Artillery-Missile Ship Brigade 167 under the Vietnam People’s Navy has been established under a decision by Defense Minister General Phung Quang Thanh. The brigade made its debut in a ceremony held on Monday at a military port in Naval Zone 2, at which Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, Deputy Defense Minister, handed the brigade’s flag to the brigade’s commander. Under the decision that was signed in July 2013, the brigade is a strategic unit that can operate independently or in coordination with other units in naval campaigns, Rear Admiral Mai Tien Tuyen said. Tuyen added that the new unit helps strengthen the naval forces and improve the ability to safeguard country’s sovereignty over its seas, islands and continental shelf. The brigade can join other units of the Naval Zone 2 in operations for their common talks, but it can also be deployed as an independent unit for its specific missions.  Addressing the ceremony, Admiral Hien, who is also a member of the Party Central Committee,  said the establishment of the brigade marked a new development of Vietnam People’s Navy.

He also called on all naval soldiers of the brigade to improve their military knowledge and skills so that they can contribute to their unit’s success.