1974 in the Vietnam War
1974 in the Vietnam War | |||
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← 1973 1975 → | |||
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Belligerents | |||
Anti-Communist forces: ![]() ![]() |
Communist forces: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ||
Casualties and losses | |||
65-70,000 killed |
January
- 19 January
The Battle of the Paracel Islands was an engagement fought between the naval forces of the People's Republic of China and South Vietnam in the Paracel Islands. The Republic of Vietnam Navy would lose 75 killed and 48 captured and one Corvette sunk while the People's Liberation Army Navy would lose 18 killed. As a result of the battle, the PRC established de facto control over the Paracels.[1]
February
- 12 February to 4 May
In the Battle of Tri Phap Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces launched an attack on a People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base at Tri Phap, Dinh Tuong Province.[2]: 67–96
March
- 27 March to 2 May
The Battle of Svay Rieng was the last major operation of the war to be mounted by the ARVN against the PAVN. The battle resulted in over 1,200 PAVN killed and 65 captured for ARVN losses of less than 100 killed.[2]: 93–5
April
- 1-10 April
Chí Linh Camp defended by the 215th Regional Force Company with a platoon of two 105 mm howitzers was attacked by the PAVN 7th Division, quickly damaging the two howitzers and destroying the ammunition dump. On 5 April the PAVN 3rd Battalion, 141st Regiment, with the division's 28th Sapper and 22d Artillery Battalion supporting, overran the base. By 10 April, about half of the defenders and 20 dependents had straggled into Đồng Xoài or Chơn Thành Camp to the west. The rest, about 50 men, remained unaccounted for. With the elimination of Chí Linh, the PAVN 7th Division enjoyed unimpeded movement along Highway 14 between Chơn Thành and Đồng Xoài.[2]: 76
- 4 April
The Provisional Government of National Union (PGNU) was formed in Laos.
May
- 6 May
Associated Press photographer Slava "Sal" Veder wins the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for his photo Burst of Joy.[3]
- 16 May to 20 November
The Battle of the Iron Triangle began on 16 May, when the PAVN 9th Division backed by a small contingent of tanks launched an attack on Rach Bap, took possession of An Dien and pushed south towards Phu Cuong. The ARVN counterattacked in mid-November and by 20 November had recaptured Rach Bap.[2]: 99–105
June
- 3 June
The PAVN hit Bien Hoa Air Base with at least 40 122 mm rockets doing minor damage to runways and destroying 500 Napalm canisters, but without damaging any aircraft. Other rockets exploded in hamlets surrounding the base, killing and wounding civilians.[2]: 107
July
- 1 July
U.S. aid to South Vietnam is reduced from $1.1 billion in fiscal year 1974 (July 1973-June 1974) to $700 million in fiscal year 1975 (July 1974-June 1975).[4]
- 18 July to 4 October
The Battle of Duc Duc begins with the PAVN attacking ARVN outposts near Duc Duc, Quảng Nam Province. The ARVN 3rd Division would suffer 4,700 men casualties in the battle.[2]: 113–21
- 18 July to 3 November
The Battle of Thượng Đức began when a regiment of the PAVN 324th Division overran the An Hoa Industrial Complex and then attacked the town of Thượng Ðức 40 km southwest of Danang. The costly battle would result in a Pyrrhic victory for the ARVN.
August
- 9 August
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Nixon-depart.png/220px-Nixon-depart.png)
U.S. President Richard Nixon resigns due to the Watergate Scandal. He is succeeded as president by Vice President Gerald Ford.
- 28 August to 10 December
The Battle of Phú Lộc begins as PAVN captured a series of hills in Phú Lộc District and installed artillery that closed Phu Bai Air Base and interdicted Highway 1. The hills were recaptured by the ARVN in costly fighting that depleted its reserve forces.[2]: 129–31
September
- 15 September
A hijacker took control of an Air Vietnam Boeing 727-121C on a flight from Da Nang to Saigon and demanded to be flown to Hanoi. The crew attempted to land at Phan Rang Air Base, overshot the landing and then crashed while turning to make another approach killing all 75 onboard.[5]
- 26 September
BirdAir began operating supply flights from U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield to Phnom Penh using unmarked USAF supported C-130s crewed by civilians.[6]
October
- 10 October
Saigon Police attacked about 300 Vietnamese journalists and 1,000 supporters protesting against censorship under Press Law 007.[7]
- 31 October
75 civilians and policemen are injured in Saigon in anti-corruption protests led by Reverend Tran Huu Thanh, a Catholic priest.[8]
December
From July 1965 to the end of 1974, some 6,500 officers and generals, as well as more than 4,500 soldiers and sergeants of the Soviet Armed Forces participated in the war.[9]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/2_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D1%8F%D0%B1%D1%80%D1%8F_1968_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0._%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_23-%D0%B9_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%89%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B_%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%92%D1%8C%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B0._%D0%93%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%BF%D0%B0_%D0%A1%D0%92%D0%A1_%D1%81_%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%BC_%D0%97%D0%A0%D0%9F.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
- 13 December to 6 January 1975
The Battle of Phuoc Long began in Phuoc Long Province, about 100 km (62 mi) from Saigon. The campaign against Phuoc Long reflected North Vietnam's change in policy after the strategic raids of 1974, taking full advantage of South Vietnam's critical military situation.
- 14 December
On or about this date the Pathet Lao executed Charles Dean and Neil Sharman, backpackers who were captured southeast of Vientiane on 4 September.[10]
- December to 6 January 1975
The 80-man 3rd Company, 314th Regional Force Battalion guarding the radio relay station on the summit of Nui Ba Den began receiving attacks of increasing intensity and frequency. PAVN assaults on Nui Ba Den continued throughout December 1974, but the RF Company held on. RVNAF efforts to resupply the troops on Nui Ba Den were largely unsuccessful. Helicopters were driven off by heavy fire, and fighter-bombers were forced to excessive altitudes by SA-7 missiles and antiaircraft artillery. One F-5A fighter-bomber was shot down by an SA-7 on 14 December. Finally on 6 January 1975, without food and water and with nearly all ammunition expended, the company picked up its wounded and withdrew down the mountain to friendly lines.[2]: 135–6
Year in numbers
Armed Force | KIA | Reference | Military costs – 1974 | Military costs in 2024 US$ | Reference | |
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References
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ Hickey, Dennis (2001). The armies of East Asia: China, Taiwan, Japan and the Koreas. Lynne Rienner Publishers. p. 21. ISBN 1-555879926.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Le Gro, William (1985). Vietnam from ceasefire to capitulation (PDF). US Army Center of Military History. ISBN 9781410225429.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Slava Veder of Associated Press". Pulitzer.org. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ Dunham, George; Quinlan, David (1990). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 1973–1975 (PDF). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-16-026455-9.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Aircraft accident Boeing 727-121C". Aviation Safety network. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ Hartsook, E.H. (1975). The Air Force in Southeast Asia The end of U.S. involvement 1973 - 1975 (PDF). Office of Air Force History. p. 62. ISBN 9781780396521.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ David Shipler (10 October 1974). "Saigon Police Attack During a Censorship Protest". The New York Times.
- ^ David Shipler (8 November 1974). "Demonstrators in Saigon Alter Their Tactics and Maneuver Silently". The New York Times.
- ^ (in Russian): "Soviet rocketeer: After our arrival in Vietnam, American pilots refused to fly". rus.ruvr.ru. January 29, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
- ^ "Pentagon Recovers Remains Believed to Be Howard Dean's Brother". Fox News. AP. 18 November 2003. Retrieved 5 September 2020.