Battles of Khai Phat and Na Ngan

The Battle of Khai Phat-Na Ngan (or Phai Khat-Na Ngan) was the first battle ever fought by the People's Army of Vietnam. Taking place in December 1944, it involved a series of raids by the Viet Minh Armed Propaganda Unit (Tran Hung Dao platoon) on French outposts at Khai Phat and Na Ngan. Personally led by Vo Nguyen Giap, the force consisted of 31 men and 3 women armed with two revolvers, seventeen rifles, one light machine gun, and fourteen breech-loading rifles dating from the Russo-Japanese War. The first raid was on Khai Phat outpost, in which the commander was killed and its armoury seized, making the colonial troops surrender without a fight. The second took place the following day at Na Ngan where another officer was killed. These raids gave the Viet Minh its first victory, and defectors from the garrisons bolstered their ranks.