In the years 1948-1949, Route 4 was one of the vital routes used by the French army to transport food and weapons from Lang Son to serve the occupation forces in Cao Bang and Bac Kan. . This is a relatively dangerous route, especially the Bong Lau pass area (about 10 km long, in Trang Dinh district, Lang Son province) which is a winding road with narrow corners and steep slopes, where groups French army transport vehicles were often blocked and attacked by our forces, causing many losses (as of August 1949, French troops were ambushed three times by us in this area). To ensure the safety of important transportation routes, the French army deployed troops to guard important positions on the route. At the same time, when organizing transportation, it was often necessary to use a large number of vehicles (about around 100 vehicles) and divided into several groups, escorted by infantry forces and armored vehicles with a thoughtful contingency plan.
After the end of the Cao - Bac - Lang Campaign in April 1949, we advocated continuing to conduct a number of battles to promote the victory of the campaign, focusing on attacking the enemy's transportation activities. on Route 4. Implementing the above policy, Regiment 174 was assigned the task of organizing the 4th ambush in the Bong Lau pass area (the section between Bong Lau and Lung Phay stations), with the determination to "first launch the battle". must win".
After studying the situation, Regiment 174 decided to organize an ambush on a 2.5 km long road, from the beginning of Bo village to the top of the pass, with the center being kilometer 58. The force participating in the battle consisted of 2 battalions. Groups 23 and 53. Each battalion consists of 3 infantry companies and 1 support company, equipped with infantry guns, 12.7 mm machine guns, grenade launchers, bazookas, grenades, 81 mm and 60 mm mortars. . Battalion 259 performed a diversionary mission to attract the enemy in the Bo Cung - Lung Vai section.
According to plan, the units secretly occupied the battlefield and deployed their combat formations before September 2. On the morning of September 3, detecting signs that the enemy would march to Cao Bang, the regiment organized its units into fighting positions. At noon on September 3, the force escorting an enemy convoy of 10 vehicles (6 transport vehicles), carrying about 100 troops, entered the ambush site, but the regiment had not yet opened fire, waiting to attack the main target, which was the transport convoy. As expected, around 2:00 p.m., when the majority of the French transport convoy of more than 100 vehicles entered the ambush, the units quickly mobilized to occupy combat positions. However, at this time, a French vehicle approaching kilometer 58 suddenly stalled, causing the entire convoy to pile together, and at the same time the accompanying enemy infantry deployed a protective formation. Realizing that the opportunity was not favorable, we still persisted in ambushing; At 2:30 p.m., the enemy finished repairing the vehicle and continued to march to the top of the pass; The battle began, all types of fire from the regiment simultaneously shot at the convoy, causing chaos in the French army's marching formation. Taking advantage of the opportunity, the units quickly mobilized to occupy advantageous positions, used grenades and infantry guns to fiercely attack the enemy formation; After more than an hour of fierce fighting, we completely controlled the battlefield, escorted prisoners, resolved casualties and withdrew our troops. Between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., the enemy twice used aircraft to bombard the battlefield and sent troops from That Khe to rescue, but both were blocked by the forces of Battalion 53 and forced to retreat. As a result, we killed and wounded 194 enemy soldiers, captured 23 soldiers, destroyed 86 vehicles (including 1 tank, 2 armored vehicles, 78 transport cars), collected nearly 100 guns of all kinds and many other vehicles. military equipment, military equipment.
The victorious battle of Lung Phay was the first victory of the 174th Regiment, and was also the largest ambush on Route 4 in the years 1948-1950, which not only had an impact on encouraging the morale and fighting spirit of the officers. , soldiers in the unit, but also has the meaning of cheering, encouraging, creating confidence in fighting and winning for our troops and people on the secret battlefield of Route 4 in the early years of the resistance war against the French colonialists.
Source: Vietnam Military Encyclopedia
Lang Son
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