retaking the base. Nhật Tảo remained on station through the night provide continued fire support. Nhật Tảo was sunk in early 1974 during an engagement between Republic of Vietnam Navy forces and those of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy in a dispute over control of the Paracel Islands. During the Battle of the Paracel Islands, Nhật Tảo took a direct hit from a ship-to-ship missile (China claims the weapon used was an RPG) on her bridge and went dead in the water. On fire with her guns silent, crew from below deck cleared the guns and renewed the fight. The Chinese again concentrated fire on Nhật Tảo and again her guns fell silent as she began to sink. A few days later, a Dutch tanker and a Vietnamese fishing boat pulled 37 survivors of the sunken Nhật Tảo out of the South China Sea. See also Battle of the Paracel Islands References VNN Coastal Group 16 http://pcf45.com/cosgrp16/cosgrp16.html Admirable-class minesweepers Ships built in Seattle 1943 ships World War II minesweepers of the United States Admirable-class minesweepers of the Republic of Vietnam Navy Vietnam War naval ships of South Vietnam Maritime incidents in 1974 Shipwrecks in the South China Sea