Operation Sinsay
Operation Sinsay | |||||||
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Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Kingdom of Laos Supported by United States |
North Vietnam Supported by: Soviet Union People's Republic of China | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
Groupement Mobile 42 Bataillon Commando 613, Bataillon Commando 614, Thai artillery contingent, Groupement Mobile 41, Groupement Mobile 42, Groupement Mobile 43 |
9th PAVN Regiment, 39th PAVN Regiment | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Regimental-strength | Regimental-strength | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
Operation Sinsay (11 February – c. 31 March 1972) was a
Overview
The
Background
When
Activities
On 11 February 1972, three Royal Lao Army (RLA) battalions were selected for Operation Sinsay (Operation Victory). Their objective was the recapture of Ban Ngik. An attempt was made to airlift in the first 53 troops to begin the operation, but it was turned back by foul flying weather and enemy opposition.[7]
On 6 March, the PAVN began moving westward toward Thailand along Lao Route 23. The Thai fire base, fearing Communist infiltration behind the Royalist front lines, retired to the junction of Routes 13 and 23 on the
On 9 March, the 2nd and 4th battalions of 39th Regiment arrived at the Houei Champi River. A 122mm artillery detachment, an anti-aircraft company, and three 85mm field guns accompanying the two battalions encamped there. The infantry battalions aimed to cross the river to a position 13 kilometers distant overlooking the Thai artillery from the north.[7]
With MR 4's headquarters at Pakxe being threatened, as well as Thai sovereignty, the two Thai battalions were transferred away northward to fight in
On 15 March 1972, the 1,100 guerrillas of GM 43 were airlifted on to the Plateau's northern edge, being landed 14 kilometers south of
However, the PAVN 9th Regiment still clung to Route 23, and MR 4 had no available troops to challenge them. The RLA was stretched to its limits supporting the Operation Strength counter to Campaign Z. The only available reinforcements for MR 4 were two battalions from neighboring MR 3. They were flown via C-130 from Savannakhet to Pakxe, then trucked forward to the Thai artillery base during the third week of March. From there, they walked eastward along Route 23 for the next 12 days, overcoming light Communist resistance. The imported battalions captured their objective at Laongam for three days before retreating to Pakxe and being shipped back whence they came.[7]
Result
The Royalists kept a tenuous hold on the Route 23 line of communication, preventing the PAVN from occupying it.[7]
Aftermath
Another RLG offensive was planned as a followup to drive the PAVN back along Route 23 into Vietnam.[7]
Notes
References
- Castle, Timothy N. (1993). At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: U.S. Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government 1955–1975. ISBN 0-231-07977-X.
- Conboy, Kenneth and James Morrison (1995). Shadow War: The CIA's Secret War in Laos. Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-535-8.
- Hukle, Donald G.; Melvin F. Porter; Paul T. Ringenbach; Richard R. Sexton; Judith A. Skipworth; Adolph H. Zabka. (1974). The Bolovens Campaign, 28 July – 28 December 1971 (Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report). Pacific Air Force CHECO Division. ASIN: B00B65VIOU.
- Nalty, Bernard C. (2005). The War Against Trucks: Aerial Interdiction In Southern Laos 1968–1972. Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 978-1-47755-007-6.