Tran Dai Nghia - Vietnam 'king' of weapons

Professor, academician Tran Dai Nghia is a big name in the field of Vietnam's weapons manufacturing, associated with famous products in the history of resistance such as Bazoka bullets, SKZ guns or other types of flying bombs. strong break.

In the past days, at the institutes, scientific research centers and hometown of Vinh Long, Professor Tran Dai Nghia took place many activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth (September 13, 1913-13, September 9). two thousand and thirteen). His real name is Pham Quang Le, born in Vinh Long and orphaned at 6 years old. Before leaving, his father instructed his relatives to try to give him a place to study and help his family.

Professor and academician Tran Dai Nghia.(Photo: Vast.ac)

His sister had to drop out of school to work with her mother to support Pham Quang Le to go to school. He grew up in the loving arms of his mother and sister. With superior intelligence, after finishing the first grade in My Tho province, he went to Saigon to attend the famous Petrus Ky High School, now Le Hong Phong High School.

In mid-1933, he passed the first two baccalaureate degrees in both Vietnam and France. But because of the poor family, having no money to go to Hanoi to study, Pham Quang Le decided to go to work to help his mother, help her and raise up to wait for opportunities.

In 1935, he studied France and after years of diligent study, with intelligence and high energy, Pham Quang Le received three university degrees at the same time: Bridge and road engineer, electrical engineer and bachelor. math. After that, he took a degree in Aviation Engineer, Degree of Mining School and Polytechnic University.

In 11 years studying abroad, he silently studied techniques, technologies and systems for organizing weapons. In 1946, Pham Quang Le followed Ho Chairman to return to his homeland. Tran Dai Nghia's name was given by him to him that year to make it easier for revolutionary activities. This is also the name that has entered the history of Vietnam's arms manufacturing industry.

Bazoka bullets

In November 1946, he and his colleagues began to study the manufacture of anti-tank guns according to American model Bazoka. The job was not easy, successive failure, but did not discourage him. Finally, in February 1947, Bazoka's experiment succeeded. The penetration rate of the newly made bullet reached 75cm depth on the brick wall, equivalent to the US-made Bazoka bullet. New weapons appear to confuse French troops.

The 40mm bazoka gun produced by the Vietnamese Army in 1947 was equipped for the combat troops in the Viet Bac Campaign.(Photo: VinhlongOnline)

On March 3, 1947, it became a milestone of the Vietnamese military industry in the manufacture of military equipment, when Bazoka bullets contributed to breaking the enemy's attack in Chuong My and Quoc Oai regions (former Ha Tay). During the Autumn-Winter campaign of 1947, Bazoka also sank the French warship on the Lo River. Later, the Military Bureau continued to produce a series of Bazoka bullets with a range of up to 600m and a 50m damage range.

Gun SKZ

After Bazoka bullets, in 1948 - 1949, Mr. Tran Dai Nghia and his colleagues in the Military Department began to research and manufacture powerful weapons - guns without shocking SKZ . This is a modern line of weapons, first appearing in the American army landings on Japan's Okinawa island at the end of the Second World War.

SKZ is a heavy gun with a weight of 20kg, concave warhead, which is used to shoot at fortified fortresses, the bullet head penetrates thick concrete. SKZ Vietnam made its first appearance in the battle of Pho Lu, destroying many enemy blocks. In 1950, at the South Central battlefield, in one night, with this kind of non-recoil gun, we eliminated 5 enemy posts. The enemy panicked and fled the series of other posts.

Bom flying

Bombs were produced by the Vietnamese Army 3/1948.(Photo: VinhlongOnline)

In order to be able to beat the enemy's co-ordination points, Trần Đại Nghĩa continued to study and manufacture German type V1, V2 type bombs. He then created the type of flying bomb that was supposed to have the same attack power as V1, V2. In addition, he also successfully created a 30kg rocket that could destroy targets 4km away.

During the anti-American resistance war, Tran Dai Nghia contributed greatly to the fight against B-52 aircraft, destroying enemy mines and building special equipment for the Task Force. The "king" of Vietnamese weapon Tran Dai Nghia lost the afternoon of August 9, 1997 and his name is always associated with the history of Vietnam's military industry.