Attacks on Da Nang

DATE: 02/10/2025

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: Vietnam

MAP(S): Cam Lao Nam

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Sclembi

SLOTS: 56 / 63

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RATING: (4)

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The attacks on Da Nang (29 January – 11 February 1968), were a series of attacks in the Tet Offensive launched by the North Vietnamese People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) and the Viet Cong (VC) during the Vietnam War. The attacks were repulsed by combined United States Marine Corps (USMC), United States Army, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) forces with the PAVN/VC suffering heavy losses. Da Nang was a major base area for United States and South Vietnamese military forces supporting operations throughout I Corps. Da Nang Air Base was one of the major air bases used for offensive air operations within South Vietnam and for the support of USMC and ARVN forces. Naval Support Activity Danang operated extensive logistics facilities on the Tiensha (Tiên Sa) peninsula east of the city. Marble Mountain Air Facility supported USMC helicopter operations throughout southern I Corps. Before the PAVN/VC forces launched their attack, the commanders prepared to read to their troops a directive supposedly prepared two weeks earlier by the Presidium of the Central Committee of the National Liberation Front. The Front announced that the 1968 Tết greeting of 'Chairman Ho is actually a combat order for our entire Army and population. 'The soldiers and cadre of the 'South Vietnam Liberation Army' were to move forward in the attack: 'The call for assault to achieve independence and liberty has sounded; The Truong Son and the Mekong River are moving. You comrades should act as heroes of Vietnam and with the spirit and pride of combatants of the Liberation Army. The Victory will be with us.'

By this time, the Tet Offensive was in full bloom, not only at Da Nang, but throughout South Vietnam. In the extensive Da Nang TAOR, the early morning hours of 31 January were almost a repeat of the events of the 30th. PAVN/VC fired rockets at both the Da Nang Air Base and Marble Mountain Air Facility. No rockets fell on the main airbase but Marble Mountain sustained some damage. The PAVN/VC rocket troops fired in two bursts, one at 03:42, followed by a second barrage three hours later. About the same time as the rocket attacks on the Da Nang base and Marble Mountain, PAVN/VC mortars bombarded the command post of the 7th Marines on Hill 55 south of Da Nang and forward infantry positions. During the day and evening of the 31st, the PAVN/VC infantry units pressed the offensive on the ground. In the northern sector of Da Nang, PAVN/VC main force troops entered Nam O once again and killed the hamlet chief. CAP Q-4 there continued to hold out. At about 07:40, a crowd of 400 Vietnamese civilians made up mostly of women and children and carrying PAVN and VC flags approached the CAP compound. The Marines and PF troops fired at armed members of the crowd who appeared to be directing the march. The Da Nang Northern Sector Defense Command dispatched a provisional company to assist the CAP Marines as well as the security detachment. The provisional company linked up with two ARVN Ranger companies that were operating in the area to contain the battalion from the PAVN 4th Regiment which had slipped through the Hải Vân Pass the night before. The greatest danger to the TAOR at this juncture, however, was from the south in that area defended by the ROKMC and the ARVN 51st Regiment. Although the Koreans and ARVN in a combined operation finally cleared Hội An, PAVN/VC units to the west south, and north of the city continued to press the attack. At 09:20, PAVN/VC forces attacked the district towns of Dien Ban, just above the Ky Lam River and Duy Xuyen below the river. At Dien Ban, the 51st Regiment reinforced by the ROKMC contained the attack.

The Blue Dragons were initially deployed to Cam Ranh Bay in September 1965, but in December moved to Tuy Hòa to provide security against the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 95th Regiment. In August 1966, the Blue Dragons moved to Chu Lai and was placed under the operational control of the III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF). Under an arrangement with the USMC, air assets would be provided to the brigade and assigned the same priority for available aircraft as American units. A team from Subunit One, 1st ANGLICO was dispatched and charged with the mission of keeping an air umbrella over the Blue Dragon Division in and out of the field. A two-man fire control team was assigned to each ROKMC infantry company at all times. The conduct of ROK forces is praised by some South Korean participation in Vietnam states that 'the Koreans were thorough in their planning and deliberate in their execution of a plan. They usually surrounded an area by stealth and quick movement. While the count of enemy killed was probably no greater proportionately than that of similar American combat units, the thoroughness with which the Koreans searched any area they fought in was attested to by the fact that the Koreans usually came out with a much higher weaponry count than American forces engaged in similar actions.'

For the entire duration of the mission the ROKMC and PAVN will fight over control of Da Nang. Area of operation extends outside of the city borders to allow interception and ambushes of incoming enemy assets. While control over Da Nang is the only objective, it is highly encouraged for the players to withdraw from the city in case of being overran and mount a counterattack after reorg.