Amphibious Operation
Deckhouse V, Song Than 1/67
Written by: Colonel Ton That Soan
During the Vietnam War, the
Vietnamese Marine units performed several amphibious operations on a
number of targets, but of these, only Operation Deckhouse V Song
Than 1/66 had all the characteristics and features of a textbook
Amphibious Operation. It took place at Thanh Phu Island, Kien Hoa
Province. It was carried out exactly as the US Marine Corps (the
most sophisticated elite unit in the world) would have done.
Preparation
In January 1967, I, Lieutenant
Colonel Ton That Soan, Commander of Marine Task Force B, with Major
Do Ky of G3 and two American advisers received orders to leave
Saigon and to go to Subic Bay in the Philippines. There they were to
organize amphibious operations for the Vietnamese Marine Task Force.
Boarding a special US Military
aircraft, the four person team was flown to Manilla. A helicopter
airlifted us from the airport to the US Embassy, where the American
advisers assured us smooth entry. An hour later, we were on our way
to Subic Naval Base. From there, we went out to the Flagship
anchored in the bay. We were to meet the Amphibious Operation Staff,
commanded by a 1-star general of the US navy.
As soon as we stepped aboard,
we were welcomed by a naval ceremony. A siren wailed and a voice
boomed over the megaphone:
“The Commander of the
Vietnamese Marine Special Task Force... welcome aboard!”
Our team stopped, stood at
attention, and saluted the flag. We continued to walk along the deck
as the siren continued to wail, informing all sailors on board that
there were visitors.
An officer led the team to the
General in charge of the Amphibious Operation and the commanding
Colonel of the Flagship. We were also introduced to other Staff
Officers in readiness for the next day's work. Accommodation was
provided for us on board the Flagship.
Every detail of the Operation
had to be planned meticulously. Our training in AWS courses in
Quantico, USA, was to serve us well.
The Vietnamese Marine Task
Force B:
Task Force Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Ton That Soan
Participating Marine
Battalions:
- 3rd Marine Battalion, commanded by Major Nguyen The Luong
- 4th Marine Battalion, commanded by Major Nguyen Thanh Tri
- 6th Marine Battalion, commanded by Major Pham Van Chung
Supporting
Units
The US special Amphibious
Force was to supply ships for transportation of troops from Vung Tau
to the operation site in Kien Hoa. US amphibious crafts were to
transport Vietnamese Marine Companies to the landing zones. From
there, US helicopters were to airlift the Marines further inland.
Naval Guns and aircrafts were to supply fire support if need be.
Area of
Operation
The Communist Sanctuary of
Thanh Phong, on Thanh Phu Island off Kien Hoa Province. The sparsely
populated area was within IV Corps. The terrain was laced with
rivers and canals, and dreadfully swampy. Making the most of the
inaccessible terrain, the VC had established many military
factories, logistic dumps and garrisons there. Lacking supporting
units, IV Corps rarely attempted to launch an attack on the enemy.
Co-ordination
After 5 days of co-ordination
amongst the staff, the preparation for Operation Deckhouse V, Song
Than 1/67 was finished. Detail sheets, especially those outlining
troop deployment were distributed to the Vietnamese Marine Battalion
and the Staff on the USS Vancouver and Henrico. The sheets detailed
the landings that would be carried out by the LCM and LCVP (small
crafts that were to carrying individual platoons from ship to
shore). There were also sheets outlining helicopter flights in-land.
Sea Travel
from Subic Bay to Vung Tau
The Fleet of the Special
Amphibious Task Force, composed of 25 ships, left Subic Military
Base for Vung Tau, where the Marine Task Force was to be picked up.
The fleet
was composed of
The Flagship, which carried
the Special Amphibious Task Force Staff
Two big troop transporting ships: Vancouver and Henrico.
Helicopter transporting ships: LPH
The Fuel Ships
The Food Ships
The Ammunition Ships
Minesweepers
Escorts
Patrol ships.
The Henrico, according to US
naval terminology was a LPD - a Landing Personnel Deck. In addition
to its crew, the ship had many levels that enabled it to transport
1500 riflemen with enough food supplies and facilities for days at
sea. The hull had enough room to house small craft units such as the
LCM's and the LCVPs. The Marines were to board the small craft
units. When the mother ship opened the doors of its hull, the
incoming seawater would enable the crafts to move out into open
water.
Progress
According to plan, the Fleet
reached Vung Tau on D+7 and anchored out in the open sea. Only the
Henrico and Vancouver approached the front beach of Vung Tau. The
Marine Task Force Staff and the Battalions 3, 4 and 6 were already
prepared at Bai Dua. They boarded the US Navy LCUs from Alaska Pier,
and waited for night to fall to be transported to the big ships. The
Marine Task Force Staff, the 4th Marine Battalion and two companies
of the 6th Marine Battalion boarded Henrico. The 3rd Marine
Battalion and 2 other companies of the 6th Marine Battalion boarded
Vancouver.
The
Landing...
The boarding was carried out
in a neat and orderly manner as planned. On day D+8, the fleet left
Vung Tau and sailed to Kien Hoa. It was intended that on D+10, the
Marines would land. Unfortunately, the weather changed suddenly. The
sea was very choppy and a fog had settled over the watery expanse.
It was totally unsuitable for an amphibious operation. The Fleet was
forced to bide its time in the open sea. Seven days later, on D+15,
the landing was performed.
The Wait
The US Marines, always had a
daily routine to adhere to during days when they had to wait. Apart
form meals, sleep, rest and recreation, they had to take part in
drills, exercise, cleaning and inspection, maintenance of weapons
etc... The Vietnamese spent the waiting period, scaling net ladders.
They also practised going into the LCM and LCVP in an orderly
manner. This was the first time the Vietnamese Marines had ever been
aboard a US ship. Except for the officers who had studied at
Quantico in the USA, everyone was unaccustomed to life at sea. The
officers occupied the middle deck of the ship, where they were least
likely to suffer from sea sickness. The troops below suffered
dreadfully from the ship's motion. For the first few days, everyone
was very excited, and fell into American food with a vengeance. But
after a few days, they went back to their staple of cooked rice and
soy sauce. The catering officer was very offended with the large
quantities of untouched food!
The ships were huge, and it
was very easy to get lost on the way to and from the PX. Many young
Vietnamese were unfamiliar with the facilities. One of the humorous
sights was that of a long queue of hungry young men waiting to
wash-up before mess. Such blockage was generally due to the fact
that the guy at the front had no idea how to turn the tap on! Amused
crew members would then come up and step on a button somewhere
beneath the basin and ease the congestion in the corridors. Everyone
found the experience on board very interesting, if not educational.
Visits
from the two Commanders
On day D+15, the weather
cleared. The Special Landing Force decided to proceed with the
landing. Before the scheduled time, General Green, the 4-star
Commandant of the US Marine Corps and Lieutenant General Le Nguyen
Khang, the Commandant of the Vietnamese Marine Corps, flew out to
the Henrico by helicopter to inspect the troops. General Green
praised the bravery of the Vietnamese Marine Corps, which was now
thoroughly trained and well-equipped. He then bid all units victory
in Operation Deck House V.
The
Landing on D+15
The 4th Marine Battalion
issued forth from the belly of the Henrico aboard the landing
crafts. Ten small crafts completed the first wave, each carrying a
platoon.
The second wave used ten LCVPs,
each also carrying a platoon. The final wave of LCMs carried the
rest and the Marine Task Force B staff ashore.
The landing was accomplished
at 9.00am and had met with no enemy resistance.
The 6th Marine Brigade was
airlifted by helicopters at 9.00am to the north of the target to
block the retreat of the enemy. They met with no confrontation.
The 3rd Marine Battalion was
airlifted near two important targets deeper inland to the west of
where the 4th Battalion had landed. No resisting force was met.
The Alpha and Bravo Groups of
the 3rd Battalion invaded their targets. Only a few well-camouflaged
huts were discovered.
Meanwhile, the Marine Task
Force B Commander flew in a Command and Control Helicopter, escorted
by two helicopter gunship to oversee the operation.
The Alpha and Bravo Groups of
the 4th Marine Battalion searched for targets along the seashore. On
the first day, they discovered an enemy Military Engine factory
hidden amongst the water coconut forest. The equipment was
rudimentary.
All units took control of
their targets, and Phase 1 was completed without confronting enemy
resistance.
Advancing...
Phase 2 took place on D+16 to
D+18. The advancement was carried out as follows:
Alpha and Bravo Groups of the
3rd Battalion covered the left flank. The 6th Marine Battalion and
the Task Force Staff were in the centre, protected by the 4th Marine
Battalion on the right flanc. All units moved in parallel formation
northwards in a Search and Destroy mission. The area of operation
was 10km by 20km. The terrain was incredibly swampy, and progress
was slow. In order to cross the rivers and streams, the Marines had
to make a raft out of their ponchos or swing across ropes tended
across the rivers. During ebb tide, the currents in the rivers and
canals swirled furiously. It was dangerous to cross the wide canals.
The 4th Battalion lost one of its men during a crossing. He was
washed downstream by the strong current, and was drowned. To quicken
the progress, the Marine Brigade organized for helicopters to
transport troops over the more dangerous rivers.
Well into the area of
operation, the Marines came across scattered huts amongst rice
paddies. The inhabitants were mostly the elderly, who were very
unwilling to disclose the whereabouts of their young folk. They gave
vague answers the questions that were put to them. The most
talkative of them merely said: “I haven't seen a soldier of the
South for more than a decade.”
Along the seashore, where the
4th Battalion was searching, two more Communist Military Engine
factories were found. Here, they had manufactured grenades, mines,
and booby traps. The 4th Marine Battalion destroyed everything,
including two 61mm mortars. There was no fighting.
Leaving
the Area of Operation: D+19
The Task Force
received orders to end the operation.
The 4th Marine battalion was
airlifted from the area of operation back to the ships which then
took them to Vung Tau. They landed at the Front Beach of Vung Tau,
and spent R &R at base Camp Hoang Hoa Tham before embarking on
another operation.
The Marine Task Force staff
and the 3rd and 6th Battalions marched to a gathering point near
Thanh Phu District. From there, they were transported back to their
Base Camps in Saigon and Thu Duc.
Assessment Of Operation
Deckhouse V, Song Than 1/67
Although the operation did not
achieve any remarkable victory or gain any notable results, it was
worth while in that:
1. It was the only amphibious
operation carried out by the Vietnamese Task Force that had all the
criteria of a modern amphibious operation, as outlined by the US
Marine Corps.
2. Commanders and Staff had
the opportunity of coordinating and planning an authentic landing.
3. All Marine battalions had
the opportunity of learning many interesting things, and acquiring
skills such rope ladder climbing, landing via modern landing crafts.
It offered officers the chance of putting an amphibious operation to
effect.
4. We demonstrated to the
enemy that there was no unreachable haven in which they could
retreat. The bivalent elite troops of the Vietnamese Marine Corps
was capable of infiltrating into their very enclaves.
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