Operation Marauder

Operation Marauder
Part of Vietnam War
Date1-8 January 1966
LocationPlain of Reeds, Mekong Delta, South Vietnam
10°30′N 105°42′E / 10.5°N 105.7°E / 10.5; 105.7
Result Allied operational success
Belligerents
 United States
 Australia		 Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
BG Ellis W. Williamson
Strength
United States 173rd Airborne Brigade
Australia 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment		 267th Main Force Battalion
506th Battalion
Casualties and losses
Unknown 114 killed (per US)

Operation Marauder was an operation conducted by the 173rd Airborne Brigade and the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) in the Plain of Reeds, Mekong Delta, lasting from 1 to 8 January 1966.[1]

Prelude

The Plain of Reeds had long been used as a base by the Viet Cong (VC). Operation Marauder marked the first time that U.S. forces had operated in the area.[1]

Operation

Typical terrain in the Plain of Reeds

On 1 January 1966 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 1 RAR and C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Artillery Regiment were deployed by air into Ba Tri airfield from Hậu Nghĩa Province.[1]

On 2 January 2/503rd landed at Landing Zone Wine (10°49′19″N 106°24′14″E / 10.822°N 106.404°E / 10.822; 106.404) where they were engaged by an entrenched Viet Cong force. After a daylong battle, supported by artillery fire and air support the 2/503rd overran the VC position, finding 111 dead. The remainder of the operation saw only sporadic contact with the VC.[1]:87 On 6 January the 2/503rd located the abandoned headquarters of the 506th Battalion, recovering arms, ammunition, maps and personnel rosters.[2]

Aftermath

Operation Marauder officially concluded on 8 January with claims of heavy losses having been inflicted on the VC 267th Main Force Battalion and the headquarters of the 506th Battalion.[1]:88

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Tolson, John (1973). Vietnam Studies: Airmobilty 1961–1971. Department of the Army. p. 86. ISBN 9781494721848.
  2. ↑ Carland, John (1999). Combat Operations: Stemming the Tide, May 1965 to October 1966. Government Printing Office. p. 169. ISBN 9780160873102.
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