enemy, to move quickly, and to reach the bow area is victory. If you encounter enemy resistance, the 2nd platoon will follow behind, fighting as you go, covering the 1st platoon.
2. Interspersed with the process and results of operations.
The spearheads of the 1st platoon obeyed Deng Duodian's orders, and like a sharp arrow, they quickly passed through the positions of the Vietnamese army, without stopping or hesitating. They followed a path towards the bow area. The Chuantou area is a major transportation artery for the Vietnamese army and an important node of the Ba-Feng highway. If the bow area is controlled, it will be possible to cut off the retreat and reinforcements of the Vietnamese army, and create favorable conditions for a frontal offensive of our army.
At 9:35, the 1st and 2nd squads of the 3rd platoon reached the bow area, they discovered the position of a company of Vietnamese troops, and they did not hesitate and immediately attacked. With grenades and submachine guns, they broke up the positions of the Vietnamese troops and occupied key points in the bow area. They quickly took control of the Ba Feng Highway and cut off the retreat of the Vietnamese army. They also captured 8 Vietnamese soldiers and killed 67 Vietnamese soldiers.
The other platoons of the 4th Company also followed the 1st Platoon and reached the bow area, where they strengthened the defense of the position and prepared firepower for reinforcements. The 6th Company also occupied the 544 heights, providing fire support for the interspersed operations of the 2nd Battalion. The interspersed operations of the 2 battalion, an hour and a half earlier than the time required by the superiors, completed the task.
3. The significance and impact of interspersed operations.
The battle of the bow of the 2 battalion was a very successful battle and a magical one. Its significance and impact are as follows:
1.It demonstrates the combat effectiveness and tactical level of our army. The fighters of the 2nd Battalion showed a high degree of discipline and bravery, and they did an excellent job in stealthily engaging the enemy, launching a surprise attack, quickly interspersing, and decisively occupying the target. Their combat effectiveness and tactical level made the Vietnamese army unable to resist and impressed the world.
2.It created favorable conditions for a frontal offensive of our troops. The interspersed operations of the 2nd Battalion cut off the retreat and reinforcements of the Vietnamese army, leaving the Vietnamese army in a situation of isolation and helplessness. In this way, our army's frontal offensive units will be able to more smoothly destroy the enemy in the Bananbang and Malipo areas and serve our army's strategic objectives.
3.It embodies the advantages and characteristics of our army's interspersed operations. Our army has always been good at interspersed operations, and this is a major characteristic and advantage of our army. In the Korean War, our army used interspersed operations, causing huge losses and troubles to the US military. In the 79 years of the war against Vietnam, our army also used interspersed operations many times and achieved wonderful results. The battle between the bow of the ship is a typical example of this. It shows that our army's interspersed operations can not only achieve results, but also reduce the number of battles, which is a highly efficient tactic.