Battle of Landing Zone Center

Coordinates: 15°33′47″N 108°16′23″E / 15.563°N 108.273°E / 15.563; 108.273
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

15°33′47″N 108°16′23″E / 15.563°N 108.273°E / 15.563; 108.273

Battle of Landing Zone Center
Part of the
Quảng Tín Province, South Vietnam
Result U.S. claims victory
Belligerents  United States Vietnam North VietnamCommanders and leaders MG Samuel W. Koster General Chu Huy Mân
General Giáp Văn CươngUnits involved 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment
1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment
1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment 31st RegimentCasualties and losses US body count: 365 killed

The Battle of Landing Zone Center (also known as the Battle of Hill 352 or the Battle of Nui Hoac Ridge) took place from 5–25 May 1968 in

Quảng Tín Province during the Vietnam War
.

Background

During the

Ho Chi Minh Trail in I Corps. Mân told his senior officers that they would attack Khâm Đức to force an American retreat from the area.[1]

In the aftermath of the battle for Đà Nẵng, U.S. military commanders in

1st Marine Division commander Major-General Donn J. Robertson told his superiors that the 2nd Division may have several uncommitted units they could deploy for future operations.[1]
: 7 

Battle

Landing Zone Center (15°35′06″N 108°14′56″E / 15.585°N 108.249°E / 15.585; 108.249) was located on Hill 348, approximately 20km northwest of Tam Kỳ.[2]: 98  In early May 1968 it was occupied by 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment and Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 82nd Artillery Regiment.[3]

On 5 May as part of the May Offensive, the PAVN 31st Regiment attacked LZ Center with mortars and recoilless rifles. When U.S. helicopters tried to land a patrol to locate those weapons, a heavy machine gun company from the PAVN K31 Anti-Aircraft Battalion opened fire from positions around the firebase, shooting down UH-1D #66-17075 from the 178th Assault Helicopter Company which crashed killing all ten crew and passengers and shortly afterwards a helicopter gunship of the 71st Assault Helicopter Company was also shot down. Company D 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment was flown in to reinforce LZ Center. On 7 May an A–1E Skyraider was shot down while providing air support near LZ Center.[4]: 542 

On 8 May Koster ordered the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment and the 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment to sweep the hills around Landing Zone Center.[4]

The PAVN forces were concentrated on the Nui Hoac Ridge, with their main position located on Hill 352 (15°33′47″N 108°16′23″E / 15.563°N 108.273°E / 15.563; 108.273) approximately 2.5km south of LZ Center.[2]: 369  This position held at least two anti-aircraft guns, recoilless rifles, mortars and an unknown number of PAVN. In addition the PAVN were entrenched between Hills 434 and 479 to the east of LZ Center.[5]

On 14 May 1968 during an attack on PAVN bunkers on Hill 352 Platoon sergeant Finnis D. McCleery of 1st Platoon, Company A, 1/6th Infantry single-handedly attacked and destroyed several PAVN bunkers despite being wounded twice. For his actions that day, McCleery would be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Aftermath

The battle was a U.S. victory with the US claiming over 365 PAVN were killed, however it diverted U.S. resources away from the Battle of Kham Duc.[4]

References

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

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ "Operational Report Lessons Learned" (PDF). Headquarters Americal Division Artillery. 1 November 1968. Retrieved 8 March 2018.[dead link]Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^
    ISBN 9780160942808.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  5. .