The pre-dawn silence was broken by distant artillery fire, and tension filled the air. The soldiers of the 6th Company of the 42nd Army Tank Regiment drove the Type 62 tank in the valley of Vietnam and faced the fierce attack of the Vietnamese army. The battle raged and bullets rained down, and every soldier knew that this battle was a matter of life and death, a matter of glory.
At such a critical moment, Deputy Political Commissar Ning successfully demonstrated incredible courage. His tanks on the battlefield were surrounded, the fire was suppressed, and the situation was extremely dangerous. However, Ning Chenggong did not choose to hide inside the sturdy tank and wait for reinforcements, but decided to turn the tide himself. He opened the top cover of the tank, braved the muzzle of the enemy sniper, held a pistol, and opened fire on the approaching Vietnamese bazooka men.
Nanning No. 1 Operation: A Critical Decision for a Tank Force
On February 18, 1979, the Chinese tank unit in the Nanning area received an urgent call for help from the front-line infantry units. These infantry were under siege and desperately needed tank support to break the enemy encirclement. At that time, the weather was bitterly cold, the cold wind was raging on the battlefield, accompanied by the sound of explosions and gunfire from the front line, and the atmosphere of the whole battlefield was tense and depressing.
Jiang Xi'an, the young battalion commander, did not hesitate the moment he received the order, and immediately gave the order to advance. He knows that every minute of delay could lead to more casualties on the front line. He quickly organized his troops, adjusted the formation of tanks, and prepared to provide the necessary support to the besieged infantry units.
In the preparation before departure, the battalion headquarters busily adjusted the radio frequency to ensure unimpeded communication. The turret of the tank was adjusted to a suitable position after inspection, and the ammunition inside the tank was replenished to the maximum capacity. Each member of the tank division checked their equipment to ensure maximum effectiveness in the upcoming battle.
Breakthrough at the front: the bravery of tank No. 607
Under the resolute command of Jiang Xi'an, the No. 607 tank boldly assumed the vanguard role of the operation. As the tank team made their way through the Langmei Tunnel, an important supply line was cut off, as the bridge in front of them no longer existed. Tank No. 607 stopped at the front end of the bridge break, and the commander poked his head out of the vehicle to observe the situation on the opposite bank through infrared night vision devices. They need to make decisions quickly, because every second of delay can cause irreparable losses to the besieged infantry.
The rest of the tank column also stopped, and the tanks maintained a defined distance from each other to reduce the risk of being hit in one go. They activated the electronic reconnaissance equipment of the tank to detect the activity of enemy troops in the vicinity. In an uncertain and dangerous environment, communication and coordination are even more important. Jiang Xian kept in touch with the rear command and other tanks by radio, updating intelligence and receiving the latest tactical instructions.
While they were analyzing the situation and looking for alternative routes, nearby villages and hills suddenly became firing points, and gunfire erupted. The light of the fire reflected the surrounding trees and ground, turning the otherwise dark environment into daylight. The enemy forces were clearly planning the ambush, taking advantage of the high ground and dropping rockets and artillery shells at the tank companies.
Tank No. 607 reacted quickly, the turret turned to the direction of the most dense sound, and the anti-aircraft machine guns began to strafe, trying to suppress the enemy's point of fire. The tank's main gun also adjusted its aiming, ready to fire at the enemy's hidden positions. The surrounding tanks also followed the movements of No. 607, forming a network of fire, trying to suppress the enemy attack and buy time for themselves.
However, the enemy fire was very fierce, shells of various calibers exploded around the tank, and the smoke and debris that stirred up obscured the view, seriously affecting the operational efficiency of the tank company. Each explosion shook the tank violently, and while the tank's armor was able to withstand a certain attack, the continuous shelling also put a strain on the tank's mechanical parts.
In this extreme environment, the members of the tank company must rely on each other's cooperation and the technical performance of the tank to survive. The machine gunner and gunner had to remain calm and accurately handle the weapon, while the driver needed to quickly adjust the position of the tank according to the terrain and battlefield situation in order to avoid the concentrated fire of the enemy.
Jiang Xi'an ordered the troops to find a route to retreat while maintaining the output of fire, in case the bridge could not be repaired quickly. He also asked the engineering team to assess whether a temporary aqueduct could be found or built nearby so that tanks and other vehicles could cross the river and continue their mission.
Behind enemy lines: the battle in the Nakau Valley
As the tank company moved deeper into the target area, they came to the entrance to the Nakhao Valley, where the terrain was steep and complex, and the twists and turns of the mountain road made it a great challenge to travel. The Nakhao Valley is a narrow and winding valley flanked by steep mountain walls, with only a narrow road to accommodate the passage of tanks and armored vehicles. This terrain was extremely unfavorable for tank companies, as it limited the mobility and firepower deployment of the tanks.
Since the contact with the main force became intermittent after entering the complex terrain, the 6th Company had to make quick judgments and adjustments on its own tactically. They slowed down and closely monitored their surroundings for possible ambushes. Each tank in the tank company is on high alert, and the turret is always on the lookout for possible threats.
Suddenly, several flashes of light flashed from the woods on the top of the hill, followed by a sharp whistle, and the bazooka men of the Vietnamese army began their sneak attack. Taking advantage of the high ground and dense trees as cover, they fired rockets at the positions of the tank companies. The bazooka's assault was swift but imprecise, with rockets exploding around the tank, sending up puffs of earth and smoke and dust.
In the face of a sudden attack, the tank commanders of the 6th Company reacted quickly. They adjusted the turret and used the anti-aircraft machine gun on the top of the tank to give suppressive fire to the bazooka men on the mountain. The machine gun's chain of cartridges rotated rapidly inside the turret, giving a constant sound of fire. The rays of the anti-aircraft machine guns accurately swept to the enemy's hiding positions, pressing the actions of the bazooka crews.
At this time, the commander of the tank company plays a key role in maintaining communications and controlling the situation. They constantly adjusted their tactics and directed how the tanks moved in order to keep the defensive front intact. By radio, they maintained close contact with the individual tank commanders, ensuring that every movement and shooting was organized and coordinated.
Although the tank company suffered a certain amount of pressure and confusion, their quick response and close coordination effectively withstood the sneak attack of the Vietnamese army. After several rounds of heavy firefighting, the enemy's fire weakened significantly, and some of the bazooka fighters retreated under sustained fire, re-hiding in deeper woods or retreating into the mountains.
During the rocket attack and exchange of fire, several tanks of the Sixth Company suffered minor damage, but fortunately there were no casualties.
Tanks vs. Rockets: Losses vs. Courage in Confrontation
As the 6th Company went deeper into the fierce battle, the weaknesses of the design of the Type 62 tank gradually became apparent. Although the tank had a thick front armor, its side armor was relatively weak, only 35 mm thick. In this intensive exchange of fire, the side armor was often the target of Vietnamese rocket launchers and grenades.
Taking advantage of the high ground, the Vietnamese army frequently fired RPG rockets and M79 grenades at the tanks of the sixth company. The ammunition fired from these weapons left deep marks on the side and rear armor of the tank, and some even penetrated the armor, causing damage to the internal equipment. Under the suppression of fire, the tanks of the sixth company had to adjust their positions several times in order to reduce the risk of being flanked.
Under such extreme pressure, the tank company's maintenance crews showed great efficiency, quickly carrying out emergency repairs to the tanks on the battlefield, trying to close the cracks in the penetrated armor and replace damaged parts. These emergency maintenance ensured the maneuverability and fire output of the tank, allowing the tank company to continue to perform combat missions.
During this period, Ning, deputy political commissar of the 42 Army Tank Regiment, successfully demonstrated outstanding leadership and courage at the front. When the tank was trapped, he decided to open the roof of the armored command vehicle and personally use his pistol to counterattack the approaching Vietnamese bazooka. His actions were adventurous, but they also exposed himself to great risk. During the firefight, a Vietnamese sniper took advantage of his clear line of sight and accurately hit Ning Chenggong in the head, resulting in his death on the spot.
Ning's successful sacrifice was a huge blow to the soldiers of the tank company, but this incident did not break the fighting spirit of the soldiers. On the contrary, it inspired a stronger unity and will to fight in tank companies. The soldiers became more resolute on the battlefield, and they paid tribute to the late deputy commissar with the cohesion and persistence of the company.
In order to counter the superiority of the Vietnamese army's firepower, the 6th Company adopted more active tactics. The gunners of the tanks accurately locate the enemy's fire points and launch targeted counterattacks. Each round of shelling accurately suppressed the enemy's activity, gaining valuable tactical space for the tank company. This strategy of translating active defense into an offensive slowed down the enemy's offensive to a certain extent, gaining more operational time and tactical superiority for the tank company.
Honor and reflection of the Company of Heroes
After the end of the war, the 6th Company of the 42nd Army Tank Regiment was officially awarded the honorary title of "Heroic Tank Company" for its outstanding courage and efficient tactical execution in the fierce battles. This honor is not only a recognition of the heroic actions of the 6th Company in the battle, but also a symbol of the unwavering commitment and sacrifice of the entire company to the completion of the mission.
The experience of this battle, especially in the many encounters with the Vietnamese army, not only tested the combat skills and tactical adaptability of the tank unit of the 6th Company, but also exposed some performance shortcomings of the Type 62 tank in actual combat. In particular, the tank's flank armor protection was inadequate, which was especially evident in the repeated rocket launcher and grenade attacks of the Vietnamese army. The survivability of tanks on the battlefield was seriously challenged, forcing the military's technical departments to conduct a deep reflection and assessment of the existing equipment.
As a result of these experiences, the design and manufacturing flaws of the Type 62 tank received the attention of the military leadership. Soon after the war, the military launched a program to improve the tank's armament, aimed at enhancing the tank's protective capabilities, especially by strengthening the thickness and quality of side armor, as well as improving the tank's mobility and stability in complex terrain. These improvements were driven in part by the problems exposed by the 6th Company in the battle in the Nakau Valley.
In addition, this campaign also provided valuable combat experience for tank units. The successes and challenges of the tank forces in terms of operation, coordination and tactical deployment in this battle were recorded and analysed in detail. From these analyses, a series of tactical lessons were distilled, which were later incorporated into the army's training curriculum to improve the combat readiness of the entire army's tank units and their ability to cope with complex battlefield environments.
Zheng Haitian.1979:My self-defense counterattack against Vietnam[J].Shi Lin,2012(B11):63-73