Operation Bushmaster II (also known as the Battle of Ap Nha Mat) was a US Army operation that took place in the

Michelin Rubber Plantation Michelin Rubber Plantation was located near Dầu Tiếng District in Bình Dương Province, 72 km northwest of Saigon. The plantation was established by the Michelin company in 1925 and at it was the largest rubber plantation in Vietnam. ...

, lasting from 1 to 6 December 1965.

Prelude

On the evening of 27 November 1965 the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 7th Regiment, 5th Division operating in the Michelin Rubber Plantation was overrun by the

Viet Cong , , war = the Vietnam War , image = FNL Flag.svg , caption = The flag of the Viet Cong, adopted in 1960, is a variation on the flag of North Vietnam. Sometimes the lower stripe was green. , active ...

(VC) 271st and 273rd Regiments, killing most of the Regiment (possibly up to 500 soldiers) and its five US advisers.

Major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

Seaman ordered

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

William Brodbeck's 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division to rescue the shattered 7th Regiment. Several days later intelligence was received that the VC ''Phu Loi'' Battalion and the 272nd Regiment were operating in the area and the mission was changed to locating and engaging these units. The VC forces meanwhile prepared an ambush for the incoming assault planned by US forces.

Operation

Operation Bloodhound, later renamed Operation Bushmaster II, commenced on 1 December when the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment (2/2nd Infantry) was landed at Landing Zone Dallas () inside the Michelin Rubber Plantation. LZ Dallas was to serve as the command post for the two Battalions involved in the operation. From 2–5 December the US Battalions searched southeast of LZ Dallas in the VC base area known as the Long Nguyen Secret Zone. At midday on 5 December, three companies from the 2/2nd Infantry assaulted a VC base complex and were met by heavy fire from the entrenched VC. An American attempt to outflank the VC position was repulsed and the VC force then attempted to outflank and press the Americans who retreated into a defensive perimeter. The 2/2nd Infantry commander LCol. Shuffer called for air and artillery support and the 8th Battalion, 6th Artillery Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery Regiment provided fire support on the southwestern perimeter, while air strikes were conducted on the east and helicopter gunships strikes on the north. The VC attempted to escape this firepower by "hugging" the American positions, but were forced back by small arms fire. The barrage continued for over 4 hours allowing the 2/2 Infantry to secure their position and to allow Companies A and C to move south behind a creeping barrage to overrun the VC bunkers. 18 aerial sorties were conducted alongside the artillery barrage, which prompted the VC to withdraw. By 14:30 the VC begun withdrawing, leaving behind their dead and wounded. LCol. Shuffer decided not to pursue the retreating VC fearing a further ambush and withdrew into a night perimeter. The 2/2nd Infantry spent the next few days policing the battlefield and destroying bunkers and Operation Bushmaster II ended on 6 December.

Aftermath

Total US casualties were 44 killed and 3 missing, while the US claims VC losses were 318 killed and 27 captured and 75 individual weapons were recovered. The 272nd Regiment disappeared for the next four months presumably to recover its losses.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bushmaster II, Operation Conflicts in 1965 1965 in Vietnam Battles involving the United States Battles involving Vietnam Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1965 History of Bình Dương province