Operation Starlite

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Operation Starlite
Part of the Vietnam War

Viet Cong prisoners await being carried by helicopter to rear area after Operation Starlite
Date August 17 - August 24, 1965
Location Van Tuong (12 miles south of Chu Lai), South Vietnam
Result U.S. tactical victory
Belligerents
Viet Cong United States
Commanders
Lewis W. Walt
Strength
1,500 5,500
Casualties and losses
614 killed
9-51 captured[1] other source states 599 killed and 6 captured [2]		 45 killed
203 wounded
v • d • e
Vietnam War
Ap Bac – Binh Gia – Pleiku – Song Be – Dong Xoai – Starlite – Gang Toi – Ia Drang – Hastings – Masher/White Wing – A Shau – Xa Cam My – Duc Co – Long Tan – Attleboro – Cedar Falls – Tra Binh Dong – Bribie – Junction City – Union – Hill 881 – Union II - Ong Thanh – Dak To – 1st Tet – Khe Sanh – 1st Saigon – Hue – Lang Vei – Lima Site 85 – Kham Duc – Speedy Express – Dewey Canyon – 2nd Tet – Hamburger Hill – Binh Ba – Cambodia – Snuol – FSB Ripcord – Tailwind – Chenla I – Son Tay Raid – Lam Son 719 – Chenla II – Ban Dong – FSB Mary Ann – Easter '72 – 1st Quang Tri – Loc Ninh – An Loc – Kontum – 2nd Quang Tri – Phuoc Long – Ho Chi Minh – Ban Me Thuot – Xuan Loc – Truong Sa – 2nd Saigon – SS Mayagüez
Air operations
Ranch Hand – Pierce Arrow – Barrel Roll – Pony Express – Flaming Dart – Rolling Thunder – Steel Tiger – Arc Light – Tiger Hound – Bolo – Igloo White – Commando Hunt – Menu – Freedom Deal – Linebacker I – Linebacker II – Shed Light

Operation Starlite was the first offensive military action conducted by a purely U.S. military unit during the Vietnam War. The operation was launched based on intelligence provided by Major General Nguyen Chanh Thi, the commander of the South Vietnamese forces in northern I Corps area of South Vietnam. Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt devised a plan to launch a pre-emptive strike against the Viet Cong regiment to nullify the threat on the Chu Lai base.

The operation was conducted as a combined arms assault involving ground, air and naval units. U.S. Marines were deployed by helicopter insertion into the designated landing zone while an amphibious landing was used to deploy other Marines.

Contents

[edit] Background

The operation was originally called Satellite, but a power blackout led to a clerical error and a clerk working by candlelight typed "Starlite" instead.[3]

Vietnamese historians mostly mistake the name of the operation, calling it Anh sang sao which is a translation of Star Light.[4]

[edit] Order of battle

The operation was launched on August 17, 1965, involving 5,500 Marines of the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade. The brigade comprised 2nd Battalion 4th Marines (2/4), 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines (3/3), 3rd Battalion 7th Marines (3/7) and 3rd Battalion 7th Marines (3/7 - from the Special Landing Force and originally a reserve component) in an assault on the Viet Cong base near Van Tuong. The United States Navy's USS Galveston (CLG-3) and USS Cabildo (LSD-16) were available for naval gunfire support and 3rd Battalion 12th Marines was the artillery unit in direct support. USS Vernon County (LST-1161)embarked elements of the 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (Battalion Landing Team) (BLT) 3, under Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Muir, USMC, at Chu Lai, and sailed south along the coast to An Thuong, where she put the troops ashore in one phase of "Starlite."

Viet Cong forces comprised the 1st VC Regiment made up of the 60th and 80th VC Battalions, the 52nd VC Company, and a Company of the 45th VC Weapons Battalion. The total Viet Cong strength was around 1,500 men.

[edit] Battle

Mike Co., 3/3 was designated the blocking force and deployed on August 17, 1965 using LVTs to the operational area. When it landed on the beach, it marched 4 miles (6.5 km) to establish their blocking positions. 3/3 made an amphibious landing and were tasked with driving the Viet Cong towards the 2nd battalion 4th Marines who were to be lifted by helicopter into three landing zones west of Van Tuong. Secrecy was paramount, and no ARVN commander or units were informed of the impending operation.

The Marines met light resistance moving into the attack. Echo Company, 2/4 spotted Viet Cong in the open and called in artillery fire from 3rd Battalion 12th Marines. The artillery barrage was reported to have killed 90 Viet Cong. Hotel Company,2/4 assaulted the 60th VC Battalion who put up a vicious fight. One prisoner was taken and 40 weapons were captured. India Company,3/3 attacked An Cuong after receiving heavy fire from the hamlet and losing their company commander in the engagement.

India Company was ordered to join Kilo and Hotel companies and clean up any opposition but was caught in a crossfire from Nam Yen Dan Hill 30. Hotel Company established a defensive perimeter and were told to await reinforcements. The expected reinforcements were diverted to assist the supply column that was ambushed west of their position. Recoilless rifle fire from the VC positions tore into the 5 LVTs and 3 flame tanks, forcing the Marines to mount a rescue. The Marines were hit by intense mortar and rifle fire and suffered 5 dead and 17 wounded. They called in artillery and air support to suppress the mortar and automatic fire.

The developing engagement necessitated the deployment of Lima Company, 3/7 from the USS Iwo Jima to join India company to assist the ambushed supply column. Come nightfall, the Marines hunkered down into defensive positions. The balance of 3/7's Marines came ashore during the night and the battalion got ready for a morning assault on the Vietnamese positions. When they finally attacked they found the VC unit had fled during the night, though pockets of resistance continued from other Viet Cong soldiers holed up in bunkers and caves. Resistance ceased at nightfall.

[edit] Aftermath

The various Marine units reported killing 614 Viet Cong. Nine prisoners were taken along with forty two suspected guerillas. 109 assorted weapons were seized. However, the 1st VC Regiment was not totally destroyed as hoped by the Marines.

The Marines lost a total of 45 dead and 203 wounded.[5][6] Other sources cite U.S. loses as 54, comprising 52 Marines, a Navy Corpsman and a US Army Major who flew gunship support.[7][8] Corporal Robert E. O'Malley and Lance Corporal Joe C. Paul received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the operation.

Lessons learned from the battle include the knowledge that the daily allotment of 2 gallons of water per man was inadequate in the Vietnam heat and that the M14 Rifle was too bulky for troops cramped into small personnel carriers. The battle was a big psychological boost for U.S. forces as they engaged a Main Force Viet Cong unit and came out victorious.[9]

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Operation Starlite
  2. ^ Still Asset Details for HDSN9902074
  3. ^ Operation Starlite
  4. ^ Bách khoa toàn thư Việt Nam - Bach khoa toan thu Viet Nam - http://www.bachkhoatoanthu.gov.vn
  5. ^ http://www.marzone.com/7thMarines/Hst0101.htm/
  6. ^ Vietnam War > Events >Operation Starlite Begins
  7. ^ Operation Starlite
  8. ^ [1][dead link]
  9. ^ Vets With A Mission

[edit] References

  • Lehrack, Otto (2004). The First Battle - Operation Starlite and the Beginning of the Blood Debt in Vietnam. Havertown, Pennsylvania: Casemate. ISBN 1-93203-327-0. 
  • Simmons, Edwin H. (2003). The United States Marines: A History, Fourth Edition. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-790-5. 
  • Summers, Harry G. Historical Atlas of the Vietnam War. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.