Curses, Foiled Again! - Battle of Rach Ba Rai - Campaign Series Vietnam 1948-1967
0 - 0 - 0
| Rating: | 0 (0) |
| Games Played: | 0 |
| SM: | 4 |
| Turns: | 25 |
| Type: | Stock |
| First Side: | US |
| Second Side: | N. Vietnam |
Jason Petho
15 September, 1967
[Cam Son Secret Zone, Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam]: [SIDE A / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:
On September 11th, 1967 the Mobile Riverine Force returned to Dong Tam to prepare for an operation that would start in the Ban Long area on September 12th, the first operation of CORONADO V.
The commander of the ARVN 7th Division, furnished information that the Viet Cong 263rd Main Force Battalion had been in the Cam Son and Ban Long area during the preceding ten to fourteen days.
Although the 7th Division intelligence was known to depend largely on reports of agents and informers, the Mobile Riverine Force had found it highly reliable in identifying enemy base areas. In Dinh Tuong Province particularly the force repeatedly had found the Viet Cong in regions reported to be base areas.
On September 12th, the Mobile Riverine Force entered the Ban Long area with three battalions. The 3rd and 5th Battalions of the 60th Infantry, the 5th/60th again released from operational control of the 3rd Brigade to operate under the 2nd Brigade, relied on helicopter and overland movement to get into the major east-west forested portion of the Ban Long area as the assault craft of the force were unable to navigate the waterways of the area.
As the 3rd/60th Infantry, moved into the forest it found an enemy force in well-prepared positions. Assisted by artillery and close air support, the battalion advanced to the east.
After a few fierce firefights, the main forces of the Viet Cong had escaped on September 12th, the Mobile Riverine Force continued to search the Ban Long area until it returned to the Mobile Riverine Base on September 14th.
2nd Brigade concluded that if an operation was launched in the Cam Son area on September 15th the enemy force, tentatively identified as the 514th Local Force Battalion, might be found. The plan was to strike the area in central Cam Son where the enemy's heaviest fortifications had been identified on previous operations.
To reach this area before the major enemy force could escape, Colonel David decided to withhold preparatory and reconnaissance fire and helicopter flights until the assault craft of the Mobile Riverine Force passed a wide curve in the Rach Ba Rai referred to as "Snoopy's Nose."
Two landing sites were chosen further up the Rach Ba Rai, Beaches Red and White, where the 3rd/60th and 4th/47th would land, form up and then assault towards Long Trun while the 5th/60th Mechanized would advance from the north, hoping to catch the Viet Cong as they were moving to Base Area 406.
Alas, it seems the Viet Cong had other plans.
[ALL, NO VV] [CSEE, Variable Objectives] [1.00]
15 September, 1967
[Cam Son Secret Zone, Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam]: [SIDE A / H2H] [HIS] [CSL]:
On September 11th, 1967 the Mobile Riverine Force returned to Dong Tam to prepare for an operation that would start in the Ban Long area on September 12th, the first operation of CORONADO V.
The commander of the ARVN 7th Division, furnished information that the Viet Cong 263rd Main Force Battalion had been in the Cam Son and Ban Long area during the preceding ten to fourteen days.
Although the 7th Division intelligence was known to depend largely on reports of agents and informers, the Mobile Riverine Force had found it highly reliable in identifying enemy base areas. In Dinh Tuong Province particularly the force repeatedly had found the Viet Cong in regions reported to be base areas.
On September 12th, the Mobile Riverine Force entered the Ban Long area with three battalions. The 3rd and 5th Battalions of the 60th Infantry, the 5th/60th again released from operational control of the 3rd Brigade to operate under the 2nd Brigade, relied on helicopter and overland movement to get into the major east-west forested portion of the Ban Long area as the assault craft of the force were unable to navigate the waterways of the area.
As the 3rd/60th Infantry, moved into the forest it found an enemy force in well-prepared positions. Assisted by artillery and close air support, the battalion advanced to the east.
After a few fierce firefights, the main forces of the Viet Cong had escaped on September 12th, the Mobile Riverine Force continued to search the Ban Long area until it returned to the Mobile Riverine Base on September 14th.
2nd Brigade concluded that if an operation was launched in the Cam Son area on September 15th the enemy force, tentatively identified as the 514th Local Force Battalion, might be found. The plan was to strike the area in central Cam Son where the enemy's heaviest fortifications had been identified on previous operations.
To reach this area before the major enemy force could escape, Colonel David decided to withhold preparatory and reconnaissance fire and helicopter flights until the assault craft of the Mobile Riverine Force passed a wide curve in the Rach Ba Rai referred to as "Snoopy's Nose."
Two landing sites were chosen further up the Rach Ba Rai, Beaches Red and White, where the 3rd/60th and 4th/47th would land, form up and then assault towards Long Trun while the 5th/60th Mechanized would advance from the north, hoping to catch the Viet Cong as they were moving to Base Area 406.
Alas, it seems the Viet Cong had other plans.
[ALL, NO VV] [CSEE, Variable Objectives] [1.00]
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