First Battle of Quảng Trị

First Battle of Quảng Trị
	Part of the Vietnam War
Date	30 March – 1 May 1972
Location	16°44′N 106°58′E; Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam
Result	North Vietnamese victory
Belligerents
North Vietnam	South Vietnam Supported by:; United States
Commanders and leaders
Lê Trọng Tấn (front commander); Lê Quang Đạo (front commissar)	Vũ Văn Giai; Hoàng Xuân Lãm
Units involved
304th Division; 308th Division; 324B Division ; Quảng Trị Province Command 14th infantry company of Local Force; 12th sapper company of Local Force;	I Corps 3rd Infantry Division 56th Regiment; 57th Regiment; ; Marine Division 258th Brigade; ; ARVN Rangers 4th group; 5th group; ; 1st Armored Brigade 20th Tank Regiment; ; supported by:; Seventh Fleet Task Force 77 1st ANGLICO sub unit 1; ; Seventh Air Force;
Strength
45,000+; ~100 tanks and APCs	Regular Force: 40,000; Regional Force: ~100,000; 600 tanks and APCs; 400 aircraft and helicopters
Casualties and losses
Unknown killed; 4,619 wounded; ~60 tanks and APCs destroyed	1st Armored Brigade: 1,171 casualties; 43 M48, 66 M41 tanks, 103 M113s APCs; 20th Tank Regiment: 57 M48 tanks; 140 artillery pieces; PAVN claim: ~27,000 casualties (3,388 captured); 1,870 vehicles, 340 aircraft and helicopters, 225 artillery pieces and mortars destroyed; 194 artillery pieces and mortars, 56 armour vehicles were captured

The First Battle of Quảng Trị (Vietnamese: Chiến dịch Trị Thiên) resulted in the first major victory for the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) during the Easter Offensive of 1972. Quảng Trị Province was a major battleground for the opposing forces during the Vietnam War. As South Vietnamese soldiers were gradually replacing their American counterparts, North Vietnam's General Văn Tiến Dũng was preparing to engage three of his divisions in the province. Just months before the battle, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) deployed its newly formed 3rd Division to the areas along the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to take over former US bases. North Vietnamese forces deployed against the inexperienced ARVN 3rd Division included the PAVN 304th, 308th and 324B Divisions.

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