Españoles en Vietnam: Franco's last war.
- Thread starter Kurt_Steiner
- Start date
Well, they were made for war, so short, so simple.
About the USA learning something about this relation... well, it depends on the willingness of Washington to learn...
21. Search and, if possible, destroy.
21. Search and, if possible, destroy.
By September 1967 the area were the Spanish troops turned "hot". Until then, for the past few months, the Viet Cong had refrained itself, so it seemed, from trying anything bigger than small ambushes and hit-and-run attacks with mortars. Then, everything changed.
On September 29, the Spanish forces, along with the ARVN, began to raid the area in the so called "Operatación Bailén" (Operation Bailen, for the famous defeat that Napoleon suffered in Spain). For the next two days, the Allied forces only made a few contacts with the Viet Cong. On October 2, a South Vietnamese unit operating east of National Route 1A near Vinh Long made significant contact with a large Viet Cong formation and suffered heavy casualties. Enemy documents captured by the South Vietnamese during the indicated they had clashed with a battalion-sized unit from the VC 132nd Regiment and the MACV decided to destroy the unit, if possible.
As the soldiers of the 132nd Regiment were starving, they began to withdraw to Cambodia, hopping to resupply along the way, but local Viet Cong units also lacked adequate food supplies of their own, so the 1321nd Regiment was forced to wait in the area for the arrival of rice and other essential supplies. It was then when one of the three Spanish batallion made contact with them. They found a company-sized Viet Cong formation about 8 kilometers south-west of Mỹ Tho. In the ensuing firefight, the Spanish commander claimed to have killed 12 enemy soldiers. To pursue the retreating Viet Cong formation, Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo de Rada — CO of the 1st Battalion, STFV— was to lead an air-assault in order to block enemy troops. The landing, as usual, was unopposed, and the Spanish soldiers immediately set up a standard field position with wire entanglements. On October 6, the 1st Battalion's position was subjected to a mortar bombardment that caused little damage. Just in case, de Rada thought it was part of the enemy's final preparations for a major ground attack later on and readied his unit for the worst.
At around 6:00 pm, as the rain began to fall, the Viet Cong started attacking the battalion's camp from different directions, but de Rada' men were able to hold their ground with the support of artillery and mortar fire. By 10:00 am the fight was over, and Spanish casualties included 2 killed in action and 3 wounded. In the field they could see at last ten enemy bodies. On October 8, as there were no more contacts wit hthe enemy, the 2nd Battalion, that was used as the STFV's reaction force was then and air-lifted into a site about 3 kilometers north-west of de Rada' 1st Battalion. Charlie Company was detached from the 3rd Battalion to protect the supporting batteries. However, nothing happened.
On October 11, lieutenant coronel Pablo Ortega led two companies of his 2nd Batallion on a northward probe, and they were immediately attacked by the Viet Cong. Under heavy fire, the two companies had to pull back and formed a perimeter. As they fell back, artillery and air support were called against the attackers. When the enemy withdrewr, ten Viet Cong soldiers were found dead, whereas Spanish casualties for the day were 2 wounded. Shortly afterwards, the battalion pulled back to My Tho for rest and refitting. By mid-October, the MACV believed the Viet Cong had suffered a major defeat and was ready to withdraw from the area.
However, Charlie was not willing to give up.
By September 1967 the area were the Spanish troops turned "hot". Until then, for the past few months, the Viet Cong had refrained itself, so it seemed, from trying anything bigger than small ambushes and hit-and-run attacks with mortars. Then, everything changed.
On September 29, the Spanish forces, along with the ARVN, began to raid the area in the so called "Operatación Bailén" (Operation Bailen, for the famous defeat that Napoleon suffered in Spain). For the next two days, the Allied forces only made a few contacts with the Viet Cong. On October 2, a South Vietnamese unit operating east of National Route 1A near Vinh Long made significant contact with a large Viet Cong formation and suffered heavy casualties. Enemy documents captured by the South Vietnamese during the indicated they had clashed with a battalion-sized unit from the VC 132nd Regiment and the MACV decided to destroy the unit, if possible.
As the soldiers of the 132nd Regiment were starving, they began to withdraw to Cambodia, hopping to resupply along the way, but local Viet Cong units also lacked adequate food supplies of their own, so the 1321nd Regiment was forced to wait in the area for the arrival of rice and other essential supplies. It was then when one of the three Spanish batallion made contact with them. They found a company-sized Viet Cong formation about 8 kilometers south-west of Mỹ Tho. In the ensuing firefight, the Spanish commander claimed to have killed 12 enemy soldiers. To pursue the retreating Viet Cong formation, Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo de Rada — CO of the 1st Battalion, STFV— was to lead an air-assault in order to block enemy troops. The landing, as usual, was unopposed, and the Spanish soldiers immediately set up a standard field position with wire entanglements. On October 6, the 1st Battalion's position was subjected to a mortar bombardment that caused little damage. Just in case, de Rada thought it was part of the enemy's final preparations for a major ground attack later on and readied his unit for the worst.
At around 6:00 pm, as the rain began to fall, the Viet Cong started attacking the battalion's camp from different directions, but de Rada' men were able to hold their ground with the support of artillery and mortar fire. By 10:00 am the fight was over, and Spanish casualties included 2 killed in action and 3 wounded. In the field they could see at last ten enemy bodies. On October 8, as there were no more contacts wit hthe enemy, the 2nd Battalion, that was used as the STFV's reaction force was then and air-lifted into a site about 3 kilometers north-west of de Rada' 1st Battalion. Charlie Company was detached from the 3rd Battalion to protect the supporting batteries. However, nothing happened.
On October 11, lieutenant coronel Pablo Ortega led two companies of his 2nd Batallion on a northward probe, and they were immediately attacked by the Viet Cong. Under heavy fire, the two companies had to pull back and formed a perimeter. As they fell back, artillery and air support were called against the attackers. When the enemy withdrewr, ten Viet Cong soldiers were found dead, whereas Spanish casualties for the day were 2 wounded. Shortly afterwards, the battalion pulled back to My Tho for rest and refitting. By mid-October, the MACV believed the Viet Cong had suffered a major defeat and was ready to withdraw from the area.
However, Charlie was not willing to give up.
On internet. It was in a auction website, IRC. No information about it, but I found it rather curious.
Huh. There's got to be an interesting story in there somewhere. Franco sent a military medical detachment IOTL. Maybe they wore patches like that? No idea.
22. A change in the tide?
22. A change in the tide?
In the following days, the Spanish command (And the MACV-SOG too) was surprised for the lack of enemy activity. Some belived that this was cuased by Operation Medina, a search and destroy operation conducted in the Hai Lang Forest Reserve. Perhaps, some voices suggested, the VC was distracted with the fight there.
Then, Charlie sprugn the trap and several Spanish patrls were ambused during the last days of October. The ambushes all followed the same: the VC units launcehd lighthing attacks and withdraw before the American air power and artillery could inflict heavy casualties on them. The Spanish command became concerned about those attacks because, even if the were small affairs, they were increasingly common and they feared it was a signal for something bigger to happen.
However, nothing changed for a while. Apparently, the Spanish Task Force appeared to have lost the initiative and for the first since the beginning of the Spanish operations in Vietnam the number of Spanish soldiers killed in battle, or from friendly fire, mines or booby traps skyrocketed, reversing the task force's kill ratio. That led to the Spanish command to ask the MACV to ask for a permanent tank force aassigned to support the infantry, as waiting for for any armoured force comming from Spain would ta ke too much time (1). Meanwhile, it was suggested to follow the Australian model and to establish a physical barrier to deny the Viet Cong freedom of movement and thereby regain the initiative. However, this idea semeed too costly to Madrid and the issue was soon dragged into a quagmire as the commanders on the field argued for it and Franco dithered about the issue. Soon, when the Australian minefield became a source of munitions for the Viet Cong to use against the ATF, the whole idea was abandoned.
Then, 1968 came and, with it, the nature of the war changed for ever.
(1) In fact, by the time that Franco and his government were finally persuaded of the need of having tanks in South Vietnam, that is, by early 1969, Madrid was less than anxious to increase its commitment in Vietnam.
In the following days, the Spanish command (And the MACV-SOG too) was surprised for the lack of enemy activity. Some belived that this was cuased by Operation Medina, a search and destroy operation conducted in the Hai Lang Forest Reserve. Perhaps, some voices suggested, the VC was distracted with the fight there.
Then, Charlie sprugn the trap and several Spanish patrls were ambused during the last days of October. The ambushes all followed the same: the VC units launcehd lighthing attacks and withdraw before the American air power and artillery could inflict heavy casualties on them. The Spanish command became concerned about those attacks because, even if the were small affairs, they were increasingly common and they feared it was a signal for something bigger to happen.
However, nothing changed for a while. Apparently, the Spanish Task Force appeared to have lost the initiative and for the first since the beginning of the Spanish operations in Vietnam the number of Spanish soldiers killed in battle, or from friendly fire, mines or booby traps skyrocketed, reversing the task force's kill ratio. That led to the Spanish command to ask the MACV to ask for a permanent tank force aassigned to support the infantry, as waiting for for any armoured force comming from Spain would ta ke too much time (1). Meanwhile, it was suggested to follow the Australian model and to establish a physical barrier to deny the Viet Cong freedom of movement and thereby regain the initiative. However, this idea semeed too costly to Madrid and the issue was soon dragged into a quagmire as the commanders on the field argued for it and Franco dithered about the issue. Soon, when the Australian minefield became a source of munitions for the Viet Cong to use against the ATF, the whole idea was abandoned.
Then, 1968 came and, with it, the nature of the war changed for ever.
(1) In fact, by the time that Franco and his government were finally persuaded of the need of having tanks in South Vietnam, that is, by early 1969, Madrid was less than anxious to increase its commitment in Vietnam.
Two short films that seems me, that could be relevant/useful.
Spaniard Army on manoeuvres (1960-1969)
Spaniard Army on manoeuvres (1960-1969)
Interesting...
The first one looks as if it's the filming of some war film, with so many soldiers dressed in US army uniforms and the tanks wearing the white star...
The first one looks as if it's the filming of some war film, with so many soldiers dressed in US army uniforms and the tanks wearing the white star...
23. The Tet offensive
23. The Tet offensive
As the communist Vietnamese forces prepared to launch a major offensive against the Republic of Vietnam and its supporters, they wanted to give an knock-out blow to the enemy forces. Thus, the offensive was to coincide with the annual Lunar New Year (Tet) celebrations, which were traditionally a time of peace, and a cease fire had been negotiated for the holiday. However the offensive was designed to put an end to the resistance led by Saigon and supported by Washington, hoping to catch them with their guard down. Thus, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong units launched attacks across southern Vietnam in the early hours of the of February 1.
Enemy forces attacked major population centers of the Spanish controlled Go Gong district. The district capital, My Tho, was a quiet town where the Spanish soldiers used to have their laundry done and to buy fresh food, souvenirs and ice, in spite of being a prime target for the Vietcong, that tried to promote a communist uprising among the local population.
First, at 5am two Vietcong companies attacked the Logistics area to the south-west of the town while other small forces attacked other important installations. A platoon assaulted the hospital, but the Spanish troops managed to defeat them. Supported by mortars and artillery, they were, first, keeping at bay the atackers and then defeated them, preventing the enemy for destroying several bridges in the area, even if the Logistic area suffered heavy damage.
As the enemy attack winded down, the Spanish Headquarters received a request for help from a senior US advisor who simply told them that two VC platoons were causing havoc in the area close to the road that linked My Tho with Saigon. With this limited information, they sent a small Ready Reaction Force (RRF) consisting of two platoons from the “A” Company of the 3rd Batallion, commanded by Major Bartolomé Henriquez, who was briefly reported before going into action. Major Henriquez had only been in Vietnam for around a month.
The RRF was ordered to move at 7:35am. Using the speed and shock effect of the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), the Spanish moved fast, using the vehicles as battering rams against their enemy. Nine vehicles were scrambled together to load up the soldiers and, 25 minutes later, the M113s were roaring down the road. They were ambushed on the edge of the Loa Hong village, just a few miles to the north of My Tho. The enemy had set an ambush against the expected Spanish force, but they were quickly dispersed by the APC’s mounted guns and the RRF pressed forwards. Two hours later their advance came to a brutal stop when thet were ambushed again and immediately peppered with sniper fire. As the Spanish soldiers sprung from the relative safety of the vehicles, they took up defensive positions in the roadside monsoon drains and behind walls. Soon semi-automatic fire and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) racked the area, to which the Spanish soldiers responded with rifle and machine gun fire.
The initial reports proved to be wrong and the "just two enemy platoons" turned out to be at least two companies of local guerrillas. Soon, the Spanish force was force to withdraw, fortifiying themselves in an US Administration and Logistics Compound that housed the Provincial Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) and the staff bungalows. The APCs provided invaluable support to the infantry with their firepower. The use of heavy weaponry was discounted due to the potential risk to civilians in the up area.
In this confused situation, the RRF began to clear and occupy the nearby houses on both sides of the road. When the soldiers asked how to do that, an enraged and surprised major Henriquez shouted at them: “Just use your grenades and go in after them!”. Some soldiers, though, later remebered that their CO had not mentioned any grenade at all but their balls. To this day, this version remains unconfirmed.
So, the Spanish group moved slowly, being supported by an APC until it came under attack when it pulled into a narrow street where it was fired on from the surrounding houses. The aggressive VC soldiers threw grenades over the walls and fired RPGs at will, spreading large amounts of debris for its scattering shrapnel effect. However, little by little the enemy soldiers were forced to withdraw and around 10 am the other sections moved to consolidate. By 11 am the area was secured and the VC remnats withdrew. Once the final casualty was evacuated, the RRF returned to its base with M113 damaged but still in working order.
However, in spite of the enemy withdrawal, the Spanish solider could hear a Vietcong bugler as whistles blew out at night. As that sounded as a potential battalion size attack, the Spanish became an all-time Stand-To during the whole night. In retrospect, Major Henriz thought that the bulk form of the APCs and their noises may had deterred the enemy, who possibly mistook them for tanks. The situation remained static through the night except for occasional sniper fire and a number of RPG rounds. All in all, the night went without serious incident.
Skirmishes and some heavy actions took place in surrounding villages during the following days until the 8th of February.
Enemy forces attacked major population centers of the Spanish controlled Go Gong district. The district capital, My Tho, was a quiet town where the Spanish soldiers used to have their laundry done and to buy fresh food, souvenirs and ice, in spite of being a prime target for the Vietcong, that tried to promote a communist uprising among the local population.
First, at 5am two Vietcong companies attacked the Logistics area to the south-west of the town while other small forces attacked other important installations. A platoon assaulted the hospital, but the Spanish troops managed to defeat them. Supported by mortars and artillery, they were, first, keeping at bay the atackers and then defeated them, preventing the enemy for destroying several bridges in the area, even if the Logistic area suffered heavy damage.
As the enemy attack winded down, the Spanish Headquarters received a request for help from a senior US advisor who simply told them that two VC platoons were causing havoc in the area close to the road that linked My Tho with Saigon. With this limited information, they sent a small Ready Reaction Force (RRF) consisting of two platoons from the “A” Company of the 3rd Batallion, commanded by Major Bartolomé Henriquez, who was briefly reported before going into action. Major Henriquez had only been in Vietnam for around a month.
The RRF was ordered to move at 7:35am. Using the speed and shock effect of the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), the Spanish moved fast, using the vehicles as battering rams against their enemy. Nine vehicles were scrambled together to load up the soldiers and, 25 minutes later, the M113s were roaring down the road. They were ambushed on the edge of the Loa Hong village, just a few miles to the north of My Tho. The enemy had set an ambush against the expected Spanish force, but they were quickly dispersed by the APC’s mounted guns and the RRF pressed forwards. Two hours later their advance came to a brutal stop when thet were ambushed again and immediately peppered with sniper fire. As the Spanish soldiers sprung from the relative safety of the vehicles, they took up defensive positions in the roadside monsoon drains and behind walls. Soon semi-automatic fire and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) racked the area, to which the Spanish soldiers responded with rifle and machine gun fire.
The initial reports proved to be wrong and the "just two enemy platoons" turned out to be at least two companies of local guerrillas. Soon, the Spanish force was force to withdraw, fortifiying themselves in an US Administration and Logistics Compound that housed the Provincial Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) and the staff bungalows. The APCs provided invaluable support to the infantry with their firepower. The use of heavy weaponry was discounted due to the potential risk to civilians in the up area.
In this confused situation, the RRF began to clear and occupy the nearby houses on both sides of the road. When the soldiers asked how to do that, an enraged and surprised major Henriquez shouted at them: “Just use your grenades and go in after them!”. Some soldiers, though, later remebered that their CO had not mentioned any grenade at all but their balls. To this day, this version remains unconfirmed.
So, the Spanish group moved slowly, being supported by an APC until it came under attack when it pulled into a narrow street where it was fired on from the surrounding houses. The aggressive VC soldiers threw grenades over the walls and fired RPGs at will, spreading large amounts of debris for its scattering shrapnel effect. However, little by little the enemy soldiers were forced to withdraw and around 10 am the other sections moved to consolidate. By 11 am the area was secured and the VC remnats withdrew. Once the final casualty was evacuated, the RRF returned to its base with M113 damaged but still in working order.
However, in spite of the enemy withdrawal, the Spanish solider could hear a Vietcong bugler as whistles blew out at night. As that sounded as a potential battalion size attack, the Spanish became an all-time Stand-To during the whole night. In retrospect, Major Henriz thought that the bulk form of the APCs and their noises may had deterred the enemy, who possibly mistook them for tanks. The situation remained static through the night except for occasional sniper fire and a number of RPG rounds. All in all, the night went without serious incident.
Skirmishes and some heavy actions took place in surrounding villages during the following days until the 8th of February.
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Sorry for the long delay in the updates, but I had some kind of writer's block combined with some very busy days and some relaxing ones...
But I'm back!
But I'm back!
I love this timeline.
Glad you are back.
Me too. The block was so hard I thought about abandoning this TL.
23. After the Tet...
23. After the Tet...
In spite of the censorship, the Tet offensive created a crisis for the Franco regime. Suddenly, the government was unable to persuade the population that not only the Communists had been soundly defeated but also the United States and its allies were going to win the war. In May 5th, just a the "little Tet" offensive hit 119 targets throughout South Vietnam, including Saigon, the first signs of civil unrest began to appear in several Spanish cities.
Small protests and a few strikes took place in the following days, as the protest movement began to gather strength. When, on May 18, as the Spanish singer Raimon began a concert in support of the strikes, the security forces stampeded to disolve the gathering. So, 18 people, Raimon included, were arrested. In the following days, the police cracked a few more concerts and street protests. The violent reaction of the security forces caused widespread horror, as the vicious actions left many victims on the streets, among them Albert Boadella, who was rendered paralyzed when a bullet severed his spinal cord.
This violence gave rise to a strong reaction by the students and workers. Protests against the war evolved fast and soon spread to the factories with strikes that paralized a quarter of the Spanish industry for a week and a fifth for two. As the protests were highly sponteneous and de-centralized, it was hard for the Francoist police to crack them down but for the usual repressive measures taken against any protests on the streets, but also for the protesters to organize, which soon were in conflict among themselves and with the ilegal trade union and the workers.
The student occupations and wildcat general strikes initiated across Spain were met with forceful confrontation by the police. However, the government's attempts to quell those strikes by police action only worsened the situation further and soon there were street battles with the police in Bilbao, Barcelona, Zaragoza and Málaga, soon followed by Salamanca (albeit if briefly), Toledo and Sevilla. On May 21st, a state of emergency was declared in the whole country and the first soldiers began to patrol the streets of the main Spanish cities. However, the repression had taken its toll among the students and the workers and by May 29th the strikes and the protests evaporated as quickly as they had appeared.
However, they were not gone for good.
Small protests and a few strikes took place in the following days, as the protest movement began to gather strength. When, on May 18, as the Spanish singer Raimon began a concert in support of the strikes, the security forces stampeded to disolve the gathering. So, 18 people, Raimon included, were arrested. In the following days, the police cracked a few more concerts and street protests. The violent reaction of the security forces caused widespread horror, as the vicious actions left many victims on the streets, among them Albert Boadella, who was rendered paralyzed when a bullet severed his spinal cord.
This violence gave rise to a strong reaction by the students and workers. Protests against the war evolved fast and soon spread to the factories with strikes that paralized a quarter of the Spanish industry for a week and a fifth for two. As the protests were highly sponteneous and de-centralized, it was hard for the Francoist police to crack them down but for the usual repressive measures taken against any protests on the streets, but also for the protesters to organize, which soon were in conflict among themselves and with the ilegal trade union and the workers.
The student occupations and wildcat general strikes initiated across Spain were met with forceful confrontation by the police. However, the government's attempts to quell those strikes by police action only worsened the situation further and soon there were street battles with the police in Bilbao, Barcelona, Zaragoza and Málaga, soon followed by Salamanca (albeit if briefly), Toledo and Sevilla. On May 21st, a state of emergency was declared in the whole country and the first soldiers began to patrol the streets of the main Spanish cities. However, the repression had taken its toll among the students and the workers and by May 29th the strikes and the protests evaporated as quickly as they had appeared.
However, they were not gone for good.