Battle of Dong Xoai
| date | June 10-11, 1965 |
|---|---|
| place | Quang Tri Province |
| output | Vietcong tactical victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Commander | |
|
Le Trong Tan |
Cao Van Vien, |
| Troop strength | |
| 1,500+ | 10,000 |
| losses | |
|
700+ dead and wounded |
ARVN: 416 dead, 174 wounded, 233 missing, |
Vietnam War
Battle of Tua Hai (1960) - Battle of Ap Bac (1963) - Battle of Nam Dong (1964) - Tonkin Incident (1964) - Operation Flaming Dart (1965) - Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-68) - Battle of Dong Xoai (1965) - Battle of the Ia Drang Valley (1965) - Operation Crimp (1966) - Operation Hastings (1966) - Battle of Long Tan (1966) - Operation Attleboro (1966) - Operation Cedar Falls (1967) - Battle around Hill 881 (1967) - Battle of Dak To (1967) - Battle of Khe Sanh (1968) - Tet Offensive (1968) - Battle of Huế (1968) - Operation Speedy Express (1968/69) - Operation Dewey Canyon ( 1969) - Battle of Hamburger Hill (1969) - Operation MENU (1969/70) - Operation Lam Son 719 (1971) - Battle of FSB Mary Ann (1971) - Battle of Quảng Trị (1972) - Operation Linebacker (1972) - Operation Linebacker II (1972) - Battle of Xuan Loc (1975) - Operation Frequent Wind (1975)
The Battle of Dong Xoai was a battle in the early stages of the Vietnam War . At Dong Xoai there was a strongly fortified ARVN camp with a large garrison . The troops hardly expected a dangerous attack.
Dong Xoai
Dong Xoai was a camp of special forces of the ARVN with its own runway. After the camp was completed on May 25, 1965, large units were flown in. From day one, the camp was repeatedly the target of mortar attacks, but these were mistaken for interference, a well-known Viet Cong tactic. In the last two weeks before the attack, the attacks increased, but no one expected an attack.
Battle of Dong Xoai
The battle began shortly after midnight on June 10th with the attack of the 272nd Viet Cong Regiment. Heavy fire knocked out bunkers and machine-gun positions and the camp's defensive ring fell more and more into the hands of the attackers. Due to the element of surprise, the ARVN soldiers had little organized resistance to offer.
The American military advisor in the camp ordered the retreat to the center of the camp, as the defenders were already severely weakened. Towards evening the US launched air strikes on the positions of the Viet Cong, including with napalm . However, these could not be driven from their positions and prevented reinforcements from flying into the camp by anti-aircraft fire. Instead, they had to land outside and were involved in long skirmishes. A US battalion was deployed at the area's airport but was not sent into battle on General Westmoreland's orders .
As a result of the long battle, supplies and ammunition gradually became scarce. The wounded also gathered there. When it became clear that the siege would last longer, it was decided towards evening to evacuate the camp. This plan, which was shameful for the ARVN, did not have to be carried out.
In the early morning of June 11, the Viet Cong withdrew surprisingly, leaving a completely demoralized and severely battered ARVN unit that had more than 400 dead. Some American military advisors were also killed.
consequences
The defeat at Dong Xoai was another humiliation for the South Vietnamese government. Once again it turned out that the ARVN was no match for the Viet Cong troops.
Although the Viet Cong did not succeed in completely conquering the camp, they were able to inflict heavy losses on the ARVN and use the victory for their propaganda .
swell
- Captured documents: History of the 272nd Regiment, 9th PLAF Division. 1968
- Dougan.C, Doyle.E, Lipsman.S, Martland.T, Weiss.S (1983): The Vietnam Experience: A Contagion of War. Boston Publishing Company, USA.