308th Division (Vietnam)

308th Infantry Division
Victorious Việt Minh soldiers at Điện Biên Phủ
Active	1950-present
Allegiance	Vietnam
Branch	Vietnam People's Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Mechanized infantry, rapid respond force
Size	Division
Part of	1st Corps
Garrison/HQ	Xuan Mai, Chuong My, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nickname(s)	Quân Tiên Phong (Vanguard), Việt Bắc
Engagements	First Indochina War * Battle of Vĩnh Yên * Battle of Mạo Khê * Battle of the Day River * Operation Lorraine * Battle of Nà Sản * Battle of Điện Biên Phủ Vietnam War * Battle of Khe Sanh * Southern Laos Campaign * Easter Offensive * First Battle of Quảng Trị * Second Battle of Quảng Trị * 1975 Spring Offensive
Commanders
Notable commanders	Colonel Vương Thừa Vũ Nguyễn Hữu An

The 308th Infantry Division is a division of the People's Army of Vietnam, first formed in August 1950 in southern China from the previous Regimental Group 308.

As early as January 1946, the first regiment of the PAVN, the 102 'Capital' Regiment, was created for operations around Hanoi. It consisted of Regiments 88, 102, and 36, and soon became the 308 'Vanguard' Division. By late 1950 the 308 Division had a full three infantry regiments, one heavy weapons regiment, and support units.

The 308th initiated the Battle of Vĩnh Yên with an attack on Groupe Mobile 3 on the evening of 13 January 1951, surrounding and half-destroying the unit. The 308th and 312th then surrounded Vĩnh Yên. The French counterattacked and began to airlift reinforcements into Vĩnh Yên. On 16 August the 308th and 312th launched human wave attacks against the French positions which were largely repulsed by French ground fire and airstrikes. At dawn on 17 January the Việt Minh renewed their attacks but were once again devastated by French airstrikes and by midday General Giáp ordered a withdrawal. The two Divisions had lost at least 5000 killed and 500 taken prisoner.

In March 1951, General Giáp again tried a conventional assault on the French forces in the Red River Delta when units of the 308th, 312th and 316th Division threatened the approaches to Haiphong. In this Battle of Mạo Khê the Việt Minh were beaten back by determined resistance from the French garrisons, airstrikes and naval gunfire. Total Việt Minh losses exceeded 1500 killed.

The battered 308th played a minor role in the Battle of the Day River in May/June 1951, making diversionary attacks on Ninh Bình and Phủ Lý.

On 17 October 1952 two regiments of the 308th attacked Nghĩa Lộ overrunning the post in one hour. This attack triggered the French Operation Lorraine launched on 29 October, the largest operation attempted to date by the French Union forces. Giáp planned to wait until the French supply lines were overextended at which point they could be harassed and eventually forced to withdraw. Giáp detached Regiment 36 of the 308th and Regiment 176 of the 316th to defend the important supply bases at Yên Bái and Thái Nguyên. The only major fighting during the operation came during the withdrawal, when the Regiment 36 ambushed Groupe Mobiles 1 and 4 on Route 2 in a narrow valley near Chan Muong on morning of November 17. The Viet Minh managed to blow up one of the leading tanks, completely blocking the road and then, covered by heavy weapons fire from the surrounding hills, proceeded to methodically destroy the convoy. French air support eased the pressure on the forces caught in the valley and then in the afternoon the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Foreign Infantry Regiment and the Battalion de Marche Indochinois (BMI) inside the valley and the lead elements of Groupe Mobile 1 outside the ambush area counterattacked against the Việt Minh, culminating with a bayonet charge by the BMI. At this point the Việt Minh disengaged and the withdrawal could continue with the column arriving at Ngoc Tap at 22:30. The French had lost 56 dead, 125 wounded and 133 missing and 12 vehicles including 1 tank and 6 half-tracks destroyed.