Operation Attleboro: Difference between revisions
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The most significant fighting occurred when Viet Cong forces assaulted the U.S. perimeter at Suoi Da on November 8. The assault was defeated by artillery and air strikes. Afterwards, a large Viet Cong base camp was detected. It was one of the largest hauls to date in the Vietnam War with the American forces seized two million pounds of rice; 116 transportation bicycles; approximately 25,000 Chinese-made [[hand grenade]]s (many containing [[tear gas]]); 481 [[M18 Claymore anti-personnel mine]]s; 80 rocket launchers; 25 machine guns; a myriad number of pistols; rifles like AKMs and AK-47s; clothing; [[tobacco]]; miscellaneous foods like cooking oil and salt and fish; and bountiful gallons worth of [[petroleum]]. |
The most significant fighting occurred when Viet Cong forces assaulted the U.S. perimeter at Suoi Da on November 8. The assault was defeated by artillery and air strikes. Afterwards, a large Viet Cong base camp was detected. It was one of the largest hauls to date in the Vietnam War with the American forces seized two million pounds of rice; 116 transportation bicycles; approximately 25,000 Chinese-made [[hand grenade]]s (many containing [[tear gas]]); 481 [[M18 Claymore anti-personnel mine]]s; 80 rocket launchers; 25 machine guns; a myriad number of pistols; rifles like AKMs and AK-47s; clothing; [[tobacco]]; miscellaneous foods like cooking oil and salt and fish; and bountiful gallons worth of [[petroleum]]. |
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US intelligence later estimated PAVN losses during Operation Attleboro as 2,130 killed, 900 wounded, and over 200 missing or captured. Allied losses totaled 155 killed and 494 wounded.{{sfn|Tucker|2011|p=81}} 14 U.S. helicopter were hit (one destroyed and 7 heavily damaged)<ref name=dust/> |
US intelligence later estimated PAVN losses during Operation Attleboro as 2,130 killed, 900 wounded, and over 200 missing or captured. Allied losses totaled 155 killed and 494 wounded.{{sfn|Tucker|2011|p=81}} 14 U.S. helicopter were hit (one destroyed and 7 heavily damaged)<ref name=dust/> |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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Revision as of 03:45, 13 December 2014
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (January 2013) |
| Operation Attleboro | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Vietnam War | |||||||
 Infantrymen attacking out of a UH-1D helicopter during Operation Attleboro. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States South Vietnam |
 North Vietnam Viet Cong | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Guy S. Meloy William E. DePuy | Unknown | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
 196th Light Infantry Brigade1st Infantry Division 4th Infantry Division 27th Infantry Regiment Total: ~22,000 |
9th Vietcong Division 101st NVA Regiment | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
155 killed and 494 wounded unknown Total: unknown KIA, ~3,000 wounded or sick[1] |
US report: 2,130 killed 900 wounded 44 POW | ||||||
Operation Attleboro was a search and destroy operation by the 196th Light Infantry Brigade. The operation was named after Attleboro, Massachusetts, where the brigade had been formed. Operation Attleboro turned out to be the largest series of air mobile operations to date and involved all or elements of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 25th Division 1st Infantry Division, a brigade of the 4th Division, as well as numerous Army of the Republic of Vietnam and Regional Forces/Popular Forces and Nungs. In the end, the operation became a Corps operation commanded by II Field Forces. U.S. military spokesmen claimed that the most significant result of Operation Attleboro was the severe blow struck against the communists' supply system.
The operation was divided into two phases. While the initial fighting was light, in late October U.S. forces, consisting of the 196th Light Infantry Brigade and the 1st Battalion of the 27th Infantry Regiment, encountered the 9th Viet Cong Division, resulting in a major three-day battle. Fighting was then taken over by the 1st Infantry Division.
The most significant fighting occurred when Viet Cong forces assaulted the U.S. perimeter at Suoi Da on November 8. The assault was defeated by artillery and air strikes. Afterwards, a large Viet Cong base camp was detected. It was one of the largest hauls to date in the Vietnam War with the American forces seized two million pounds of rice; 116 transportation bicycles; approximately 25,000 Chinese-made hand grenades (many containing tear gas); 481 M18 Claymore anti-personnel mines; 80 rocket launchers; 25 machine guns; a myriad number of pistols; rifles like AKMs and AK-47s; clothing; tobacco; miscellaneous foods like cooking oil and salt and fish; and bountiful gallons worth of petroleum.
US intelligence later estimated PAVN losses during Operation Attleboro as 2,130 killed, 900 wounded, and over 200 missing or captured. 127 PAVN individual weapons and 19 crew-served weapon were seized[2][3] Allied losses totaled 155 killed and 494 wounded.[4] 14 U.S. helicopter were hit (one destroyed and 7 heavily damaged)[1]
Notes
- ^ a b Dust Off: Army Aeromedical Evacuation in Vietnam. DIANE Publishing. Peter Dorland,Peter Dorland James Nanney, James Nanney. P. 54
- ^ No Sure Victory: Measuring U.S. Army Effectiveness and Progress in the Vietnam war. Oxford university. Gregory A. Daddis. P 7
- ^ Newspaper article from Pacific Stars and Stripes, Monday, Nov. 28, 1966
- ^ Tucker 2011, p. 81.
References
- Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "Attleboro battered Reds' supply system". Stars and Stripes. 1966-11-28. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- "The Giant Spoiler". TIME Magazine. 1966-11-18. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- Tucker, Spencer C. (2011). The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History (2nd ed.). Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781851099603.
{{cite book}}: Invalid|ref=harv(help) - "Disappearing Act". TIME Magazine. 1966-11-25. Retrieved 2007-07-11.
- "Encouraging Returns". TIME Magazine. 1966-12-09. Retrieved 2007-07-11.