Operation Yellowstone (Vietnam)

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Operation Yellowstone
Part of
Tây Ninh Province, South Vietnam
Result U.S. operational success
Belligerents  United States Vietnam North Vietnam
Viet CongCommanders and leaders Fillmore K. Mearns
Units involved

25th Infantry Division

  • 1st Brigade
  • 3rd Brigade
7th Division
9th DivisionCasualties and losses 81 killed U.S. body count: 1,254 killed
146 individual and 68 crew-served weapons recovered

Operation Yellowstone was an operation conducted by the

Tây Ninh Province, lasting from 8 December 1967 to 24 February 1968.[1]
: 27 

Background

Northern Tây Ninh Province contained the largest

Saigon and other cities in the Mekong Delta. U.S. and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces had not threatened the PAVN/VC in the area since Operation Junction City concluded in May 1967, but with the rainy season coming to an end the 1st and 3rd Brigades of the 25th Infantry Division reinforced by a tank battalion and an air cavalry squadron would take advantage of the improved weather to sweep the area and help build two new Special Forces camps.[1]

Operation

Battle of Firebase Burt, 1–2 January 1968

Operation Yellowstone commenced on 8 December with two infantry battalions from the 1st Brigade landing by helicopter unopposed at the hamlet of Katum on Highway 4. When the two battalions finished securing the area, a task force consisting of tanks, artillery and engineers moved along Highway 4 from Tây Ninh Combat Base and began building Firebase Custer (11°39′47″N 106°13′19″E / 11.663°N 106.222°E / 11.663; 106.222), which would serve as the 1st Brigade’s forward base and Firebase Beauregard (11°37′34″N 106°15′58″E / 11.626°N 106.266°E / 11.626; 106.266) 5 km southeast on Route 246 near the village of Bo Tuc.[1]: 27–8 

The 3rd Brigade based at Dầu Tiếng Base Camp together with 2 ARVN infantry battalions also moved into the area locating numerous supply caches but few PAVN/VC.[1]: 28 

At 02:00 on 15 December, PAVN mortar fire began hitting the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry positions at Firebase Beauregard and then several hundred PAVN from the 7th Division attacked the base. Sappers penetrated the perimeter and placed satchel charges in the ammunition dump, setting off six hundred 105-mm. shells. The PAVN left behind 40 dead, while U.S. losses were 6 dead.[1]: 28 

Hull-down positions along the western perimeter. Fire support was provided by Batteries A and C, 2nd Battalion, 77th Artillery Regiment, placed their eleven 105-mm. howitzers in the south, five 155-mm. self-propelled howitzers of Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 13th Artillery Regiment in the north, a pair of M42 Dusters from Battery B, 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery Regiment and a pair of quad mounted M55 .50-caliber machine-guns from Battery D, 71st Artillery Regiment.[1]
: 29 

On the evening of 31 December while a 24-hour New Year's truce was in effect, the 271st and the 272nd Regiments of the PAVN 9th Division moved into attack positions around Firebase Burt. At midnight on 1 January 1968 under cover of a mortar barrage the PAVN began a simultaneous attack on the northern and southern ends of the base. The defenders detonated the perimeter

razor wire. The 2/77th artillerymen lowered their 105-mm. howitzers and fired directly into the PAVN with beehive rounds forcing them to withdraw. The PAVN disengaged shortly before dawn on 1 January. 379 PAVN were killed and 8 wounded were captured, while U.S. losses were 23 dead.[1]
: 29–30 

Aftermath

Operation Yellowstone officially concluded on 24 February 1968, PAVN/VC losses were 1,254 killed and 146 individual and 68 crew-served weapons captured; U.S. losses were 81 killed.[1]: 30 [2]

References

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

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Trass, Adrian (2017). The U.S. Army Campaigns of the Vietnam War: Turning Point 1967-1968 (PDF). United States Army Center of Military History.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary February 1968" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 29 April 1968. p. 54. Retrieved 18 March 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.