Commanders Report:
Prepared By:
Doctor
Summary of Events
Chronology of Key Events:
The company deployed via CH-47 to two separate LZs, to the west of our search area.
2 of the downed pilots were immediately spotted and rescued by friendly rotary wing.
Both platoons started their methodical grid pattern search.
2nd platoon found the 3rd pilot, however he was lost during accurate hostile artillery bombardment.
1st platoon took heavy casualties from VC gunboats patrolling the river.
Both platoons continued their searching, clearing enemy positions along their path.
1st platoon found the fourth pilot, who was successfully airlifted, however unfortunately was killed in an aviation incident while returning to base.
HQ found the 3rd pilot again, defending him from pursuing VC forces and successfully evacuating him via rotary wing.
Both platoons continued searching for the downed plane and classified documents.
1st platoon suffered heavy losses attacking and then holding the radio tower site.
Rotary wing spotted the downed plane, HQ were first on site.
Reinforced by 2nd platoon, HQ destroyed the downed plane and recovered the documents.
Friendly forces were ambushed while to trying to evacuate, with multiple KIA and destroyed aviation assets.
Outcomes
Results Achieved:
All objectives complete, with heavy losses.
Significant Accomplishments:
Searched 6km search area with only 2 platoons.
successfully airlifted all pilots. (Aviation incident excluded.)
Shortfalls or Failures:
Failure to secure LZ led to severe casualties.
Splitting platoons left 1st platoon alone and without support when faced by overwhelming enemy fire.
Lessons Learned
Positive Lessons (What Worked Well):
Ground elements coordinated well with downed pilots using SR radios.
Negative Lessons (What Needs Improvement):
Securing LZs is essential to safely evacuate.
US gunships are not viable without air superiority.
Recommendations
Future Training or Preparation Needs:
LZ placement and protection.
Operational Improvements:
US forces require AA capabilities to counter NVA aviation assets.
Summary of Events - Pilots:
Chronology of Key Events:
In the beginning of operation Hornet 1, Chinook 1 and Chinook 2 transported Company to the AO
Hornet 1 immediately after dropping Company HQ was able to contact downed pilots and after a few passes found their position and picked them up. Two pilots were picked up and Hornet 1 RTBed, during that was engaged by AAA which destroyed Hornet’s 1 tail rotor and damaged main rotor, but he was able to reach base safely
Hornet 1 reinserted Delta squad and during the process was again heavily damaged by AAA but managed to land safely and repair the helicopter
Hornet 1 and 2 provided CAS and CAP support for the company
Hornet 1 was able to locate the third downed pilot and pick him up, during RTB Hornet 1 was accidentally rammed by enemy Mi-2, in result everyone onboard died
Hornet 1 reinserted 2nd PLT hq into AO and engaged enemy Mi-2 and made it run away, during pursuit Hornet 1 was hit by enemy MANPADS and was able to perform emergency landing behind enemy lines
Hornet 2 was able to pick up last downed airmen and RTB
Hornet 1 coordinated the rescue effort with Company HQ and joined them on the ground
Hornet 2 was shot down by the MANPADS while providing CAS/CAP
Hornet 1 couldn’t be rescued as Hornet 2 was out of lives, so Hornet 1 respawned
Hornet 1 flew in CH-47 to pick up the company, while waiting for ground troops to load, CH-47 was destroyed by enemy fire
Hornet 1 again flew in CH-47 and picked up leftovers from the company
Lessons Learned
Positive Lessons (What Worked Well):
Managing to safely land a helicopter even with critical damage, saving the crew and passengers
CAS support when it was called (ship, enemy inf)
Locating downed airmen as helicopters are easy to spot and hear from the ground
Negative Lessons (What Needs Improvement):
Activity during downtime
Mission Highlights
Emergency landing under fire
Evacuating downed airmen while under fire
Summary of Events - 1st Platoon:
Chronology of Key Events:
After the briefing and all preparations, 1st Platoon mounted the Chinook and was transported towards the AO, North from the frontline.
On the determined LZ in AO, Platoon successfully performed fast rope in the predetermined pairs without casualties and also set up circle defense around perimeter.
1st Platoon started moving deeper in the Southern search area on the west riverbank and had managed to take several high positions to perform scouting of the river, across the river and which was controlled by Vietcong for the downed pilots, plane and to destroy Vietcong radio tower.
After recon, platoon managed to take village without casualties, destroying several houses, Vietcong patrols, without taking any prisoners.
Inside the village there were two boats which we decided to use to go across the river, since there were not any bridges nearby.
Bravo Squad was first to mount the boats and perform the transport across the river, in that moment after they started moving, Vietcong infantry started engaging from the other side of the river.
Alpha Squad was suppressing the Vietcong forces while Bravo was moving on the other side of the river.
After 10 seconds 2 heavy armed Vietcong boats came and destroyed both small boats for transport and managed to deal huge amount of casualties to the Bravo squad.
Alpha Squad and Platoon HQ were tasked by the Platoon Leader to use the AT weapons and destroy both heavy armed boats.
In the next 30 seconds, Platoon HQ and Alpha also took heavy casualties but managed to destroy both heavy armed boats.
Shortly after, Vietcong infantry managed to sneak from the back and to also deal decent amount of the casualties.
Platoon managed to defend themselves and reorganize with heavy casualties on casualty collection point.
Afterwards Platoon was performing crossing the river and at the same time, Vietcong helicopters manage to perform CAS towards 1st Platoon squads which didnt had many casualties.
1st Platoon managed to regroup at the road communication on the point "RV-1" and started sweeping the road towards Vietcong communication tower, including bunkers and small villages on it.
Several villages, bunkers, heavy entrenched and communication positions were cleared from Vietcong forces under heavy fire from Vietcong infantry, ambushes and Airforce.
1st Platoon after many casualties had last task to capture the radio tower on the hill which was done by attacking the objective from two sides under heavy fire.
1st Platoon took many casualties, but managed to successfully take radio tower.
Very short after, strong Vietcong counter attack was happening and our platoon EOD was killed and also enemy made 1st Platoon to fall back to the 2nd Platoon.
Survived soldiers from the 1st Platoon successfully managed to guard 2nd Platoon and to evacuate fast under heavy Vietcong counter attacks.
Lessons Learned
Positive Lessons (What Worked Well):
Each squad bounding towards specific objects and objectives which had been given from Platoon Leader.
Communication between squads and platoon sniper was crucial for establishing better communication when some leader was downed.
Bounding on Platoon level.
Securing the road from the enemies.
Taking several positions against counter attacks from Vietcong forces.
Negative Lessons (What Needs Improvement):
Bad overwatch on the river and letting boats to come very close.
Bad communication after Platoon leader is down.
Bad defense in several situations against Vietcong counter attacks
Mission Highlights:
Securing the village and burning village, neutralizing any Vietcong collaborators.
Swiping the road, taking several defensive positions, destroying several radio comm. positions.
Fight for the Vietcong Radio Tower on the hill.
Emergency evacuation under fire.
Summary of Events - 2nd Platoon:
Chronology of Key Events:
2nd Platoon deployed with fast roping technique at LZ Golf successfully.
Search area was divided into 14 sectors, Charlie and Delta squad started moving separately towards 1st and 2nd sectors.
Delta squad established communication with pilot Bobi around 5-10 minutes after landing and found him inside 2nd sector. They were in all-round formation to protect pilot but unfortunately enemy artillery wiped out Delta squad and pilot was lost during that fire.
Charlie squad searched 1st and 3rd sectors without any casualties and managed to clear enemy village at 5th and 6th sector. During reorg at captured village, enemy counterattack wiped half of Charlie squad.
After regrouping, 2nd Platoon was tasked to search Shadow Canyon, Unknown Temple and Cun Tong Ridge. Search were completed without major casualties. Classified documents and plane crash site that were needed to be found weren’t located in our search area.
2nd Platoon merged with HQ and rest of 1st Platoon at plane crash site, HQ destroyed plane and rest of company were securing LZ from enemy ambushes.
Lessons Learned
Positive Lessons (What Worked Well):
Each squad were tasked to search big area separately, they succeed.
Establishing communication with pilot and securing his position until enemy artillery came.
Capturing well defended village by Charlie squad.
Negative Lessons (What Needs Improvement):
Protecting 6 o’clock in movement formations and protecting LZ.
Mission Highlights
Finding pilot, capturing enemy village.
Searching for crashed plane site and documents.