274th Regiment

The 4th "Đồng Nai" Regiment (also known as the 274 Viet Cong Main Force Regiment or VC 274th Regiment by the US and its allies ^[1]) was a regiment of the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The regiment was part of the VC 5th Division and operated in the Bien Hoa, Đồng Nai, Phước Tuy and Long Khánh provinces, in what was known as the Hát Dịch Secret Zone.

4th Regiment
Allegiance	Vietnam
Branch	National Liberation Front (until 1976) People's Army of Vietnam (1976-present)
Type	Infantry
Role	Guerrilla (until 1976) Regular infantry (1976-present)
Size	Regiment
Part of	5th Infantry Division (Vietnam)
Garrison/HQ	Hát Dịch
Nickname(s)	Đồng Nai

The Regiment consisted of a headquarters and three battalions (800, 265 and 308 Battalions). Each battalion of the regiment consisted of a HQ, three rifle companies and a heavy weapons company. 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.

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,^[2] Long Khanh, Operation Coburg and the Battle of Long Tan against Australian and New Zealand forces, and the Battle of Phuoc Long against the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

After the Tet Offensive in 1968, the regiment left the 5th Division, stayed and operated in Ba Ria-Long Khanh region, under direct command of Military Region 9.^[3]

References

1. Wilkins 2011, p. 191.
2. Horner 1990, pp. 457–458.
3. Major General Nguyen Hong Phuc, Website of 5th Division Veterans

Sources

• Horner, David (1990). Duty First: The Royal Australian Regiment in War and Peace (First ed.). North Sydney: Allen and Unwin. ISBN 0-04-442227-X.
• Wilkins, Warren (2011). Grab Their Belts to Fight Them: The Viet Cong's Big Unit-War Against the U.S., 1965-1966. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1591149613.