The Republic of Vietnam Armored Cavalry (1955–1975) () was the armor branch of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, serving as a mobile, heavy-firepower shock force on the battlefield. It frequently coordinated with Infantry, Airborne, Marine, and Ranger units to rapidly resolve engagements using "infantry-supporting-armor" tactics. The force was consistently a key participant in large-scale operations involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Artillery.

History Till late 1959, in addition to seven infantry divisions, the reorganized South Vietnamese Army had four separate armored battalions, an airborne brigade, a marine group, and a helicopter squadron. Each infantry division had one reconnaissance company (light armored vehicles).

In early 1964, Lt. Gen. Trần Văn Đôn - Minister of defense and as the chief of the Joint General Staff (JGS) had combat elements included 97 infantry, 28 artillery, and six airborne battalions, two special forces groups, and six regiments of armored cavalry. Each armored cavalry regiment consisted of a squadron of M24 Chaffee tanks, a squadron of six-wheeled M8 armored cars, a reconnaissance squadron mounted in M114 command and reconnaissance carriers, and two mechanized rifle squadrons equipped with M113 armored personnel carriers. The regiments never operated as entire entities. Rather, they sent out individual troops and squadrons to perform missions.

Two armored cavalry regiments were directly placed under JGS General Reserve alongside eleven crack battalions: six of paratroopers and five of marines. These units could be deployed to repond fours Corps' battle requirements for a few days to a few months, but ultimately they had to return to their home bases around Saigon to refit and to defend the capital against both the insurgents and coups.

By the end of 1970 the force structure of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (RVNAF) appeared to have finally settled down. After two years little had changed. With nine infantry divisions, the airborne and marine divisions, two independent regiments, the regular army could marshal about 120 infantry battalions, plus 20 ranger, 9 airborne, and 9 marine battalions. The ranger battalions were apportioned between five group (regimental-level) headquarters. Saigon's 17 armored cavalry squadrons (also battalion-size units) were assigned either to the regular infantry divisions or to the newly activated armor brigades in each zone.

Operations

1968–1969: Tet Offensive and aftermath

1969–1971: Vietnamization and Cambodian Civil War In February and March 1971, two attached troops (1/3rd, 1/8th) of the 2nd Armored Brigade along four subordinate squadrons (17th, 7th, 4th, 11th) of the 1st Armored Brigade under Col. Nguyễn Trọng Luật in ARVN I Corps formation took part in Operation Lam Son 719, suffered losses of 54 tanks and 87 combat vehicles.

1972: Easter Offensive

During April 1972, one attached squadron (18th Cavalry) from the 3rd Armored Brigade along four subordinate squadrons (20th Tank, 17th, 11th, 4th Cavalry) from the 1st Armored Brigade of Col. Nguyễn Trọng Luật joined the First Battle of Quảng Trị under the ARVN 3rd Division operational control, fighting alongside Marines and Rangers. By 2 May, the entire province of Quảng Trị, including Quảng Trị city, had fallen to PAVN, remnants of the defending forces retreated southward to Camp Evan, losing all their tanks, and retaining only armored cavalry assault vehicles.

In the Second Battle of Dakto, ARVN II Corps lost two infantry regiments (42nd, 47th) of the 22nd Division, as well as the division commander and his staff. The corps' attached 2nd Armored Brigade also lost most of its M41 tanks of 14th and 19th Cavalry Squadrons. In 10 May, Maj. Gen. Nguyễn Văn Toàn - chief of armor cum Assistant Commander for Operations of I Corps was appointed II Corps commander to replace Lt. Gen Ngô Du. Responsibily for the Kontum defence were placed on Gen. Toàn and the 23rd Division commander - Col. Lý Tòng Bá - who was also an armor commander. On 31 May, ARVN infantry supported by tanks from the 8th Cavalry Squadron dislodged PAVN troops from the northern part of the city. After several weeks of bloody fighting along Highway QL-14 at Chư Pao Pass, the 3rd Cavalry Squadron turned the entrenched PAVN position by maneuvering west, finally cleared the southern supply line to Kontum on 19 June.

In the Second Battle of Lộc Ninh, the 9th Infantry Regiment and the attached 1st Armored Cavalry Squadron of ARVN III Corps' 5th Division suffered heavy losses. Just two hundred troops of the 9th Infantry and about two dozens vehicles of the 1st Armored would retreat to An Lộc. Admist the chaos following the collapse of Lộc Ninh, Col. , commanding the 5th Armored Squadron – which was attached to the 18th Division – was killed by PAVN anti-aircraft fire on an aerial reconnaissance mission north of Chơn Thành.

1973–1974: Post-Paris Peace Accords At the end of March 1974, People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) Col. Gen. Trần Văn Trà's first strategic raid came with elements of the PAVN 5th Division attacked the district seat of Đức Huệ (in Hậu Nghĩa province west of Saigon), held by the 83rd Border Ranger Battalion. At the end of April, ARVN III Corps decided to crack the condor around Đức Huệ with a large-scale assault force combining several battalions of the ARVN 25th Division, the 7th Ranger Group, and local Regional Forces, all under direction of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. Trần Quang Khôi. Khôi organized his forces to three subordinate units: Task Force (TF) 315, 318 and 322. Each TF was a composite unit comprising a Ranger battalion, an artillery battalion, and an armor squadron.

1975: Spring Offensive

Formation and units 1st Armored Brigade : 20th Tank Squadron 17th, 11th, 7th, 4th Cavalry Squadrons 2nd Armored Brigade : 21st Tank Squadron 19th, 14th, 8th, 3rd Cavalry Squadrons 3rd Armored Brigade : 22nd Tank Squadron 1st, 5th Cavalry Squadrons

References