Operation Gadsden
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2018) |
| Operation Gadsden | |
|---|---|
| Part of Tây Ninh Province, South Vietnam 11°34′37″N 105°53′53″E / 11.577°N 105.898°E | |
| Result | Inconclusive |
United States
North Vietnam196th Infantry Brigade
3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Operation Gadsden was an operation conducted by the
Prelude
Operation Gadsden was planned as a deception operation ahead of Operation Junction City. The 25th Infantry Division would seek to engage the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 271st Regiment in Base Area 354.[1]
Operation
The operation commenced on 2 February with the 196th Infantry Brigade and the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, each reinforced by an additional battalion deploying into western War Zone C. Following B-52 strikes against suspected base areas of the 271st Regiment, the eight infantry battalions seized two abandoned border villages, Lo Go (11°34′37″N 105°53′53″E / 11.577°N 105.898°E) and Xom Giua, which served as supply depots from the Sihanouk Trail in Cambodia.[1]
Subsequent sweeps confirmed the presence of the PAVN 271st Regiment, 70th Guard Regiment and 680th Training Regiments in the Lo Go area, although they failed to engage them.[1]
Aftermath
Operation Gadsden officially concluded on 21 February, the US claiming that PAVN losses were 160 killed, U.S. losses were 29 killed.[1]
The 196th Infantry Brigade returned to Tây Ninh Combat Base, while the 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division deployed to blocking positions along Highway 22 for Operation Junction City.[1]
Contrasting the official view of the operation, internal reports by the Pentagon Papers indicate that the operation insignificant results, failing to dislodge or drive out the 271st Regiment.[2]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- ^ .
- ^ "The Pentagon Papers, Gravel Edition, Volume 4, Chapter 2, "US Ground Strategy and Force Deployments, 1965-1968, pp. 277-604, 4th section". www.mtholyoke.edu. Archived from the original on 2019-06-26. Retrieved 2018-06-12.