Fight Along The Bach Rai - Steel Panthers: Main Battle Tank

Fight Along The Rach Ba Rai* * September 15, 1967* * Mekong Delta, South Vietnam* * U.S. Attack v. Viet Cong Defend* * Design: C. Berry * * In the fall of 1967, the U.S. 9th Infantry Division was conducting operations in the Mekong Delta. In mid September, the Division located the Viet Cong 514th and 263rd Battalions in the vicinity of the Rach Ba Rai; a tributary of the Mekong River. In order to pin and destroy the enemy formations, the 9th Division deployed it's Mobile Riverine Brigade under the command of Colonel Bert A. David.* * This force, carried in U.S. Navy barges with specially armed escort barges called "monitors" was to conduct two landings along the Rach Ba Rai. One battalion was to be landed south of the Viet Cong position at Red Beach while a second battalion was carried upstream past the enemy and land at White Beach. Meanwhile, two additional battalions, mounted in APC's would advance overland from the east thereby trapping the Viet Cong between three enemy forces and the Rach Ba Rai.* * The 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry was assigned to land at White Beach so at 0700 September 15, the battalion sailed up the Rach Ba Rai towards it's landing beach. When the force came adjacent to the Viet Cong position, it came under intense rocket, recoiless rifle and small arms fire and was forced back downriver to regroup.* * Colonel David decided to try to push through again, this time with heavy artillery, air and gunship support. At 1000, the 3rd Battalion was ready to make another attempt and headed upstream once more. This time, artillery walked along the banks of the Rach Ba Rai with them and Colonel David; sheparding the force from a helicopter, directed airstrikes on Viet Cong positions.* * A running battle ensued between the forces on land and those in the boats. The American force plowed upstream, "reconnoitering by fire" as it went. Finally,the weight of the American fire allowed the Riverine troops to reach White Beach and though badly disorganized by their dash, the 3rd Battalion cleared the dense jungle bordering the beach.* * Slowly, for much of the rest of the afternoon, the southward advance continued. From time to time enemy fire increased sharply, forcing the infantry to cover, but air strikes, artillery, and the riflemen's determination to move ahead kept the advance going. As the afternoon waned, the battalion was nevertheless only about 500 meters south of Beach White Two.* * When at 1700 Colonel Doty reported to brigade that his units were heavily engaged, Colonel David deemed it better to risk the Viet Cong's escaping than to have the troops face the night disorganized. He instructed Colonel Doty to break contact and pull back into a night defensive position. Leaving patrols behind to cover the withdrawal, the companies pulled back to a position near Beach White Two.* * * Sources:* "Seven Firefights In Vietnam" by John A. Cash, John Albright and Allan W. Sandstrum * OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY UNITED STATES ARMY* WASHINGTON, D.C., 1985* Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 71-605212* First Printed 1970-CMH Pub 70-4* Available online at:* http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/7-ff/FrontMatter.htm