Vietnam Defence Forum

[Viet]

Bellevue Presidential Palace on November 25. welcomed by the Guard of Honor with 21-gun salute.

Gauck and his unmarried spouse

 

[Viet]

Vietnam-Russia joint military exercise

One of Russia’s Eastern Military District's combined arms units will participate in joint military exercises in Vietnam.

Military & Intelligence
11:07 26.11.2015

KHABAROVSK (Sputnik) — Russia and Vietnam will hold the first joint military exercises in the Vietnamese territory in 2016, the head of Russia’s Eastern Military District press service said on Thursday.

"It is planned to use one of the district's combined arms units stationed in the Amur Region," Col. Alexander Gordeev told reporters.

The Eastern Military District is one of the four operational strategic commands of the Russian Armed Forces. The district was formed by a Presidential Decree and signed September 2010.

Russia is currently undergoing a $325-billion rearmament program to achieve a 70-percent modernization of its military by 2020.

Read more: Russia, Vietnam WIll Hold 1st Joint Drills on Vietnamese Territory in 2016





the new established 3rd Squadron SU-30 bombers, stationed in Thọ Xuân, Thanh Hóa (Central Vietnam) can participate in the upcoming 1st Vietnam-Russia Joint Military Exercise, with one of four Russia´s operational strategic commands.

 

[Aqsuperman]

SPG-9

 

[Viet]

White rose for the victims of Paris terror attack, laid before the Berlin´s National Gate by Vietnam president and his spouse.
Staatschef von Vietnam in Berlin: Weiße Rosen vom Präsidenten für die Opfer von Paris - Berlin - Tagesspiegel

Interesting. and a great honor: the Vietnam president jet was escorted by two fighter jets of the German Airforce (Bundesluftwaffe) when it crossed the german border, approaching the Berlin airport. Before Vietnam, the english Queen Elizabeth II. and israeli President Reuven Rivlin enjoyed such a great protocol.
Berliner Staatsbesuch aus Vietnam: Düsenjäger überfliegen die Hauptstadt - Berlin - Tagesspiegel

 

[Aqsuperman]

beautiful night view :v

 

[Viet]

Côn Đảo, one of the most beautiful islands in the SC Sea, and one of places playing a tragic part in the Vietnamese history. lying some 80 km away from the mainland, the french colonial government built, since 1861, prisons for fighters of resistance movements.

one of fighters in the anti french movement back then is a young girl: Võ Thị Sáu. she was born 1933 in Long Thọ (South Vietnam), joining the resistance when she was 14. by a failed attempt to kill a local government chief she was arrested, sentenced to death and brought to Côn Đảo island.

4am, in the early hours of January 23, 1952, Võ Thị Sáu was brought to execution place. she was 21.

Remember Võ Thị Sáu.

the grave of Võ Thị Sáu on Côn Đảo island.

 

[Viet]

parade of army unit with a short variant of israeli rifles, I believe.

ZSU23-4 self-propelled artillery against aerial targets

visiting army museum, exibition.

 

[Aqsuperman]

parade of army unit with a short variant of israeli rifles, I believe.

Those are Uzi SMG variant , probably Uzi Pro
A self-produced RPK , code name TUL-1

 

[Viet]

Those are Uzi SMG variant , probably Uzi Pro
A self-produced RPK , code name TUL-1

Ah ok. Uzi Short distance weapon. The soldiers are paratroopers, aren't they? Not sure about the uniform.

 

[Viet]

Today I post here a report from a website called "Research and Analysis on the DPRK Leadership". recently, a rare visit of guest to Hanoi from one of the most isolated countries on this planet: Gen. Pak Yong Sik, in his postion, I believe, the chief of North Korean Armed Forces. Gen. Pak Yong Sik reportely said “very impressed" with the development of Vietnam Armed Forces. He might want joint military exercises in the Yellow Sea?

Gen. Pak Yong Sik and KPA Delegation Meet Vietnam’s President and Minister of Defense


Gen. Pak Yong Sik, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces, (left) sheiks hands with Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang in Hanoi on November 27, 2015 (Photo: Office of the President of Vietnam).

Minister of the People’s Armed Forces Gen. Pak Yong Sik and a delegation of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] met with Vietnam’s President Trương Tấn Sang on November 27 (Friday). Also attending the meeting were DPRK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Myong Gil, senior Vietnamese government officials and senior officers of the Vietnam People’s Army [VPA]. The KPA delegation’s visit is also marking the 65th anniversary of DPRK-Vietnam relations.



Vietnamese President Trương Tấn Sang (right) talks with Gen. Pak Yong Sik in Hanoi on November 27, 2015 (Photo: Office of the President of Vietnam).


According to KCNA, President Sang said that “friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries established by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng) are now steadily growing stronger under the deep care of the top leaders of the two countries” and he noted “it is the consistent stand of the Vietnamese leadership to attach importance to the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and steadily boost them.” President Trương Tấn Sang also noted that the “the Vietnamese party, government and people are pleased with the achievements made by the army and people of the DPRK in their efforts for carrying out the cause of socialist construction” and he expressed his “conviction that victory belongs to the DPRK under the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n).”

According to the Vietnamese government, Gen. Pak Yong Sik remarked that he and the KPA delegation were “very impressed with the economic development, social security and national defense of Vietnam, particularly its emphasis in party building and development of the military.” Gen Pak thanked Vietnam for its support of the DPRK during the years and he “affirmed his personal support to contribute greatly to building relations between the DPRK and Vietnam.”



Vietnam’s Minister of Defense Gen. Phùng Quang Thanh (right) shakes hands with Gen. Pak Yong Sik (left) on November 27, 2015 (Photo: VNA).


Earlier during the day, Gen. Pak and the KPA delegation met with Gen. Phùng Quang Thanh, Minister of Defense, the Vice Chief of the VPA General Staff and other senior VPA officers. According to KCNA, “both sides exchanged views on the issue of boosting exchange and cooperation between the armies of the two countries and reached a consensus of views on the matters discussed.” Gen. Phùng, according to the MOD, said that “Vietnam attaches great importance to the traditional relations, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kim Il Sung” and Gen. Pak “expressed with the pleasure that this was his first visit to Vietnam and see the country’s socio-economic development.”



Senior MOD and VPA officials (left) meet with a KPA delegation on November 27, 2015 (Photo: MOD/VNA).


Pak Yong Sik emphasized that DPRK-Vietnam relations were one of traditional friendship, “nurtured by elder generations which should be maintained and actively promoted.” According to the Vietnamese government, the KPA and VPA discussed “issues of common concern” and “reviewed the results of cooperation between the KPA and VPA which actively contribute to strengthening of relations between the two countries.” Gen. Pak and Gen. Phùng “agreed to continue to maintain traditional relations through enhanced exchanges, visits, student exchange, cultural and sports cooperation.”



Gen. Pak Yong Sik (right) participates in a formal welcome ceremony on November 27, 2015 (Photo: MOD/VNA).


Gen. Pak Yong Sik participated in a VPA welcome ceremony. Gen. Pak and the KPA delegation also attended a reception hosted the Ministry of Defense and they also conducted several tours of VPA locales.

 

[Aqsuperman]

probably a American made M2 or Chinese copy Type 31

 

[Viet]

more boats coming for the Coast Guard

Sông Thu Shipyard

obviously a US warship

Coast Guard Force gets multi-purpose vessel
November, 30 2015 13:56:00

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Netherlands Ambassador in Viet Nam, and officials from the defence ministry, the Viet Nam Coast Guard Force and the Song Thu Shipyard Corporation attend a ceremony organised to launch a multi-purpose vessel, CBS 8005, for the Viet Nam Coast Guard Force, in Da Nang yesterday. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

DA NANG (VNS) — The defence ministry and the Song Thu Shipyard Corporation launched a multi-purpose vessel, CBS 8005, for the Viet Nam Coast Guard Force at a ceremony yesterday.

It's the second ship that the Da Nang-based corporation has built for the Coast Guard Force to improve law enforcement on the sea. The building of the vessel took 12 months.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated the efforts taken by workers and staff of Song Thu Corporation, and the support and co-operation extended by the Netherlands government and Dutch shipyard firm Damen Group.

"The launch of the ship today marks the growth and development of the military industry, the local ship building industry and the Coast Guard Force. It will help to develop the marine economy, while fostering protection of the country's sea and islands," Phuc said.

"I express my thanks to the Netherlands government and the experts and engineers from the Damen Group for ensuring support and technology transfer in the ship-building industry," he said.

He said the ship was one of seven large vessels the government had invested in to build a powerful Viet Nam Coast Guard Force by 2020.

He said the Coast Guard Force should give top priority to the country's sovereignty over the sea and islands, marine security, law enforcement on the sea, and fighting criminals and drug traffickers as well as search and rescue efforts on the sea.

The Coast Guard Force and the Song Thu ship-building firm, he said, should seek funds from different sources outside the state budget to develop a powerful fleet to deal with increasing complications and tensions in the East Sea.

The CSB 8005 ship, which is 90.5m long and 14m wide, is the most modern convenience ship capable of carrying 2,200 deadweight tonnage (DWT) and working 40 days and nights over 5,000km.

It has a helipad and a maximum speed of 21 nautical miles per hour. The ship can handle even the ninth wave and grade 12 winds (118km-132km per hour).

The Deputy PM also witnessed the signing of a contract between the Song Thu Corporation and the Damen Group for the building of four Azimuth Stern-Drive Tug (ASD) ships for export to the European market.

Last year, the local ship–building firm launched four tug-ships for the Viet Nam Coast Guard.

The Da Nang-based corporation, which is a major ship-builder in Viet Nam, has built more than 40 vessels for export, including fast crew supply ships, rescue ships, salvage tugs and drive tugs, besides patrol boats, for the Middle East, South America, Europe and South Africa, as well as the domestic market. — VNS

 

[Viet]

hungry? not too bad, the army food.

lunch

SU-22 fighter jets on patrol

the Airforce needs more money, I believe. too many old stuffs in use.

new mixes with old.

spade on the shoulder, seems time hasn´t changed much since world war I for the Army.

12,7mm machine gun

 

[Aqsuperman]

A new Su-30 regiment is getting up and running........somewhere..........

 

[Viet]

A branch of US Special Forces, the Black Berets, return to the past to seek the future. Deja-vu. Let see how it goes, how thing develops, if the US Armed Forces one day hold joint drills with the Vietnam Army. Considering how China aggressively advances a policy of intimidation in the region, towards Vietnam, the day may come sooner than expected. We need a peaceful environment, another 20 years of economic development to get there where we want to. My personal opinion.



Army's 5th Special Forces Group to Resurrect Vietnam-Era Beret Flash

Dec 01, 2015 | by Bryant Jordan

The Army's 5th Special Forces Group's existing beret flash (left) is a black shield-shaped embroidered item with a semicircular base. The new flash (right) reverts back to include alternating yellow and scarlet stripes. (Army Institute of Heraldry)

The 5th Special Forces Group is headed back to its Vietnam past for its future beret flash.

The all-black U-shaped shield it has worn on its Green Berets since the mid-1980s is being retired in favor of the Vietnam-era flash that was both a nod toward the Republic of Vietnam as well as the two Special Forces groups that preceded the 5th into the war.

"We are going to be reverting back to what we wore during the Vietnam conflict," Sgt. Jacob Mahaffey, a spokesman for the group, told Military.com. "It may be in the April or May time frame."

An announcement posted Nov. 18 on Facebook noted the change would occur during a March 23 ceremony at Gabriel Field, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Mahaffey said the date is subject to change and that the service would likely announce a date certain this week.

"Everyone I've talked to around here is fine with" the change, he said. "A lot of the older guys I've talked to, the veterans, are really excited about it. It means more to the group than the solid black."

Cliff Newman, executive director of the Special Forces Association, said 2016 will be "the 55th anniversary of the 5th Special Forces Group, and this change is to honor that history and especially those who did not return."

Retired Col. John Tobin, president of the association, said the change was done "within the 5th SFG [Association] and the Regiment."

"I would not presume to speak for the active duty troops concerning the matter," he wrote in an email.

Within the SF community, there is disagreement over the colors and pattern of the Vietnam Era flash -- three red stripes divided and bordered by yellow stripes. The scheme is same as the flag of the Republic of Vietnam.

But the association states the yellow and red stripes pay honor to the 1st and 7th Special Forces Groups, respectively, which deployed to Vietnam prior to the 5th going over in 1964 -- not the flag.

When the band was struck from the flash in the mid-80s, however, it was 5th SFG Commander Col. James Guest who attributed the colors and pattern to the South Vietnamese flag.

Guest argued that the colors of another country's flag should not be part of a Special Forces flash and also pointed out that the flag and the Republic of Vietnam no longer existed, according to a posting on the website ProfessionalSoldiers.com, which cites as its source the 1990 book, "Special Forces of the U.S. Army," by Ian Sutherland.

On the same website, which is mostly private, one writer said the only reason he could think of for the change "is that Hollywood has made that flash famous."

"People that have no idea who the [Green Berets] are or what Special Forces is recognize that flash" from movies, wrote someone identified as Team Sergeant.

"If that's what 5th SFG (A)'s leadership thinks is important, that's their business," wrote another commenter identified as Peregrino. "Personally, I think it's indefensible (translated as "stupid beyond belief") but then what do I know. After all, I left 5th for 7th in 1983 and never looked back."

But if history -- in particular Vietnam history -- at the heart of it, wrote another identified as CW3SF, "20 yrs from now they will have to bring back the black flash for all of the [Global War on Terror] vets."

--Bryant Jordan can be reached at bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @bryantjordan.