Operation Somerset Plain was a joint military operation conducted by the United States and the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) in the
A Sầu Valley
The A Shau Valley (Vietnamese: ''thung lũng A Sầu'') is a valley in Vietnam's Thừa Thiên-Huế Province, west of the coastal city of Huế, along the border of Laos. The valley runs north and south for 40 kilometers and is a 1.5-kilometer- ...
from 4–20 August 1968.
Background
The A Sầu Valley was a vital corridor for moving military supplies coming from the
Ho Chi Minh Trail and was used by the
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) as a staging area for numerous attacks in northern
I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to:
France
* 1st Army Corps (France)
* I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...
. Three months after the conclusion of
Operation Delaware
Operation Delaware/Operation Lam Son 216 was a joint military operation launched during the Vietnam War. It began on 19 April 1968, with troops from the United States and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) moving into the A Sầu Valley. ...
, MG
Richard G. Stilwell
Richard Giles Stilwell (February 24, 1917 – December 25, 1991) was a United States Army General (United States), general who served as Commander United States Forces Korea from 1973 to 1976, and acting Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific from Sep ...
, the U.S. Army deputy commander of
III Marine Amphibious Force
III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and ...
decided to mount another operation against the valley to disrupt the
People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) logistics network and forestall any attacks in
I Corps I Corps, 1st Corps, or First Corps may refer to:
France
* 1st Army Corps (France)
* I Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* I Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French A ...
.
Operation
![NARA photo 111-CCV-503-CC50493](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/NARA_photo_111-CCV-503-CC50493.jpg)
The assault into the A Sầu Valley was preceded by an artillery bombardment from
Firebase Berchtesgaden
Firebase Berchtesgaden (also known as Firebase Eagle's Nest or Hill 1030) was a U.S. Army firebase located west of Huế
Huế () is the capital of Thừa Thiên Huế province in central Vietnam and was the capital of Đàng Trong from 173 ...
and Firebase Georgia and
B-52
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air ...
and tactical fighter-bomber strikes while tear gas was dropped at three routes into the valley from
Laos.
[
On 4 August 1968 helicopters operating from ]Firebase Birmingham
Firebase Birmingham (also known as FSB Birmingham, LZ Birmingham and Huế Southwest Airfield) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase southwest of Huế in Thừa Thiên–Huế Province, Vietnam.
History
196 ...
landed the first elements of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in the valley near the abandoned A Lưới Camp. Resistance was light with only one helicopter gunship being forced down by PAVN fire. On 5 August elements of the ARVN 1st Division were landed in the southern part of the valley and on 6 August the elite ARVN ''Hac Bao'' (Black Panther) Reconnaissance Company arrived in the valley completing the deployment of forces.[
The U.S./ARVN forces proceeded to search the valley meeting only scattered resistance until 10/11 August when the ARVN 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment was attacked by elements of the PAVN 816th and 818th Main Force Battalions. Air and artillery support was called in and the PAVN retreated into the jungle losing several dozen killed.][
Also on 10 August a misplaced air strike hit Company D, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, killing seven and wounding fifty-four men.][
On 16 August, two ]Long-range reconnaissance patrol
A long-range reconnaissance patrol, or LRRP (pronounced "lurp"), is a small, well-armed reconnaissance team that patrols deep in enemy-held territory.Ankony, Robert C., ''Lurps: A Ranger's Diary of Tet, Khe Sanh, A Shau, and Quang Tri,'' revised ...
teams and elements of Company C, 326th Engineer Battalion, laid delayed fuse mines and sensors (connected to Firebase Berchtesgaden) at the western passes into Laos to impede and monitor PAVN movement.[
On 17 August the U.S./ARVN force began to be lifted out of the valley and this proceeded without PAVN interference, concluding on 20 August.][
]
Aftermath
U.S. losses were 7 killed, while ARVN losses were 11 killed, 8 of which were from a U.S. artillery round that fell short. US/ARVN forces claims the PAVN losses were 181 killed and 4 captured.[
Only a modest amount of supplies were located and destroyed, which suggested that the PAVN had still not recovered from the effects of Operation Delaware.][
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:SomersetPlain, Operation
1968 in Vietnam
Battles and operations of the Vietnam War
Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1968
History of Thừa Thiên Huế province