Gaz 63, Zil 157, CA10, BTR-40 mine-clearing vehicle… These are names that may sound unfamiliar to present-day people, but in the past, during the two resistance wars, they played an important role as logistics vehicles, providing essential supplies to the front lines.
On the occasion of the country’s celebration of the Liberation Day of the South and the reunification of the country, let’s admire these special vehicles at the Vietnam People’s Army Logistics Museum.
1. “Quoc te” Truck – The Vehicle of Creativity
The military transport vehicle named “Quoc te” (International) was assembled and named by the Repairing Team of the Unified Military Supply Division at the end of 1949. The engine of this “hybrid” vehicle is a 6-cylinder engine from Renault (France). The cabin, gearbox, axles were taken from Ford vehicles (USA).
The vehicle with a Renault engine and Ford chassis
This vehicle had the honor of taking President Ho Chi Minh on the border campaign and welcoming comrade Le Ô Phighe, then the representative of the French Union of Vietnamese Workers, to Vietnam at the Viet Bac base in 1950.
2. Gaz 63 Truck – The Power from the Soviet Union
This truck was manufactured and provided by the Soviet Union to Vietnam. It is closely associated with the achievements of the hero Loc Van Trong, the commander of the military transport truck platoon. During the period of transporting military supplies from the Border Campaign to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, this hero, with his truck, overcame difficulties, crossed passes, forded streams, and ensured safe transportation over a distance of more than 30,000 km.
Gaz 63
The truck’s mission was to transport weapons, rations, and food to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign.
3. Zil 157 Truck – Uniqueness in Disguise
This truck was manufactured by the Soviet Union and was tasked with transporting military uniforms, civilian clothes, weapons, etc., on the Ho Chi Minh Trail to serve the resistance war against the US.
Soldiers added support frames made of bamboo and thatch to disguise the truck, avoiding enemy bombs
During transportation, the soldiers creatively added support frames made of bamboo and thatch to disguise the truck and avoid enemy bombs and bullets.
4. Zil 157 – Traveling over 65,000 km under bombings and bullets
This truck was driven by the hero Phan Van Quy and belonged to Company 7, Battalion 76, Regiment 11, Division 571, Headquarters 559.
The truck traveled over 65,000 km under rain bombs and storm bullets
From August 1872 to April 1975, this truck, with comrade Phan Van Quy, transported weapons and rations through heavily attacked enemy areas. During the resistance war against the US, the truck traveled over 65,000 km and saved 6,680 liters of fuel.
5. CA10 – The First Transport Truck to Enter the Independence Palace
The CA10 transport truck was manufactured by China. It was driven by comrade Le Quang Lua, a platoon deputy driver in Company 5, Battalion 964, Regiment 512, Logistics Motorized Division 571, Truong Son Command.
The CA10 truck was the first transport truck to enter the Independence Palace
The truck was responsible for transporting logistics materials on the Truong Son Trail and participating in the Road 9 – South Laos Campaign and the Quang Tri Campaign. In particular, during the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, it, along with reconnaissance and special forces teams and tank units of Armored Regiment 203, 2nd Corps, rapidly captured the Independence Palace at 11:30 on April 30, 1975. This was also the first transport truck to enter the Independence Palace.
Thế Đạt (trithucthoidai)
