Operation Maine Crag

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Operation Maine Crag
Part of
Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam
16°34′44″N 106°45′11″E / 16.579°N 106.753°E / 16.579; 106.753
Result Allies claim operational success
Belligerents  United States
South Vietnam South Vietnam North Vietnam North VietnamCommanders and leaders United States Paul D. Lafond
South Vietnam Hoàng Xuân Lãm UnknownStrength
1st Battalion, 77th Armor
1st Battalion, 44th Artillery
South Vietnam 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment
UnknownCasualties and losses Unknown US body count: 207 killed

Operation Maine Crag was a

Quảng Trị Province
, lasting from 15 March – 2 May 1969.

Background

Since early March 1969, U.S. reconnaissance detected an increase in

3rd Marine Regiment would move west from Vandegrift Combat Base along Route 9 to Lang Vei and then south to join up with the Marines, deterring any PAVN armored threat. On 10 March 2/3 Marines deployed by helicopter to Landing Zone Hawk south of Route 9 and marched the 7 km to Landing Zone Snapper.[1]
: 64 

Operation

Infantry from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines move through jungle

Due to bad weather, the helicopter deployment from Landing Zone Snapper was delayed and 2/3 Marines marched into the salient establishing Firebase Saigon (16°31′26″N 106°42′11″E / 16.524°N 106.703°E / 16.524; 106.703)

1st Battalion 12th Marines was landed at Firebase Saigon and Companies G and H began patrolling southwest onto Route 616.[1]
: 64 

On 18 March Company G ambushed two PAVN supply trucks on Route 616 killing more than 7 PAVN. On 19 March Task Force Remagen set out west along Route 9, while 1/3 Marines was landed by helicopter at Firebase Saigon and then began patrolling southwest supported by 2 M50 Ontos. 2/3 Marines continued patrolling Route 616 engaging several PAVN squads in brief firefights and on 20 March the PAVN ambushed a Company H water detail killing 3 Marines and wounding 15.[1]: 64  On 21 March near the site of the previous day's ambush Company H discovered a PAVN staging area including over 350 tons of rice, 7000 pounds of salt and large stocks of ammunition.[1]: 64–6 

2/3 Marines continued patrolling the Route 616 area encountering few PAVN but finding additional storage sites, prisoner interrogation confirmed that the area was only lightly defended by supply units and recently infiltrated soldiers. In early April the PAVN began firing rockets and artillery on the salient from positions in Laos causing limited damage as the Marines had already begun to leave the area. On 6 April control of Task Force Remagen passed from the Marines back to the Army which began operations on the

Đa Krông Valley where they patrolled with no significant contacts for a further 2 weeks before being redeployed to the central DMZ for Operation Virginia Ridge.[1]
: 66 

Aftermath

Operation Maine Crag concluded on 2 May, in addition to the loss of large quantities of weapons and supplies the PAVN had lost 207 killed.[1]: 67 

Notes

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

  1. ^
    ISBN 9781494287627.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1555716257
    .
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