Operation Akron
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (November 2017) |
Operation Akron | |||||
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Part of Vietnam War | |||||
Map showing the operation area | |||||
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Belligerents | |||||
United States South Vietnam | Viet Cong | ||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||
MG George G. O'Connor General Đỗ Kế Giai | Senior Col. Nguyen The Truyen | ||||
Units involved | |||||
1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division 1st & 3rd Squadrons, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment 18th Division | 5th Division | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
9 killed 51 killed | US/ARVN body count: 412 killed |
Operation Akron was an operation in the Vietnam War conducted by the U.S. 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division and the 1st & 3rd Squadrons, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR) and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Rangers and 18th Division elements in Hát Dịch, lasting from 9 to 29 June 1967.[1]: 380
Background
Hát Dịch housed Base Area 301, a staging area for the
9th Division commander MG George G. O'Connor devised the operation to clear the entire 250 square kilometers of Base Area 301. The 1st Brigade would move east from Highway 15 accompanied by an engineer task force. While the 1st Brigade provided protection, the engineers would use Rome plows to enlarge two parallel trails that eventually met east of Highway 2 and a third that joined the two in Hát Dịch. Simultaneously a squadron from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment would patrol with an ARVN Ranger battalion east of Hát Dịch.[1]: 380
Operation
The operation commenced on 9 June and initially met little resistance. On 18 June the 3rd Squadron, 11th ACR located a recently abandoned VC camp on Slope 30 along Highway 2. That evening the 3/11th ACR established four separate night defensive positions west of Highway 2. At 01:00 on 19 January, the VC 1st Battalion, 274th Regiment attacked the northernmost defensive position which was the location of the squadron command post. The attack was beaten back after one hour by defensive fire, supporting artillery and helicopter gunships. 56 VC bodies were located around the perimeter, U.S. losses were nine killed.[1]: 380–2
On 26 June, a VC soldier
In a follow-up operation the ARVN engaged another VC force killing 40.[1]: 385
Aftermath
Operation Akron officially concluded on 29 June, PAVN/VC losses were 412 killed, U.S. losses were nine killed and ARVN losses 51 killed.[1]: 385
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
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