Operation Piranha

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Operation Piranha
Part of the Quảng Ngãi Province, South Vietnam 15°13′08″N 108°54′47″E / 15.219°N 108.913°E / 15.219; 108.913
Result	U.S. & South Vietnamese victory

Belligerents  South Vietnam
 United States Viet CongCommanders and leaders Col. Oscar F. PeatrossUnits involved  South Vietnam:
2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment
3rd Vietnamese Marine Battalion
 United States:
1st Battalion, 7th Marines
3rd Battalion, 7th Marines 1st RegimentCasualties and losses 5 killed
2 killed US/ARVN body count: 178 killed
360 prisoners and suspects captured

Operation Piranha was a

Following the conclusion of Operation Starlite, on 24 August 1965, Marine intelligence concluded that the 1st VC Regiment had withdrawn into the Batangan Peninsula. Reconnaissance photos of the Peninsula showed a V of older field fortifications pointing inland with the open end to the sea and a new second V further inland under construction.^[1]: 84

The plan of operations was for a Battalion Landing Team (BLT) of the

The operation was launched on 7 September 1965, the amphibious landing was unopposed, while the landing of the ARVN force received some minor ground fire.

On 8 September, Company B 1/7 Marines discovered a VC field hospital in a large cave near the center of the Peninsula. The Marines captured four prisoners, but then came under fire from other VC in the cave. The Marines returned the fire and attempted to convince the VC to surrender. Marine engineers then placed explosives in the cave. After the detonation, the Marines counted 66 VC dead inside.

Aftermath

Operation Piranha concluded on 10 September, the US claimed that 178 VC had been killed and 360 VC and suspected VC had been captured. Allied losses were two Marines and five South Vietnamese killed.^[1]: 87

The operation failed to wipe out the 1st VC Regiment, villagers told the Marines that Vietcong units had been in the area but had left, some less than 24 hours before Operation Piranha had commenced. Intelligence reports later indicated that the 1st VC Regiment began leaving the peninsula on 4 September, coinciding with the increased movement of the amphibious ships at Chu Lai Base Area.^[1]: 88

Notes

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