On April 28, the Vietnam People’s Navy marked the 40th anniversary of the formation and development of its submarine force, one of its elite units that plays a strategic deterrent role in protecting maritime sovereignty.

Submarines are special vehicles designed to operate underwater, capable of reconnaissance of military targets, along with stealth operations, surprise attacks, and achieving victory over adversaries, creating deterrence both in peacetime and wartime, across all maritime and ocean battlefields.

In the 1980s, when the country still faced numerous difficulties, the Vietnam People’s Army had already set the goal of building a submarine force. Squadron 182, the predecessor of the submarine force, was established, with its first officers and sailors sent to the Soviet Union for training.

Among those pioneering trainees was Lieutenant General Tran Quang Khue, who later became Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.

However, the country’s economic conditions at that time were still extremely challenging. Facing urgent mission requirements, Squadron 182 had to suspend its training program and return home to take on other responsibilities. The submarine dream was temporarily shelved but not forgotten.

On August 2, 1996, Naval Regiment 196 was established. This was the first submarine unit, laying the foundation for the long-term development of the force.

On September 1, 2011, at Center 650 of the Russian Naval Academy, the first training course for Kilo 636 submarine trainees of Naval Brigade 189 was launched. This was a strategic step by the Party, the State, the Central Military Commission, and the Ministry of National Defense to protect the country’s maritime sovereignty amid complex developments in the East Sea.

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hai Dang, captain of Submarine 185 – Khanh Hoa, was one of the trainees of this course. He recalled the early days: “Most trainees only had basic literacy and communication skills. But with strong determination, we studied day and night, making use of every break to exchange lessons. We were not just studying for ourselves, but for the nation.”

In May 2013, two important decisions were issued: the establishment of the Submarine Department under the Naval Staff and the establishment of Submarine Brigade 189 in Cam Ranh.

For the first time, the Vietnam People’s Navy had an operational-level submarine unit capable of organizing training, maintaining combat readiness, and coordinating maritime operations.

A special force in maritime posture

On January 3, 2014, the country welcomed its first submarine, Submarine 182 – Hanoi. Subsequent submarines gradually joined the Navy’s combat formation. For the first time in national history, Vietnam had a force operating beneath the sea surface, guarding the nation’s deep waters.

Operating underwater is not only a matter of technology but also a harsh challenge for humans.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trong Hong, political officer of Submarine 184 – Hai Phong, shared: “Operating in a special underwater environment, for many consecutive days without seeing sunlight, without internet connection, phone signal, or television, has a certain impact on the psychological state of the troops.

“To train soldiers to have strong mental resilience and endure hardships under such conditions, we always promote the distinctive culture of the submarine force: ‘honor – responsibility, courtesy – discipline, unity – humility, resilience – determination to win’.”

For submarine personnel, each individual must not only be professionally competent but also integrate into the collective as an inseparable link.

After nearly 15 years since the establishment of Brigade 189, submarine crews have fully mastered the Kilo 636 submarines, which are capable of stealth operations, reconnaissance, and surprise attacks. They are special soldiers in a special unit, carrying a special mission to firmly protect the nation’s maritime sovereignty.

According to Senior Colonel Hoang Van Dong, Political Commissar of Naval Brigade 189, the submarine force is one of the five core forces of the Navy, an elite and modern unit that plays a key combat role and serves as the backbone in the people’s war posture at sea.

“The requirement is not only that each submariner possesses special qualities, but that all must form a collective with special qualities, including exceptional loyalty, strict discipline, elite capability, and absolute safety. These are qualities we inherit from the traditions of our homeland, the Army, the Vietnam People’s Navy, and from our continuous training and operations in this unique environment,” Senior Colonel Hoang Van Dong said.

Thanh Hue