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Operation Piranha - Planning

Based on the Success of Operation Starlite Marine General Walt planned to continue the battering of the 1st Viet Cong Regiment. Intelligence sources indicated that the enemy unit had retreated to the Batangan Peninsula, about 12 kilometers south of Van Tuong. The III MAF (Marine Amphibious Force) planned a three battalion assault there beginning September 7th. Two ARVN BAttalions will also be joining the operation 2/4th Infantry and the 3rd VNMC Bn.

Operation Piranha - Search and Destroy

Operation Piranha began when eight A-4 skyhawks strafed White Beach on Batangan Peninsula's north shore for twenty minutes. Then a single A-4 laid a smoke screen along the beach while the other jets turned their attention inland. There they blasted LZ's out of the thick vegetation with 500 pound "Daisy Cutter" bombs. The 1/7th Marine Battalion landed on White Beach the enemy's response was a few poorly aimed sniper rounds. The Marines quickly moved inland and established defensive positions. Helicopters then began to bring in the 3/7th Marines at LZ Oak about 3 kilometers southwest of White Beach. ARVN 2/4th Infantry and 3rd VNMC Bn land at LZ's Birch and Pine southwest of Batangan Peninsula and conduct a sweep northeast toward the An Ky Peninsula south of Batangan. The Marines come into contact with the small Viet Cong Force and manage to capture and kill a small amount of enemy troops. The Marines are told by villagers in the area that most of the remnants of the 1st VC regiment had fled the area several days before the operation had begun. It's almost as though the VC received advanced notice of the operation. The Marines finish a sweep of the area and withdraw back to Chu Lai. The Operation is a minor success. This concludes Turn 11.

Turn 12 - September 8th to September 12th 1965

Operation Highland continues this turn with negative enemy contact as the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne conducts operation Cacti around An Khe. Operation's Barracuda and 7/65 are terminated this turn. There is one mission this turn with the 9th Marines around Da Nang. Here's the news summary for Turn 12.

Operation Golden Fleece - Harvest Security

On the 9th of September the 9th Marine Regiment is ordered to conduct Operation Golden Fleece a prolonged rice harvest security operation between Da Nang, Dien Ban, and Dai Loc. This is to protect the farmers of the area from the VC,PAVN "Tax" on their harvests. The 9th Marines have negative contact with the enemy in the initial stages of the operation which is planned to last until late October. This Concludes Turn 12.

Turn 13 - September 12 to September 15th 1965

Operations Highland and Golden Fleece continue this turn with negative enemy contact. There is one combined Australian and US mission this turn. Here is the news summary for Turn 13.

Australian reinforcements land in Vietnam

The Australian presence in Vietnam expands as the 1st APC troop and the 105th Field Battery arrive at Vung Tau. They are moved up to Bien Hoa to join the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment.

Operation Zipper - Search and Destroy

Starting on September 13th the 1st Battalion 7th Marines are ordered to conduct a search and destroy operation around Binh Son in Quang Ngai Province. The 1/7th is helilifted into Binh Son and search around the town but have negative contact with enemy units in their initial patrols.

Operation OPORD 12-65/Ben Cat 1 - Search and Destroy

Starting on September 14th the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and an ARVN Airborne Task force along with the ARVN 5th Division will conduct operation 12-65/Ben Cat 1 between Ben Cat and Phuoc Vinh to provide security for the deployment and establishment of the 1st and 3rd Brigades of the of the US 1st Infantry Division at Lai Khe and Phuoc Vinh, respectively. The Operation starts with the securing of Lai Khe by the 1/503 Airborne Bn which is helilifted in from Bien Hoa. Artillery is brought in from Bien Hoa as two fire support bases are set up at Ben Cat and Lai Khe. The Australian 1st APC Troop moves overland and clears the roads to Ben Cat with no contact. As the Australian 1st APC and 1st Bn RAR venture out from Ben Cat on patrols they quickly encounter an entrenched Viet Cong unit west of Ben Cat in what is knows as the "Iron Triangle" a refuge for enemy troops for many years. Airstrikes are called in on the VC and the Australians get ready for battle.

Australians fight battle west of Ben Cat

The Australians take minimal casualties as the Viet Cong are pounded from FSB's and Airstrikes. Hopefully they can be destroyed before they disappear. Here are the combat results of the battle. This concludes Turn 13.

Turn 14 - September 15th to September 19th 1965

Operation Golden Fleece continue this turn with negative enemy contact. The Combined US and Australian Operation OPORD 12-65/Ben Cat 1 continues the fight near Ben Cat with Viet Cong troops in the northern Iron Triangle. There is one mission this turn for the 2/502 Airborne Infantry Battalion from the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division that is a sub operation of HIGHLAND. Here's the news summary for Turn 14.

Operation Gibraltar - Search and Destroy

Starting on September 18th the 2/502 Abn (1st Brigade 101st Airborne Div) is ordered to conduct a search and destroy operation code named GIBRALTAR that is a sub operation of HIGHLAND in the vicinity of An Ninh. The 2/502 abn boarded helicopters at An Khe and were helilifted into the An Ninh area where they touched down in the vicinity of a training base of the 2nd Viet Cong Regiment. The 2/502 was hit hard as they landed in An Ninh taking heavy casualties. The Viet Cong in An Ninh were pushed out of the village by the 2/502 and hit by US airstrikes. Troop A of the 2/17th Cavalry was supposed to link up with the 2/502 Abn by traveling overland to An Ninh but encountered great difficulty moving forward in the soggy terrain.

Battle for An Ninh - Operation Gibraltar

The Viet Cong 2nd Regiment forces attacked An Ninh several times but couldn't push the 2/502 Abn out of the village. The VC were hit with more airstrikes before escaping after their assaults couldn't crack the defensive perimeter of the 2/502 Abn. The 2/502 took heavy casualties in the initial landing at An Ninh but after that they held their own despite being outnumbered.

US 1st Cavalry Division lands in Vietnam

The Bulk of the US 1st Cavalry Division have landed at Qui Nhon. They will proceed to their new base at An Khe.

Battle near Ben Cat - Operation OPORD 12-65/Ben Cat 1

The Australians continue the battle near Ben Cat with Viet Cong forces encountered in the northern "Iron Triangle" they are joined by the US 1/503 Abn in the attack. The VC are hit with devastating firepower from Jets and Artillery before the infantry sweep in and destroy them. The battle is a success. The 1st Royal Australian Battalion plus 1/503 continue patrols looking for more VC troops in the area. This concludes Turn 14.

Operation Gibraltar, love it [:D]

Enjoying the read and style Aces8

ORIGINAL: cantona2

Operation Gibraltar, love it [:D]

Enjoying the read and style Aces8

Thank you [:)] Glad your enjoying it [8D]

Turn 15 - September 19th to September 22nd 1965

Operations Highland, Golden Fleece, and OPORD 12-65/Ben Cat 1 continue with negative enemy contact. Operation Gibraltar is terminated and the 2/502 Abn of the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division leave An Ninh and return to Qui Nhon where they will rest before they are moved south for an upcoming operation. Some more elements of the US 1st Cavalry Division have arrived at Qui Nhon. There is one mission this turn its the opening of a new CIDG camp in Phu Bon Province. Here's the news summary for Turn 15.

Mai Linh CIDG Camp

On September 19th Detachment A-226 is ordered to build and secure a new CIDG camp at Mai Linh in Phu Bon Province. They are helilifted into the area from Qui Nhon.

Republic of Korea 2nd Marine Brigade arrives in Vietnam

On September 19th the 2nd Brigade of the Republic of Korea Marines arrived at Cam Ranh Bay. The ROK 2nd Brigade is known as the "Blue Dragons". The Republic of Korea will be sending more ground troops in the upcoming months to join the Free World Forces Vietnam.

Viet Cong attack Phu Cu Pass

On the 22nd of September an estimated Regimental sized Viet Cong force have attacked a ARVN Regional force company that was guarding the Phu Cu Pass south of Bong Son in Binh Dinh Province. The VC routed the RF Company who ran south of the pass. Local ARVN units will need to reopen this pass as soon as possible to keep vital Route 1 open. This concludes Turn 15.