CLASSIFIED
RE: Operation RAPIDSTRIKE III
From: S3 Operations, 2nd
Brigade HQ, 101st Division
To Battalion Commanders 1/501,
2/501, 2/502. 1/42 ARVN and attached assets.
02/22/1969
local weather 21* Light Rain, light Breeze (2mph) daylight 06:00 - 18:00hrs
1st
Battalion 501st Infantry Co, Lieutenant Colonel Lewis. Call sign CYCLONE
2nd
Battalion 501st Infantry Co, Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell Call sign TYPHOON
2nd
Battalion 502nd Infantry Co, Lieutenant Colonel Eyles Call sign HURRICANE
1st
Battalion 42nd infantry ARVN, Colonel Lu Yong Dat call sign GALE
OVERVIEW
General objectives of operation
RAPIDSTRIKE III.
In
the post Tet Offensive of last year it has been felt that certain areas of
South Vietnam have been left unoccupied by allied forces and that the passage
of NVA troops along with operations by local VC elements has gone unchecked.
This is about to change. The task of countering this unacceptable situation has
fallen to this enhanced Brigade. You will have seen from your initial briefings
that the AO covers approximately 150 square miles of mainly heavy forested and
hilly terrain. While this might suit our enemy, with far superior fire power
and determination, we will turn this to our advantage.
It
is our task to get on the ground and proactively hunt and destroy all enemy
elements passing through the K14 area; find and destroy all stockpiles of
weapons and supplies; hunt down VC/ NVA cadre and stop their operation and
establish total control of this area. It is also hoped that the operation will
give confidence to our ARVN partners during the start of the planned handover.
It will also allowing them to forge a strong and lasting relationship with the
local populace.
This
operation is broken down into certain phases culminating in a forced contact
with a large number of enemy on a ground of our choosing where we can bring to
bear our superior firepower and troop numbers, completely eradicating the enemy
from K14.
Phase one:
Planning
and briefing stage. Element preparation. Resupply. All ground units.
Operations
will start with a systematic TAC Air reconnaissance of the area. They will fly
12 recce flights over the first two days, reporting directly back to Brigade
HQ.
During
this recon flight phase, 6# LRRP teams will be inserted into the AO with
specific instructions of identifying transit routes of the enemy, find and
destroy enemy caches and eliminating cadre personnel operating in the area.
LRRP
Company FOXTROT 58th Infantry LRRP
attached. 1/501, 2/501, 1/502
Operational
priorities and parameters as follows. To patrol given AO (4km Square) to
identify routes of passage by the enemy and assess use of artillery assets to
counter this movement. Contact of large groups of NVA/VC is to be avoided.
Friendly contact should be made with local tribes where possible to gain information
in regard to enemy movements and strengths. The locating and destroying of
enemy supplies and stockpiles of food and munitions. The locating of SU 23-2
and DShK anti-aircraft sites is also a priority. These site should be destroyed
by HE from FSB DIXON, MASON or UNION or from company size elements if close by.
Exemption from the rules of engagement are for NVA/VC Cadre Teams in your AO.
These must be eliminated with extreme prejudice. Each of the Battalions of the
501st and Battalion of the 502nd will take direct control and support for 2#
teams.
This
follows
Teams
2-6 call sign CYCLONE 2 & 6 respectively attached to 1/501st
Teams
7-12 call sign TYPHOON 7-12 respectively attached to 2/501st
Teams
21-23 call sign HURRICANE 21-23 respectively attached to 2/502nd
LRRP
insertion points
Team
2 coordinates (8140-13672)
Team
6 (8124-13598)
Team
7 (8092-13822)
Team
12 (8088-13733)
Team
23 (8074-13668)
Team
21 (8004-13688)
Estimated
8day cycle for searching 4km square area. Then evac to FSB for three day rest
resupply and planning.
Phase Two:
Based
on Intel from LRRP and TAC Air reconnaissance, Battalion maneuvers will begin
to place the task force into positions were Forward Operational Bases can be
established with interlocking fire support and patrolling of the AO can begin.
LRRP teams withdrawn to home base to await reassignment to assist in K14
operations.
Bravo and Delta companies of the
1/501st,
HQ & B Battery 2/319th,
B Troop 2/17th, and
7/17th
Will
move North into K14 along highway 344 and establish a FSB (LEE) at the old
French airstrip at Boon Tsuk.
Once
this artillery cover is in place, Bravo and Delta Battalions of 1/501st along
with elements of B Troop 2/17th will patrol further up H344 and establish a roadblock
and ambush site at 190-665. This will act as security for a platoon of 326th
Engineering Battalion to construct a river crossing at 196-665 once they have
finished at Boon Tsuk.
A
Daisycutter order issued for FSB (MASON) 209-743
HQ, A,B and Motar Platoon 1/42nd
airlifted
in along the line of the Ea krongkno river to secure the FSB MASON area
followed by a platoon of 326th and A Battery 2/319 to establish FSB MASON.
B
Company and Mortar Platoon 1/42nd to patrol North after FSB is under control to
215-756 to create a defensive position on the ridge of Chu Bong Kran (hill 656)
covering both the bend in the river to the north and the valley between them
and FSB MASON.
C
Company 1/42nd ARVN will enter the AO along the now secure H344, crossing at the
new river crossing at Don Bao An and patrol up into the range South of FSB
MASON to search for enemy routes and offer a screen to the south of FSB MASON.
HQ, Alpha, Charlie, Recon Plt, and
Mortar Plt, 1/501st,
passing through FSB LEE and up the now secure H344 to meet up with Bravo &
Delta Companies at the road checkpoint (190-665). Bravo Company to return to
FSB LEE as base security. The rest of the Battalion to patrol to the southwest
along the ridges of Y Agne and Yok N Glan. Leaving B Troop 2/17th to guard the
new river crossing and H344 checkpoint.
Traveling
along the East - West highway 427 at the North of K14, Hotel Company 2/501st,
Squadron HQ, A, D, & C Troop 2/17th will leave H427 north of grid 82 and
aggressively manoeuvre onto the plain area with the intention of establishing a
Forward Armour Base (FAB STONEWALL)
around the Chu Rluk nipple. Once established, A Troop 2/17th will patrol
southwest to the area north of the lake Ea Sno (55-77) to form a blocking
force. C Troop 2/17th and Hotel Company 2/501st to search the high ground of
Chu K Plung (20&21-77) and establish a defensive base. C Troop to continue
to patrol the plain area.
Once
established, D Troop 2/17th to move to meet Fox, Golf, HQ, Recon Plt, Motar Plt
2/501st travelling in Brigade transport West along H427 and escort them to Dak
Sor (020-813) D Troop returns to FAB STONEWALL ASAP back along H427. 2/501st will leave the
road and patrol South to Yok N Krach (020-791 hill 641) They will establish a
secure area and perimeter for the Airlift of a platoon of the 326th and then C
Battery 2/319 establishing FSB GRANT. Echo Company 2/501st to remain at home
base and await deployment.
Orders
for an ARCLIGHT B52 strike will be issued on Yak Tjout (040-628 hill ) on a
highly wooded area in preparation for the landing of B, C, D, Company 2/502nd
by airlift to secure the site for a Platoon of 326th and B Battery 2/319th
constructing FSB (DIXON) this airlift will travel north into the AO along H344
until it gets to FSB LEE where it will turn due West and fly to 8040-13627
(Hill 855 Yok Tjout Massive) on arrival, C Company will patrol Southwest along
the ridge line to 025-618 (hill1026) A Company 2/502nd to await orders and not
deployed.
Phase three:
A
period of search and destroy begins with details to be confirmed at a future
point by Battalion commanders. LRRP teams will be rotated into AO at discretion
of Battalion CO's. Ambushes, company size contact and fire missions used to
stop enemy movement through the K14 AO.
The
intention of the operation will be for 1/501st & 2/502nd to push the enemy
north and the 2/501st to block the enemy and drive them East away from the
boarder, collapsing around their rear forcing them into the 2/17th fixed
position and killing ground of the Chu Dang Kach covered by both FSB MASON and
GRANT. 1/42 ARVN will act as a blocking force for enemy egress further to the
East.
EYES ONLY
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