To open cross-border routes and support operations in the Mekong Delta, Division 1 of the South Liberation Army was tasked with planning and executing an attack on this base in March, 1972.
After reconnaissance, the division assigned Regiments 44 and 46 to deploy troops to locations stretching dozens of kilometers along the border. On the very night they received orders to take up positions in the fields, the troops began the construction of defensive fortifications and preparing logistics supplies. Flat terrain and dry season posed challenges for setting up effective combat positions.
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Troops of Military Region 5 in Cambodia’s theater (Photo for illustration) |
On March 22, 1972, an enemy force consisting of infantry and armored units advanced from Vinh Gia and Vinh Dieu areas in An Giang toward Kompong Trach to reinforce the base. At around 8 a.m., multiple enemy aircraft appeared from the east, circling for reconnaissance, but detecting no unusual activity. Shortly afterward, from the south, enemy infantry and tanks crossed the border, spreading out in a horizontal formation as they advanced toward Kompong Trach base. Regiments 44 and 46 quickly built a plan to block the front, seal the rear, and launch an ambush.
During the dry season, the fields were parched, the soil pale and barren. All combat positions were concealed behind low embankments and camouflaged with grass and straw to blend into the terrain. Due to the open landscape and clear visibility, the enemy bypassed preparatory bombardment, advancing cautiously. After nearly an hour of probing, they had covered only a few kilometers without encountering resistance. By 10 a.m., as the sun intensified and heat radiated from the ground, the troops remained focused on the enemy’s movements. Suddenly, the enemy tank formation halted and clustered for about ten minutes, seemingly awaiting new orders, before accelerating. As the lead tanks reached the blocking position of Company 8, Battalion 5, Regiment 44, the order to fire was given. Three lead vehicles were struck by B40 rockets and burst into flames, and soldiers attempting to flee were immediately neutralized. At the rear, Regiment 46, tasked with sealing the escape route, opened fire simultaneously, setting four more enemy vehicles ablaze.
Caught off guard, the enemy fell into disarray as their formation was pinned down and immobilized. A flanking assault was ordered, and our troops surged from their trenches with determination, splitting the enemy lines and eliminating them segment by segment. Many were forced to abandon their vehicles and flee. The battle lasted just over 30 minutes, resulting in 11 enemy vehicles destroyed and 13 captured. The enemy suffered heavy casualties, with survivors fleeing on foot toward Vinh Dieu border area. Stunned by the sudden defeat in broad daylight, the enemy frantically called for helicopter and artillery strikes.
This ambush, conducted in open fields less than 5 kilometers from the Vietnam-Cambodia border, marked the opening engagement of the campaign to eliminate enemy forces at Kompong Trach. It contributed to thwarting pacification efforts in the southwestern region and helped secure supply routes for Military Region 9.
Translated by Tran Hoai