In 1972, the war situation and victories gained by Lao and Vietnamese forces were the basis for the two countries’ central military commissions to forecast that the enemy would conduct an offensive to recapture the Plain of Jars so as to disintegrate and threaten the liberated zone of Laos. That was what the enemy actually did in an effort to reverse the situation in the Plain of Jars in particular and the Lao theater in general.
As a result, the Lao Central Military Commission studied the situation carefully, discussed with the Central Military Commission of Vietnam and agreed with the Vietnamese counterpart to open a defensive campaign in the Plain of Jars. The campaign aimed to destroy an important part of the enemy and change the balance of forces in favor of the Lao revolutionary forces in their political struggle. It also aimed at building the Plain of Jars into a firm revolutionary base in Laos to secure the western flank of Vietnam for the Vietnamese forces to carry out major offensive operations in 1972 in Southern Vietnam theater. The Xieng Khouang - Plain of Jars victory marked a new development of the Lao revolution in particular and the revolution of the three Indochinese countries in general.
    |
 |
|
Vietnamese advisors instructed female Lao artillery soldiers to use a 12-barreled cannon. (File photo) |
The Lao side then dispatched seven regular battalions, one tank company, two artillery companies, two an-aircraft gun companies, one engineering company and four companies of local troops to the campaign. These were units with many years of experience in defensive combat and great knowledge of the local terrains as well as the enemy’s forces. They were capable of defending a large area both independently or in coordination with other forces.
On receiving the mission, the Lao units worked closely with the Vietnamese side to quickly build a defensive disposition. Accordingly, the Lao forces set up strongholds in the southwest and south of Xieng Khoang town, coordinating with the Vietnamese forces to form a continuous and firm defensive disposition for long-lasting combat under harsh conditions.
The disposition allowed the Lao troops to actively fight the enemy in offensive from all directions, while providing reinforcements and supporting friendly forces during combat. The forces were also conveniently deployed so that it was easy for them to maneuver while promoting their strength.
Despite the small number of local troops and the fact that it was the rainy season and most of the local people had been moved to other areas then, the Lao units successfully mobilized sufficient human and material resources to actively collaborate with the Vietnamese forces to build fortifications and communication trenches for transportation of materials and logistic supplies.
Troops of the Lao People’s Liberation Army then coordinated closely with the Vietnamese counterparts to organize combat training, support each other according to combat plans, and run combat situations so as to quickly transform combat postures, preventing the enemy from conducting counter-attacks, encroachment, and other activities.
After nearly 6 months of combat, the forces of the Vietnam-Laos combat alliance conducted 244 battles at the regiment and division levels with success. The victory of the campaign showed to the world the effectiveness of coordination in combat at the operational level between the two militaries.
Particularly, after the campaign, the Lao People’s Liberation Army developed in all aspects, but first and foremost was in combat. It was the first time the Lao military successfully coordinated with the Vietnamese forces to conduct a complete defensive campaign in line with the principles of the art of combat at the operational level in the actual battlefield conditions.
The success in combat organization resulted in the defeat of the large-scale operation of the enemy in Xieng Khouang - the Plain of Jars, firmly defending the strategic base in area.
Colonel Vongxay Inthakham – Lao Chief Defense Attaché to Vietnam
Translated by Huu Duong.