Naval battle in Spratly 1988
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The naval battle in Spratly of 1988 (Hải chiến Trường Sa 1988 in Vietnamese) was a brief clash at three reefs of the Spratly Islands (called Trường Sa in Vietnamese) that lie in the southern part of the South China Sea. It is a large disputed area of territory and numerous islands in the sea, such as the Paracel Islands and the Spratly Islands which are claimed by China and Vietnam. Both chains of islands had originally been under the control of the ancient Vietnamese for several hundred years. For this reason, the whole area of this sea has been called the East Sea (Biển Đông) by the Vietnamese since winning their independence from China over 1000 years ago.
The clash broke out on March 14, 1988 between the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China and Vietnam People's Navy. They tried to occupy the reefs belongs to the Spratly Islands whose name is abbreviated to the Spratlys. Both sides' strength was very unequal. Two transport ships and a landing craft of Vietnam, which participated in the clash, defended against four Chinese frigates equipped with advanced 100mm guns, missiles and torpedoes. In addition, the Chinese used force of high numbers for this clash. The clash on March 14, 1988 led to the following casualties: six Chinese sailors lost their lives, 21 Chinese wounded while Vietnam had three killed, 11 wounded, and 61 missing. In documents of Vietnamese navy, the incident is known under the code name CQ-88 (Sovereignty-88).
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[edit] Backgound
In the early months of 1988, the Chinese navy (The People's Liberation Army Navy, PLAN) had landed troops on a few reefs which belong to the area of the Spratly Islands. Five reefs were occupied by the Chinese. They are: Fiery Cross Reef (January 31), Cuarteron Reef (February 18), Gaven Reef (February 26), Hughes Reef (February 28), and Subi Reef (February 23).
The Vietnamese navy (Vietnam People's Navy) then ferried supplies and equipment to six reefs and successfully gained control of them. They were: Pigeon Reef (January 26), Ladd Reef (February 5), Great Discovery Reef (February 6), East London Reef (February 18), Alison Reef (February 27), Cornwallis South Reef (March 2), initially intercepted the Chinese navy from extending their occupied zone into the neighbouring islands. The Vietnamese command judged the Chinese might occupy some dry reefs around the chain of Sin Cowe Island, Namyit Island and Eastern meridian 115.
Basing itself on the situation around the area of the Spratly Islands, the Vietnamese navy accurately assessed the important position of Johnson South Reef. In case the Chinese occupy this reef, they would overpower Vietnamese lines of supply to the other bases of the Spratly Islands. For this reason, the Standing Committee of the Naval Arm's Party Committee (SCNAPC) came to a decision to take control over the following reefs: Johnson South Reef, Johnson North Reefs, and Landsdowne Reef. The SCNAPC ordered 125th transport brigade to appoint combat forces for carrying out this mission.
Meanwhile, the Chinese navy, after occupying the above five reefs by landing troops, was having also an intention to gain control of three reefs: Johnson South Reef, Johnson North Reef and Landsdowne Reef. In early March 1988, the Chinese mobilized combat forces from two naval squadrons to move into the area of the Spratlys Islands. They increased the number of warships in regular operations to 12. They comprised: a missile destroyer, 7 missile escort frigates, 2 escort gunships, 2 landing crafts, and three transport ships (with LSM), surveying ships, dragging ships and a large pontoon.
On March 11, in face of danger, the Vietnamese commander of naval units ordered the 4th naval region, 125th brigade, 146th brigade, 131st, 132nd and 134th fleets of the 172nd brigade to prompt all maritime forces to go on alert. In order from High Command of Vietnamese navy, 41 ships and float-boards of the 125th brigade, Economic Department, 1st, 3rd, 5th naval regions, Academy of Naval Officers (nowadays renamed the Academy of Vietnamese navy), Ba Son factory had taken their departure for cooperating operations in the necessary cases.
On March 11, at 19:00, the transport ship HQ-604 left the dock to South Johnson Reef in the carrying out its mission of operation named "CQ-88" (Sovereingty-88).
On March 12, the vessel HQ-605 of 125th brigade, under command of captain Le Lenh Son, obeyed order to leave East London Reef to Landsdowne Reef, as before 06:00 of March 14 as possible. Vietnamese force of that vessel must also had occupied the reef immediately on their arrival. After 29 hours of secret operations, on March 14 at 05:00, HQ-605 arrived in Landsdowne Reef and set up Vietnamese flag presenting Vietnamese sovereignty over the reef.
In participating in the mission to occupy Johnson South Reef and Johnson North Reef, on March 13 at 09:00, departure tasks were assigned to the vessel HQ-604 under the command of captain Vu Phi Tru and the vessel HQ-505 of captain Vu Huy Le to leave Great Discovery Reef in the setting out for the Johnson South Reef, Johnson North Reef. For coordinating with HQ-505 and HQ-604, there were two sections of engineers (70 men) belong to the 83rd regiment of engineers, four fighting groups (22 sailors) of the 146th brigade under command of deputy brigadier Tran Duc Thong and four surveying soldiers of Surveying and Making Maps Delegation (from the General Staff). After the two Vietnamese vessels had dropped anchors for 30 minutes, the escort frigates of Chinese navy sailed from Hughes Reef toward South Johnson Reef. For some moments, both sides stood only 500m apart.
On March 13 at 17:00, the Chinese frigates got close to the HQ-604 and switched on the warning loudspeaker. They called out the other side. Despite threat from Chinese warships, the two vessels HQ-505 and HQ-604 were still patiently berthing beside the reefs, even a Chinese escort warship and two Chinese transport ships took turns dynamically to somewhere about Johnson South Reef beside.
Confronted with strained pressure that Chinese navy committed, on March 13rd at 21:00, the Command of Vietnamese navy instructed comrades Tran Duc Thong, Vu Huy Le and Vu Phi Tru to order the sailors and engineers to be determined to protect Johnson South Reef and Johnson North Reef. Then the Command of Vietnamese navy ordered the engineers to quickly refloat motor-boats, aluminium boats to transfer supplies and building materials to the reefs as early as night of March 13. In carrying out the mission, the vessels HQ-604 with the engineers of the 83rd regiment had ferried supplies and equiments together to Johnson South Reef, then the combat forces of the 146th brigade landed secretly. They set up the Vietnamese flag and deployed four fighting groups to defend the reef.
At that moment, the Chinese force that had already arrived there was reinforced by two escort gunships equipped with 100mm gun. They demanded the Vietnamese sailors to withdraw troops from the Johnson South Reef. The command of HQ-604 considered that the Chinese navy could use force and decided to order their sailors to keep calm. They combined actions according to the combat plan in decision to defend Johnson South Reef.
On March 14, the brief skirmish took place in the zone of Johnson South Reef, Johnson North Reef, and Landsdowne Reef.
[edit] Johnson South Reef
On the morning of March 14, while standing on board of HQ-604 that had dropped anchor by Johnson South Reef, deputy brigadier Tran Duc Thong paid much attention to the presence of four large Chinese warships which were approaching. Sublieutenant Tran Van Phuong, corporal Nguyen Van Lanh, Nguyen Van Tu and eight other soldiers were appointed to getting into the reef. Overall 11 Vietnamese men must had protected the Vietnamese flag planting on the platform of the reef.
The Chinese sent two picket boats that carried eight armed marines.They rushed in the straight direction of the reef. Commander Tran Duc Thong gave the sailors on HQ-604 an order to advance toward the reef to lay the defending lines and try to prevent the enemy from advancing forward.
By 06:00, the Chinese refloated 3 aluminium boats that carried about 40 marines, landed them into the reef.They approached the Vietnamese flagpole and tried to lower the Vietnamese flag. This immediately caused strong reaction from the Vietnamese defenders to hold their flag, although they were outnumbered by Chinese troops. Corporal Nguyen Van Lanh was wounded by stabbing bayonet and shooting.While Sublieutenant Tran Van Phuong was trying to hold the Vietnamese flag and saving his comrade Nguyen Van Lanh, the Chinese shot at him. Immediately before he gave up his life, he had shouted: "Never recoil , my comrades ! Rather die than lose the reef, let our blood dye red the flag of motherland and beautify the indomitable tradition of Naval Arm...".
His heroic sacrifice set a good example and let his comrades and units take him as their model to fight and defend islands of motherland. He became a heroic martyr to a cause that stirred emotions among Vietnamese around the world.
Just because Vietnamese navy had refused to withdraw troops from the reef, by 07:30 the Chinese used two frigates for firing with 100mm gun on the vessel HQ-604 and seriously damaged it. The Chinese navy sent task force toward the Vietnamese vessel.Captain Vu Phi Tru commanded his sailors to use various guns AK, RPD, B-40, B-41 to fight back fiercely. They then forced the Chinese attackers to jump into the sea and swim back to their ships.
The Vietnamese sailors fought while dressing the wounds of the wounded, curing the wounded sailors & engineers and covering the others to protect the planted flag.The Chinese continued shelling and shooting, so the Vietnamese vessel HQ-604 had got numerous holes and gradually sank into the sea.Captain Vu Phi Tru, deputy brigadier Tran Duc Thong of 146th brigade and severals sailors involved the fighting were dead , together with the vessel HQ-604, by Johnson South Reef.
[edit] Johnson North Reef
By 06:00 the men of vessel HQ-505 had planted two Vietnamese flags on the platform of Johnson North Reef. As the sinking HQ-604 was detected, captain of HQ-505 Vu Huy Le tasked his men to quickly weigh anchor and steer the vessel in running aground as quickly as possible into the reef. The running aground of HQ-505 into the reef was noticed by two Chinese frigates nearby. They altered their courses in pursuit of the HQ-505's course and rapidly focused their firepower on the HQ-505. As two thirds of the hull of HQ-505 had touched platform of the reef, it burned up.
At 08:15, the sailors of HQ-505 deployed forces to stamp out the fire for saving the vessel.Then they defended reef and refloated boats for saving the sailors involved the HQ-604 that was sunk by Johnson South Reef nearby.
[edit] Landsdowne Reef
At Landsdowne Reef, at approximately 08:20 on March 14, the Chinese navy fired fiercely on the vessel HQ-605 of Vietnamese navy. It had burned up and sank at 06:00 on March 15, yet all its sailors swam safely to the Sin Cowe island.
In the late afternoon, there were on the reef only a boat and about 40 Vietnamese sailor.They attempted to hold on to the reef. Senior lieutenant Nguyen Van Chuong and lieutenant Nguyen Si Minh organized transport of the wounded and the other sailors to the burned HQ-505 that was staying on Johnson North Reef. The corpses of martyrs Nguyen Van Phuong, Nguyen Van Tu and the seriously wounded had been putted in the boats. Persons of still being strong hung upon the boat with a hand. Their other hands thus functioned like sculls to bring the boat dragged on the water surface to Johnson North Reef.
[edit] Results
Due to clash on 14 March 1988 , Vietnam lost 3 vessels that were set on fire and sank ; 3 men died , 11 wounded, 70 missed.The Chinese released 9 prisoners afterwards , 61 other persons still missed and reputedly dead.The Chinese claim of her own casualties: 6 killed and 21 injured in combat.
Vietnam defended successfully sovereingty over Johnson North Reef and Landsdowne Reef.The Chinese has occupied Johnson South Reef from 16 March 1988 on and still control it nowadays.
Over 1988, Vietnamese navy had sent troops to occupy more 11 reefs.On 17 Oct, General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh signed the Document 19/NQ-TW about the defence of the reefs on southern continental shelf ( zone DK1).On 5 Jul 1989, the prime minister ratified Instructions Nr. 180 UT about the building the center of economy - science - technology under administration of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, reaffirmed sovereignty over this area of continental shelf.Since Jun 1989, Vietnamese navy has began with occupying the following reefs : Vanguard Bank ,Prince Consort Bank,Grainger Bank, Prince of Wales Bank ,Alexander Bank, Rifleman Bank.
[edit] Additional information
During the fighting, two students from Academy of Vietnamese navy, Kieu Hong Lap and Nguyen Ba Cuong, died while taking part in practice and fighting on the HQ-604. Their portraits are kept at the Traditional House of the Academy.
During the fighting time, the Soviet navy was stationing at Cam Ranh Gulf, but did not intervene to assist her Vietnamese ally. This situation was similar to the case of the 7th Naval USA-Squadron in 1974 during the naval Battle of the Paracel Islands.
[edit] Causes
According to Chinese state media, the Vietnamese navy had fired while their ships were dropping anchors there to support a delegation of researching and oil exploration. Hence, they were compelled to take up arms in self-defence. As Chinese naval squadron was on the way to the Spratly Islands, China acted for the name of so called leading science delegation of UN in carrying out a survey. Finally, the Chinese government expressed regret at that happened incident. Furthermore, the UN said they had not done any surveying work at the Spratly Islands.
In April 1988, China ratified a resolution to establish the Hai Nan province including both Paracels and the Spratlys. That should belong to Vietnam, as affirmation of Vietnam.
[edit] Defying laws of war
As Vietnamese ships were sinking, the Chinese ships blocked the ships of the International Red Cross from saving the Vietnamese victims.This is a violation of the most basic articles according to the laws of war.
