Operation Cuu Long 44-02

Operation Cuu Long 44-02
Part of the Vietnam War
Date 13-25 January 1971 Location Route 4, Cambodia Result South Vietnamese/FANK victory
Belligerents
South Vietnam  Khmer Republic  United States	North Vietnam Khmer Rouge
Commanders and leaders
General Ngô Quang Trưởng
Units involved
4th Armor Brigade 4th Ranger Group 2nd Marine Brigade	1st Division
Casualties and losses
16 killed	South Vietnamese body count: 211 killed

Operation Cuu Long 44-02 was an operation during the Vietnam War conducted by South Vietnamese and Cambodian forces from 13-25 January 1971 to reopen Route 4 in Cambodia.

Background

The operation was conducted in order to assist the Cambodian

The operation began on 13 January 1971 as the 4th Armor Brigade with the 12th and 16th Armored Cavalry Regiments, three Ranger battalions, an artillery battalion, and an engineer group moved 300 kilometers from Cần Thơ to Hà Tiên in 14 hours. For the next two days the brigade pushed north along Route 4. The first enemy encountered had set up an ambush that the 16th Armored Cavalry Regiment blew away by charging on line.^{[2]: 197–8}

A second ambush further north against the 12th Armored Cavalry also failed. The enemy tried to isolate the lead squadron by destroying the first and last vehicles. The lead commander however, kept his flaming vehicle moving and his machine gun firing. Hit three times and burning, the ACAV continued north for about 150 meters before it blew up killing the crew. This prevented the column from being trapped on the road allowed the cavalry to get out of the enemy firing lines. The Ranger battalion behind the cavalry squadron stopped and opened fire. The ambushers were now in a deadly cross-fire between the cavalry and the Rangers. Two US aerial fire teams sealed off the enemy escape routes. When the smoke cleared 200 of the enemy lay dead and 75 weapons, including 2 75mm recoilless rifles and three heavy machine guns. had been captured. The 12th Armored Cavalry Regiment lost five killed, twenty wounded and three ACAVs destroyed.^[2]: 198

On 17 January FANK forces with Vietnamese Marine Corps support, fought to the outskirts of the Pich Nil Pass and secured it while the armor brigade secured Route 4 as far north as Route 18. After helping the Cambodians set up strongpoints the 4th Armor Brigade withdrew towards South Vietnam, arriving by 25 January.^[2]: 198

Aftermath

The operation ended on 25 January. PAVN/Khmer Rouge losses were 211 killed while ARVN losses were 16 killed.

References

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