On August 2, 1996, Regiment 196 was officially established as the first submarine unit in Vietnam’s Navy.

Regiment 196 holds a great honor and mission: to train, manage, command, and ensure technical support for the Navy’s first strategic submarine force in the defense of Vietnam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands.

Invisible strength beneath the sea

Lieutenant Colonel Pham Van Son, Political Commissar of Regiment 196, describes submarines as symbols of “invisible strength.” These high-tech weapons demand absolute precision, secrecy, and military discipline. Establishing a reliable "combat rear" for the submarine force - like Regiment 196 - plays a strategic role in the modernization of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Submarines represent a unique combat force, operating in special conditions that require stringent discipline and precision.

The regiment is tasked with critical duties such as training and managing submarine crews, shore-based support teams, command and combat readiness operations, and ensuring logistics and technical support for the unit’s submarines.

In the vast ocean, Vietnam’s submariners live in a world without sunlight, where day and night blur. They live closely with machines and weapons, communicating with brief commands through control panels. Every number and technical reading must be monitored carefully for safety. Discipline is paramount - any moment of carelessness from one crew member could lead to irreparable disaster.

According to the Political Commissar: “Without strong political will, sustainable collective strength is impossible. Political education, adherence to resolutions, tradition-based learning, and following President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings are regularly practiced, closely tied to real-life situations. Our submariners embody the spirit of ‘self-discipline, self-study, and self-training.’”

Mental and physical resilience training

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Quang, Commander of Regiment 196, noted that with growing complexities in the East Sea, the unit faces rising demands. Drawing on 29 years of experience, the regiment has developed a range of strategies for training and combat readiness.

Training also includes mental and physical resilience, technical and tactical proficiency, and realistic situational response exercises under conditions mimicking actual combat.

“Every mission must be urgent, classified, and executed with absolute precision. Each crew, training session, and technical inspection under the sea is a ‘silent battle,’” shared Lieutenant Colonel Vu Quang.

The regiment has comprehensively implemented training programs focused on building professional, technically sound submarine crews. They are trained to remain composed under high-pressure, demanding environments deep beneath the sea.

Alongside this, the regiment places special emphasis on technical maintenance for specialized submarine equipment. With a team of well-trained technical officers, the unit consistently maintains or exceeds equipment performance targets and ensures absolute safety for personnel and equipment.

“The growth of Regiment 196 is a clear testament to the development of Vietnam’s submarine force. In this new era, Regiment 196 will continue comprehensive innovation, improve training quality, master high-tech weaponry, and uphold collective strength through unity and discipline,” shared Major Vuong Van Man, the regiment’s Chief Political Officer.

Thanh Hue