Chemical defence in strategic defensive operations on Northern theatre during a war to defend the Fatherland is a critically important aspect of support work. It aims to minimise the destructive impacts of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), maintain the combat capability of the armed forces, and ensure the safety of the population. This is an extremely difficult and complex task that must be thoroughly studied and prepared in peacetime.

Troops of Chemical Battalion 38, Military Region 4 practise decontaminating weapons and technical equipment (photo: qdnd.vn)

The North, where the capital city of Hanoi is located, is a region of strategic importance in terms of politics, economy, culture, national defence, security, and diplomacy to the entire country. Therefore, in a (potential) war to defend the Fatherland, it would be a key theatre where the enemy would focus their efforts to attack and seize control, aiming to quickly achieve their war objectives.

To realise their plan, the adversary would primarily deploy joint combat forces equipped with hi-tech weaponry, and would not rule out the possibility of using WMD to attack and capture strategic targets, destroy our military and defence capabilities, and cripple our economy - all with the aim of resolving the conflict swiftly, minimising their own casualties, and achieving their war goals. Meanwhile, our chemical forces remain limited in number and would be required to simultaneously carry out multiple support missions across a wide area, involving diverse forms of combat, including defence, static and mobile operations, offence, counter-offence, and combating enemy airborne and amphibious landings, etc. over an extended period. In order to successfully perform the task of chemical defence, minimise the destructive impacts of WMD, maintain the combat strength of our troops, and ensure the safety of the populace, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive and scientific approach to the planning, command, and coordination of chemical defence work across all missions and phases of operations. This is a challenging and complex task. Hence, this article will only focus on analysing and discussing several key issues related to chemical defence in response to direct enemy firepower attacks, force deployment manoeuvres, and armed uprisings within the context of strategic defensive operations on the Northern theatre.

To seize the initiative on the battlefield, the enemy often organises direct firepower attacks to “soften the battlefield”, using air strikes in combination with firepower from forward-deployed strategic offensive forces and widespread electronic warfare. As part of this, they may use WMD to strike strategic targets, such as command posts, troop assembly areas, artillery positions, airfields, ports, and supply depots, etc. They may also launch firepower attacks on industrial zones or chemical facilities with the intention of causing chemical or radioactive incidents. Taking advantage of the effects of these firepower attacks and WMD strikes, the enemy would manoeuvre forces and equipment by land and sea, deploy combat formations, and attempt to seize control of key areas to establish a foothold for further offensives. During the deployment of their forces, the enemy may use incendiary weapons and rapidly dispersing toxic agents to support assaults on coastal islands. At the same time, they may attack with persistent toxic agents on islands located along maritime transport corridors to prevent us from concentrating forces and equipment for counter-attacks on their flanks or rear.

Alongside airstrikes, the enemy may also deploy special operations forces via airborne landings (approximately a battalion or more) to support domestic insurgency, creating a combined assault from both inside and outside. In addition, the enemy may use toxic chemicals, biological agents, and similar substances to contaminate water sources, food supplies, and other critical targets, thereby spreading panic and instability among the population.

To effectively carry out chemical defence against direct firepower attacks, force manoeuvring and deployment, and armed uprisings within the context of strategic defensive operations on the Northern theatre, we must implement several key tasks and solutions as follows.

1. Maintaining a firm grasp of the enemy’s capabilities regarding WMD, promptly adjusting plans, and organising chemical defence measures swiftly and appropriately.

This is a matter of principle and a top-priority task, ensuring that chemical defence commanders and units on the battlefield can promptly lead and direct chemical forces in a scientific, precise manner. To that end, in addition to organising a widespread system of radiological and chemical reconnaissance and observation, the Chief of Chemical Operations and the battlefield chemical command must continuously study official updates from the Ministry of National Defence and closely coordinate with military intelligence and reconnaissance units, all-level staff agencies, and other friendly defensive forces. This provides a foundation for accurately assessing the enemy’s capabilities and intentions regarding WMD across different directions and areas of operations on the theatre, including the objectives, targets, means, and types of WMD the enemy may employ in direct firepower attacks, their methods and tactics for conducting WMD strikes, and so forth. Based on these assessments, chemical defence elements must report to and advise the theatre commander on adjustments in chemical defence plans, while also leading and directing the implementation of chemical defence measures for prevention, response to, and mitigation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents.

The theatre’s Chief of Chemical Operations and associated agencies must focus on directing the deployment of chemical defence forces to protect command posts and collaborating with engineering units to operate toxic filtration ventilation systems. Mobile chemical units should be tasked with providing chemical protection for strategic targets across assigned sectors and directions, especially those involved in countering direct enemy firepower attacks, communication centres, and key economic facilities, etc. Chemical forces of military regions must implement chemical defence measures for military regions’ armed forces in combat as well as provide guidance for the population to prevent and mitigate the impacts of WMD and CBRN incidents. Besides, the deployment of smoke screens is essential for the protection of strategic and tactical targets, as well as for deception efforts under the theatre’s unified plan.

In the event that the enemy launches firepower strikes against major industrial zones in the area, or key hospitals, such as Bach Mai, Viet Duc, K, 108, and 103, Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute, or major facilities, such as Duc Giang fuel depot, the battlefield’s Chief of Chemical Operations must swiftly deploy mobile reserve chemical forces and decontamination teams. These units should collaborate with the National Action Centre for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment, the Northern Centre for CBRN Incident Response, and the ASEAN Environmental Incident Response Team to manage the incidents, minimise damage, and ensure the safety of both military personnel and civilians.

In case of an armed uprising, the chemical operations command must rapidly deploy specialised and auxiliary counter-terrorism chemical units equipped with specialised technology to assist other forces in suppressing the unrest. Simultaneously, chemical defence measures must be implemented to enable mobile forces of local and military region-level defensive zones to engage external forces in support of (potential) domestic uprisings and to promptly stabilise the situation.

2. Ensuring sufficient, appropriate, timely provision of chemical defence equipment for all forces

Chemical defence operations are always closely tied to the use of specialised chemical defence equipment in hazardous environments. These are highly specialised technical items, comprising a wide variety of types, and subject to high rates of consumption due to large operational areas, prolonged duration of combat, and limited number of specialised chemical defence personnel and equipment. Therefore, to ensure timely, appropriate, sufficient, uniform supply of chemical defence equipment, enhance protection capabilities, and minimise losses of personnel and equipment, the theatre’s Chemical Command must closely follow the operational plans and intent of the theatre commander, the chemical defence plan of the strategic defensive operation, the current availability of chemical defence equipment, local mobilisation capacity, the Ministry’s support capabilities, and equipment needs of each unit. This will help provide all-round, focused, prioritised, proper support for combat forces. Equipment priority should be given to front-line combat units; pre-formulated chemical defence equipment should be provided for all-level command posts, units operating in strategically important defensive areas and positions, as well as forces tasked with countering enemy firepower attacks, enemy deployments, and armed uprisings. Throughout operations, the theatre’s Chemical Command must maintain a clear grasp of the situation, make full use of available resources, mobilise all chemical defence equipment within the defence zone, and take proactive steps to supply and maintain equipment and technical support for combat forces. Moreover, mobile chemical technical support teams in the area should be deployed as needed to meet operational requirements. At the same time, local civilians and combat forces within provincial-level defensive zones should be actively guided and encouraged to produce improvised chemical defence gear to support operations.

3. Creatively, flexibly applying chemical defence measures

When conducting direct firepower attacks, manoeuvring forces, and inciting armed uprisings on the Northern theatre, the enemy may use a combination of various toxic agents in sudden, simultaneous strikes on a single target. They may also combine conventional bombs and munitions with incendiary agents to inflict maximum casualties and hinder our prevention and response efforts, causing long-term consequences. Thus, Chiefs of Chemical Operations and chemical defence agencies at all levels must constantly monitor and accurately assess developments on the battlefield to promptly detect any use of WMD or hazardous contamination incidents in the area of operations. Based on these assessments, they must lead and coordinate chemical forces alongside combat units, employ chemical defence measures creatively, flexibly, integrate sequential and simultaneous responses, even skip the chain of command if necessary, and effectively apply the “four-on-site” principle. In particular, when CBRN incidents occur, the theatre’s Chemical Command must immediately issue warnings to combat forces and the population so that appropriate protective measures can be taken as swiftly as possible. Simultaneously, decontamination forces must be directed to work closely with combat units in the area and any reinforcements from the Ministry to carry out decontamination operations and manage the aftermath, thereby preserving manpower, maintaining combat capability, ensuring a firm defensive posture. Additionally, the theatre’s Chemical Command must proactively advise higher commands on deployment of chemical forces using incendiary weapons and specialised equipment (including incendiary munitions, thermobaric rounds, armour-piercing ammunition, and other specialised devices) to engage enemy forces as they attempt to manoeuvre into position, when conditions are favourable.

Providing chemical defence support in strategic defensive operations on the Northern theatre in general as well as in countering enemy direct firepower attacks, force deployments, and armed uprisings in particular, is a complex and demanding task. It requires continued, in-depth studies to further develop both theories and practical know-how suitable for the new conditions of a war to defend the Fatherland.

Sr. Col. NGUYEN DINH HIEN

Commander of the Chemical Corps