Operation Coronado IV
Encyclopedia
Operation Coronado IV was the fourth of the Operation Coronado
series of riverine military operations conducted by the Mobile Riverine Force
of the United States and elements of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
, designed to shut down Vietcong strongholds in the Mekong Delta
.Fulton, pp. 50–150. It ran from 19 August to 9 September 1967. It took place in Long An, Go Cong and Kien Hoa Provinces (now Long An
and Ben Tre Provinces
).Fulton, p. 125.
's main base just after midnight and landed their troops at 0904 in the target area north of Ben Luc
on the Vam Co Dong (Vam Co East) River, after travelling more than 50 km. kilometers. Because the waterways off the Vam Co Dong in the target area were not navigable by the vessels,Fulton, p. 126. the two infantry battalions were landed to move west and search the area on foot. Company C of the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry remained at a pickup zone near the fire support base at Ben Luc as an airmobile reserve. To intercept communist forces, the 334th Aviation Company's supporting gunships maintained surveillance of the areas forward of the infantry battalions.Fulton, p. 127.
At 1400 the movement of the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry forced a communist platoon to retreat from a lightly fortified area. The gunships were then ordered by the battalion commander to open fire on Vietcong attempting to evade contact with the ground troops, and the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, was brought in by helicopter to attack the communists, encountering mostly sniper fire and collateral damage from US helicopter fire. The Americans found 34 communist bodies and documents that identified the communists as part of the 506th Local Force Battalion.
The Americans believed they had succeeded because of the surprise achieved by the ground troops in disembarking from the boats landing from the river, forcing the communists into open terrain where helicopters could attack them. During the phase of the operation at Ben Luc, which ended on 22 August, the Mobile Riverine Force suffered six wounded and the communists 59 dead.
For the remainder of August and the first week of September, the Mobile Riverine Force operated in Can Giuoc District, encountering minor communist resistance. On 7 and 8 September the force operated in conjunction with the 1st Brigade, 9th Division, in the southeastern part of Nhơn Trạch District of Bien Hoa Province and the northeastern part of the Rung Sat Special Zone. They did not encounter many communists but a cache containing medical supplies, eight crew-served weapons, and 97 small arms was discovered. As the second week of September began, the force prepared to return to Dinh Tuong Province in IV Corps
further south.
Operation Coronado
Operation Coronado was a series of 11 operations conducted by the American Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with various units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam in the waterways of the Mekong Delta in the south of the country in an attempt to dismantle guerrilla forces and infrastructure...
series of riverine military operations conducted by the Mobile Riverine Force
Mobile Riverine Force
In the Vietnam War, the Mobile Riverine Force , initially designated Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force, and later euphemistically the Riverines, were a joint US Army and US Navy force that comprised a substantial part of the Brown Water Navy...
of the United States and elements of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam
Army of the Republic of Vietnam
The Army of the Republic of Viet Nam , sometimes parsimoniously referred to as the South Vietnamese Army , was the land-based military forces of the Republic of Vietnam , which existed from October 26, 1955 until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975...
, designed to shut down Vietcong strongholds in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
.Fulton, pp. 50–150. It ran from 19 August to 9 September 1967. It took place in Long An, Go Cong and Kien Hoa Provinces (now Long An
Long An Province
Long An is a province in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam.-Administrative divisions:The province comprises one town and 14 districts:#Bến Lức#Cần Đước#Cần Giuộc#Châu Thành#Đức Hòa#Đức Huệ#Mộc Hóa#Tân Hưng...
and Ben Tre Provinces
Ben Tre Province
Bến Tre is a province of Vietnam. It is one of the country's southern provinces, being situated in the delta of the Mekong River.-Administration:Politically, Ben Tre is divided into eight districts:*Ba Tri*Bình Đại*Châu Thành*Chợ Lách*Giồng Trôm...
).Fulton, p. 125.
Operation
On 20 August the American assault craft left the Soi Rap and Vam Co River anchorage of the Mobile Riverine ForceMobile Riverine Force
In the Vietnam War, the Mobile Riverine Force , initially designated Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force, and later euphemistically the Riverines, were a joint US Army and US Navy force that comprised a substantial part of the Brown Water Navy...
's main base just after midnight and landed their troops at 0904 in the target area north of Ben Luc
Ben Luc
Bến Lức is a rural district of Long An province in the Mekong River Delta region of Vietnam. the district had a population of 128,849. The district covers an area of 290 km²...
on the Vam Co Dong (Vam Co East) River, after travelling more than 50 km. kilometers. Because the waterways off the Vam Co Dong in the target area were not navigable by the vessels,Fulton, p. 126. the two infantry battalions were landed to move west and search the area on foot. Company C of the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry remained at a pickup zone near the fire support base at Ben Luc as an airmobile reserve. To intercept communist forces, the 334th Aviation Company's supporting gunships maintained surveillance of the areas forward of the infantry battalions.Fulton, p. 127.
At 1400 the movement of the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry forced a communist platoon to retreat from a lightly fortified area. The gunships were then ordered by the battalion commander to open fire on Vietcong attempting to evade contact with the ground troops, and the 3d Battalion, 47th Infantry, was brought in by helicopter to attack the communists, encountering mostly sniper fire and collateral damage from US helicopter fire. The Americans found 34 communist bodies and documents that identified the communists as part of the 506th Local Force Battalion.
The Americans believed they had succeeded because of the surprise achieved by the ground troops in disembarking from the boats landing from the river, forcing the communists into open terrain where helicopters could attack them. During the phase of the operation at Ben Luc, which ended on 22 August, the Mobile Riverine Force suffered six wounded and the communists 59 dead.
For the remainder of August and the first week of September, the Mobile Riverine Force operated in Can Giuoc District, encountering minor communist resistance. On 7 and 8 September the force operated in conjunction with the 1st Brigade, 9th Division, in the southeastern part of Nhơn Trạch District of Bien Hoa Province and the northeastern part of the Rung Sat Special Zone. They did not encounter many communists but a cache containing medical supplies, eight crew-served weapons, and 97 small arms was discovered. As the second week of September began, the force prepared to return to Dinh Tuong Province in IV Corps
IV Corps (South Vietnam)
The IV Corps was a corps of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam , the army of the nation state of South Vietnam that existed from 1955 to 1975...
further south.
See also
- Operation CoronadoOperation CoronadoOperation Coronado was a series of 11 operations conducted by the American Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with various units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam in the waterways of the Mekong Delta in the south of the country in an attempt to dismantle guerrilla forces and infrastructure...
- Operation Coronado IIOperation Coronado IIOperation Coronado II was the second of eleven in the Operation Coronado series conducted by the American Mobile Riverine Force in conjunction with various units of the Army of the Republic of VietnamFulton, pp. 50–150. in late July 1967 in an attempt to shut down Vietcong strongholds in the...
- Operation Coronado VOperation Coronado VOperation Coronado V was a riverine military operation conducted by the Mobile Riverine Force of the United States and elements of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Fulton, pp. 50–150. from 12 September to 5 October 1967 in an attempt to shut down Vietcong strongholds in the Mekong Delta...
- Operation Coronado IXOperation Coronado IXOperation Coronado IX was a riverine military operation conducted by the Mobile Riverine Force of the United States and elements of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam from November 1967 to January 1968 in an attempt to dismantle communist strongholds in the Mekong Delta. In the middle of November,...
- Operation Coronado XIOperation Coronado XIOperation Coronado XI was the eleventh of the Operation Coronado series of riverine military operations conducted by the Mobile Riverine Force of the United States and elements of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, designed to shut down Vietcong strongholds in the Mekong Delta. It ran from 12...