275th Regiment | |
---|---|
Active | 1965– |
Allegiance | Vietnam |
Branch |
National Liberation Front (until 1976) People's Army of Vietnam (1976-present) |
Type | Infantry |
Role | Guerrilla (until 1976) Regular infantry (1976-present) |
Size | Regiment |
Part of | 5th Infantry Division (Vietnam) |
Engagements |
The 275th Regiment, also known as 275 Viet Cong Main Force Regiment, was a regiment of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The regiment was formed in May 1965. The 275th Regiment was part of the VC 5th Division and operated in the Phuoc Tuy Province, now known as the province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
On 11 November 1965, the Regiment ambushed the ARVN 52nd Rangers near Kim Hai hamlet, in the village of Phuoc Hoa on Route 15, in Phuoc Tuy Province and inflicted heavy casualties upon the ranger battalion.
Part of the Regiment fought initially against the 173rd Airborne Infantry Brigade between 24 May and 4 June 1966 during Operation Hardihood.American casualties during that operation were 23 killed and 160 woundedand 48 Viet Cong soldiers were reported to have been killed.
The Regiment or its battalions participated alongside D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion in the Battle of Long Tan against Australian forces from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. According to the D445 Battalion political officer, the unit provided "guides for the units that mortared the Task Force" at Nui Dat base on 17 August 1966. A Viet Cong medic, Chung, reported that three of the 275th Regiment RCL detachment involved were killed in the Australian counter-battery fire and were buried nearby. Casualties among the Australians in the bombardment were 22 wounded. During the battle an 80-strong Vo Thi Sau civil labour company commanded by Chin Phuong, comprising mainly women and children, lent support by evacuating and treating the casualties. Vietnamese dead, according to Viet Cong and NVA histories were 47 killed. (Source: The Battle of Long Tan: NVA/VC Forces - Revisited. By Ernest Patrick Chamberlain. August 2013.) Australian veterans and historians, in the main, claim that at Long Tan the 275 Regiment and D445 Battlion suffered heavy casualties, with the official Australian body count reported to be 245 Vietnamese killed. Only one member of D445 was captured at Long Tan (reportedly a 57 mm RCL gunner); and two members of 275 Regiment were captured who declared themselves to be members of "Doan 45" as their cover story. Several 275th Regiment soldiers received medals, letters of appreciation and commendation certificates for their part in the fighting.