Liberation Army of South Vietnam

According to 1954 Geneva agreements, the Viet Minh were not compulsorily removed to the North because it was a political entity, not a military force. Hanoi support for the Viet Minh to establish the NLF forces was allowed on the basis that it remained a militia in the South. The LASV was recognized as the official force on February 15, 1961, by North Vietnam. The LASV originally carried out operations ostensibly to protect South Vietnamese citizens from offensives by the Republic of Vietnam and the United States. Most early soldiers in the LASV were South Vietnamese. However, casualties of war forced North Vietnam to provide volunteers for the LASV. The DRV and other Marxist–Leninist nations recognised the LASV as the primary militarily force in South Vietnam and considered the PAVN to be its parent organization. Command mechanism: Public: The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government led politically The People's Revolutionary Party of South Vietnam and the Regional Command command military affairs throughout the South Secret: The Politburo and Central Military Commission of the Labor Party of Vietnam, the General Command of the Vietnam People's Army direct the entire South, directly on the battlefields B1, B3, B4, B5. The Central Department of the South, the Military Commission of the South, the Command of the Region on the battlefield B2, under the general direction of the Labor Party of Vietnam The Politburo, the Secretariat of the Labor Party and directly the Central Department of the South of the Labor Party secretly directed the National Front for Liberation and the Provisional Revolutionary Government. After the reunification of Vietnam in 1975, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam was merged into the People's Army of Vietnam in 1976. In fact, all the Viet Cong army forces had been incorporated into the North Vietnamese army since early 1975. MBT being exhibited in LASV colors and identification. It was practically operated by the Northern headquarters PAVN; however, PAVN conducted most military operations in the Southern territories under the LASV name. ==Developments==

In January 1961, the militia in South Vietnam became the official force there. On February 15, 1961, North Vietnam recognized it as the main battle force in South Vietnam. At the end of 1961, there were 24,500 soldiers and 100,000 militants in the LASV. The LASV had 11 battalions, with commanding generals Trần Văn Trà, Hoàng Văn Thái, Lê Trọng Tấn, Lê Đức Anh, Nguyễn Thị Định, and others. The LASV initially confined its operations to rural areas due to Ngô Đình Diệm's tough crackdown on Communist sympathizers. However, the number of soldiers still went up to 64,000 in 1963. As the result, regiments were established. From 1964, North Vietnam started providing soldiers for the LASV through volunteers. The number of the LASV soldiers reached over 290,000 in December 1974, including 90,000 from the South. The South Vietnamese and United States forces outnumbered the PAVN by at least 7 to 1 until 1965; even after 1965 the coalition forces still outnumbered the PAVN by 3 to 1. The LASV also included urban fighting forces, especially in Saigon. These forces had mission of carrying out cover attacks against South Vietnam and American forces and its allies in urban areas, especially in Saigon. The urban special force in Saigon is famous in the 1968 Tet offensive. Main units • 7th Division established in 1966 in South Vietnam, on the basis of the two Regiments 141 and 165 of the old 312th Division in the North. After that, the formation had many other regiments marching southwards, subordinated to the division. Regiment: 16th Regiment (101st Regiment, 325th Division), 14th Regiment (18th Regiment, 325th Division), 209th Regiment (312th Division), 95C Regiment (9th Division). In 1974, The group was in the 4th Army Corps (B2). • 9th Division established in 1965 in South Vietnam, on the basis of two regiments Q761 and Q762. Soldiers in the formation of the division consisted of all three regions, the largest number of which were Southerners who had participated in Dong Khoi. In 1974, the division was in the 4th Army Corps (B2). In 1975 the division was in Division 232 for some time. • 5th Division established in 1965 in South Vietnam from two regiments Q.764 (E4) and Q.765 (E55), in 1975 was part of Division 232 for a period of time, participating in the Ho Chi Minh campaign, wing west-south, then to Military Region 7. • 3rd Division established in 1965 under the 5th Military Region, consisting of the 2nd Regiment (an "original Viet Cong" regiment completely recruited from the local), the 12th Regiment (former the 18th Regiment of the 325th Division with the traditional tradition from the Indochina War. February 1965, regiment departed for the battlefield), 22nd Regiment, 21st Regiment • 2nd Division was established in 1965 in the 5th Military Region, on the basis of the 1st regiment in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, the 21st regiment of the North and the addition of the 70th infantry battalion...In 1975, it belonged to the 3rd Army Corps. When the 3rd Army Corps marched to the South, the 2nd Division stayed in the 5th Military Region. • The 3rd Division belongs to the Regional Command (B2) (also called Phuoc Long division or 303 division, in Legion 232) • The 4th Division belongs to the 9th Military Region • the 8th Division belongs to the 8th Military Region, established 22 October 1974... • The 812th Infantry Regiment was established in 1950, formerly known as 120 Company, local army zone 6, developed into the main 840 battalion of Military Region 6, operating mainly on the southernmost battlefield of Central Vietnam. After the Geneva agreement was signed, the 840th battalion was ordered to assemble to the North. In 1974, the 6th Military Region Command decided to establish the 812th Infantry Regiment. • Gia Dinh Regiment was established in 1959 in South Vietnam. On April 1, 1975, the unit was officially named Gia Dinh Regiment. • The 88th Infantry Regiment was established in 1949 in North Vietnam and split in 1965 into Regiment 88B and Regiment 88A. Regiment 88A was assigned to the South. In March 1975, the Regiment separated from the 8th Military Region to consolidate its forces, participating in the Ho Chi Minh campaign as the 5th wing of the 232nd division. After that, the 88th Regiment belonged to the 302nd Division, the 7th Military Region. • The 6th Infantry Regiment belongs to the Tri - Thien Military Region, established 1965 ==Equipment==

The Viet Minh established the NLF in order to help reunified Vietnam. PAVN forces that went to the South were sent with the express mission to aid the NLF. The NLF army had different uniforms, flags and badges to those of the PAVN. Small arms rifle, standing beneath an NLF flag.|alt= Handguns • Tokarev TT-33 – Soviet-designed single-action 7.62×25mm semi-automatic pistol. More commonly used were the Chinese variants of the T33, known as the Type-51 and Type-54. Carried by PAVN and Viet-Cong officers, it accepted an 8-round single stack box magazine. • Makarov PM – Soviet-designed double/single-action 9×18mm Makarov (9.5×18mm) semi-automatic pistol. Reproduced in China as the Type-59, this small and reliable pistol became the standard sidearm of communist forces in Europe and Asia. Utilizing a simple blow-back action, this self-loading pistol fed from an 8-round single stack box magazine. • Thompson submachine gun from USA • PPSh-41 submachine gun (both Soviet and Chinese versions) • MP-40 German sub machine captured during World War II by the Soviet Army, supplied to the Viet Cong in limited amounts • MAT-49 submachine gun – Captured from the French by the North Vietnamese, many were converted to 7.62×25mm. • PM-63 Polish submachine gun • MP-38 submachine gun (captured by the Soviets during World War II; provided to the PAVN and the NLF as military aid) • PPS-43 Russian submachine gun • Sten England submachine gun • Type 100 (use from Indochina war) Machine guns • Type 99 LMG • RPD light machine gun • Degtyarev DP light machine gun • SG-43/SGM medium machine guns (including Chinese copies) • RPK light machine gun • ZB-26 light machine gun • FM 24/29 light machine gun • PK machine gun Very limited use. • MG-34 light machine gun (captured by the Soviets during World War II; provided to the PAVN and the NLF as military aid) • MG-42 medium machine gun (captured by the Soviets during World War II; provided to the PAVN and the NLF as military aid) • Uk vz. 59 general-purpose machine gun • Madsen LMG • DShK heavy machine gun • Browning M1917 heavy machine gun • PM M1910 heavy machine gun Grenades and other explosives • F1 grenade • Type 67 stick grenade • RG-42 grenade • RGD-5 grenade • 9K32 Strela-2 anti-aircraft weapon • RPG-2 anti-tank weapon (both Soviet and locally produced B-40 and B-50 variants used) • RPG-7 anti-tank weapon • Type 69 RPG anti-tank weapon • PTRD-41 Flamethrowers • LPO-50 flamethrower (limited use) Artillery • ZPU-4 quad 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine gun • ZU-23 twin 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon • M1939 37 mm anti-aircraft gun • S-60 57 mm anti-aircraft gun • 85 mm air defense gun M1939 (52-K) • 100 mm air defense gun KS-19 • 82-PM-41 82 mm mortar • 107 mm M1938 mortar • M1938 120 mm mortar • M1943 160 mm mortar • Type 63 107 mm rocket launcher • BM-21 Grad 122 mm rocket launcher • 122 mm Katyusha rockets • BM-25 (MRL) limited numbers • 122 mm gun M1931/37 (A-19) • 122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30) • D-74 122 mm field gun • 130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46) • 152 mm howitzer M1943 (D-1) • 152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20) Aircraft weapons • Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 • Nudelman-Rikhter NR-30 • Nudelman N-37 • Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 ==Activities==

There are few traits to distinguish between LASV and PAVN forces. Over half of LASV and PAVN soldiers were members of the Communist Party of Vietnam. However, LASV and PAVN forces nominally used different flags and emblems. PAVN troops carried the North Vietnamese flag, while LASV troops carried the Viet Cong flag. ==List of military victories==

• Battle of Ap Bac - 2 January 1963 • Battle of Hiep Hoa - 22 November 1963 • Attack on USNS Card - May 2, 1964 • Battle of An Lão - December 7–9, 1964 • Battle of Binh Gia - December 28, 1964 - January 1, 1965 • Attack on Camp Holloway • Battle of Ba Gia • Battle of Dong Xoai • Battle of Gang Toi • Battle of Xa Cam My • Attack on the SS Baton Rouge Victory • Battle of Ong Thanh • Attack on Cu Chi Base Camp ==Significant leaders ==

===Commanders=== Political Commissars Chiefs of Staff Other leaders ==Battle forces==

If a LASV unit has the same name with a PAVN unit, the LASV name will have the letter "B" added after the unit number. • Tây Nguyên Corps (Main battle force in Central Highlands area) • Cửu Long Corps (Main battle force in Mekong Delta area) • Division 1 (Main battle force in Central Highlands area) • Division 2 (Main battle force in South Central Coast area) aka Quảng Đà Division or Steel Division • Division 3 (Main battle force in South Central Coast area) aka Sao Vàng (Yellow Star) Division • Division 4 (Main battle force in the South) • Division 5 (Main battle force in Mekong Delta area) • Division 6 (Main battle force in Southeastern area) • Division 7 (Main battle force in the South) • Division 8 (Main battle force in Mekong Delta area) • Division 9 (Main battle force in the South) • Division 10 (Main battle force in Central Highlands area) • Division 31 • Division 303 (Main battle force in the South) • Division 304B (Viet Cong) • Division 308B (Viet Cong) • Division 324B (Viet Cong) • Division 325 (Main battle force in Central Highlands area) • Special forces Division 100 (Viet Cong) • Special forces Division 305 ==References==