Battle of Ba Gia

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Battle of Ba Gia
Part of Vietnam War
Date May 28-June 1, 1965
Location 15°9′40.9″N 108°41′15.9″E / 15.161361, 108.68775 (Ba Gia)Coordinates: 15°9′40.9″N 108°41′15.9″E / 15.161361, 108.68775 (Ba Gia)
Ba Gia, South Vietnam
Result Viet Cong Victory
Belligerents
Viet Cong South Vietnam
United States
Commanders
Gen. Chu Huy Man Gen. Nguyen Chanh Thi
Strength
Nearly 1,000 3 ARVN Battalions
Casualties and losses
Unknown 392 ARVN

The Battle of Ba Gia or Bãi Xoan was a battle of the U.S. - Vietnam war, that began after an ARVN battalion was ambushed by Viet Cong forces on May 28, 1965.

Viet Cong (VC) soldiers were briefly driven out of Ba Gia after the USAF conducted airstrikes using napalm, rockets and cannon fire from A-1 Skyraiders and F-100 Super Sabres. One month later, when the VC attacked again, they captured Ba Gia within ninety minutes.

Reinforcements were called for by the ARVN, but the US Marine battalion failed to arrive in time. When the reinforcements arrived, they were also ambushed by the VC. Only three American and sixty ARVN troops were able to escape. The battle highlights the vulnerability of the ARVN as a military force against the flexible VC.

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