Hắc Báo
(black panther - black tiger)

http://rvnhs.blogspot.com/2015/05/hac-bao-1st-division-strike-company.html

1st Division Strike Company "Hắc Báo" sign at camp entrance, 1960s.

 

            Many Republic of Vietnam military units employed a Hắc Báo (black panther - black tiger) in their insignia and unit mottos, but perhaps no group is more commonly referred to in the vernacular as simply "The Hắc Báo" than the 1st Infantry Division's Strike Company. The 1st Division was located in the First Military Region, and the Hắc Báo were the division's quick-action force. Composed of highly trained men drawn from different units in the division and throughout the military of the Republic of Vietnam, the Hắc Báo was a force to be reckoned with, and they received a well deserved reputation as an effective fighting force among both the units they fought along side as well as their adversaries. Among their notable commanders was Trần Ngọc Huế.

 

Officers and men of the Hắc Báo on parade in Huế (then Captain Trần Ngọc Huế can be seen third from right in center), 1966.

 

         In this posting, we would like to highlight the history of the Hắc Báo by posting some images of the unit's insignia from the RVNHS Archive. The unit's insignia came in several variations, and was worn on the right chest pocket. A 1st Division insignia was also sometimes worn on the left shoulder.

 

Officers and men of the Hắc Báo on parade in Huế

(note the unit insignia on the right pocket), 1966.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, horizontal-triangle variant,

printed, RVNHS Archive.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, triangular-curve variant,

machine made, RVNHS Archive.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, triangular-curve variant,

printed, RVNHS Archive.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, circular variant,

The Republic of Vietnam Historical Society Blog

The Republic of Vietnam Historical Society (RVNHS) is a nonprofit historical group based in California. Our aim is to preserve and study the history of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), 1955-1975. RVNHS is affiliated with The Museum of History of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces in Westminster, California. This blog is routinely updated with new acquisitions to the RVNHS Archive. Please feel free to contact us, and visit our website at: www.rvnhs.com

Friday, May 22, 2015

Hắc Báo - 1st Division Strike Company

1st Division Strike Company "Hắc Báo" sign at camp entrance, 1960s.

Many Republic of Vietnam military units employed a Hắc Báo (black panther - black tiger) in their insignia and unit mottos, but perhaps no group is more commonly referred to in the vernacular as simply "The Hắc Báo" than the 1st Infantry Division's Strike Company. The 1st Division was located in the First Military Region, and the Hắc Báo were the division's quick-action force. Composed of highly trained men drawn from different units in the division and throughout the military of the Republic of Vietnam, the Hắc Báo was a force to be reckoned with, and they received a well deserved reputation as an effective fighting force among both the units they fought along side as well as their adversaries. Among their notable commanders was Trần Ngọc Huế.

Officers and men of the Hắc Báo on parade in Huế (then Captain Trần Ngọc Huế can be seen third from right in center), 1966.

In this posting, we would like to highlight the history of the Hắc Báo by posting some images of the unit's insignia from the RVNHS Archive. The unit's insignia came in several variations, and was worn on the right chest pocket. A 1st Division insignia was also sometimes worn on the left shoulder.

Officers and men of the Hắc Báo on parade in Huế (note the unit insignia on the right pocket), 1966.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, horizontal-triangle variant, printed, RVNHS Archive.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, triangular-curve variant, machine made, RVNHS Archive.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, triangular-curve variant, printed, RVNHS Archive.

1st Division Strike Company - Hắc Báo - insignia, circular variant, printed, RVNHS Archive.