Building "technical regularity" associated with the models of "regular and exemplary ships", and "Regular warehouses and safe stations" is an important content in the modernisation of the Navy. Therefore, the entire Navy in general and the Naval Region 3 in particular should focus on leading and directing the implementation of this content, contributing to the construction of a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern Region.

In 2023, Naval Region 3 was selected by the Navy as the model unit of "technical regularity" building, including building the models of "regular and exemplary ships"; and "Regular warehouses and safe stations". This is not only an honour, but also a great responsibility, a difficult task because most of the Region’s ships, vehicles, weapons, and technical equipment have been used for many years which require maintenance and repair; the ability to ensure funding, materials and spare parts is still limited, some items of warehouses and stations are below official standards, etc. However, with the spirit of solidarity, high consensus and efforts to overcome difficulties and be self-reliant, the Region has comprehensively, synchronously and drastically implemented the assigned tasks, and was highly appreciated by Naval units and visitors. Based on the practical implementation of this task, the Region has proposed some solutions which have been and are being implemented effectively. Those lessons can be applied and replicated throughout the Navy.

Firstly, strengthen leadership, direction, and implement the work of education, building determination and a high sense of responsibility is the most important solution, the decisive factor for the success of building a model unit on "technical regularity" which includes building "Exemplary regular ships" and "Regular warehouses and safe stations" of the Region in 2023. Being well aware of this, right after being assigned with the task, the Region’s Party Committee issued the leadership resolution, and the Region’s Command promulgated and strictly implemented the plan to assign specific tasks to units, and particular duties to the Region’s Commanding officers. During the implementation process, the Region requires party committees and commanders at all levels to take part in a drastic, comprehensive, creative and unified action in leadership, direction through synchronous and effective implementation. In order to create the unanimity during the implementation, the Region strictly followed the guidance of the Naval Technical Department, reviewed, consolidated and promulgated 15 sets of criteria for "Regular and exemplary ships" and 09 sets of criteria for "Regular warehouses and safe stations". Each criterion includes all the requirements of the following branches: staff, politics, logistics, and technology. The Region directed technical agencies to complete specialised manuals on exploitation, repair and remedy of common damages in order to maintain and improve the life of weapons, technical equipment, and ensure their missions of combat readiness, training and other ones.

Commander of Naval Region 3 checks technical regularity on ship

Along with that, agencies and units from the regional level to the ship and station level successfully educated and raised awareness for cadres and soldiers about the importance of this work. It was supposed that the work was not only an important political task of the year, but also a top priority that needed to be maintained regularly, continuously, long-term and sustainably in order to build determination, uphold responsibility during the implementation. Thanks to the drastic, close, specific and effective implementation of the Party committees and commanders at all levels, exciting emulation movements have been established in ships, warehouses and stations; collective strength was promoted, each soldier raised his sense of self-reliance, took advantage of time, including rest hours and days off, to successfully complete the task of building "Regular and exemplary ships" and "Regular warehouses and safe stations" of the Navy.

Secondly, promote a positive spirit to proactively overcome difficulties, research and creatively apply practices and models done by other units based on its own reality. Sticking to the criteria for "Regular and exemplary ships" and "Regular warehouses and safe stations", agencies and units have comprehensively and synchronously implemented measures to review and repair equipment on board, with the motto of doing it all the way to the end. Weapons and technical equipment on board are specifically assigned to each person for management; the preventive maintenance, periodic inspection and repair are strictly carried out with full plans and technology sheets; Work discipline is regularly and closely maintained, attaching responsibility to each individual or unit in charge of management and use.

Learning from fruitful experiences and effective practices of Naval Region 2 and Naval Region 4, the Command of Naval Region 3 has directed agencies and units to creatively, effectively and appropriately apply those practices in association with its own characteristics. Cadres and soldiers of the whole Region set the determination that: ships, vehicles, weapons, technical equipment can be old, but their technical condition must be good, clean, beautiful, synchronous, regular, unified. Therefore, the Region’s personnel have been working hard with dedication and high responsibility in each task to fix previous systematic errors affecting the technical and tactical features of ships, vehicles, weapons and technical equipment; supplement, renew, and replace damaged parts due to the impact of the environment and time; remove power systems to ensure safety and restore original technical and tactical capabilities. Regularly clean, repair, adjust, arrange equipment and supplies in the bunker compartment in unified and scientific positions on every ship system. Repair and restore the original technical equipment on board; refresh and strengthen the infantry gun cabinets for all ships in accordance with regulations. Consolidate the system of books and documents of the ships in accordance with authorities’ instructions.

For coastal units, the Region’ Command directs the rearrangement of technological ground and technological equipment according to the process: prepare, inspect and repair weapons and technical equipment; arrange and gather more than 750 tons of weapons and equipment and nearly 420 tons of technical supplies and equipment in warehouses and workshops in accordance with the planning; consolidate and refresh 150 shelves of all kinds, 350 tables of regularity, 32 storekeeper corners for warehouses, stations and workshops. At the same time, consolidate and supplement appropriate documents on technological process, technical inspection process, technology sheets for backup preservation, periodical inspection, inspection stamps, technical documents in accordance with instructions. Cadres and soldiers of the whole Region have raised their responsibilities, proactively overcome difficulties, and successfully completed a huge amount of assigned tasks.

Thirdly, strictly maintain technical regulations as required; implement the decentralisation of repair, timely fix the failures that might affect the central political task. Along with human factors, ships, weapons, and technical equipment are always important and indispensable factors in improving the overall quality and combat strength of the Navy in general and the Region in particular. However, most of the Region’s weapons and technical equipment have been continuously used for a long time in harsh weather conditions. Thus, maintaining the daily technical work is an important requirement. Being aware of that requirement, the Region has promoted the implementation of the criteria for the model unit on "technical regularity" of the Navy in 2023, implemented two breakthroughs in the technical sector, namely building regularity, mastering weapons and technical equipment in association with the criteria of "Regular and exemplary ships" and "Regular warehouses and safe stations". Agencies and units strictly maintain technical regulations as required; staff and technical departments and other agencies regularly monitor, closely register, and specifically inspect the weapons and equipment, assess the nature,  maintain daily, weekly and monthly maintenance in order to timely detect and fix failures.

For major failures, the Region cooperates with General Repair Workshop, X50 Factory to find the cause, carry out repairs, and avoid prolonged damage. Ships and stations set up mobile and specialised repair teams to proactively fix common failures with the focus on the repair and replacement of materials and assemblies. The Region’s technical staff focus on minor repairs, restorations, system synchronisation checks and calibrations, etc. The Region directs the Technical Department to complete specialised manuals on exploitation, repair and fixing of common damage to weapons and technical equipment. Thanks to the efficient implementation of the repair decentralisation, the Region has promptly repaired hundreds of items, avoiding the extrusion of responsibility, and preventing prolonged damage that might affect the unit’s mission. Over the years, the combat ships of the Region regularly met the requirements and tasks; successfully and excellently completed the task of firing torpedoes, missiles and artillery guns; such as the missile firing missions in the drills TL-17, BD-22, MT-22 which were awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Ministry of National Defence and the Navy.

Fourthly, build a strong team of technical cadres and staff; encourage initiatives to renew technical equipment in the technical work and during the implementation of building " Regular and exemplary ships" and "Regular warehouses and safe stations"; step by step improve the technological process of producing spare parts. To build up a modern Navy in general and the modern Region 3 in particular, it is very important to build a contingent of technical cadres and staff with professional qualifications, high skills, the affection for the career, and a high sense of responsibility at work. Deeply grasping that viewpoint, the Region’s Party Committee and Command always pay attention to building a strong contingent of technical cadres and staff, especially the training of highly qualified technical staff. Every year, several officers and technicians are sent to intensive training at schools inside and outside the Army in order to improve their professional qualifications and the ability to master and effectively exploit weapons and technical equipment. Regularly take care of these staff and establish favourable conditions to improve the staff’s lives, so that to encourage their enthusiasm and responsibility at work.

Along with that, the Region has promoted the movement of technical researches, initiatives and inventions. The number of initiatives later year is higher than the previous year, several initiatives, inventions, and technical improvements are highly practical, effective and useful at the unit. Up to now, the Region has researched and independently produced labels for machine covers, knobs, buttons, and switches by using 3D technology which resulted in nearly 1,000 switches, 750 signal lampshades, nearly 4,000 labels of machines, weapons, and technical equipment. This is a great effort of the technical cadres and staff, the "military technicians" of the Region to overcome difficulties in order to contribute to building strong, comprehensive, "exemplary and typical" agencies and units, and to successfully complete the assigned tasks of firmly safeguarding the country's sovereignty over sea and islands in the new situation.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN THIEN QUAN, Region Commander