The ceremonial gun crew is selected from officers and soldiers within the Brigade. Members average 1.75 m in height, have a good appearance, and possess the necessary training and experience. They wear standard uniforms during practice, and ceremonial uniforms for rehearsals and the official event.

The 21-gun salute, fired during the opening music of the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on 2/9, is the responsibility of the ceremonial gun crew of the 45th Artillery Brigade, part of the Artillery Corps. The unit's primary mission is combat readiness training. It also participates in military diplomacy and ceremonial gun salutes for national holidays and visiting heads of state.

The 45th Artillery Brigade is one of the oldest units in the Vietnam People's Army, established on 22/8/1945. The unit fired the opening shots of the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954 and the final shots of the Ho Chi Minh campaign in 1975.

Nguyen Quoc Hai, deputy commander of the gun crew, explained that during practice, they use primers to create a moderate sound level while practicing with the national anthem. For the official event, they will use specialized ceremonial rounds, which contain propellant but no warhead, ensuring safety for the surrounding area.

Early each morning, 18 105 mm howitzers, including 15 primary and three backup guns, are moved from the technical area to the firing range for practice. Each howitzer weighs nearly 2.3 tons.

The ceremonial gun crew has been training since mid-May in Hoa Lac, Hanoi. They train six days a week, including two night sessions, and hold competitions on weekends. Before each session, the soldiers spend 30 minutes preparing equipment, maintaining the howitzers, and ensuring proper decorum.

The national anthem lasts 54 seconds. The first shot coincides with the first note, and the 21st shot with the last. The 21-gun salute is the highest honor, performed for important national occasions and visiting heads of state.

"The timing of the gun salute is crucial, and no mistakes are allowed. To ensure the 21 rounds are fired within 54 seconds, 2.7 seconds apart, stopwatches are essential," explained Deputy Commander Thieu Quang Tung, referring to the two stopwatches he wears. The gun crew constantly coordinates with the military band to precisely time each shot.

Soldiers meticulously clean the breech, firing mechanism, and barrel to prevent residue from affecting the equipment. This maintenance is performed regularly and rigorously.

The team is organized into five platoons, each with three howitzers. During the ceremony, the 1st platoon fires five rounds, and the remaining four platoons fire four rounds each.

Each 105 mm howitzer is operated by three gunners. Gunner number one fires the weapon, gunner number two opens and closes the breech, and gunner number three loads the rounds. The required loading speed is about three seconds. Gunners number two undergo 10-15 days of training to achieve this speed, and the entire team requires about 20 days to synchronize their movements.

The howitzers are covered during the midday sun to protect them for the afternoon practice. After each day's training, the guns are returned to the technical area for storage.

The three number one gunners in each platoon must fire simultaneously, so the three howitzers produce a single sound. The 21-gun salute consists of 21 such reports.

Gunner Nguyen Tien Duc has fired "countless times" during each practice session. Commanders estimate at least 200 rounds per day, totaling 5,000-6,000 rounds per month.

The command team includes the captain, two deputy commanders (one for timing and one for coordinating with the band), and two communications personnel.

After each practice, the commander conducts a debriefing. Platoon leaders fine-tune each gunner's movements to ensure perfect synchronization for the ceremony.

The young soldiers, mostly in their twenties, pose for photos with the 105 mm howitzers. They will complete their two-year military service, after which the gun crew will recruit and train new members to continue the tradition.

This year, the Artillery Corps will participate with three elements: the ceremonial gun crew, artillery soldiers, and a procession of artillery vehicles, including howitzers and missile launchers.

Giang Huy - Hoang Phuong