The seas and islands of Vietnam serve as a cornerstone in the strategy for socio-economic development as well as a pivotal battleground in case of the war for national defence. Thus, studying the organisation and utilisation of armed forces in general and the armed forces of Military Region 7 in particular to safeguard the seas and islands is of sheer necessity to enhance combat capability of the Military Region’s armed forces to meet the requirements of safeguarding the seas and islands of the Fatherland.

Located in the choke point of the Southeastern Region, a part of the Central Highland, and the South Central Coast, Military Region 7 is a key strategic region in the defensive posture of the South and the entire country with a 322-km-long coastline and numerous islands of military, defence, and economic values such as Phu Quy, Con Dao, etc. Being fully aware of its position and on the foundation of grasping the task of safeguarding the sovereignty over the seas and islands, in recent years, the Military Region’s armed forces have closely coordinated with military services, arms, and local forces to build up an uninterrupted and solid posture for defending the seas and islands as well as bring into play the synergy of forces to safeguard the sacred sovereignty over the Fatherland’s seas and islands. Agencies, units, and local authorities have paid great attention to studying, grasping, and accurately anticipating the situation of defence and security on seas and islands; adversaries’ conspiracies, tricks, and combat tactics. They have also mapped out goals, plans, and combat tactics for defending sea and islands; actively structured agile, lean, and strong forces; organised training and exercises to enhance combat readiness; actively design plans and approaches to logistic-technical support; encouraged to perform the task of safeguarding the sovereignty over seas and islands and be called up for wars without being passive and surprised in any situations.

However, the global and regional context continue to experience rapid and unpredictable changes; the situation on the East Sea, in all likelihood, leads to instability, especially dispute over territorial sovereignty, natural resources, fishing grounds, maritime security, etc. The issues can lead to localised conflicts in the region. In the meantime, the maritime areas under the responsibility of Military Region 7 stretch from Ke Ga cape (Binh Thuan province) to O Cap cape (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province) and have multiple areas for large-scale and small-scale seaborne landing operations. It is anticipated that if there are wars, during the process of approaching and launching an offensive on the ground of the Military Region, enemies can deploy combined army corps including several infantry and marine divisions and quick reaction forces that receive fire support from air forces and naval forces to conduct offensive and amphibious operations and then occupy coastal targets to make a way for other forces to penetrate. They may also combine amphibious operations with ground and airborne assault and incite internal turmoil to seize and control the targets within the Military Region’s areas. Therefore, in parallel with improving the quality of training, combat readiness, and all aspects of assurance, the Military Region is required to formulate practical and feasible combat plans to successfully deal with all possible scenario. In particular, it is imperative to research principles on organising and utilising armed forces appropriately and scientifically will bring into play the synergy of forces to firmly safeguard the Fatherland’s sovereignty over seas and islands.

First and foremost, on-site forces include units directly managing and defending seas and islands; reinforced units during combat preparation process which mainly consists of forces in provincial and coastal defensive areas (local military forces, self-defence forces, public security forces, border guard forces, etc.) and regular forces of the Military Region in charge of defending and attacking enemies to preserve the coastal defensive areas and nearby islands on major and important directions. In particular, the focus will be placed on combined armed forces of the Military Region and the forces of the military services and arms that have been deployed and reinforced for the islands. They are the most rapid and effective combat forces when enemies initiate their offensive on the seas and islands under the responsibility of the Military Region. Thus, the organisation and utilisation of armed forces must be on the foundation of specific situation and the size of on-site forces on each island which can be equivalent to those at tactical level to fit the defensive task, fields of action, and administrative territories.

On the other hand, throughout the attack to occupy the seas and islands under the Military Region’s responsibility, enemies can advance sequentially from remote islands to those close to the coast or penetrate and directly launch an attack on important islands close to our major defensive direction. Therefore, the Military Region is required to research and organise its regular forces with an appropriate size and then closely coordinate with other forces in coastal defensive areas to resolutely resist and destroy enemies, maintain important islands, areas, and targets; create a favourable condition for other forces of the Ministry of National Defence to defeat enemies and safeguard the seas and islands.

As for mobile forces of the Military Region - the main and regular forces, it is necessary to estimate the size, tasks, combat tactics, and capabilities of enemies’ forces to organise appropriate forces. Typically, the Military Region can deploy several combat units ranging from infantry regiment to infantry division level; from company to battalion of military corps and even brigade level if necessary. These forces are subordinated by higher echelons and reinforced by firepower, ships, etc. So that they are capable of conducting independent battles or coordinated ones in the higher-level formation to attack, destroy enemies and regain islands under the Military Region’s responsibility. Once reinforced with Naval forces by the Ministry, the Military Region can deploy naval forces or tactical naval forces, groups, special forces, etc. to manoeuvre and attack enemies in all situations.

Besides, on the foundation of the situation and the requirements of higher echelons, the mobile forces of the Military Region can integrate with those of the Naval forces and the Ministry to strengthen the power of combined operations when safeguarding remote islands and archipelagos. Therefore, relying on specific situations, the organisation and utilisation of subordinate forces must be thorough and flexible, from task assignment, size, etc. to the preparation of all aspects so that this force can accomplish all assigned tasks.

Forces from military services and arms that perform the task of defending islands and archipelagos and other tasks consist of the regular units of the Military Region, units based in the region, and forces (Navy, Air defence - Air force, Artillery, Missile, and several units of military corps in charge of combat and support) reinforced by the Ministry.

Concerning air defence force, the Military Region can attach several anti-aircraft units to island defence units and coastal defence units on major combat directions; deploy battalion and anti-aircraft company at key positions to safeguard targets or manoeuvre to protect combat formation. The remaining air defence forces must deploy batteries of anti-aircraft artillery to support all forces and coordinate with the air defence forces of the Ministry, coastal provinces and cities. The forces must be positioned in favourable terrain for manoeuvre and establish layers of widespread air defence network to engage enemies from afar, destroy enemies’ aircraft, cruise missiles, restrict enemies’ aerial operations, and protect combat forces, key area and targets of the Military Region.

Regarding artillery forces, the Military Region can attach a part of their forces to combat units and deploy artillery battle at battalion level, independent artillery company, artillery in caves, and specialised batteries of artillery. The other part can be deployed with the Military Region’s artillery to provide general fire support and closely coordinate with the firepower of the Ministry and the artillery of local armed forces in defensive areas to suppress enemies’ naval ships and fire tactics. They provide fire support for the Military Region’s mobile forces, naval forces involving the combat to launch an offensive on the seas and islands. Deploying artillery in accordance with technical and tactical characteristics and within effective fire range follow the principle “dispersed fire and concentrated firepower” with a priority given to important tasks, areas, targets, battles, and campaigns. Firepower should be promptly and effectively provided to forces engaging in attacking enemies and safeguarding the seas and islands. In addition, pursuant to the functions and tasks of each supporting military corps, it is necessary to deploy companies and battalions specialising in engineering, signal, chemical, etc. in secret sites to support for the forces of the Military Region.

As for reserve forces, the Military Region can deploy several infantry regiments and divisions and several companies, battalions, and brigades of all military corps. In each anticipated engagement area, the Military Region can make use of the reserve forces from several infantry battalions and regiments and several companies and battalions of all military corps to readily deal with all circumstances during the combat. It is required that the use of reserve forces must be concentrated, timely, task-oriented, and quickly organised into new reserve forces. The Military Region can deploy its reserve forces in one or two reserve area of the Military Region, on the flanks, and behind command posts in secret and well-camouflaged location to preserve the strength and facilitate reinforcement for directions (areas). Simultaneously, the Military Region can establish logistic and technical bases, depots, stations, etc. in coordination with the logistic and technical bases of coastal provinces and deploy them on islands and major combat directions (area). This ensure sufficient and timely logistic and technical materials for the forces involving in combat. Importance must be attached to coordinating with local authorities, higher echelons, the Navy, the Coast Guard, etc. to mobilise on-the-spot manpower, materials, and vehicles for the forces engaged in the combat.

As for command posts, in addition to the general command posts, the Military can establish forward command posts and in the defensive areas of coastal provinces and cities on major directions, which ensures secrecy, safety, and mobility to command armed forces during their preparation and combat operations. Simultaneously, several reserve areas can be determined to manoeuvre and relocate command posts when necessary.

Above are some recommendations on organisation and utilisation of the Military Region’s armed forces in safeguarding the sovereignty over the seas and islands which the author hopes to contribute to the development of military art of defending the seas and islands to meet the requirements of safeguarding the Fatherland in the new context.

Major General, Dr. NGUYEN VAN HOANG, Deputy Chief of Staff of Military Region 7