9th & VN History

The first is the a 3 page listing of 9th Infantry Division infantry battalions and their assignment to brigades; included are all assigned support units along with dates of deployment in Vietnam.

The second document is a 99 page assessment of NVA and VC unit deployment within South Vietnam, 1965 through 1972. Included are descriptions of tactics and weapons used by the NVA and VC. Many photos are presented within the document. For anyone interested in a detailed history of NVA and VC tactics and armament during the Vietnam war, this is a worthwhile read.

9th Infantry Division

Activated 1 Feb 1966 for service in Vietnam and sent there Dec 1966 – Jan 1967. The division served in III and IV CTZ, and its 2^nd Brigade was the Army component of the Mobile Riverine Force. Division headquarters was at Bear Cat Dec 1966 – Jul 1968 and Dong Tam Aug 1968 – Aug 1969. The 9^th Infantry Division began withdrawing in summer 1969, leaving its 3^rd Brigade behind as a separate unit (under command of 25^th Infantry Division) until Oct 1970.

Hq and Hq Coy, 9^th Inf Div Dec 1966 – Aug 1969
Hq and Hq Coy, 1^st Bde, 9^th Inf Div Jan 1967 – Aug 1969
Hq and Hq Coy, 2^nd Bde, 9^th Inf Div Jan 1967 – Jul 1969
Hq and Hq Coy, 3^rd Bde, 9^th Inf Div Dec 1966 – Oct 1970*
Hq and Hq Bty, Div Artillery 19 Dec 1966 – 18 Aug 1969
Hq and Hq Coy, Div Support Command 19 Dec 1966 – 27 Aug 1969

6^th Bn/31^st Inf Apr 1968 – Oct 1970* Began with 3^rd Bde
2^nd Bn/39^th Inf Jan 1967 – Aug 1969 Began with 1^st Bde
3^rd Bn/39^th Inf Jan 1967 – Aug 1969 Began with 3^rd Bde
4^th Bn/39^th Inf Jan 1967 – Jul 1969 Began with 1^st Bde
2^nd Bn/47^th Inf (Mech) Jan 1967 – Oct 1970* Began with 2^nd Bde
3^rd Bn/47^th Inf (Riverine) Jan 1967 – Jul 1969 Began with 2^nd Bde
4^th Bn/47^th Inf(Riverine) Jan 1967 – Jul 1969 Began with 2^nd Bde
2^nd Bn/60^th Inf Dec 1966 – Oct 1970* Began with 3^rd Bde
3^rd Bn/60^th Inf(Riverine) Dec 1966 – Jul 1969 Began with 3^rd Bde
5^th Bn/60^th Inf (Mech)¹ Dec 1966 – Oct 1970* Began with 3^rd Bde

Coy E/50^th Inf : Coy E/75^th Inf² Dec 1967 – Aug 1969
Coy E/75^th Inf Oct 1969 – Oct 1970*

3^rd Sqn/5^th Cav Feb 1967 – Nov 1971³
9^th Avn Bn Jan 1967 – Aug 1969

2^nd Bn/4^th Art (105mm How) Jan 1967 – Oct 1970*
1^st Bn/11^th Art (105mm How) Jan 1967 – Aug 1969
3^rd Bn/34^th Art (105mm How) (Riverine) Dec 1966 – Jul 1969
1^st Bn/84^th Art (155mm How/8" How) Feb 1967 – Aug 1969

15^th Engr Bn Oct 1966 – Aug 1969
571^st Engr Coy Oct 1969 – Oct 1970**

9^th Medical Bn 4 Jan 1967 – 18 Aug 1969
9^th Signal Bn 19 Dec 1966 – 19 Aug 1969
9^th Supply and Transport Bn 16 Dec 1966 – 23 Aug 1969
709^th Maint Bn 26 Jan 1967 – 20 Aug 1969
9^th Admin Coy 30 Dec 1966 – 26 Aug 1969
9^th MP Coy 19 Dec 1966 – 25 Sep 1969
335^th ASA Coy 12 Jan 1967 – 5 Apr 1971
99^th Support Bn 1 Oct 1969 – 12 Oct 1970**

* Remained as element of separate 3^rd Brigade, 9^th Infantry Division.

** Formed as element of separate 3^rd Brigade, 9^th Infantry Division.

Notes:

Gave up mechanized equipment and converted to infantry Sep 1968
Coy E/50^th Infantry (LRP) inactivated 1 Feb 1969 and assets used to form Coy E/75^th Infantry (Ranger).
Remained with the separate 3^rd Brigade, 9^th Infantry Division until that unit left, then served as GHQ unit, moving to the I CTZ in the north.

ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES by BRIGADE

1^st Brigade, 9^th Inf Div Jan 1967 – Aug 1969

2^nd Bn/39^th Inf Jan 1967 – Aug 1969
4^th Bn/39^th Inf Jan 1967 – Jan 1968
2^nd Bn(M)/47^th Inf Jun 1967 – May 1968
2^nd Bn/60^th Inf Apr 1968 – Nov 1968
6^th Bn/31^st Inf Aug 1968 – May 1970
4^th Bn/39^th Inf [2] Dec 1968 – Jul 1969
3^rd Bn/39^th Inf Mar 1969 – Aug 1969

2^nd Brigade, 9^th Inf Div Jan 1967 – Jul 1969

2^nd Bn(M)/47^th Inf Jan 1967 – May 1967
3^rd Bn/47^th Inf Jan 1967 – Jul 1969 Riverine from Jun 1967
4^th Bn/47^th Inf Jan 1967 – Jul 1969 Riverine from Jun 1967
3^rd Bn/60^th Inf Mar 1967 – Jul 1969 Riverine from Jun 1967
2^nd Bn(M)/47^th Inf [2] Jun 1968 – Jul 1969

3^rd Brigade, 9^th Inf Div Dec 1966 – Oct 1970

2^nd Bn/60^th Inf Dec 1966 – Mar 1968
3^rd Bn/60^th Inf Dec 1966 – Feb 1967
5^th Bn(M)/60^th Inf Dec 1966 – Oct 1970 gave up mechanized equipment Sep 1968
3^rd Bn/39^th Inf Jan 1967 – Feb 1969
4^th Bn/39^th Inf Feb 1968 – Nov 1968
6^th Bn/31^st Inf Apr 968 – Jun 1968
2^nd Bn(M)/47^th Inf Aug 1968 – Oct 1970
2^nd Bn/60^th Inf [2] Dec 1968 – Oct 1970
6^th Bn/31^st Inf [2] Jun 1970 – Oct 1970

The DS artillery battalions were shifted. 3^rd/34^th, for example, was initially in DS of 3^rd Brigade, but then shifted to 2^nd Brigade and the Riverine role. 2^nd/4^th was initially in DS of 2^nd Brigade, but shifted to 3^rd Brigade by the time it became a separate unit summer 1969. 1^st/11^th is also shown as having first served in DS of 2^nd Brigade.

2^nd Bn/4^th Art (105mm How) Jan 1967 – Oct 1970*
1^st Bn/11^th Art (105mm How) Jan 1967 – Aug 1969
3^rd Bn/34^th Art (105mm How) (Riverine) Dec 1966 – Jul 1969

Generally this summary is limited to battalions or higher. Because the list is in that format, it is sometimes difficult to work back up to subordination of all units. An asterisk indicates a border area unit (i.e., along the border) but believed to be in South Vietnam at the time. Transportation and other service-type battalions have been omitted. "RR" indicates recoilless rifle, not railroad.

· 31 NVA Inf Regt [1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns], Quang Tin (note that NVA Regiment 31, with a different composition, is also shown listed under B-5 Front)

· 31 NVA Inf Regt [15th, 27th Bns], Quang Tri (also has two VC inf and two NVA sapper coys)

· 5 NVA Inf Regt [804, 810 NVA Inf, Chi Thua II VC Sapper, 32 NVA RL Bns], Thua Thien

· 6 NVA Inf Regt [800, 802, 806 NVA Inf, 12 NVA Sapper, 35 NVA RL Bns], Thua Thien

[There were also 63 VC and 3 NVA companies in ARVN MR 1: 57 maneuver and 6 combat support VC, 2 maneuver and 1 combat support NVA.] - See Below*contains identified companies.

· 40 NVA Art Regt [K16, K33, K40 NVA Art, K32 NVA (120mm) Mortar, K30 NVA Air Def Bns], Kontum

[There were also 93 VC and 1 NVA companies in ARVN MR 2: 87 maneuver and 6 combat support VC, 1 maneuver NVA.]

· 96 NVA Art Regt [K3 and K4 NVA , K5 VC Art Bns]; Binh Long (K3 and K5), Tay Ninh (HQ and K4)

· 24 NVA Air Def Bn, Tay Ninh (the duplication of the designation in CT 5 VC Inf Div is in the original document)

· 74 NVA Rkt Regt [1st, 2nd, 3rd RL Bns]: Bien Hoa (HQ, 1st and 2nd) and Long Khanh (3rd)

· 274 VC Inf Regt [1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns]: Bien Hoa (HQ and 3rd) and Long Khanh (1st and 2nd)

· 33 NVA Inf Regt [K1, K2, K3 Bns]: Phuoc Tuy (HQ and K3), Long Khanh (K1), Binh Tuy (K2)

· 101 NVA Inf Regt [1st, 2nd, 3rd Bns]: Binh Long (HQ), Binh Duong (1st), Hau Nghia (2nd), Tay Ninh (3rd)

· 24 NVA AA Bn, Tay Ninh (another near duplicate designation in the original document, although this is shown as AA rather than AD)

· 88 NVA Inf Regt [K7, K8, K9 Inf, K10 Sapper Bns]: Dinh Tuong (HQ, K1, K2), Kien Tuong (K9), Kien Phong (K10)

· D2 VC Inf Regt [Z7th, Z8th, Z9th Inf, Z10th Sapper Bns]: Kien Giang (HQ, 29th, 210th), An Xuyen (27th), Chuong Thien (28th)

· D3 VC Inf Regt [306th, 312th Bns]: Vinh Binh (HQ and 306th), Vinh Long (312th)

· 95A NVA Inf Regt [27th, 28th, 29th NVA Inf 23rd VC Sapper Bns]: Kien Giang (HQ, 23rd), An Xuyen (27th—29th)

[There were also 107 VC companies in ARVN MR 4: 99 maneuver and 8 combat support.]

All of these are VC unless explicitly labeled NVA. Mar 1972 location province is shown after the unit in two cases: the unit is not subordinated to a province, or it is shown located in a province other than that implied by its subordination to a province or district.