Operation Starlite: Difference between revisions
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|strength1=5,500<br/>3/3, 2/4, 1/7 and SLF 3/7 Marines Infantry Battalions |
|strength1=5,500<br/>3/3, 2/4, 1/7 and SLF 3/7 Marines Infantry Battalions |
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|strength2=1,500<br/>1st VC Regiment composed of 60th and 80th Battalions, and 45th Weapons Battalion, 52nd VC Company |
|strength2=1,500<br/>1st VC Regiment composed of 60th and 80th Battalions, and 45th Weapons Battalion, 52nd VC Company |
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|casualties2='''US report:''' 614 confirmed killed; 9 captured<ref>U.S. Marines in Viet Nam 1965, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington D.C.</ref> |
|casualties2='''US report:''' 614 confirmed killed; 9 captured<ref>U.S. Marines in Viet Nam 1965, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington D.C.</ref><br>'''NLF report:''' not clear |
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|casualties1= |
|casualties1=51 killed, 197 wounded<ref>http://www.virtual.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?AfZYH8Sm8hksh7dILNC@fJWiOhG2gc1gdjicH69LNorN6qrCdYEb29IQIk1oo@THcJitcpA3bijqOe5z6UDh01oyp0s2W.w7iHM0bnYLctZLXoL@oSVnHg/1201063060.pdf</ref><br/>'''NLF report:''' 919 killed or wounded |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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The various Marine units reported killing 600+ enemy fighters. Nine prisoners were taken along with 42 suspected guerillas |
The various Marine units reported killing 600+ enemy fighters. Nine prisoners were taken along with 42 suspected guerillas. However, the losses inflicted on the VC are debatable. The U.S. estimates were almost exclusively gathered by indirect means: sensor readings, sightings of secondary explosions, reports of POWs, and inference or extrapolation. These numbers are in clear conflict with the number of VC's weapons were captured by the U.S. (only 127 assorted weapons were seized, a ratio of bodies were claimed to weapons seized of 6:1)<ref name=vir />. |
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To the Americans, the battle was considered being a great success for U.S. forces as they engaged a Main Force Viet Cong unit and came out victorious.<ref>[http://www.vwam.com/client/contentclient.php?intIdContent=10 Vets With A Mission<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Despite this, the [[Viet Cong|National Liberation Front]] also claimed victory, announcing that they had inflicted 900 American casualties, destroyed 22 tanks and APCs, and downed 13 choppers.<ref name="lichsuvietnam.vn"/> In fact, the VC 1st Regiment was not yet totally wiped out, and the VC still had control over some hamlets in the peninsula.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} |
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| ⚫ | The Marines reported sustaining 45 killed and |
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| ⚫ | The Marines reported sustaining 45 killed, 203 wounded and 6 died of wounded.<ref name=vir>http://www.virtual.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?AfZYH8Sm8hksh7dILNC@fJWiOhG2gc1gdjicH69LNorN6qrCdYEb29IQIk1oo@THcJitcpA3bijqOe5z6UDh01oyp0s2W.w7iHM0bnYLctZLXoL@oSVnHg/1201063060.pdf</ref><ref>[http://www.historycentral.com/vietnam/Starlite.html Vietnam War > Events >Operation Starlite Begins<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Other sources cite U.S. loses as 54, comprising 52 Marines, a Navy Corpsman and a US Army Major who flew gunship support.<ref name=autogenerated1/><ref>{{Wayback |date=20051027084714 |url=http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/OperationStarliteAug05.htm }}</ref> Corporal [[Robert E. O'Malley]] (3/3) and Lance Corporal [[Joe C. Paul]] (2/4) received the [[Medal of Honor]] for their actions during the operation. |
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Lessons learned from the battle include the knowledge that the daily allotment of 2 gallons of water per man was inadequate in the heat of [[Vietnam]] and that the [[M14 Rifle]] was too bulky for troops cramped into small personnel carriers. |
Lessons learned from the battle include the knowledge that the daily allotment of 2 gallons of water per man was inadequate in the heat of [[Vietnam]] and that the [[M14 Rifle]] was too bulky for troops cramped into small personnel carriers. |
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Revision as of 13:06, 14 November 2014
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (August 2011) |
| Operation Starlite | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Vietnam War | |||||||||
 Vietcong prisoners await being carried by helicopter to rear area after Operation Starlite. | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 United States |
 Viet Cong | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
General Lewis W. Walt Major General Oscar F. Peatross |
Nguyen Chon | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
5,500 3/3, 2/4, 1/7 and SLF 3/7 Marines Infantry Battalions |
1,500 1st VC Regiment composed of 60th and 80th Battalions, and 45th Weapons Battalion, 52nd VC Company | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
51 killed, 197 wounded[3] NLF report: 919 killed or wounded |
US report: 614 confirmed killed; 9 captured[4] NLF report: not clear | ||||||||
Operation Starlite (also known in Vietnam as Battle of Van Tuong) was the first major offensive regimental size action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the commander of the South Vietnamese forces in northern I Corps area. Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt devised a plan to launch a pre-emptive strike against the Viet Cong regiment to nullify the threat on the vital Chu Lai base and ensure its powerful communication tower remained intact.
The operation was conducted as a combined arms assault involving ground, air and naval units. U.S. Marines were deployed by helicopter insertion into the designated landing zone while an amphibious landing was used to deploy other Marines.
Background
The operation was originally called Satellite, but a power blackout led to a clerical error and a clerk working by candlelight typed "Starlite" instead.[5]
Order of battle
The operation was launched on D-Day August 18, 1965, involving 5,500 Marines. Regimental 2nd Battalion 4th Marines (2/4), 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (1/7) and 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines (3/3), and 3rd Battalion 7th Marines (3/7) the SLF - permission was granted by Admiral Sharp to use Special Landing Force and originally a reserve component) in an assault on the Viet Cong base near Van Tuong. The United States Navy's USS Galveston (CLG-3) and USS Cabildo (LSD-16) were available for naval gunfire support and 3rd Battalion 12th Marines was the artillery unit in direct support. USS Vernon County (LST-1161)embarked elements of the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (Battalion Landing Team) (BLT) 3, under Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Muir, USMC, at Chu Lai, and sailed south along the coast to An Thuong, where she put the troops ashore in one phase of "Starlite."
Viet Cong forces comprised the 1st VC Regiment made up of the 60th and 80th VC Battalions, the 52nd VC Company, and a company of the 45th VC Weapons Battalion. The total Viet Cong strength was around 1,500 men, and backed by several elite mortar units.
Battle
Mike Co., 3/3 was designated the blocking force and deployed on August 18, 1965 using LVT-5s to the operational area. When it landed on the beach, it marched 4 miles (6.5 km) to establish their blocking positions. 3/3 made an amphibious landing and were tasked with driving the Viet Cong towards the 2nd battalion 4th Marines who were to be lifted by helicopter into three landing zones west of Van Tuong. Secrecy was paramount, and no ARVN commander or units were informed of the impending operation.
The Marines met light resistance moving into the attack, using their M14 semi-automatic rifles to repulse occasional Viet Cong raiders. Echo Company, 2/4 spotted Viet Cong in the open and called in artillery fire from 3rd Battalion 12th Marines. The artillery barrage was reported to have killed 90 Viet Cong, including crippling several of their mortar units. Hotel Company,2/4 assaulted the 60th VC Battalion who put up a vicious fight, only being overwhelmed when attack helicopters swooped on their position, peppering it with rocket and machine gun fire. One prisoner was taken and 40 weapons were captured. India Company, 3/3 attacked An Cuong after receiving heavy fire from the hamlet and losing their company commander in the engagement.
India Company was ordered to join Kilo and Hotel companies and clean up any opposition but was caught in a crossfire from Nam Yen Dan Hill 30. Hotel Company established a defensive perimeter and were told to await reinforcements. The expected reinforcements, were diverted to assist the supply column that was ambushed west of their position. 37mm recoilless rifle fire from the VC positions tore into the 5 LVTs and 3 flame tanks, forcing the Marines to mount a rescue. The Marines were hit by intense mortar and rifle fire and suffered 5 dead and 17 wounded. They called in artillery and air support to suppress the mortar and automatic fire, F-4 fighter jets dropping cluster bombs, resulting in an avalanche on the hillside which wiped out many of the attacking rifle and mortar squads.
The developing engagement necessitated the deployment of Lima Company, 3/7 from the USS Iwo Jima to join India Company to assist the ambushed supply column. Part of Lima Company was caught in a horseshoe ambush in their attempt to rescue a downed LVT (amtrac) personnel, 4 marines were killed and 10 wounded. Come nightfall, the Marines hunkered down into defensive positions. Scout units of 3/7's Marines came ashore during the night and the battalion got ready for a morning assault on the Vietnamese positions. When they finally attacked they found the VC unit had already retreated from the encirclement during the night, though pockets of resistance continued from other Viet Cong fighters holed up in bunkers and caves. Fightings ceased at nightfall.
Aftermath
The various Marine units reported killing 600+ enemy fighters. Nine prisoners were taken along with 42 suspected guerillas. However, the losses inflicted on the VC are debatable. The U.S. estimates were almost exclusively gathered by indirect means: sensor readings, sightings of secondary explosions, reports of POWs, and inference or extrapolation. These numbers are in clear conflict with the number of VC's weapons were captured by the U.S. (only 127 assorted weapons were seized, a ratio of bodies were claimed to weapons seized of 6:1)[6].
To the Americans, the battle was considered being a great success for U.S. forces as they engaged a Main Force Viet Cong unit and came out victorious.[7] Despite this, the National Liberation Front also claimed victory, announcing that they had inflicted 900 American casualties, destroyed 22 tanks and APCs, and downed 13 choppers.[2] In fact, the VC 1st Regiment was not yet totally wiped out, and the VC still had control over some hamlets in the peninsula.[citation needed]
The Marines reported sustaining 45 killed, 203 wounded and 6 died of wounded.[6][8] Other sources cite U.S. loses as 54, comprising 52 Marines, a Navy Corpsman and a US Army Major who flew gunship support.[5][9] Corporal Robert E. O'Malley (3/3) and Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul (2/4) received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the operation.
Lessons learned from the battle include the knowledge that the daily allotment of 2 gallons of water per man was inadequate in the heat of Vietnam and that the M14 Rifle was too bulky for troops cramped into small personnel carriers.
Notes
- ^ Vets With A Mission
- ^ a b 18-8-1965: Chiến thắng Vạn Tường (in Vietnamese), lichsuvietnam.vn
- ^ http://www.virtual.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?AfZYH8Sm8hksh7dILNC@fJWiOhG2gc1gdjicH69LNorN6qrCdYEb29IQIk1oo@THcJitcpA3bijqOe5z6UDh01oyp0s2W.w7iHM0bnYLctZLXoL@oSVnHg/1201063060.pdf
- ^ U.S. Marines in Viet Nam 1965, History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington D.C.
- ^ a b Operation Starlite
- ^ a b http://www.virtual.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?AfZYH8Sm8hksh7dILNC@fJWiOhG2gc1gdjicH69LNorN6qrCdYEb29IQIk1oo@THcJitcpA3bijqOe5z6UDh01oyp0s2W.w7iHM0bnYLctZLXoL@oSVnHg/1201063060.pdf
- ^ Vets With A Mission
- ^ Vietnam War > Events >Operation Starlite Begins
- ^ Template:Wayback
References
- Lehrack, Otto (2004). The First Battle - Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam. Havertown, Pennsylvania: Casemate. ISBN 1-932033-27-0.
- Simmons, Edwin H. (2003). The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-790-5.
- Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.