The Republic of Vietnam Military Forces or RVNMF ( / QLVNCH), were the official armed defense forces of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN), popularly known as South Vietnam, a state that existed from 1955 to 1975 in the southern half of what is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The QLVNCH was responsible for the defense of South Vietnam since its independence from France in October 1955.