Battle of the Paracel Islands

Battle of the Paracel Islands
Part of the Vietnam War
Date19–20 January 1974
(1 day)
Location
Result Chinese victory
Territorial
changes
China establishes full control over the Paracels
Belligerents
 China  South Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
South Vietnam Rear admiral Lâm Ngươn Tánh
South Vietnam Colonel Hà Văn Ngạc
South Vietnam Brigadier general Hồ Văn Kỳ Thoại
Strength
  • 2 minesweepers
  • 2 submarine chasers
  • Patrol ships
  • Infantry
  • Militia
  • 1 destroyer
  • 2 frigates
  • 1 minesweeper
  • Commandos
Casualties and losses
  • 18 killed[1]
  • 67 wounded[1]
  • 2 minesweepers damaged[1]
  • 2 submarine chasers damaged[1]
  • 100+ killed and wounded[1]
  • 48 captured[1]
  • 1 minesweeper sunk
  • 1 destroyer heavily damaged
  • 2 frigates damaged

The Battle of the Paracel Islands (Chinese: 西沙海战, Pinyin: Xisha Haizhan;Vietnamese: Hải chiến Hoàng Sa) was an engagement between the Chinese and South Vietnamese navies near the Paracel Islands on January 19, 1974. The battle was part of an attempt by the South Vietnamese navy to remove the Chinese navy from the area towards the end of the Vietnam War.

Prior to the conflict, part of the Paracel Islands was controlled by China and another part was controlled by South Vietnam. The battle resulted in a victory for China over South Vietnam. Consequently, the PRC occupied the portion formerly controlled by South Vietnam and established full de facto control over the Paracels.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Yoshihara 2016, p. 50.

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