Batangan Peninsula is a peninsula in Vietnam. It is located in Quảng Ngãi Province, northeast of Quảng Ngãi and 32 km south of Chu Lai. The Peninsula was, for years, a rich and productive agricultural region encompassing approximately 48 square km of flat, fertile farmland and rolling hills.
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Since 1963 the Vietcong converted the Peninsula into a fortified stronghold. Following the conclusion of Operation Starlite, on 24 August 1965, Marine intelligence concluded that the 1st VC Regiment had withdrawn into the Peninsula. Reconnaissance photos of the Peninsula showed a V of older field fortifications pointing inland with the open end to the sea and a new second V further inland under construction.[1]
The Marines decided to launch Operation Piranha against the Peninsula. The plan of operations was for BLT 1st Battalion, 7th Marines to land across White Beach north of the Peninsula and push south, while 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, would be helilifted in by MAG-16 to set up blocking positions 4 km inland. 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines would remain available as a floating reserve. ARVN 2d Battalion, 4th Regiment and the 3rd Vietnamese Marine Battalion would be helilifted into the south of 3/7 Marines to clear and search the An Ky Peninsula.[2] The operation was launched on 7 September 1965, the amphibious landing was unopposed, while the landing of the ARVN force received some minor ground fire. On 8 September, Company B 1/7 Marines discovered a VC field hospital in a large cave near the center of the Peninsula. The Marines captured four prisoners, but then came under fire from other VC in the cave. The Marines returned the fire and attempted to convince the VC to surrender. Marine engineers then placed explosives in the cave. After the detonation, the Marines counted 66 VC dead inside. By the conclusion of the operation on 10 September, 178 VC had been killed and 360 enemy and suspected enemy had been captured. Allied losses were two Marines and five South Vietnamese killed,[3] The operation however failed to wipe out the 1st VC Regiment, villagers told the Marines that Vietcong units had been in the area but had left, some less than 24 hours before Operation Piranha had commenced. Intelligence reports later indicated that the 1st VC Regiment began leaving the peninsula on 4 September, coinciding with the increased movement of the amphibious ships at Chu Lai.[4] The Peninsula later became part of the Tactical Area of Responsibility of the Korean 2nd Marine Brigade in 1966 and then the Americal Division, however despite periodic operations the area remained a Vietcong stronghold.
Operation Bold Mariner was launched against the Peninsula on 13 January 1969. At this time the peninsula was believed to be supporting elements of the 38th VC Main Force Regiment, the 48th VC Local Force Battalion, P-31st Local Force Company and C-95th Sapper Company all of which posed a threat to Quang Ngai City and allied forces in the area. BLT 2/26 Marines and BLT 3/26 assaulted the north of the peninsula by helicopter and landing craft while the Americal Division’s Task Force Cooksey, composed of elements of the 46th Infantry Regiment and 1st Cavalry and the ARVN 2nd Division launched Operation Russell Beach to seal off the southern boundary. Once ashore the Marines linked up with the Army force and then pushed east forcing the VC towards the sea. The Marines encountered extensive networks of mines, booby-traps and fortifications. On 19 January 2/26 Marines captured 56 Vietnamese of military age, under interrogation they were found to be members of the C-95th Sapper Company. The Marines evacuated numerous civilians for screening, eventually totaling some 11,900 people.[5] Following the conclusion of the assault phase, Operation Russell Beach continued with Marine combined action teams, the 46th Infantry Regiment and the ARVN 6th Regiment operating to cleanse the peninsula of VC/NVA. The population was largely removed from the peninsula during the assault phase and a clear and search operation was followed by the construction of new roads and hamlets. The population was allowed to return in April 1969 together with South Vietnamese government institutions[6] In March 1970, a patrol from the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment walked into a minefield on the Peninsula. The battalion commander, LT COL Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. flew in in his command helicopter and walked into the minefield to rescue a wounded soldier.[7]
The village of My Lai, scene of the My Lai Massacre is situated to the southwest of the Peninsula.