03/16/1969 Sitrep AO RAPIDSTRIKE III

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: S3 Operations, Task Force DIXON, LEE, MASON, STONEWALL & GRANT

To:.  (S3) Operations Col Eyles. 2/502nd. (CO ACTING) 2nd Brigade HQ 101st Division (S2) Intel (S3) Ops 101^st Division HQ

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME:  Time action 03/16/69

Weather

Sunrise: 06:01 hrs

Sunset: 17:26 hrs

Max: 22°c | Min: 20°c

Rain: 18.90 mm

Wind NE. 5 mph Gust 7 mph

Cloud 95%  - Humidity 98%  - Pressure 1009 mb

TF DIXON

-Re supply completed without incident

-Insertion of B Battery 2/319 lifted Completed Received HMG fire area 110 630

-1100 1^st Plt B Co. 1/502^nd Booby trap 045 632 1 WIA RTB

-1700 MORTAR ATTACK From SW.  1 KIA 5 WIA          

TF MASON

Resupply conducted without incident

-2300 Night Ambush N. or perimeter opens up on what turns out to be false contact

.

TF LEE

-1100hrs 3rd Plt Bravo 1/501st    estimated REINFORCED SQUAD 214 604 2 KIA from 11 Co. 1st Battalion, 320th Division NVA. Rest of enemy escape SW, Plt return to FSB LEE           

-2200hrs Night Ambush open fire enemy squad return fire 1 blood trail no bodies, Heading SW. 229 601

-1st Plt B Troop 2/17th Cav to conduct Route patrol N. along Route 344 and Return to FSB LEE, Conducted without incident

TF STONEWALL

FAB Stonewall

-0400hrs RPG ATTACK from S. No cas                  

-1400hrs MORTAR ATTACK  2 WIA 2/17^th Cav                          

-2200hrs Night AMbush S. of FAB Opens fire on suspected enemy, possibly false contact

TF GRANT

-Golf Co & Recon Plt Reinforce DP around 018 808,

-1800hrs ROCKET ATTACK from SW. 1^st Plt 2 WIA      

-2100hrs S. of perimeter, no return fire or sign, probably false contact

-Fox Co. & Bn Mtrs Strengthen DP around 012 807

-2300H MORTAR ATTACK from S. No Cas

389th TFS “SHADOWFAX”

Flew 12 Total sorties delivering Snake & Nape against 2x per co-ordinates

016 794

016 792

015 795.   

018 795

023 796 

022 796 

EYES ONLY

03/16/1969 ORDERS TASK FORCES LEE, STONEWALL & GRANT

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: TYPHOON 6 CYCLONE 6 

To:.  Task Force LEE, Task Force STONEWALL, TAskForce GRANT

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME:  Time action 03/16/69

Weather

Sunrise: 06:01 hrs

Sunset: 17:26 hrs

Max: 22°c | Min: 20°c

Rain: 18.90 mm

Wind NE. 5 mph Gust 7 mph

Cloud 95%  - Humidity 98%  - Pressure 1009 mb

TF LEE

Units to Prepare for ground operations in coming days. Rotate Stand to of perimeter units, send out Daylight Perimeter patrols, OP, and Night LPs and Ambushes

3rd Plt Bravo 1/501st Patrol back to FSB LEE from 190 591        

1^st Plt B Troop 2/17^th Cav to conduct Route patrol N. along Route 344 and Return to FSB LEE

TF STONEWALL

Units to Prepare for ground operations in coming days. Rotate Stand to of perimeter units, send out Daylight Perimeter patrols, OP, and Night LPs and Ambushes

TF GRANT

Golf Co & Recon Plt Hold current Position around 018 808,

Fox Co. & Bn Mtrs Hold current position around012 807

Improve defensive perimeter and rest and reorganise in preparation for further ground operations in coming days Rotate Stand to of perimeter units, send out Daylight Perimeter patrols, OP, and Night LPs and Ambushes

389^th TFS SHADOWFAX

Request to conduct airstrike against enemy bunker locations. Coordinates below;

016 794

016 792

015 795.   

018 795

023 796  

022 796  

NOTE:- resupply to FSB's every three days unless requested before. 105mm munitions resupply to consist of HE general purpose, WP and M546 (A PERS-T) BEEHIVE rounds.

       EYES ONLY 

03/16/1969 Redesignation 2nd Squadron 17th Cav, from Armd to Air

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

From:       Division HQ., Operations

To:.         Col Eyles. 2/502nd. (CO ACTING) 2nd Brigade HQ 101st Division (S2) Intel (S3) Ops

           

DATE/TIME: 03/16/69

RE: Resignation 2/17^th Cav Armored to Air

As part of the ongoing transition of the Division from Airborne to Airmobile, the 2^nd Squadron 17^th Cav, is transition from Armored Cav to Air Cav.

This will entail retraining personnel, and re-equipping units.

One of the Squadron Armored Troops will become the Air squadrons D Troop Armored and The Current D Troop Air will become C Troop..

With 2^nd Squadron units involved in the AO of Rapidstrike III, Units will be released at your first convenience.

If your operational requirements are for further Air Cav units while 2/17^th are undergoing retraining the slack can be taken up by 7/17^th Units.

If you need further Armored Cav units, The Division will seek to provide them.

Also be advised that if the removal of armored units unduly affects your ability to secure the Operational objectives within the AO. Then II Corps have notified that this command that additional ground unit’s may be provided

101^st Division HQ

PP Gen. Melvin Zias

Officer Commanding

EYES ONLY

03/16/1969 Orders Task Force Dixon & Mason

CLASSIFIED

YOK NAM LOA MASSIF AREA

From: (S3) Operations Col Eyles. 2/502nd. (CO ACTING) 2nd Brigade HQ 101st Division

To:.  (S2) Intel (S3) Ops 101^st Division HQ, TF Dixon, TF Mason. 158th AH Bn, 159th ASH Bn, 478th HHC, 160th Aviation Group

Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III -

DATE/TIME: 03/07/1969 issued Time action 03/16/69

Sunrise: 06:01 hrs

Sunset: 17:26 hrs

Max: 22°c | Min: 20°c

Rain: 18.90 mm

Wind NE. 5 mph Gust 7 mph

Cloud 95%  - Humidity 98%  - Pressure 1009 mb

TF DIXON

0800. 1^st Plt B Co. “Lancers” 158^th Assault Helicopter Bn Start Resupply of ammunition, (small arms) food and comforts to FSB DIXON. 6hr duration.

10:00hrs, duration of lift 6hrs arrive \Begin arriving LZ DIXON 12:30hrs

10:00hrs B Battery 2/319 lifted by 1^st Plt  B Co. “Varsity”, 159^th Assault Support Helicopter Bn. “Liftmaster” (Personnel) and artillery by 478^th Hevey Helicopter Company “Hurricanes” CALLSIGN: UHAUL five four.

At LZ DIXON 12:30hrs to establish FSB DIXON

Elements of 1/502nd at FSB DIXON to rotate Stand To status. Night patrols, LP's and ambushes 2km radius from Base.

TF MASON

Start 0800. 1st Plt B Co. – “Lancers” 158^th Assault Helicopter Bn fly Resupply of ammunition, (small arms) food and comforts to FSB MASON 6hr duration.

1/42nd rotate Stand To status. Night patrols, LP's and ambushes 2km radius from MASON

NOTE:- resupply to FSB's every three days unless requested before. 105mm munitions resupply to consist of HE general purpose, WP and M546 (A PERS-T) BEEHIVE rounds.

                 EYES ONLY