Operation Vinh Loc was an operation conducted by the 2nd Brigade,
101st Airborne Division and
Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 54th Regiment on Vinh Loc Island,
Phú Vang District, lasting from 10 to 20 September 1968.
Background
Vinh Loc Island is a coastal estuary island, long and a maximum of wide, located east of Huế. During the
Battle of Huế in February 1968, South Vietnamese
Regional Forces and
Popular Forces responsible for the security of the island had been removed to support the battle, allowing 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) to establish control of the area.
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines
The 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7) is a light infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. They are based at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms and consist of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors. The battal ...
began a one-week sweep of the island but were unable to locate the VC.[
On 4 September 3 Regional Force Companies conducting a sweep operation were engaged by the VC and were only able to break contact with helicopter gunship support. It was estimated that at least 2 VC Companies and possibly a Battalion were located on the island.][
]
Operation
On 9 September one of the Regional Force companies withdrew from the island. On 10 September Company D, 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment moved to the northern end of the island, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the ARVN 54th Regiment moved to the east of Phu Thu District opposite the island and the 3rd Troop, 7th ARVN Cavalry moved its M113 APCs to Tân Mỹ Base.[
On the morning of 11 September 1/501st and the ARVN 1st Battalion, 54th Regiment conducted air assaults into 6 locations on the island. Everyone encountered in the operation was interrogated by ]Republic of Vietnam National Police
The Republic of Vietnam National Police – RVNP ( vi, Cảnh sát Quốc gia Việt Nam Cộng hòa, links=no), Police Nationale de la République du Vietnam or Police Nationale for short ( vi, Cảnh sát Quốc gia, links=no – CSQG) in French ...
, VC suspects were removed to intelligence centers, while those cleared were escorted to safe areas.[
]
Aftermath
Operation Vinh Loc officially concluded on 20 September, VC losses were 154 killed, 370 captured and 56 Chieu Hoi
The Chiêu Hồi program ( (also spelled "chu hoi" or "chu-hoi" in English) loosely translated as "Open Arms") was an initiative by the U.S - Republic of Vietnam to encourage defection by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and Viet Cong (VC) and ...
. Allied losses were 2 killed.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:VinhLoc, Operation
1968 in Vietnam
Battles involving the United States
Battles involving Vietnam
Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1968
Battles and operations of the Vietnam War
History of Thừa Thiên Huế province