3rd Corps (Vietnam)
Military unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
3rd Corps (Vietnamese: Quân đoàn 3) or Tây Nguyên Corps (Vietnamese: Binh doan tay nguyen, literally: Corps of Tây Nguyên or Corps of the Western Highlands) was one of the three regular army corps of the Vietnam People's Army. First organised in 1975 during the Vietnam War, 3rd Corps had a major role in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign and the Cambodian–Vietnamese War. Before disbanding, the corps was stationed in Pleiku, Gia Lai.
Vietnam
Vietnam People's Army| Quân đoàn 3 (3rd Corps) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 26 March 1975 – 7 December 2024 |
| Disbanded | 7 December 2024 |
| Country | Vietnam |
| Allegiance | Vietnam People's Army |
| Branch | Active duty |
| Type | Army Corps |
| Role | Regular force |
| Size | Corps |
| Part of | Vietnam People's Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Pleiku, Gia Lai |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Cambodian–Vietnamese War |
| Decorations | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Nguyễn Bá Lực |
| First party committee secretary | Major General Nguyễn Văn Lanh |
History
In July 1973, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam after its 21st conference issued a resolution of strengthening the armed forces to unify the country. In executing the issue, three months later the Ministry of Defence and the Military Commission of the Central Committee approved the plan of organising regular army corps for the Vietnam People's Army. On 26 March 1975,[1] General Võ Nguyên Giáp, Minister of Defence, signed the edict that led to the establishment of the 3rd Corps in Tây Nguyên, from which came the name Tây Nguyên Corps of the unit.[2] The first headquarters of the corps consisted of party committee secretary (bí thư) Đặng Vũ Hiệp and commander (tư lệnh) Vũ Lăng.
During the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, it was 3rd Corps that advanced through the maritime regions of Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa Province and later captured Tan Son Nhat Airport. After the Vietnam War, 3rd Corps continued to engage in the Cambodian–Vietnamese War, the corps was awarded the title Hero of the People's Armed Forces (Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân) in 1979.[2]
On 13 September 2024, the plan to merge the 3rd and 4th Corps to form the 34th Corps was announced in the 3rd Corps Emulation Congress.[3] The corps was disbanded on 7 December 2024 to form the 34th Corps.[4]
Organisation
Headquarters
- Department of Staff
- Department of Politics
- Department of Logistics
- 827th Transportation Battalion (ZiL-130, KAMAZ-43253)[8]
- 81st Warehouse Company[9]
- 211th Military Hospital[10]
- Department of Technicals
Combat forces
- 10th Division[13][14]
- 31st Division[16]
- 866th Infantry Regiment
- 922nd Infantry Regiment
- 977th Infantry Regiment
- 320th Division[17]
- 234th Air Defense Brigade[20]
- 273rd Tank Brigade (T-54/T-55 tanks)[21]
- 40th Artillery Brigade[22]
- 198th Commando Brigade
- 7th Engineer Brigade
- 3rd River Crossing Battalion (PMP floating bridge)[24]
Commanders
| Time | Commander | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1975–1977 | Maj. Gen. Vũ Lăng | Later promoted to Colonel General |
| 1977–1979 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Kim Tuấn | |
| 1979–1982 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Quốc Thước | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Commander of the 4th Military Region. |
| 1982–1989 | Maj. Gen. Khuất Duy Tiến | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Director of the Department of Armed Forces, General Staff. |
| 1989–1991 | Maj. Gen. Trần Tất Thanh | Later promoted to Lieutenant General |
| 1992–1993 | Maj. Gen. Lê Quang Bình | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Chairman of the National Defense and Security Committee of the National Assembly. |
| 1993–1997 | Maj. Gen. Đỗ Công Mùi | |
| 1997–2000 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Hữu Hạ | |
| 2002–2004 | Maj. Gen. Phạm Xuân Hùng | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff. |
| 2004–2007 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Trung Thu | Later promoted to Lieutenant General, Commander of the 5th Military Region. |
| 2007–2009 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Vĩnh Phú | |
| 2009–2012 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Đức Hải | Later promoted to Lieutenant General |
| 2012–6.2015 | Maj. Gen. Đậu Đình Toàn | Later promoted to Lieutenant General |
| 6.2015–7.2018 | Maj. Gen. Vũ Văn Sỹ | |
| 7.2018–2.2020 | Maj. Gen. Thái Văn Minh | |
| 4.2020–9.2023 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Anh Tuấn | |
| 10.2023–12.2024 | Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Bá Lực | Later Commander of the 34th Corps, promoted to Lieutenant General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff. |