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Operation Coronado X
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Operation Coronado X
Operation Coronado X was the tenth of the Operation Coronado series of riverine military operations conducted by the U.S. Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) and units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), originally planned as a sweep of western Dinh Tuong Province and eastern Kien Phong Province, however with the outbreak of the Tet Offensive on 31 January 1968 it instead became the MRF reaction to eject Vietcong (VC) forces from Mỹ Tho and Vĩnh Long. It ran from 23 January to 12 February 1968 and resulted in 269 VC killed for the loss of 12 U.S. killed.
Shortly before the beginning of the three-day cease-fire declared by the government of South Vietnam to celebrate Tết, the lunar new year, the MRF was ordered to the western portion of Dinh Tuong Province and the eastern part of Kien Phong Province to attack VC Base Area 470 and to prevent the VC from using communication routes running east and southeast through the area. There had been continuous and credible intelligence reports of VC activity within the area, which was readily accessible to assault craft. The MRF planned to establish bases along the waterways to provide fire support as it had done during Operation Coronado IX in the preceding November and December. The operation began with the movement north by stages of supporting artillery batteries: as each battery moved, an infantry unit was sent ahead to secure the next fire support base. Four bases were established, three of them north along the Rach Ruong Canal from the Mỹ Tho River to an agroville, one of the many agricultural resettlement areas established by former President Ngo Dinh Diem. Three CH-47 helicopters were used to set down the artillery on the agroville site and the battery was ready to fire by 18:00 on 29 January 1968, the beginning of the Tết truce. The fourth base was on Highway 4, about 2 km north of the river. The MRF elements met only sporadic sniper fire on the 29th although the CH-47s were fired upon with .51-caliber machine guns.
The brigade's two battalions, in addition to defending the firebases, actively patrolled the area of operations. Surveillance was aided by the radars mounted on the Assault Support Patrol Boats (ASPBs). At 21:00 on 29 January, 15 rounds of 82mm mortar fire were received at one fire support base without causing casualties or damage. No further VC activity occurred during the remainder of the evening of 29 January and the MRF dispersed to ambush positions to prevent major VC movement.
On 25 January 1968, the senior adviser of IV Corps Major general George S. Eckhardt warned all subordinate elements in IV Corps that during the impending Tết holiday ceasefire period, the VC were expected to resupply and move into position for a post Tết offensive. The warning was based on past experience and recent intelligence reports. At about 10:00 on 30 January, the MRF was informed that the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) had cancelled Tết truce because of VC attacks on towns and cities in the northern three Corps. The MRF was directed to resume offensive operations "with particular attention to the defense of the Headquarters complexes, logistical installations, airfields, population centers and billets." The MRF ordered an increased reconnaissance in force within the original area of operations, but the infantry was directed to operate close to the major waterways to make feasible a rapid move by watercraft towards the population centers. While two companies of the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment remained to provide security for the firebases, the rest of 3rd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment conducted saturation patrolling to the east towards Cái Bè District. At the end of the day, 40 suspects had been detained, 40 bunkers destroyed and several small caches found.
On 31 January the VC attacked 13 of the 16 provincial capitals in the Mekong Delta and captured large sections of Mỹ Tho, Cai Lậy, Bến Tre, Cái Bè and Vĩnh Long. The VC units involved at Mỹ Tho included the 261st, 263rd and 514th Battalions and the 207th Sapper Company, at Vĩnh Long the 306th, 308th and 857th Battalions and local forces, at Cái Bè and Cai Lậy the 261st Main Force Battalion supported by the 530th and 540th District Companies and local forces. The MRF had not found any VC in the populated area along the Rach Ruong, but when they moved to return to the Mỹ Tho River local VC attempted to prevent this. However, the MRF was able to return to their base by 02:20 on 1 February. After less than 4 hours rest, the MRF were ordered to conduct operations in the vicinity of Cái Bè.
When Eckhardt conferred with II Field Force, Vietnam commander Lieutenant general Frederick C. Weyand on the afternoon of 31 January they agreed that Mỹ Tho, Bến Tre and Vĩnh Long City needed urgent assistance. The other regional capitals were doing better. COMUSMACV General William Westmoreland directed Weyand to send whatever elements of the 9th Infantry Division in III Corps that he could spare to join Colonel Burt A. David’s 2nd Brigade and the MRF without delay. Until the crisis passed, Westmoreland placed the augmented MRF under Eckhardt’s tactical command.
Before the Cái Bè landing could be executed, orders were changed by Eckhardt and the MRF was diverted to Mỹ Tho where Allied forces were still heavily engaged. Elements of the two battalions were landed by water craft in Mỹ Tho at 15:20, 1 February. The five major ships of the Mobile Riverine Base moved from Vĩnh Long to Dong Tam Base Camp in order to be in a better position to support operations.
At Mỹ Tho, an estimated 1,200 VC entered the city while another battalion stood in reserve on the outskirts. The only defenders in the city were a squadron of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 6th Armored Cavalry and one battalion of the 11th Infantry Regiment both from the 7th Division, supplemented by Republic of Vietnam Navy River Assault Group (RAG) units and U.S. Navy personnel based in the city. As in most other Tết attacks, this one began with mortar and rocket fire followed by a ground assault led by the sapper company. Once inside Mỹ Tho, the VC vanguard linked up with guerrillas who had infiltrated the city in the days leading up to Tết. These infiltrators served as guides for the main force units, pointing out predetermined targets and fighting positions. Propaganda teams then came in and attempted to win over the local populace to the VC cause.
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Operation Coronado X
Operation Coronado X was the tenth of the Operation Coronado series of riverine military operations conducted by the U.S. Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) and units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), originally planned as a sweep of western Dinh Tuong Province and eastern Kien Phong Province, however with the outbreak of the Tet Offensive on 31 January 1968 it instead became the MRF reaction to eject Vietcong (VC) forces from Mỹ Tho and Vĩnh Long. It ran from 23 January to 12 February 1968 and resulted in 269 VC killed for the loss of 12 U.S. killed.
Shortly before the beginning of the three-day cease-fire declared by the government of South Vietnam to celebrate Tết, the lunar new year, the MRF was ordered to the western portion of Dinh Tuong Province and the eastern part of Kien Phong Province to attack VC Base Area 470 and to prevent the VC from using communication routes running east and southeast through the area. There had been continuous and credible intelligence reports of VC activity within the area, which was readily accessible to assault craft. The MRF planned to establish bases along the waterways to provide fire support as it had done during Operation Coronado IX in the preceding November and December. The operation began with the movement north by stages of supporting artillery batteries: as each battery moved, an infantry unit was sent ahead to secure the next fire support base. Four bases were established, three of them north along the Rach Ruong Canal from the Mỹ Tho River to an agroville, one of the many agricultural resettlement areas established by former President Ngo Dinh Diem. Three CH-47 helicopters were used to set down the artillery on the agroville site and the battery was ready to fire by 18:00 on 29 January 1968, the beginning of the Tết truce. The fourth base was on Highway 4, about 2 km north of the river. The MRF elements met only sporadic sniper fire on the 29th although the CH-47s were fired upon with .51-caliber machine guns.
The brigade's two battalions, in addition to defending the firebases, actively patrolled the area of operations. Surveillance was aided by the radars mounted on the Assault Support Patrol Boats (ASPBs). At 21:00 on 29 January, 15 rounds of 82mm mortar fire were received at one fire support base without causing casualties or damage. No further VC activity occurred during the remainder of the evening of 29 January and the MRF dispersed to ambush positions to prevent major VC movement.
On 25 January 1968, the senior adviser of IV Corps Major general George S. Eckhardt warned all subordinate elements in IV Corps that during the impending Tết holiday ceasefire period, the VC were expected to resupply and move into position for a post Tết offensive. The warning was based on past experience and recent intelligence reports. At about 10:00 on 30 January, the MRF was informed that the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) had cancelled Tết truce because of VC attacks on towns and cities in the northern three Corps. The MRF was directed to resume offensive operations "with particular attention to the defense of the Headquarters complexes, logistical installations, airfields, population centers and billets." The MRF ordered an increased reconnaissance in force within the original area of operations, but the infantry was directed to operate close to the major waterways to make feasible a rapid move by watercraft towards the population centers. While two companies of the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment remained to provide security for the firebases, the rest of 3rd Battalion and the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment conducted saturation patrolling to the east towards Cái Bè District. At the end of the day, 40 suspects had been detained, 40 bunkers destroyed and several small caches found.
On 31 January the VC attacked 13 of the 16 provincial capitals in the Mekong Delta and captured large sections of Mỹ Tho, Cai Lậy, Bến Tre, Cái Bè and Vĩnh Long. The VC units involved at Mỹ Tho included the 261st, 263rd and 514th Battalions and the 207th Sapper Company, at Vĩnh Long the 306th, 308th and 857th Battalions and local forces, at Cái Bè and Cai Lậy the 261st Main Force Battalion supported by the 530th and 540th District Companies and local forces. The MRF had not found any VC in the populated area along the Rach Ruong, but when they moved to return to the Mỹ Tho River local VC attempted to prevent this. However, the MRF was able to return to their base by 02:20 on 1 February. After less than 4 hours rest, the MRF were ordered to conduct operations in the vicinity of Cái Bè.
When Eckhardt conferred with II Field Force, Vietnam commander Lieutenant general Frederick C. Weyand on the afternoon of 31 January they agreed that Mỹ Tho, Bến Tre and Vĩnh Long City needed urgent assistance. The other regional capitals were doing better. COMUSMACV General William Westmoreland directed Weyand to send whatever elements of the 9th Infantry Division in III Corps that he could spare to join Colonel Burt A. David’s 2nd Brigade and the MRF without delay. Until the crisis passed, Westmoreland placed the augmented MRF under Eckhardt’s tactical command.
Before the Cái Bè landing could be executed, orders were changed by Eckhardt and the MRF was diverted to Mỹ Tho where Allied forces were still heavily engaged. Elements of the two battalions were landed by water craft in Mỹ Tho at 15:20, 1 February. The five major ships of the Mobile Riverine Base moved from Vĩnh Long to Dong Tam Base Camp in order to be in a better position to support operations.
At Mỹ Tho, an estimated 1,200 VC entered the city while another battalion stood in reserve on the outskirts. The only defenders in the city were a squadron of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 6th Armored Cavalry and one battalion of the 11th Infantry Regiment both from the 7th Division, supplemented by Republic of Vietnam Navy River Assault Group (RAG) units and U.S. Navy personnel based in the city. As in most other Tết attacks, this one began with mortar and rocket fire followed by a ground assault led by the sapper company. Once inside Mỹ Tho, the VC vanguard linked up with guerrillas who had infiltrated the city in the days leading up to Tết. These infiltrators served as guides for the main force units, pointing out predetermined targets and fighting positions. Propaganda teams then came in and attempted to win over the local populace to the VC cause.