1975 spring offensive, First steps, Reassessments
Thiệu then sketched in on the map the areas which he considered most important – all of the III and IV Corps Tactical Zones. He also pointed out the areas currently under PAVN/VC control which would have to be retaken. The key to the location of these operations were concentrations of natural resources – rice, rubber, industry, etc. Those areas that were to be held also included coastal areas where oil had been discovered on the continental shelf. These areas were to become, in Thiệu's words: "Our untouchable heartland, the irreducible national stronghold."


1975 spring offensive, First steps, Reassessments
As to the future of the I and II Corps Zones, he drew a series of phase lines on the map indicating that South Vietnamese forces should hold what they could, but that they could redeploy southward as circumstances dictated. Thiệu declared this new strategy as "Light at the top, heavy on the bottom."


1975 spring offensive, First steps, Reassessments
The critical decision for the Saigon government was made two days later at Cam Ranh Bay during a meeting between Thiệu and General Phu. Thiệu decided that Pleiku and Kon Tum were to be abandoned and that the forces defending them would be redeployed to retake demographically more important Ban Mê Thuột. Phu informed the president that the only route possible for the redeployment, given PAVN blocking actions, was little-used Interprovincial Route 7B, a neglected, narrow, rough-surfaced track (actually a logging road) with several downed bridges along its course.


1975 spring offensive, First steps, Reassessments
Meanwhile, General Dũng advised Hanoi that he was turning his forces to capture Kon Tum and Pleiku. In Hanoi, Lê Duẩn was pressuring the General Staff to take advantage of the foothold they gained in the highlands. Two months remained before the monsoon season, when military operations would be forestalled. Further strategic gains appeared possible in light of Saigon's apparent weakness and the level of the U.S. response.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
General Phu then faced the monumental task of moving a corps-sized column of troops, equipment, and vehicles over a largely unknown road some 160 miles (260 km) through the mountains and jungles of the highlands to Nha Trang for the attempted counterattack. The force would consist of one battalion of the 44th ARVN Regiment, five Ranger groups, the 21st Tank Squadron, two 155 mm artillery battalions, one 175 mm battalion and Popular and Regional Force units. Also in train would be the men and equipment of the 20th Combat Engineer Group and the 231st Direct Support Group.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
Phu's excessive preoccupation with secrecy, however, doomed the effort from the beginning. Operational planning was limited only to a few trusted subordinates who had either contributed to or knew about it. Staff work was non-existent. The chief of staff of II Corps, for example, admitted that he was completely in the dark about the planned abandonment of Pleiku and Kon Tum. Command of the convoy itself was handed over to the commander of the II Corps Rangers.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
During the first two days of the move (16 and 17 March) the effort went well, until, at Hau Bon, the column of refugees from the abandoned cities and the military convoys collided and became stuck. Making matters worse was that combat engineers had to complete a pontoon bridge across the Đà Rằng River. That night VC forces began to intercept and stall the mass of over 200,000 troops and refugees that was soon to be dubbed the "convoy of tears." Initially caught by surprise by the South Vietnamese withdrawal, General Dũng ordered his 320th Division to strike the flank of the column while coastal forces raced to halt its forward progress. The 968th Division was ordered to force its way through Pleiku and strike the tail of the retreat.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
The following day the column only proceeded 15 miles (24 km) before it encountered a significant PAVN roadblock. From that point onward the exodus kept moving forward only by fighting its way ahead. "They hit us with everything" said Ranger Private Nguyen Van Sau, describing an unrelenting shower of artillery shells, mortar rounds and rockets that flew from the jungle into the stream of refugees. Upon reaching the Đà Rằng River, only 20 kilometers from Tuy Hòa, a pontoon bridge had to be helilifted to the column.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
By 22 March the bridge was completed, but the advance became more hazardous due to numerous PAVN units moving into blocking positions. During the entire movement, the RVNAF provided minimal support due to bad weather. On 27 March the final roadblock was overcome and, at 21:00, the first vehicles of the column entered Tuy Hòa. "How many people in the original column survived the tragic journey, no one knew exactly." It was estimated by the ARVN that only 20,000 of the 60,000 troops that had started out from Pleiku finally reached the coast. Of the estimated 180,000 civilians that fled the highlands with the column, only about 60,000 got through. Those who failed to break through were either taken prisoner or killed by PAVN forces.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
The retreat from the Central Highlands became a rout of strategic proportions. At least "75 percent of II Corps combat strength, including the 23rd Infantry Division, as well as Ranger, armor, artillery, engineer and signal units were tragically expended within ten days." The planned operation to retake Buôn Ma Thuột never materialized simply because II Corps no longer possessed any means to attempt it. Buoyed by their easy triumph, the PAVN 10th, 316th and 320th Divisions began to move toward the coast. The only thing stand before them was the ARVN 22nd Division, tasked with defending the mountain passes to the coast. However, by late March, these PAVN units would make it into Huế and Da Nang.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Debacle in the Central Highlands
On 30 March the 22nd Division was ordered to proceed to the coast at Qui Nhơn for evacuation. North Vietnamese forces attacked them there from the north and two of the division's regiments had to fight their way through to the beaches for pick-up. At 02:00 on 1 April, what was left of the division was extracted by sea. Two regimental colonels, after being ordered to evacuate, refused to leave, preferring suicide rather than retreat or surrender. The division's third regiment, the 47th, ran into an ambush at Phu Cat and suffered heavy casualties, losing about half of its troops. When it later regrouped at Vũng Tàu, the 22nd numbered only slightly over 2,000 men, its commander also having chosen suicide over surrender.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
The situation for the South Vietnamese in the I Corps Tactical Zone regained some stability after the defeat of a three-division PAVN push during late 1974. By early the following year, I Corps fielded three infantry divisions (the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), the elite Airborne and Marine Divisions, four Ranger Groups and the 1st Armored Brigade. The northern provinces were under the command of one of South Vietnam's finest and most aggressive generals, Ngô Quang Trưởng.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
Until mid-March, the PAVN had limited their offensive operations to attempts to cut Highway 1, the main north–south line of communication, between Huế and Da Nang and between Da Nang and Chu Lai. To confront the South Vietnamese, PAVN Brigadier General Lê Trọng Tấn had amassed a force of five divisions and nine independent infantry regiments, three sapper regiments, three armored regiments, twelve anti-aircraft and eight artillery regiments.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
At a meeting in Saigon on 13 March President Thiệu was briefed on the military situation by Trưởng and the new III Corps commander, Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Toàn. Thiệu then laid out his plan for national consolidation. As Trưởng understood it, he was free to redeploy his forces to hold the Da Nang area. Trưởng was shocked to discover, however, that the Airborne Division was to be removed to III Corps (unknown to Trưởng at the time, the Marine Division was also already slated for redeployment with both units then forming a new national reserve).


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
General Trưởng was recalled to Saigon on 19 March to brief Thiệu on his withdrawal plan. The general developed two contingency plans: The first was predicated on government control of Highway 1, which would be utilized for two simultaneous withdrawals from Huế and Chu Lai to Da Nang; The second course presupposed PAVN interdiction of the highway and called for a withdrawal into three enclaves: Huế, Da Nang, and Chu Lai.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
This was to be only an interim measure, however, since the forces that withdrew to Huế and Chu Lai would then be sea-lifted to Da Nang by the Republic of Vietnam Navy. The president then stunned the general by announcing he misinterpreted his previous orders: Huế was not to be abandoned. Making matters worse, Trưởng discovered that his force was to be reduced by the removal of the Marine Division.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
By the time of the second meeting it was obvious that the second plan was the only possible recourse, since any phased withdrawal along Highway 1 had become impossible. This was due to increasing PAVN pressure that the ARVN was barely containing and the enormous and uncontrolled flow of refugees along the highway. Trưởng then requested permission for a withdrawal of his forces into the three enclaves as planned and for the retention of the Marines. Thiệu's reply ordered him to "hold onto any territory he could with whatever forces he now had, including the Marine Division."


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
Trưởng returned to Da Nang the same day and was greeted by bad news. The PAVN had begun an all-out offensive in I Corps and already breached Trưởng's northern defense line at the Thạch Hãn River. President Thiệu made a nationwide radio broadcast that afternoon proclaiming that Huế would be held "at all costs." That evening Trưởng ordered a retreat to a new defense line at the My Chanh River, thereby ceding all of Quảng Trị Province to the PAVN.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
He was confident that his forces could hold Huế, but he was then astounded by a late afternoon message from the president that now ordered "that because of inability to simultaneously defend all three enclaves, the I Corps commander was free...to redeploy his forces for the defense of Da Nang only." Regardless of the president's reassurances, the people of Quảng Trị and Huế began to leave their homes by the tens of thousands, joining an ever-growing exodus toward Da Nang.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
Meanwhile, the PAVN offensive was slowly rolling over ARVN opposition north and south of Da Nang. General Dong's plan called for attacks on the area from the west, north, and south that would drive South Vietnamese forces into Da Nang, where they could be destroyed. The highway between Huế and Da Nang was cut at Phú Lộc after severe fighting on 22 March. South of Da Nang, the ARVN 2nd Division barely managed to contain a PAVN drive toward Tam Kỳ and the coastal plain.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
On the morning of 24 March, however, the 711th Division, backed by armored elements, seized Tam Kỳ, driving the population north toward Da Nang by the thousands. PAVN forces then cut Highway 1 between Quảng Ngãi and Chu Lai, a move to which the 2nd Division was too battered to respond. With Corps approval, South Vietnamese troops from Quảng Ngãi fought their way northward, but only a few managed to reach Chu Lai. In a single day the situation in I Corps had deteriorated beyond control.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
With the withdrawal to the three enclaves completed, Trưởng issued the following orders: the 1st Division and other units in the Huế area were to withdraw overland toward Da Nang while the Marine elements were to be retrieved by ship from Huế; the 2nd Division, its dependents, and the remains of the Quảng Ngãi sector forces were to withdrawn by sea to Re Island, 20 miles (32 km) offshore from Chu Lai.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
During 26 March, command and control collapsed and discipline in the 1st Division eroded after its commander told his men "We've been betrayed ... It is now sauve qui peut (every man for himself) ... See you in Da Nang." The overland march, pummelled by artillery the entire way, degenerated into chaos as it moved toward Da Nang. No sooner had the remains of the force reached the city than soldiers began to melt away, searching for their dependents. On the coast near Huế, only one regiment of the 1st Division, about 600 Marines and 7,700 civilians were picked up by naval vessels.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
From the north, two PAVN divisions, along with armor and artillery elements, enveloped the western flank of Da Nang. To the south, two more divisions closed in and brought the center of the city into artillery range. Da Nang then collapsed into anarchy and chaos. "Hunger, looting, and crimes were widespread. Traffic was impossible...the mass stranded in the city was estimated at approximately one and one-half million." At noon on 28 March, with a coherent defense of the city becoming impossible, Trưởng requested permission to evacuate by sea, but Thiệu, baffled, refused to commit himself to a clear-cut decision. When his communications with Saigon were cut, and on his own initiative, Trưởng ordered a naval withdrawal that was to begin the following morning, 29 March.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
Thousands of soldiers and civilians rushed for the sea, where hundreds drowned trying to reach the ships that could not dock due to the low tide. Thousands more died under the continuous PAVN artillery barrage. Of the ARVN's four infantry divisions, four Ranger groups, armored brigade, air division and thousands of territorial, support, and staff personnel, only around 16,000 were evacuated as the PAVN swept in on 29 March. Of the almost two million civilians that packed Da Nang at the end of March, a little more than 50,000 were evacuated during the sea lift.


1975 spring offensive, ARVN collapse in the northern provinces, Huế–Da Nang Campaign
Left behind were 70,000 ARVN troops taken prisoner by northern forces. Also abandoned were 33 undamaged RVNAF A-37 jet fighters at Da Nang Air Base and nearly 60 more aircraft at Phu Cat Air Base. During the fall of Da Nang no pitched battles had been fought and few of the ARVN troops stationed in and around the city had even raised their rifles in its defense. In quick succession the few remaining centers of resistance along the coastline "fell like a row of porcelain vases sliding off a shelf": Quảng Ngãi on 24 March; Qui Nhơn and Nha Trang on 1 April; and Cam Ranh Bay on 3 April.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
By 25 March the North Vietnamese Politburo no longer felt it was necessary to wait until 1976 for the initiation of its final offensive against Saigon. General Dũng was ordered to abandon the long-standing doctrine of meticulous planning and methodical preparation of the battlefield in order that the "puppet" regime could be crushed and the war ended. The only obstacle to that goal was moving his northern forces 370 miles (600 km) (the reserve divisions in North Vietnam would have to move 1,000 miles (1,600 km)) south in order to participate in the attack on the capital Saigon. In one of the most complex logistical feats of the war, he proceeded to do just that.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
On 7 April Lê Đức Thọ arrived at Dũng's headquarters near Loc Ninh to oversee the final battles as the Politburo's representative. Dũng and his staff had basically adapted Tra's original plan and prepared a three-pronged attack that would be led by the 4th Corps, which would seize the vital highway intersection at Xuân Lộc, the capital of Long Khánh Province and "the gateway to Saigon." The capture of the crossroads would open the way to Biên Hòa (where 60 percent of South Vietnam's remaining ammunition was stockpiled) and Saigon's strategic eastern approaches.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
This effort was placed under the command of General Lê Trọng Tấn, the "conqueror of Da Nang." To divert Saigon's attention and prevent the reinforcement of Xuân Lộc, the recently activated 223rd Tactical Group would cut off Route 4, severing Saigon from the Mekong Delta. Simultaneously, the 3rd Corps would conduct another diversionary operation around Tây Ninh.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
To support the effort, other PAVN elements would close on the city from the west and south. Since no code name had been applied to the new offensive, Dũng suggested that it be named the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The Politburo concurred on 14 April. Lê Đức Thọ then passed on a message from Tôn Đức Thắng, president of North Vietnam to General Dũng: "You must win. Otherwise, do not return."


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
The defense of Xuân Lộc had been entrusted to the 18th Division, reinforced by the 8th Regiment of the 5th Division, the 3rd Armored Brigade, two Ranger and two artillery battalions and the 81st Airborne Ranger Group. The week-long fighting that erupted on 8 April raged in and around Xuân Lộc and became the most significant engagement of the entire offensive. The initial attack was conducted by the PAVN 341st and 3rd Divisions, which attacked headlong into the town, a tactic widely used before, hoping to quickly rout the defender. However, they had to call off the attack after meeting 2 weeks of heavy resistance and effective fire support which cost them dearly. The attackers were then reinforced by the 7th Division.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
After the interdiction of an ARVN armored task force sent to the relief of the town along Route 1, the 1st Airborne Brigade was helilifted into the outskirts of the town. The South Vietnamese committed 25,000 troops to the battle, almost one-third of the remainder of their reserve forces. For the first time since the onset of the North Vietnamese offensive, the RVNAF consistently provided effective close air support to the defenders. Even General Dũng was impressed by "the stubbornness of the enemy" in what became a "meat grinder."


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
On 14 April General Dũng received new instructions from Hanoi. "We must be in Saigon to celebrate Ho Chi Minh's birthday." That deadline, 19 May, was only one month away. At that point, Dũng decided to bypass the defenders at Xuân Lộc and commenced the shelling of Biên Hòa Air Base, effectively ending air support. The PAVN also shifted their original target, instead of charging straight at the town, they instead attacked and destroyed the outposts around Xuân Lộc, cutting off the 18th Division from their reinforcements.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Xuân Lộc
Threatened with encirclement, the 18th Division managed to conduct a retreat to the south along Route 2. After more than three weeks of intense fighting, the 18th Division alone suffered 30 percent casualties (around 4000 soldiers) while dealing over 5,000 North Vietnamese casualties and destroying 37 tanks and vehicles. However, their defences made no differences to the outcome of the war, as the 18th disintegrated shortly after in the fighting around Biên Hòa. With all of Long Khánh Province under PAVN control, General Dũng was free to completely encircle Saigon with his forces.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
Even after the loss of Da Nang, "the worst single disaster in the history of South Vietnam", the Ford administration continued to disbelieve that the Saigon regime was failing. On 10 April President Ford went to Congress to request a $722 million supplemental military aid package for South Vietnam plus $250 million in economic and refugee aid. Congress was not impressed, believing that the administration might simply be stalling the evacuation of remaining U.S. personnel and civilians in order to force the aid bill through. On 17 April the discussion was ended. There would be no more funds for Saigon.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
The ARVN III Corps commander, General Toan, organized five centers of resistance for the defense of the city. These fronts were so connected as to form an arc enveloping the area west, north, and east of the capital.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
The Cu Chi front, to the northwest, was defended by the 25th Division; the Bình Dương front, to the north, was the responsibility of the 5th Division; the Biên Hòa front, to the northeast, was defended by the 18th Division; the Vũng Tàu and Route 15 front, to the southeast, was held by the 1st Airborne Brigade and one battalion of the 3rd Division; and the Long An front, for which the Capital Military District Command was responsible, was defended by elements of the re-formed 22nd Division. South Vietnamese defensive forces around Saigon totaled approximately 60,000 troops.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
On 17 April the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge and the US did nothing for their former ally. On 21 April 1975, Thiệu, under intense political pressure, resigned as president when his closest domestic allies began losing confidence over his handling of the war. In his televised farewell speech, Thiệu admitted, for the first time, having ordered the evacuation of the Central Highlands and the north that led to debacle. He then stated that it was the inevitable course of action in the situation – but also insisted it was the generals who failed him.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
He went on to excoriate the U.S., attacking "our great ally...the leader of the free world ... The United States has not respected its promises" he declared "It is inhumane. It is not trustworthy. It is irresponsible. Immediately following the speech, the presidency was handed over to Vice President Trần Văn Hương.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
At his new forward command post at Ben Cat, General Dũng prepared plans for the final battle. He encircled Saigon with four PAVN corps and the hastily assembled 232nd Tactical Force, a total of 19 divisions plus supporting artillery and armored units, approximately 130,000 men.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
His plan was to avoid intensive street fighting within the city itself by first tying down outlying South Vietnamese forces in their defensive positions and then launching five spearheads through them into the city, each of which had a specific target: the Independence Palace, the Joint General Staff headquarters, the National Police headquarters, Tan Son Nhut Air Base and the Special Capital Zone headquarters. The attacks on the periphery began on 26 April and the main attack on the city center began the following day.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
After Thiệu's resignation, the South Vietnamese military situation increasingly declined. On the 26th, the PAVN launched an all-out attack to take Biên Hòa and the sprawling logistical complex at Long Binh from the south and southeast. Three days later, the port city of Vũng Tàu was under assault and the pressure against the Cu Chi front was intense.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
The same disorganization, loss of control, and anarchy that befell I and II Corps now took place in Saigon, where martial law was imposed to control the chaos and lawlessness. Although contemplation of a communist victory by that time had created severe shock in many parts of South Vietnamese society, most did little or nothing to forestall it.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
A repeat of the Massacre at Huế, albeit on a much larger scale, was promoted by the government as a propaganda ploy since the beginning of the offensive in an effort to unify the population, but it provoked only an overreaction and caused almost complete paralysis when the time came to defend the city.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
As the main attack developed on the 27th, the South Vietnamese General Assembly handed over the presidency to General Dương Văn Minh, who was sworn in the following day. It was widely assumed that Minh, who had no history of aggressive action against the communists, would be able to establish a cease-fire and re-open negotiations. Such hope was unrealistic. Their opponent, for the first time since the First Indochina War, held the upper hand on the battlefield and victory was within reach, regardless of any political changes in Saigon. They would not be denied victory, the only thing for which they had striven for over 30 years.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
The inauguration of Minh served as a signal to South Vietnamese officers who "would make no compromise with the communists", and were responsible for the torture and imprisonment of many VC agents and their sympathizers. They began to pack up and try to find a way out of the country. The aerial evacuation of U.S. personnel and civilians had commenced on 1 April from Tan Son Nhut. At 10:51 on 29 April Operation Frequent Wind, the U.S. helicopter evacuation of military and embassy personnel, U.S. civilians, and South Vietnamese citizens thought to be at risk of communist reprisal was put into implementation as the city descended into pandemonium.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
On 28 April PAVN forces fought their way into the outskirts of the city. At the Newport Bridge (Cầu Tân Cảng), about 3 miles (4.8 km) from the city center, ARVN soldiers battled with PAVN troops attempting to control the span, cutting the city's last overland connection to the south and gaining immediate access to downtown Saigon. Later that afternoon, as President Minh finished his acceptance speech, a formation of four A-37s, captured from RVNAF, bombed Tan Son Nhut Air Base. As Biên Hòa was falling, General Toan fled to Saigon, informing the government that most of the top ARVN leadership resigned themselves to defeat.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
Despite the increased disintegration of the ARVN, the PAVN faced heavy resistance, even counterattack attempts to push them out. The outskirts and downtown of the city become battlefields, where PAVN/VC fought against a rag-tag formation of ARVN soldiers who made their way into Saigon, but couldn't be evacuated. These men, betrayed by their commanders, either stripped off their uniforms and hid, or made suicidal assault at the enemy, hoping for a quick death. Those units tasked with capturing key structures found themselves at the receiving end of a more disciplined force commanded by officers denied their evacuation.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
These men would take advantage of the equipment left over by their escaped comrades and set a perimeter around the city. However, despite all efforts, a loose combination of troops either wanting to flee or wanting to kill as many communists as possible before their deaths, mostly leaderless and cut off from supplies, could not hope to stand against a disciplined army with artillery and armored support.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
At 4:58 a.m on 30 April, U.S. Ambassador Martin boarded a helicopter and departed from the US Embassy, Saigon on one of the last American evacuation flights. At 07:53 the last U.S. Marines were lifted from the roof of the U.S. Embassy. At 10:24 am. President Minh ordered all South Vietnamese forces to cease fighting. Later Minh would be escorted to a radio station, from which he declared the unconditional surrender of his government. Around noon, a PAVN tank, number 390, crashed through the gates of the Independence Palace. A crewman from the 843, which rammed into the side gate and got stuck, jumped out, ran up the steps, carrying the flag of the Provisional Revolutionary Government. A Western reporter on the scene asked the soldier his name and the man replied, "Nguyễn Văn Thiệu."


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
The total number of South Vietnamese evacuated by the U.S. or self-evacuated and ending up in the custody of the United States for processing as refugees to enter the United States totaled 138,869.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
In the Mekong Delta, where South Vietnamese military forces still appeared intact and aggressive, IV Corps deputy commander Brigadier General Lê Văn Hưng planned to build a "secret section", to use the delta's agricultural wealth to form a resistance. Lê Văn Hưng created a secret campaign "Operation Linking Hands" to send the remaining ARVN soldiers and officers to hidden jungle locations and military bases places in Mekong Delta to form a prolonged counteroffensive against the PAVN/VC hoping for another ceasefire in early summer 1975 and keeping parts of the Mekong Delta as South Vietnam.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
Weeks before the Fall of Saigon, most of the provincial capitals in IV Corps were stable defended by aggressive ARVN military defenses. However, VC units began to engage ARVN forces and succeeded in isolating IV Corps from Saigon which put an end to the "secret section" plan. When President Minh announced the surrender of South Vietnam, IV Corps started to disintegrate. Both Lê Văn Hưng and IV Corps commander Nguyễn Khoa Nam disagreed with the surrender order. At 8 pm, VC units captured some regional districts in Mekong Delta.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
Although Lê Văn Hưng and a number of ARVN soldiers planned to continue to battle against VC units in Can Tho, many residents of Can Tho opposed continued resistance believing the VC would start shelling Can Tho causing numerous casualties in the city. Lê Văn Hưng agreed to stand down the defense of Can Tho due to the poor options for escape or prolonged defense.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
Around 8 P.M, Lê Văn Hưng told his remaining soldiers that he did not want to endure a siege similar to what he had experienced at An Lộc in 1972, he later committed suicide and the defense of Can Tho was finished. IV Corps was dissolved shortly after the death of Lê Văn Hưng. On the same day, Brigadier General Trần Văn Hai committed suicide in Dong Tam Base Camp.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Saigon and Mekong Delta
Both ARVN generals in the Mekong Delta, Le Van Hung and Nguyen Khoa Nam, committed suicide after the surrender. On the early morning of 1 May 1975, Major General Nguyễn Khoa Nam committed suicide at his IV Corps headquarters in Can Tho after hearing of Lê Văn Hưng's suicide.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
By 3 May 1975, North Vietnamese forces controlled all of South Vietnam, just 55 days after opening their attack on Buôn Ma Thuột.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
Since the end of the war, there has been much historical recrimination and discussion as to how and why such a lopsided victory had occurred. Four main lines of thought have remained particularly viable, all of which possess some validity, but all are also open to argument.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
The first argument is that the Paris Peace Accords that ended the direct American participation in the war was seriously flawed, because it permitted the North Vietnamese to maintain their forces within territorial South Vietnam after the signing of the agreement, thereby dooming the ceasefire.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
The second argument is that the refusal of the United States government to take promised military action in the face of North Vietnamese violations of the ceasefire was key to the defeat. Adherents to this claim believed that South Vietnam could have been saved by another U.S. bombing campaign. The conflict between the executive and legislative branches of the American government, already severe before Operation Linebacker II in 1972, was only more exasperating during 1975, when a new campaign would probably only have provoked even more Congressional outrage.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
The third cause of the defeat was that the U.S. Congress simply wrote off and abandoned the Saigon government. Material shortages were indeed severe, and might explain, for example, why the Central Highlands had to be abandoned, but they do not explain the flight of senior South Vietnamese generals that led to complete collapse. Historian Arnold Isaacs, who was on the scene in South Vietnam at the time, believed that "The psychological damage of the aid cuts was almost certainly greater than the real ... Even with the full amounts requested by the executive, South Vietnam could not have done more than preserve the battlefield deadlock for another year, after which the whole exhausting debate would need to be replayed yet again – and in a presidential election year."


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
Other plausible reasons for the rapidity of the defeat were the American policy of Vietnamization as a prescription for defeat. The rapid and accelerating withdrawal of U.S. forces that had begun in 1969 caught the South Vietnamese unprepared. The withdrawals were simply conducted faster than the South Vietnamese could or would improve. General Hinh believed that Vietnamization did not "provide the ARVN with enough time ... While the troop increases could be achieved rapidly, it was almost impossible to improve the quality and technical capabilities ...within the span of a few years. For seven years, the American military moulded South Vietnamese forces into a facsimile of itself, but ended up with a system that had all the liabilities of American military technology and few of its assets.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
The South Vietnamese military had greater problems than a reduction in American aid. President Thiệu was a disaster as commander-in-chief. During the two years before the offensive (when aid cuts were already occurring), neither he nor the General Staff made adjustments in strategy, doctrine, organization, or training to compensate for the inevitability of further aid reductions. Thiệu also deprived local commanders of any strategic or tactical flexibility in decision-making, which flowed downward from the presidential palace and those decisions contributed to the defeat. Added to these problems were the long-standing corruption and incompetence within the officer corps.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
Early defeats during the final campaign were compounded not by a lack of will or ability on the part of the enlisted men, but by the cowardice and failing morale of the officers. According to Isaacs, "The army did not collapse in its foxholes or for lack of supplies. It disintegrated when its senior officers...deserted it."


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
Key to the defeat of South Vietnam was the ability of the officers and men of the PAVN. The highly motivated and newly modernized PAVN was, for the first time, freed from the restraints of previous combat doctrine. What began as a conservative strategy, devised in Hanoi, was outrun by its local successes. Battlefield commanders were then given a new flexibility, which increased the tempo of operations and allowed them to quickly apply concentrated power at strategic points. These combat successes were made possible due to improved all-arms tactical coordination, modern communications, and increased transport and logistical capability.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
The result was that North Vietnamese commanders achieved the ultimate goal of military leadership, the quick application of massive force leading to the defeat of the enemy at little cost in manpower. During the entire campaign, the North Vietnamese suffered few casualties. According to General Dũng: "The numbers killed and wounded was very small in proportion to the victories won, and the expenditure in terms of weapons and ammunition was negligible.


1975 spring offensive, Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Conclusion
During the offensive the PAVN captured vast quantities of equipment with a value exceeding $5 billion in 1975 dollars, including: 550 tanks (250 M48 Patton, 300 M41s), 1,300 artillery pieces, 42,000 trucks, 12,000 mortars, nearly 2 million infantry weapons (including 791,000 M16 rifles, 63,000 M72 LAWs and 47,000 M79 grenade launchers), 48,000 radios, 130,000 tons of ammunition, 940 ships and 877 aircraft and helicopters (including 73 F-5s, 113 A-37s, 36 A-1s, 40 C-119s, 36 AC-47s, 430 UH-1s and 36 CH-47s).


1975 Úrvalsdeild, Overview
It was contested by 8 teams, and ÍA won the championship. ÍA's Matthías Hallgrímsson was the top scorer with 10 goals.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash
The 1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash was a military aviation accident that occurred in Malta on 14 October 1975 when an Avro Vulcan B.2 bomber crashed after an aborted landing at RAF Luqa. The aircraft crashed in a residential area in Żabbar, and five crew members and one civilian on the ground were killed. The two pilots managed to eject and survived the accident. The crash caused extensive damage to many buildings in Żabbar.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash
An investigation of the accident cited pilot error as the primary cause.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Background
XM645 was an Avro Vulcan B.2 bomber which had been completed in March 1964.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Background
On 14 October 1975, the aircraft was flying from RAF Waddington in England to RAF Luqa in Malta. The pilot was Flight Lieutenant G. R. Alcock, and the co-pilot was Flying Officer E. G. Alexander, and five other crew members were also on board. Alcock allowed Alexander to carry out the final approach, but the latter was not adequately briefed with the problems that arose when landing on a short, sloping runway like that at Luqa.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Accident
With Alexander piloting the aircraft, it made a hard landing at Luqa and undershot the runway, shearing off its undercarriage. According to an eyewitness, the aircraft then became airborne and touched down again about 600 feet (180 m) from where it first landed. By this point, captain Alcock had taken over control of the aircraft, and he decided to climb again and attempt another landing.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Accident
Fire broke out in the starboard wing as a fuel tank had been pierced by the initial impact. Before the aircraft managed to return to the airport, the crew realised that it was too late and the pilot and co-pilot ejected. The aircraft then exploded in mid-air, killing the remaining five crew members on board, who did not have time to escape the aircraft by bailing out through a crew door.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Accident
Debris including the aircraft's fuel tanks landed in the main street of Żabbar and exploded upon impact. A woman who was walking in the street was killed, while about 20 other people on the ground were injured, some seriously. There was extensive property damage, with over 100 houses and shops and some cars being damaged.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Accident
Firefighters took hours to put out the fires caused by the crash.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Aftermath
An inquiry was held after the crash, and it concluded that it was "an avoidable accident in which a serviceable aircraft was flown into the ground killing all rear crew members." The report criticized captain Alcock for allowing co-pilot Alexander to carry out the final approach without adequately briefing him, and found his handling of the aircraft as negligent.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Aftermath
One of the houses which was seriously damaged was rebuilt at the expense of the RAF, and it was later renamed Vulcan.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Aftermath
Since the aircraft crashed in a residential area and caused severe damage, the human casualties on the ground could have been much worse. Some interpreted this as a miracle.


1975 Żabbar Avro Vulcan crash, Aftermath
The Żabbar Sanctuary Museum contains a small exhibition relating to the accident.


1975: The Duets
1975: The Duets is a 1975 studio album by Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. It was the only album the pair made that solely featured them as a duo.


1975: The Duets, Reception
The album was reviewed by Ken Dryden at Allmusic who wrote that "Their magical ESP is evident from start to finish. Brubeck's lyricism throughout these sessions will surprise critics who label him as "bombastic," while Desmond, known for his pure dry-toned alto sax, throws a few curves to his longtime fans....the memorable interaction between the two musicians during this performance should be considered one of the high points of their respective careers. This is an essential acquisition for fans of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond." This album's notes recite that Brubeck and Desmond earned a transatlantic crossing playing these numbers on the ship nightly, later recording this  set which likely represents eight basically then ad hoc arrangements. The album has been out-of-print for years.


1975–1976 Massachusetts legislature
The 169th Massachusetts General Court, consisting of the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives, met in 1975 and 1976 during the governorship of Michael Dukakis. Kevin B. Harrington served as president of the Senate and Thomas W. McGee served as speaker of the House.


1975–1976 Massachusetts legislature, Images
Map of 240 districts of the Massachusetts House of Representatives apportioned in 1973


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike
The 1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike was a strike action by The Washington Post's pressmen. The strike began on October 1, 1975. The Washington Post hired replacement workers to replace the union in December 1975. The last unions supporting the pressmen's strike returned to work in February 1976.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Background
Eugene Meyer purchased the Washington Post at a bankruptcy auction in 1933, and generally had a good relationship with labor unions at the company. In 1946, his son-in-law Phil Graham took over as publisher, and Meyer's daughter Katharine Graham took over in 1963 after Phil Graham's suicide. The Post became a publicly-traded company in 1971.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Background
The Post had suffered multiple strikes in previous years. In 1973, the printer's guild went on strike, and management quickly agreed to demands. In 1974, the Newspaper Guild went on strike, but other unions did not support the strike.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Preparation
In preparation for an expected strike, the Post sent executives to the Newspaper Production Research Center in Oklahoma to learn how to operate presses. Preparations had started over two years before the strike began.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Start of the strike
The strike began in the early-morning hours of October 1. Around 4AM, a group of pressmen disabled the printing presses and causing other damage. The damage was initially reported by the Post as being in the millions; later estimates by the Post were of $269,000 in damages. Other sources gave even lower damage estimates of $12,900.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Start of the strike
The Washington Post did not publish a paper on October 2 as a result of the damage to the presses.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Start of the strike
Later, the Post used a helicopter to access the building during the strike. This required special approval from the State Department due to restricted airspace in Washington DC.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Start of the strike
Multiple other unions refused to cross the picket line of the pressmen and engaged in strikes of their own. The main exception was the Newspaper's Guild; over 500 journalists refused to support the strike.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Negotiations
The strike initially had a dramatic effect on the Post's circulation and revenue. The Post estimated that in the first two weeks of the strike, they lost $3 million in revenue. By December, the Post's revenues had significantly recovered, but were still below pre-strike levels.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Negotiations
In December 1975, the Post began to hire replacement workers to replace the pressmen's union. Many of them were African-American, in contrast to the mostly-white pressmen's union.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Negotiations
In February 1976, the Post reached an agreement with the remaining unions, which ended their sympathy strikes. The mailers' union reached an agreement on February 15.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Aftermath and Impact
The outcome of the strike was viewed as a victory for the Post and a defeat for the labor unions involved. The Post was estimated to save $2 million in 1976 as a result of hiring non-union pressmen.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Aftermath and Impact
On October 2, 1976, to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the start of the strike, a crowd of over 1000 supporting the pressmen met at McPherson Square. They proceeded to the Post's headquarters, where they burned Graham in effigy.


1975–1976 Washington Post pressmen's strike, Aftermath and Impact
In May 1977, 14 pressmen were sentenced for their participation in the initial sabotage; sentences ranged from fines to 1 year in jail.


1975–76 1. Slovenská národná hokejová liga season
The 1975–76 1. Slovenská národná hokejová liga season was the 7th season of the 1. Slovenská národná hokejová liga, the second level of ice hockey in Czechoslovakia alongside the 1. Česká národní hokejová liga. 12 teams participated in the league, and TJ Lokomotíva Bučina Zvolen won the championship. TJ Spartak BEZ Bratislava relegated.


1975–76 1.Lig
Statistics of the Turkish First Football League for the 1975–76 season.


1975–76 1.Lig, Overview
Sixteen teams participated, and Trabzonspor won the championship, becoming the first team outside of Istanbul to win the league title.


1975–76 2. Bundesliga
The 1975–76 2. Bundesliga season was the second season of the 2. Bundesliga, the second tier of the German football league system. It was played in two regional divisions, Nord and Süd.


1975–76 2. Bundesliga
Tennis Borussia Berlin, Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Saarbrücken were promoted to the Bundesliga while 1. FC Mülheim, SpVgg Erkenschwick, DJK Gütersloh, Spandauer SV, 1. FSV Mainz 05, FC Schweinfurt 05, Eintracht Bad Kreuznach and SSV Reutlingen were relegated to the Oberligas and Amateurligas.


1975–76 2. Bundesliga, Nord
For the 1975–76 season saw Bayer Leverkusen, Spandauer SV, Westfalia Herne and Union Solingen promoted to the 2. Bundesliga from the Oberliga and Amateurligas while Wuppertaler SV and Tennis Borussia Berlin had been relegated to the 2. Bundesliga Nord from the Bundesliga.


1975–76 2. Bundesliga, Süd
For the 1975–76 season saw Eintracht Kreuznach, FSV Frankfurt, Jahn Regensburg and SSV Reutlingen promoted to the 2. Bundesliga from the Amateurligas and VfB Stuttgart relegated to the 2. Bundesliga Süd from the Bundesliga.


1975–76 2. Bundesliga, Promotion play-offs
The final place in the Bundesliga was contested between the two runners-up in the Nord and Süd divisions. Borussia Dortmund won on aggregate and were promoted to the Bundesliga.


1975–76 2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey) season
The 1975-76 2nd Bundesliga season was the third season of the 2nd Bundesliga, the second level of ice hockey in Germany. Ten teams participated in the league, and Augsburger EV won the championship, and was promoted to the Ice hockey Bundesliga as a result. TSV Straubing was relegated to the Oberliga.


1975–76 A Group
Statistics of Bulgarian A Football Group in the 1975–76 season.


1975–76 A Group, Overview
It was contested by 16 teams, and CSKA Sofia won the championship.


1975–76 A.C. Torino season
In the 1975–76 Associazione Calcio Torino competed in Serie A and Coppa Italia.


1975–76 A.C. Torino season, Summary
The team placed first being their seventh Serie A title in the 1975–76 season. The scudetto was won after a comeback against Juventus, who held a five-point advantage over the Granata during the spring. However, three straight losses for the Bianconeri, the second of which was in the derby, allowed Torino to overtake. In the final round, Torino held a one-point advantage and, until then, had won every previous home fixture. Torino hosted Cesena at the Comunale but could only manage to draw; Juventus, however, were defeated at Perugia. The title was won by two points ahead of Juventus, 27 years after the Superga tragedy.


1975–76 A.C. Torino season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1975–76 ABA season
The 1975–76 ABA season was the ninth and final season of the American Basketball Association. The shot clock was changed from 30 to 24 seconds to match the NBA. Dave DeBusschere was the league's new commissioner, its seventh and last. This was also the only season that did not use the East-West division setup. The NBA would adopt the ABA's three-point shot for the 1980-81 season.


1975–76 ABA season
Prior to the start of the season, the Memphis Sounds relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, and briefly became the Baltimore Hustlers, then the Baltimore Claws. The Claws folded during the preseason in October after playing three exhibition games. The San Diego Conquistadors were replaced for the 1975-76 season by the San Diego Sails, but folded in November, followed by the Utah Stars in early December. The Virginia Squires folded in May following the end of the season, unable to make a $75,000 league assessment.


1975–76 ABA season
The 1976 ABA All-Star Game saw the first place Denver Nuggets come from behind to defeat the ABA All Stars 144-138 in Denver. The game saw the first ever Slam Dunk Contest, won by Julius Erving.


1975–76 ABA season
With the conclusion of the season, the June 1976 ABA-NBA merger saw the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs join the NBA, while the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis accepted deals to fold. The deal accepted by the Spirits' owners, Ozzie and Daniel Silna, would turn out to be quite lucrative, as they agreed to receive a seventh of the television revenue generated by each of the four newly-added franchises in perpetuity.


1975–76 ABA season, Playoffs
The 1976 ABA Playoffs opened with the Kentucky Colonels defeating the Indiana Pacers 2 games to 1 in the quarterfinals. The Colonels then lost a seven-game semifinal series to the #1 seeded Denver Nuggets, 4 games to 3. The other semifinal saw the New York Nets outlast the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 3. In the finals the Nets beat the Nuggets, 4 games to 2.


1975–76 AHL season
The 1975–76 AHL season was the 40th season of the American Hockey League. The league begins to give out three James H. Ellery Memorial Awards to the media, one each for outstanding newspaper, radio and television coverage of the AHL.


1975–76 AHL season
Eight teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs finished first overall in the regular season, and won their second Calder Cup championship.


1975–76 AHL season, Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;


1975–76 AHL season, Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1975–76 Albanian Cup
1975–76 Albanian Cup (Albanian: Kupa e Shqipërisë) was the twenty-fourth season of Albania's annual cup competition. It began on August 1975 with the First Round and ended on May 1976 with the Final matches. The winners of the competition qualified for the 1976-77 first round of the UEFA Cup. KS Elbasani were the defending champions, having won their first Albanian Cup last season. The cup was won by KF Tirana.


1975–76 Albanian Cup
The rounds were played in a two-legged format similar to those of European competitions. If the aggregated score was tied after both games, the team with the higher number of away goals advanced. If the number of away goals was equal in both games, the match was decided by extra time and a penalty shootout, if necessary.


1975–76 Albanian Cup, Second round
All sixteen teams of the 1974–75 Superliga and First Division entered in this round. First and second legs were played on January 1976.


1975–76 Albanian Cup, Quarter finals
In this round entered the 8 winners from the previous round.


1975–76 Albanian Cup, Semifinals
In this round entered the four winners from the previous round.


1975–76 Albanian Cup, Final
In this round entered the two winners from the previous round.


1975–76 Albanian National Championship
The 1975–76 Albanian National Championship was the 37th season of the Albanian National Championship, the top professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1930.


1975–76 Albanian National Championship, Overview
It was contested by 12 teams, and Dinamo Tirana won the championship.


1975–76 Albanian National Championship, League table
Note: '17 Nëntori' is Tirana, 'Labinoti' is Elbasani, 'Lokomotiva Durrës' is Teuta, 'Traktori' is Lushnja


1975–76 Algerian Championnat National
The 1975–76 Algerian Championnat National was the 14th season of the Algerian Championnat National since its establishment in 1962. A total of 16 teams contested the league, with MC Alger as the defending champions.


1975–76 Algerian Cup
The 1975–76 Algerian Cup is the 14th edition of the Algerian Cup. MC Oran are the defending champions, having beaten MO Constantine 2–0 in the previous season's final.


1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
The 1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship was the sixth staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1970-71.


1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
University College Dublin were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after conceding a walkover to St. Vincent's in the Dublin County Championship.


1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship
On 14 March 1976, St. Vincent's won the championship following a 4-10 to 0-05 defeat of Roscommon Gaels in the All-Ireland final at O'Moore Park. It was their first ever championship title.


1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
The 1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship was the sixth staging of the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, the Gaelic Athletic Association's premier inter-county club hurling tournament. The championship began on 2 November 1975 and ended on 14 March 1976.


1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
St. Finbarr's of Cork were the defending champions, however, they failed to qualify after being beaten by Seandún in the quarter-final of the Cork County Championship.


1975–76 All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship
On 14 March 1976, James Stephens won the championship after 2-10 to 2-04 defeat of Blackrock in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park. This was their first ever championship title.


1975–76 Allsvenskan (men's handball)
The 1975–76 Allsvenskan was the 42nd season of the top division of Swedish handball. 10 teams competed in the league. IK Heim won the regular season, but Ystads IF won the playoffs and claimed their first Swedish title. Malmbergets AIF were relegated.


1975–76 Alpha Ethniki
The 1975–76 Alpha Ethniki was the 40th season of the highest football league of Greece. The season began on 5 October 1975 and ended on 23 May 1976. PAOK won their first Greek title in its history.


1975–76 Alpha Ethniki
The point system was: Win: 2 points - Draw: 1 point.


1975–76 Anglo-Scottish Cup
The 1975–76 Anglo-Scottish Cup was the first edition of the tournament which replaced the Texaco Cup. It was won by Middlesbrough, who beat Fulham in a two-legged final by 1–0 on aggregate.


1975–76 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1975-76 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Arizona in the 1975-76 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Coached by fourth year head coach Fred Snowden and led by junior center Bob Elliott, the Wildcats made their first NCAA tournament appearance in 25 seasons (and second appearance all-time), advancing to the Elite Eight. The Wildcats played their home games for the fourth season at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona competing as members of the Western Athletic Conference.


1975–76 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, Previous season
The Wildcats finished the 1974-75 season 22-7 overall, 9-5 in WAC play to finish in a 3rd place in the conference, a three win improvement from the season before. While beginning the season ranked pre-season #15, the team finished the season unranked and failed to make a postseason appearance for the 24th consecutive season.


1975–76 Arsenal F.C. season
During the 1975–76 English football season, Arsenal F.C. competed in the Football League First Division.


1975–76 Arsenal F.C. season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1975–76 Aston Villa F.C. season
The 1975–76 English football season was Aston Villa's 76th in the Football League and their first season in the top division for eight years.


1975–76 Aston Villa F.C. season
In October 1975, at the age of 19, Andy Gray moved south to newly promoted Villa for £110,000.


1975–76 Aston Villa F.C. season
Dave Richardson joined Aston Villa in 1976 as Youth Development Officer.


1975–76 Aston Villa F.C. season, UEFA Cup
Having won the League Cup in the previous season, Villa qualified for Europe for the first time.


1975–76 Athenian League
The 1975–76 Athenian League season was the 53rd in the history of Athenian League. The league consisted of 32 teams.


1975–76 Athenian League, Division One
The division featured two new teams, promoted from last season's Division Two:


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season
The 1975–76 Atlanta Flames season was the fourth season for the franchise. This season would mark a turning point for the franchise. After making the playoffs just once in their first three seasons, the Flames would miss the playoffs only once between 1976 and 1996 (that coming in 1991-92).


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Playoffs
Atlanta qualified for the post-season for the second time in franchise history, and would face the Los Angeles Kings in a best-of-three preliminary round series. The Kings finished with a 38–33–9 record, earning 85 points and second place in the Norris Division. They finished the season with three more points than the Flames.


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Playoffs
The series opened at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and the Kings scored in the first minute of play, as Tom Williams beat goaltender Dan Bouchard to give Los Angeles a 1–0 lead. The Kings doubled their lead in the second period when Bob Nevin scored. In the third period, the Flames cut the Kings lead to 2–1 after a goal by Barry Gibbs, however, that's as close as Atlanta would get, as Los Angeles held on for the 2–1 victory.


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Playoffs
The second game was played at the Omni Coliseum, as the Flames needed a win to force a third and deciding game. Both goaltenders played great games, however, the Kings Bob Berry scored with 1:44 remaining in the third period, as Los Angeles held on to beat the Flames 1–0. Kings goaltender Rogie Vachon  made 27 saves for the shutout.


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Skaters
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Player statistics, Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average


1975–76 Atlanta Flames season, Transactions
The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season.


1975–76 Atlanta Hawks season
The 1975–76 NBA season was the Hawks' 27th season in the NBA and eighth season in Atlanta.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States
The 1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain and Ireland was a series of matches played by the Australia national rugby union team (nicknamed the Wallabies). The team was referred to as the "Sixth Wallabies", although they were actually only the fifth Australian touring team to undertake a full tour of Britain & Ireland; the "Second Wallabies" of 1939–40 had to return home without playing a game when the World War II broke out.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States
The Wallabies played twenty-six matches between October 1975 and January 1976, including one match in the United States. Australia won nineteen games, drew one and lost six. They were generally unsuccessful in the four international matches in Europe, losing the first three and winning only the final fixture against Ireland. In their other matches they lost to Cardiff, England's Midlands (East) representative team and the Barbarians in the traditional final match of the European leg of the tour.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, The squad's leadership
Australia's world-class halfback John Hipwell had first toured with the Wallabies in 1966–67 and had captained his state and country on several occasions since 1973. He was an automatic selection as captain for the 26 match tour. Hipwell would captain the team in two Tests (Scotland and Wales) and in nine mid-week matches. An injury he suffered in the North-Eastern Counties game resulted in serious damage to the cruciate ligaments in his leg, caused him to be replaced in the Wales Test and ended his playing involvement on tour after the game against the Combined Services.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, The squad's leadership
Centre Geoff Shaw took over the captaincy from Hipwell and led the side in six mid-week matches as well as the England, Ireland and United States Tests. Tony Shaw took a leadership role in the forwards playing in nineteen matches and was the only back-rower to play in all Tests.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, The squad's leadership
The tour manager was 33-year-old Newcastle solicitor Ross Turnbull, who had won a single Wallaby cap as a prop against Scotland on the short tour to Ireland & Scotland in 1968. The Rothmans Rugby Yearbook asserts that he managed the side "splendidly" and "did much to make his side one of the most popular ever to visit Britain".


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, The squad's leadership
The tour coach was 47-year-old David Brockhoff who as per Wallaby tour tradition, carried the official title of Assistant-Manager. The flamboyant Brockhoff had been capped eight times as a Wallaby between 1949 and 1951. Rothmans Rugby Yearbook stated "[He] played a big part in the team's success. He was a dynamic, driving force, often against considerable difficulties".


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Tour itinerary
The tour followed a by-then well established pattern for touring teams to Europe from the Southern Hemisphere. Australia played test matches against all four Home Nations and a number of other matches against Welsh clubs and representative teams, Irish provinces, Scottish district teams and combinations of English county sides.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Tour itinerary
The tour opened as was customary with a match against a university team, Oxford on this occasion, and by tradition took in a match just after Christmas against a Combined Services team selected from the Army, RAF and Royal Navy; on previous tours this had been played at Twickenham, but was now held at Aldershot.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Tour itinerary
The final fixture in Europe was another traditional match, the tourist game against the Barbarians, which had begun at the end of 1947–48 Wallaby tour as a fund-raising game. The tourists were guests a Sportsman's Luncheon at the Savoy Hotel in London where dignitaries included Sir Douglas Bader.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Tour itinerary
After leaving Europe the Wallabies played a match against the United States national rugby union team, for which the Australian players were awarded full international caps. This was the first match played by a United States national team since the 1924 Summer Olympic Games; the United States rugby union (now USA Rugby) had been founded in 1975.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Scotland
Scotland opened the scoring against the run of play in the 26th minute with a try in the corner from Lewis Dick, set up by McGeechan and Hay. Morgan was unable to convert. Scotland's second try, just before half time, was scored by Jim Renwick after a 40-yard run when a pass from Hipwell to McLean went astray. Morgan converted this time to put Scotland 10–0 up at half time. Rothmans Yearbook commented "with luck [Australia] could have been 10 points up instead". Scotland dominated the territory in the second half but were unable to add to their score; McLean's 35-yard penalty goal for Australia was the only score of the half to make the result 10–3 to Scotland.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Scotland
AUSTRALIA: Paul McLean, Paddy Batch, David L'Estrange, John Berne (rep Laurie Weatherstone 57 mins), Laurie Monaghan, John Hipwell (c), Ron Graham, Peter Horton, John Meadows, Reg Smith, Garrick Fay, Tony Shaw, Greg Cornelsen, David Hillhouse.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Scotland
SCOTLAND: Bruce Hay, Andy Irvine, Jim Renwick, Ian McGeechan, Lewis Dick, Colin Telfer, Dougie Morgan, Sandy Carmichael, Colin Fisher, Ian McLauchlan (c), Gordon Brown, Alastair McHarg, Wilson Lauder, David Leslie, George Mackie


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Wales
Wales dominated the line-outs and rucks to record what was at the time their biggest win and highest score against Australia. An Edwards try from close range, converted by Fenwick, and a Fenwick penalty goal gave Wales a 9–3 half-time lead, Australia's score coming from a McLean penalty goal. The Australian captain Hipwell had to go off just before half-time with a recurrence of his knee ligament injury, a loss which Rothmans Yearbook suggested might have "affected the margin but not the result".


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Wales
In the second half J.J. Williams scored a hat-trick of tries with Fenwick and Martin adding a conversion each. Bevan scored a dropped goal and Wales finished 28–3 winners. Rothmans concluded that "Australia fought hard to the end, but on the day met a team which was too good for them at all points".


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Wales
AUSTRALIA: Paul McLean, Paddy Batch, David L'Estrange, Geoff Shaw, Laurie Monaghan, Jim Hindmarsh, John Hipwell (c) (rep Rod Hauser 39 mins), Ron Graham, Peter Horton, John Meadows, Reg Smith, Garrick Fay, Tony Shaw, John Lambie (rep Gary Pearse 14 mins), Greg Cornelsen.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Wales
WALES: J.P.R. Williams, J.J. Williams, Ray Gravell, Steve Fenwick, Clive Rees, John Bevan, Gareth Edwards, Graham Price, Bobby Windsor, Charlie Faulkner, Geoff Wheel, Allan Martin, Terry Cobner, Trefor Evans, Mervyn Davies (c).


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, England
Australia had won both international matches on the 1975 England rugby union tour of Australia but were beaten at Twickenham and failed to score a try for the third successive international on tour. Hipwell, Price and Fay were all unavailable due to injury. Hignell's two penalty goals for England to one by McLean made the half-time score 6–3. This remained unchanged until the 67th minute when England debutant Corless scored a try after chasing his own kick to make it 10–3.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, England
Five minutes later another player making his first appearance, Lampkowski, scored a try after a scrum near the Australian line and Duckham added a third try which was converted by Hignell, who also scored a penalty goal in the second half. The only Australia score in the second half was another McLean penalty goal. England's 23 points was at the time their highest score against Australia, and the 17-point winning margin equalled their record margin against the Wallabies.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, England
AUSTRALIA: Paul McLean, Paddy Batch, Bill McKid, Geoff Shaw (c), Laurie Monaghan, Laurie Weatherstone, Rod Hauser, Stuart Macdougall, Peter Horton, Steve Finnane, Reg Smith, David Hillhouse, Tony Shaw, Greg Cornelsen, Mark Loane.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, England
ENGLAND: Alastair Hignell, Peter Squires, Andy Maxwell, Barry Corless, David Duckham, Martin Cooper, Mike Lampkowski, Fran Cotton, Peter Wheeler, Mike Burton, Bill Beaumont, Bob Wilkinson, Mark Keyworth, Tony Neary (c), Andy Ripley


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Ireland
Australia registered their first international victory of the tour and scored three tries in beating Ireland. The first half ended with Ireland in a narrow 7–6 lead from McMaster's try and Robbie's penalty goal to two penalty goals from McLean; new Irish cap Ollie Campbell missed three penalties which might have given Ireland a more comfortable lead. In the second half the Australian pack took control and the Wallabies scored three tries through Ryan, Tony Shaw and Weatherstone, one of which was converted by McLean. Rothmans Yearbook singled out Loane who "stood out in the Wallaby pack" and Hauser who "had an excellent game at scrum-half".


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Ireland
AUSTRALIA: Paul McLean, John Ryan, Rex L'Estrange, Geoff Shaw (c), Laurie Monaghan, Laurie Weatherstone, Rod Hauser, Ron Graham, Chris Carberry, John Meadows, Reg Smith, Garrick Fay, Tony Shaw, Gary Pearse, Mark Loane.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, Ireland
IRELAND: Tony Ensor, Tom Grace, J.A. McIlrath, Mike Gibson (c), A. W. McMaster, Ollie Campbell, John Robbie, F. McLoughlin, J. Cantrell, P. Agnew, Moss Keane, M. Molloy, Stewart McKinney, Fergus Slattery, Willie Duggan


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, United States
In the first game ever played by a United States national rugby union team in their own country, Australia won 24–12 but needed two late tries to make the game safe. In a game played in 83-degree heat, Australia took a 13–6 lead at half-time through Ray Price's try and three penalty goals Jim Hindmarsh, to Oxman's two penalty goals for the home team. Hindmarsh stretched the lead to 16–6 with another penalty goal before two from Oxman brought the United States back within four points with eight minutes left. Tries from Ryan and Pearse ultimately gave the Wallabies a comfortable win although Rothmans Yearbook stated that "the losers fought back right to the end" and "were by no means outclassed".


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, United States
AUSTRALIA: Jim Hindmarsh, John Ryan, David L'Estrange, Geoff Shaw (c), Laurie Monaghan, Ken Wright, Rod Hauser, Ron Graham, Chris Carberry, John Meadows, Reg Smith, Garrick Fay, Ray Price, Gary Pearse, Tony Shaw.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Test matches, United States
United States: K. Oxman, D. Chipman, D. Stephenson, G. Schneeweis, S. Auerbach, R. Borderly (c), M. Swiderski, M. Ording, F. Khasigian, E. Swanson, C. Sweeney, G. Brackett, S. Nieubauer, T. Klein, T. Selfridge.


1975–76 Australia rugby union tour of Britain, Ireland and the United States, Touring party, Squad
Test and tour appearances include appearances as a replacement, which are shown in brackets e.g. (1R)


1975–76 Australian region cyclone season
The 1975–76 Australian region cyclone season was an above average tropical cyclone season.


1975–76 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Joan
On the morning of November 30, 1975, satellite imagery showed a large cloud mass in the Timor Sea. The satellite photograph received on the morning of December 1 showed that significant organization had occurred in the cloud mass during the previous 24 hours. It was deemed at 0115 UTC that the system be named the developing cyclone Joan, located about 310 km west-northwest of Darwin.


1975–76 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Joan
Joan's movement in the following 48 hours was towards the southwest at an average 5 km/h. The first evidence of the increasing strength of Joan came as the cyclone moved west-southwest past the northernmost areas of Western Australia on December 3. The cyclone's generally west-southwesterly track after December 2 took it away from the coast until 0900 6 December when it was about 420 km north of Port Hedland and the system turned southward. At about 2200 UTC December 7, 1975, the eye of tropical cyclone Joan crossed the coast about 50 km west of Port Hedland.


1975–76 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Joan
The cyclone was travelling south-southwest at about 14 km/h and crossed over or adjacent to the homesteads on the pastoral properties Mundabullangana, Mallina, Coolawanyah, Hamersley, and Mount Brockman. As cyclone Joan crossed the coastal plain and the Chichester Range only a slow moderation of its intensity seems to have occurred, but as the cyclone crossed the Hamersley Range the available evidence suggests that a rapid weakening took place.


1975–76 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Joan
Tropical cyclone Joan was the most destructive cyclone to affect the Port Hedland area in more than 30 years. The city was subjected to sustained winds exceeding 90 km/h for about 10 hours with winds in excess of 120 km/h for three hours. The maximum measured wind gust of 208 km/h on December 8, 1975, is the fourth highest on record in Australia. Severe property damage occurred at Port Hedland and at other settlements close to the cyclone's path. Subsequent flooding damaged roads and sections of the iron ore railways, particularly that of Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd. Sheep losses were heavy but, remarkably, no loss of human life or serious injury was reported. The estimated damage to private property and public facilities is believed to have exceeded $25 million.


1975–76 Australian region cyclone season, Systems, Severe Tropical Cyclone Colin
Colin churned up rough seas all across the eastern coast of Australia and caused one fatality as a result when a large wave swept a woman off a cliff.


1975–76 Austrian Football Bundesliga, Overview
It was contested by 10 teams, and Austria Wien / WAC won the championship.


1975–76 Austrian Hockey League season
The 1975–76 Austrian Hockey League season was the 46th season of the Austrian Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in Austria. Eight teams participated in the league, and EC KAC won the championship.


1975–76 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team
The 1975–76 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team represented Ball State University as a member of the Mid-American Conference during the 1975–76 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season
The 1975–76 American Basketball Association season saw the demise of the Baltimore Claws franchise.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason transactions
On August 27, 1975, the Memphis Sounds franchise was dismantled and sold to a group of Baltimore businessmen headed by David Cohan. The franchise moved to Baltimore. It was first called the Baltimore Hustlers but the league objected to the name so the team was quickly rechristened as the Baltimore Claws.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason transactions
On September 19, 1975, the Claws obtained star center Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels, the team that won the 1975 ABA Championship.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason transactions
The Claws also traded guard Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for guards Joe Hamilton and Tim VanBlommesteyn.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason transactions
The Claws signed Skip Wise, the 6'3" star guard from Clemson University who the prior year became the first freshman ever to be named First Team All-ACC while averaging 18.9 points per game.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason exhibition games
The Claws played their first game, a preseason exhibition, in Salisbury, Maryland, on October 9, 1975, against the Virginia Squires. The Squires won 131–121; attendance was reported at 1,150.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason exhibition games
Two days later the Claws lost to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers 103–82 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason exhibition games
On October 17, 1975, the Claws played the Squires again, this time at Knott Arena, Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Squires won 100–88 in front of approximately 500 spectators.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Offseason, Preseason exhibition games, Demise
The Claws only managed to sign up 300 season ticket holders. The franchise constantly had money problems. On October 16, 1975 ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere gave the Claws four days to send $500,000 to the ABA league office as a "performance bond" for team operations. While their players went unpaid, the Claws sent $250,000 of this amount. On October 20, 1975, five days before the start of the 1975–76 regular season, the ABA folded the Baltimore Claws.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Regular season
The Claws folded prior to the start of the regular season.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Regular season, Roster
The above would have been the Baltimore Claws' regular season roster had the team continued into regular season play.


1975–76 Baltimore Claws season, Transactions, Draft and preseason signings
Signed Skip Wise of Clemson University to a five-year, $1,000,000 contract


1975–76 Belgian First Division, Overview
It was contested by 19 teams, and Club Brugge K.V. won the championship. At the end of the season the division was reduced in size from 19 to 18 clubs, so three clubs were relegated to Division II to be replaced by two promoted clubs.


1975–76 Birmingham City F.C. season
The 1975–76 Football League season was Birmingham City Football Club's 73rd in the Football League and their 42nd in the First Division. They were in the bottom four from mid-October onwards, and eventually finished in 19th position in the 22-team division, one place above the relegation positions. They entered the 1975–76 FA Cup at the third round proper and lost to Portsmouth in that round after a replay, and lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the League Cup. To celebrate the centenary of the club's foundation in 1875, they played a friendly match against Celtic, winning 1–0.


1975–76 Birmingham City F.C. season
Twenty-seven players made at least one first-team appearance, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Defender Joe Gallagher missed only one of the 46 competitive matches played over the season, and Trevor Francis was the club's leading scorer with 18 goals, all but one scored in the league.


1975–76 Birmingham City F.C. season
Keith Coombs took over the chairmanship following the death of his father Clifford.


1975–76 Blackpool F.C. season
The 1975–76 season was Blackpool F.C. 's 68th season (65th consecutive) in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing tenth, with a symmetrical record of fourteen wins, fourteen draws and fourteen losses.


1975–76 Blackpool F.C. season
Mickey Walsh was the club's top scorer for the second consecutive season, with seventeen goals.


1975–76 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
The 1975–76 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team represented Boise State University during the 1975–76 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Broncos were led by third-year head coach Bus Connor and played their home games on campus at the Bronco Gym in Boise, Idaho.


1975–76 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
They finished the regular season at 16–10 overall, with a 9–5 record in the Big Sky Conference, tied with Weber State and Idaho State for the regular season title. The Broncos were led on the court by senior center Pat Hoke and sophomore guard Steve Connor, the coach's son.


1975–76 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
No Broncos were named to the all-conference team; Hoke and Connor were on the second team, and senior guard Terry Miller was honorable mention.


1975–76 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
In the first year of the conference tournament, the Broncos defeated the other co-champions: Idaho State in the first round, and host Weber State in the final in double overtime. They advanced to the NCAA Tournament, their first in Division I; six years earlier in 1970, they had advanced to the College Division tournament (now Division II).


1975–76 Boise State Broncos men's basketball team
Boise State met fourth-ranked UNLV in the first round at McArthur Court in Eugene, Oregon; the Runnin' Rebels were up by nine points at the half, and won by 25 points, 103–78. The Broncos' next NCAA appearance was twelve years later, in 1988.


1975–76 Borussia Mönchengladbach season
The 1975–76 season was the 76th season in the history of Borussia Mönchengladbach. They competed in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, the DFB-Pokal and the European Cup. They were German football champions for the fourth time in their history and for the second consecutive season, having won the Bundesliga with 45 points. They were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal at the Round of 16 stage and from the European Cup at the quarter-final stage.


1975–76 Borussia Mönchengladbach season, Season summary
Under manager Hennes Weisweiler, Borussia Mönchengladbach won both the Bundesliga and the European Cup in the 1974–75 season, though Weisweiler left the club at the end of the season to manage FC Barcelona, and was replaced by Udo Lattek. With a more cautious style of play than his predecessor, Lattek led the club to their second consecutive Bundesliga title and fourth overall.


1975–76 Borussia Mönchengladbach season, Season summary
He also took the club to a European Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid where, after a 2–2 draw at home in the first leg, the club draw 1–1 away on 17 March 1976 which allowed Real to advance to the semi-finals. With the score at 1–1, Mönchengladbach had two goals disallowed, leading to accusations from the Gladbach support that the referee was biased, whilst the club's vice president stated  that "we haven't lost against Real Madrid, but rather the referee."


1975–76 Boston Bruins season
The 1975–76 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 52nd season in the NHL. The season involved trading Phil Esposito to the New York Rangers, while a knee injury limited Bobby Orr to 10 games.


1975–76 Boston Bruins season, Regular season, Season standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals againstNote: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


1975–76 Boston Celtics season
The 1975–76 Boston Celtics season was their 30th in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and concluded with their 13th championship, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games in the 1976 NBA Finals. The Celtics also won their division for the 5th consecutive season, and made their 14th finals appearance.


1975–76 Boston Celtics season, Regular season and postseason recap
The Celtics lost Don Chaney to the American Basketball Association before the 1975–76 season. To fill the gap in the backcourt they traded Paul Westphal to the Phoenix Suns for Charlie Scott, who had averaged more than 20 points in each of the previous three seasons. Despite an uncharacteristically weak bench, the Celtics finished in first place in their division and the second best record in the NBA this season. Boston earned a shot at another NBA title by defeating the Buffalo Braves and then the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs.


1975–76 Boston Celtics season, Regular season and postseason recap
Boston's opponents in the 1976 NBA Finals were the Phoenix Suns, who had posted a 42–40 regular-season record. The Team in Green was the oddsmakers' choice in the contest. The Celtics took the first two games at Boston Garden, but the Suns came back to win games 3 and 4 on their home court. Game 5 ranks among the all-time thrillers in NBA history. The Suns trailed by 5 points with less than a minute left on the clock, but Westphal made up the deficit almost single-handedly, sending the game into a first overtime period, which ended in a tie.


1975–76 Boston Celtics season, Regular season and postseason recap
John Havlicek's basket with 2 seconds remaining in double overtime gave the Celtics a one-point lead, which Boston stretched to two points after sinking a technical foul. Then the Suns' Garfield Heard hit a last-second basket to send the contest into a third overtime. The longest game in NBA history finally ended, after three extra periods, with the Celtics winning 128–126. Two days later Boston captured yet another NBA championship, the 13th in franchise history.


1975–76 Bradford City A.F.C. season
The 1975–76 Bradford City A.F.C. season was the 63rd in the club's history.


1975–76 Bradford City A.F.C. season
The club finished 17th in Division Four, reached the 6th round of the FA Cup, and the 1st round of the League Cup.


1975–76 Brentford F.C. season
During the 1975–76 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Fourth Division. A poor middle third of the season led to an 18th-place finish, just three points above the re-election zone.


1975–76 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Despite a strong finish to the previous campaign, only one incoming transfer (veteran goalkeeper Bill Glazier for £4,000) did not raise the belief around Griffin Park that Brentford would challenge for promotion from the Fourth Division during the 1975–76 season. Instead, manager John Docherty made up the numbers with members of the club's youth team, with teenagers Gordon Sweetzer, Danis Salman, Paul Walker and Graham Cox all joining the club.


1975–76 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Brentford had a strong start to the season, winning three and drawing three of the first six league matches of the season and advancing to the second round of the League Cup, where the run was brought to an end at Old Trafford by Manchester United. With goalkeeper Bill Glazier quitting the club after just 12 appearances, Brentford would tread water in the lower reaches of mid-table throughout the season, in which a run to the third round of the FA Cup became the focus.


1975–76 Brentford F.C. season, Season summary
Having reached that stage of the competition for the first time since the 1970–71 season, the Bees took Second Division club Bolton Wanderers to a replay before losing 2–0 at Burnden Park. A slight upturn in form towards the end of the season was inspired by the signing of Oxford United forward Andrew McCulloch for a club record £25,000 fee.


1975–76 British Home Championship
The 1975–76 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations at the end of the 1975–76 season. It resulted in an outright Scottish victory following a rare whitewash of all three opponents, including England in a tough final at home in Glasgow. Scotland again refused to travel to Northern Ireland and therefore gained an additional home match. The Scottish team of the middle of the 1970s was one of the best sides the nation has ever fielded, being the only British team to qualify for a major championships between 1971 and 1980.


1975–76 British Home Championship
They began well, beating Wales, who also lost to England in the early exchanges. Both title contenders then inflicted heavy defeats on Northern Ireland and both went into the final match looking for a win, as a draw would result in a disappointing tie for first place. The match was full of incident, but the Scots eventually ran out 2–1 winners, taking the cup outright for the first time since the 1967 British Home Championship, when England were World Champions. The Welsh gained some consolation, defeating Northern Ireland in their final match to take third place.


1975–76 British Ice Hockey season
The 1975–76 British Ice Hockey season featured the Northern League for teams from Scotland and the north of England and the Southern League for teams from the rest of England.


1975–76 British Ice Hockey season
Murrayfield Racers won the Northern League and Streatham Redskins won the Southern League. Ayr Bruins won the Icy Smith Cup.


1975–76 British Ice Hockey season, Northern League, Regular season
(*The Dundee Rockets played all games away for four points per match.)


1975–76 British Ice Hockey season, Southern League, Final
Streatham Redskins defeated Altrincham Aces 11:0 on aggregate (9:0, 2:0)


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season
The 1975–76 Buffalo Braves season was the sixth season for the expansion Buffalo Braves franchise in the National Basketball Association and its Atlantic Division. It was the team's fourth season under head coach Jack Ramsay. The team's official home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season
Bob McAdoo led the league in scoring for the third consecutive year with 31.1 points per game. It was the third year in a row that the Braves made the playoffs. The Braves had a record of 46–36. In the playoffs the Braves wound up against the Philadelphia 76ers. The series went the full three games but the Braves found themselves on the road for Game 3. The Braves emerged victorious in overtime with a hard-fought 124–123 victory. It was the first playoff series win for the franchise. In the second round of the playoffs, the Braves and Boston Celtics would once again battle. After four games, the series was even at two wins each. Once again the Celtics would take the series in six games.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season
The season was marked in controversy. Ernie DiGregorio was benched and McAdoo was suspended. Following the season the Braves allowed coach Jack Ramsay to depart for the head coaching job with the Portland Trail Blazers. The team did not resign its auditorium lease and went through the season without a contract. Subsequently, the team was sold, the city sued and the sale was not consummated.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Offseason, NBA Draft
The Braves had no selections during the first two rounds of the 1975 NBA Draft and no players drafted by the team that year played for the 1975–76 Buffalo. 1974 NBA Draft pick Tom McMillen played for a year in Europe before joining the 1975–76 Buffalo Braves. McMillen played in the Italian League for a team in Bologna, Italy and completed the first year of his Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University. However, he reached an agreement with Oxford to complete his second year during the summer in order to begin his National Basketball Association career. McMillen only played basketball in Italy on the weekends.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Offseason, Exhibition games
On October 4, 1975, the Braves opened their preseason exhibition schedule against the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association. Bob McAdoo had 29 points in the contest in Indianapolis but the Pacers won, 106–105. On October 11, 15,000 fans attended the Braves' home game against the ABA's New York Nets. The Braves held New York's star Julius Erving to 16 points but the Nets prevailed 109–83. On October 14 the Braves traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, to face the ABA's Kentucky Colonels. The Colonels won, 120–116.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Offseason, Exhibition games
Two nights later on October 16, 1975, the Braves hit the road to face the ABA's San Antonio Spurs. Bob McAdoo had 22 points and 16 rebounds but the Spurs won 101–90 behind 22 points each for James Silas and George Gervin. The very next night the Braves again faced the New York Nets, this time at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Bob McAdoo scored 31 points but the Nets won 117–97. The Braves closed out their preseason exhibition schedule with a record of 0–5 against ABA teams.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
The Braves went the entire season without a winning streak or losing streak exceeding six games. The Braves attendance decreased by nearly 50,000 to 418,696 in their 41 home games, and the team fell to 11th of 18 teams.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
Shumate, who played 43 games for Phoenix and 32 for Buffalo led the NBA in field goal percentage (56.1) and earned first team All-rookie honors. DiGregorio, who played 67 games posted a 91.5% (86/94) free throw percentage, which would have been second to Rick Barry's 92.3 if he had posted a qualifying number of attempts. Marin, who played 12 games for the Braves before being traded, finished 9th in the NBA in free throw percentage (85.6%). McMillian ranked 3rd in field goal percentage (53.6%) and 8th in free throw percentage (85.8).


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
Randy Smith, who played all 82 games for the fourth consecutive season, represented Buffalo in the 1976 NBA All-Star Game and earned 2nd team All-NBA honors. Smith ranked third in steals per game (2.5), fourth in assists per game (6.5), seventh in points per game (21.8) and ninth in minutes per game (38.6). Smith's speed was a difference maker on the Braves' fast breaks. McAdoo appeared in the third of five consecutive NBA All-Star games and placed second in the MVP voting despite not making the All-NBA team that included centers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dave Cowens.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
McAdoo led the winning east team in scoring with 22 points in the All-Star game, but Dave Bing was selected as MVP. Over the course of the season he made both the most field goals and most free throws in the NBA. He led the league in minutes played (42.7) and points per game (31.1) while ranking seventh in rebound average (12.4) and sixth in blocks per game (2.1).


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
As the season began, the Braves refused to sign the lease terms for Memorial Auditorium because Braves owner Paul Snyder felt it was unfair for the Braves to be held to different terms than their co-tenant, the Buffalo Sabres. Although the Buffalo Common Council had approved a lease in July, the Braves entered the season without an agreement.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
During the November 14 game at Milwaukee a bench-clearing brawl erupted as a result of an incident between Bucks Gary Brokaw and Bob Dandridge and Brave Dick Gibbs. The following week McAdoo broke the Cleveland Coliseum single-game scoring record by posting 50 points in a 23-point deficit come-from-behind overtime victory. He surpassed his own 49 point performance the prior year at the Coliseum; both games were against his friend Jim Chones. On December 2, 1974 NBA Rookie of the Year DiGregorio was benched in favor of Charles for the sake of team defense.


1975–76 Buffalo Braves season, Regular season
In Charles' first start, he led the team in scoring with a career-high 24 on the way to the franchise record 37-point December 5 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. In late December, McAdoo was suspended by the team for failing to make a doctor's appointment as the Braves claimed his self-diagnosed back injury was dubious.