| Operation Jackstay | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theVietnam War | |||||||
 U.S. Marines prepare for an amphibious assault during Operation Jackstay | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States South Vietnam |  Viet Cong | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Captain John D. Westervelt Colonel J. R. Burnett | |||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| 1st Battalion, 5th Marines 2Marine battalions | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 5 killed | USbody count: 63 killed | ||||||
Operation Jackstay was a jointU.S. Marine Corps,U.S. Navy,U.S. Coast Guard andRepublic of Vietnam Marine Division operation in theRung Sat Special Zone,South Vietnam that took place from 26 March to 6 April 1966.
On 26 February 1966, theViet Cong (VC) ambushed SSLorinda, a Panamanian coastal freighter, on the Lòng Tàu River 18 miles (29 km) south ofSaigon, wounding six of the crew and causing the freighter torun aground.Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) decided that a large-scale amphibious raid in the area would be necessary to ease VC pressure on the shipping channel.[1]: 89
Phase 1 of the operation plan called for an amphibious assault on the Long Thành Peninsula (where much of the Rừng Sác's population lived) by the1st Battalion, 5th Marines deployed byUSS Princeton,USS Pickaway,USS Alamo,USS Belle Grove andUSS Merrick.[2] Naval gunfire support would be provided byUSS Robison and fourPCFs and six Coast Guardpatrol boats ofOperation Market Time, while air support would be provided by theUSS Hancock air group.[3][4] Phase 2 would see the Marines moved deeper into the zone. The planners realized that such a small assault force could not eradicate the VC in the zone and the operation was only intended to disrupt VC operations and demonstrate that the Allies could penetrate their safe havens.[1]: 98–9
The operation began on the morning of 26 March with a preliminary bombardment byRobison and aircraft fromHancock. A Marine company then landed from surface craft near Dong Hoa on the western end of the peninsula. Two companies were then landed on the center and eastern end of the peninsula by helicopter encountering only scattered sniper fire. During the first night 21 four–man night observation posts were established. The VC attacked one position with grenades killing 2 Marines and starting a brief firefight that resulted in 3 VC killed.[1]: 100
That same night the VC ambushed PCF-31 1 mile (1.6 km) inland fromCần Giờ on the Long Thanh Peninsula, seriously wounding one crewman and severely damaging the PCF.[1]: 100–1
On 28 March the Marines landed unopposed on theSoài Rạp River. On 31 March following airstrikes from theHancock air group, gunfire fromUSS Henry County andUSS Washoe County andOntos fire from the deck ofHenry County the Marines assaulted the banks of the Vam Sat River, a major VC logistical area linking a VC headquarters with the Soài Rạp. The landing was unopposed and the Marines discovered a VC weapons cache with 18 carbines and 1,000 grenades.[1]: 101
Over the following days the U.S. Marines andSouth Vietnamese Marines conducted three further amphibious assaults into the zone uncovering VC base areas and supplies, but without meeting any serious resistance.[1]: 102
Operation Jackstay concluded on 6 April. 63 Viet Cong and 5 U.S. personnel were killed in the operation. The Marines discovered and destroyed Viet Cong arms factories, training camps, a headquarters complex, and a hospital. Large amounts of rice and supplies were captured, including 60,000 rounds of ammunition and 300 pounds of gunpowder.[1]: 102–3
The operation was regarded as a success in that it disrupted the VC infrastructure in the area and there was a noticeable decline in VC activity throughout the zone following the operation.[1]: 102
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