Battle of Thu Bich

Battle of Thu Bich
Part of the Ai Chi War
Firefight on the Cao Bang River
Date 5-10 June 1900 Location Premises of Thu Bich Village Result Decisive Quenminese Victory Failure for Ai Chi to permanently quell the Quenminese invasion
Belligerents
Quenmin	Ai Chi
Commanders and leaders
Kiều Dũng Hiền	Loi Quang Anh Dung
Units involved
Army of Hoang Thai	Army of the Center
Strength
112,000	95,000

The Battle of Thu Bich was a decisive battle fought in the Ai Chi War. Although it was considered by many historians on both sides to be the bloodiest battle in the entire conflict, it was also considered to be the turning point; casualties of the battle ranged from 60,000-67,000.

Background

Prior to his victories in the Battle of Ngoc Quang, the Battle of Manh Gia, and the Battle of Vuong Yen from 1899 to 1900, Loi Quang Anh Dung had managed to stall the Quenminese advance further down south. Using the present period of stagnation at that time, he devised his counteroffensive campaign that would finally drive the Quenminese back north.

On June 1, 1900, his Army of the Center mobilized northward at an early start, splitting into two groups, so to discombobulate the Quenminese army.

Opposing Forces

Key Quenminese Commanders (Army of Hoang Thai)
Maj. Gen. Kiều Dũng Hiền Cor. Gen. Tu Quang Dac Kien Cor. Gen. Hoang Xuan Dung Lt. Gen. Au Cong Trong Lt. Gen. Ly Manh Chinh
Key Aichian Commanders (Army of the Center)
Gen. Loi Quang Anh Dung Lt. Gen. Tran Cong Hieu Lt. Gen. Lam Trong Giang Lt. Gen. Panyarachun Kukrit

Army of Hoang Thai

Maj. Gen. Kiều Dũng Hiền's Army of Hoang Thai was comprised of 112,000 men:

• First Corps commanded by Cor. Gen. Tu Quang Dac Kien, with divisions under the commands of Lt. Gen. Thao Dinh Trong Tri, Lt. Gen. Nhan Ngoc Huy, Lt. Gen. Mach Quang Thinh, and Brig. Gen. Kim Huu Thang
• Fifth Corps commanded by Cor. Gen. Hoang Xuan Dung, with divisions under the commands of Lt. Gen. Dang Ngoc Giang, Lt. Gen. Che Qui Nguyen, and Lt. Gen. Khong Cong Binh
• Sixth Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. Au Cong Trong, with divisions under the commands of Lt. Gen. Chiem Trong Chien, Lt. Gen. Mach Quang Thinh, Lt. Gen. Nghiem Toan Caikhatu, Brig. Gen. Chau Duc Trang

Army of the Center

Gen. Loi Quang Anh Dung's Army of the Center was comprised of 95,000 men:

• I Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. Tran Cong Hieu, with divisions under the commands of Maj. Gen. Phong Manh Vien, Maj. Gen. Kunnthorn Bhirombhakdi, and Maj. Gen. Luu Quang Huy
• II Corps commanded by Lt. Gen. Lam Trong Giang, with divisions under the commands of Maj. Gen. Vu Ngoc Dac Kien, Maj. Gen. Khemanan Santisakul, and Brig. Gen. Chuong Cong Dung
• IV Corps commanded by Lt.. Gen. Panyarachun Kukrit, with division under the commands of Maj. Gen. Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Maj. Gen. Quach Van Tu, and Maj. Gen. Luong Dinh Vuong