Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase V Campaign (1968)/Operation Maui Peak
From Month/Year
October / 1968
To Month/Year
October / 1968
Description Operation Maui Peak was a US Marine Corps operation that took place near the Thuong Ðức Camp southwest of Danang, lasting from 1 to 19 October 1968.
Prelude - In late September 1968 1st Marine Division intelligence detected the presence of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 21st Regiment, 2nd Division, 141st Regiment and the 368B Rocket Regiment near the Thưong Ðức Camp. In an early morning attack on 28 September the PAVN overran two of the Camp's outposts. As bad weather made tactical air support impossible a Marine tactical air control group flew into the camp with a radar beacon which was used to guide Marine A-6s to make precision bombing attacks on the PAVN positions forcing them to abandon them on 29 September.
The 7th Marine Regiment supported by the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines and 3rd Battalion 5th Marines were tasked with relieving the siege around Thưong Ðức.
Operation
On 6 October B-52s and tactical aircraft began bombing the intended landing zones in the hills around Thưong Ðức while the 2/5 Marines moved west along Route 4 towards the Camp. As they advanced the Marines were engaged by the PAVN 1st Battalion, 141st Regiment in a battle that lasted all day.
At 07:30 the helicopters carrying the 3/5 Marines approaching Landing Zone Sparrow 4 km south of Thưong Ðức were met with intense antiaircraft fire forcing the helicopters to return to An Hoa Combat Base. At 11:00 BLT 2nd Battalion 7th Marines was landed at Landing Zone Vulture and two ARVN Battalions were landed at Landing Zone Hawk 7 km northwest of Thưong Ðức. Two Companies from 2/7 Marines began traversing the hills towards Thưong Ðức. At 17:40 3/5 Marines were landed at Landing Zone Kiwi southeast of Thưong Ðức.
On 7 October the Marine units began to close in on Thưong Ðức. Landing Zone Sparrow was hit again by tactical aircraft dropping 750 lb and fuel-air bombs in preparation for a landing by the 1st Battalion 1st Marines however as the helicopters approached at 09:10 they were once again forced back by intense anti-aircraft fire.
On Route 4 2/5 Marines encountered another well entrenched PAVN position 200m west of the site of the previous day's battle and were forced to withdraw with 12 wounded.
On the afternoon of 8 October after artillery and airstrikes, 2/5 Marines renewed their attack supported by 4 M-48 tanks quickly overruning the PAVN position and killing 37 PAVN for 1 Marine killed.
At 04:00 on 12 October following a preparatory mortar attack the PAVN attacked the 2/5 Marines on Route 4. The Marines called in extensive artillery and gunship support killing 46 PAVN and capturing 1 for the loss of 8 Marines killed.
On 14 October Company F 2/7 Marines arrived at Thưong Ðức officially ending the siege.
Aftermath - Operation Maui Peak concluded on 19 October, the Marines had suffered 28 dead and 143 wounded and the PAVN 202 killed.
