VC 274th Regiment
Encyclopedia
The VC 274th Regiment, also known as the 274 Viet Cong (Dong Nai) Main Force Regiment, was a regiment
of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War
. The regiment was part of the VC Division 5
and operated in the Bien Hoa
, Đồng Nai, Phước Tuy
and Long Khánh
provinces.
The Regiment consisted of a headquarters and three battalions. The regiment consisted of about 1,500 men, recruited from outside the area of their operation supplemented by North Vietnamese Army regulars. Local Viet Cong elements acted as scouts during operations. Each battalion of the regiment consisted of a HQ, three rifle companies and a heavy weapons company.
The regimental HQ had eight supporting companies equipped with 82 mm mortars
, 12.7 mm heavy machine guns
and 75 mm recoilless rifles and communications, transport, medical and engineer companies.
The Regiment or its battalions participated in the battles of Suoi Chau Pha
, Hat Dich
, Long Khanh
and during Operation Coburg
against Australian Army
forces and the Battle of Phuoc Long
against the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The regiment was part of the VC Division 5
VC 5th Division
The 5th Infantry Division, was a division of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The division consisted of the 274 Regiment and 275 Regiment plus supporting units. North Vietnamese regulars also reinforced the division during operations...
and operated in the Bien Hoa
Biên Hòa Province
Biên Hòa is a former province of South Vietnam originally formed in 1832 containing areas of Dong Nai Province, Ba Ria–Vung Tau province and Binh Phuoc province with total area of over 17.000 km²....
, Đồng Nai, Phước Tuy
Phuoc Tuy Province
Phước Tuy Province was a province of South Vietnam. It now mostly corresponds to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, just southeast of Ho Chi Minh City....
and Long Khánh
Long Khánh Province
Long Khánh is former province in Dong Nam Bo region of South Vietnam. It was formed on October 22, 1956 by separating from Biên Hòa Province.On April 24, 1957, it had two districts Xuân Lộc and Định Quán.On April 30, 1975, the province was renamed to Xuan Loc....
provinces.
The Regiment consisted of a headquarters and three battalions. The regiment consisted of about 1,500 men, recruited from outside the area of their operation supplemented by North Vietnamese Army regulars. Local Viet Cong elements acted as scouts during operations. Each battalion of the regiment consisted of a HQ, three rifle companies and a heavy weapons company.
The regimental HQ had eight supporting companies equipped with 82 mm mortars
82-PM-41
The 82-pm-41, M-41 or the 82-mm mortar Model 1941 was a Soviet 82 millimeter calibre mortar developed during the Second World War as an infantry battalion mortar, and which begun production in 1941...
, 12.7 mm heavy machine guns
DShK
The DShK 1938 is a Soviet heavy machine gun firing the 12.7x108mm cartridge. The weapon was also used as a heavy infantry machine gun, in which case it was frequently deployed with a two-wheeled mounting and a single-sheet armour-plate shield...
and 75 mm recoilless rifles and communications, transport, medical and engineer companies.
The Regiment or its battalions participated in the battles of Suoi Chau Pha
Battle of Suoi Chau Pha
The Battle of Suoi Chau Pha was fought during the Vietnam War between Australian troops and the Viet Cong. The battle took place during Operation Ballarat, an Australian search and destroy operation in the eastern Hat Dich area, north-west of Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province...
, Hat Dich
Battle of Hat Dich
The Battle of Hat Dich was a series of military actions fought between the 1st Australian Task Force and the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during the Vietnam War...
, Long Khanh
Battle of Long Khanh
The Battle of Long Khanh was fought during the Vietnam War between elements of 1st Australian Task Force and the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army during Operation Overlord...
and during Operation Coburg
Operation Coburg
Operation Coburg was an Australian military action during the Vietnam War. The operation saw heavy fighting between the 1st Australian Task Force and North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong during the wider fighting around Long Binh and Bien Hoa...
against Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
forces and the Battle of Phuoc Long
Battle of Phuoc Long
The Battle of Phuoc Long was a decisive major battle of the Vietnam War which began on December 12, 1974, and concluded on January 6, 1975. The battle involved the deployment of North Vietnam's 4th Army Corp for the first time, against determined units of the South Vietnamese Army in Phuoc Long,...
against the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
.