Operation Elk Canyon was a search and clear operation during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

near Khâm Đức, Quảng Tín Province, that took place from 12 July to 29 September 1970.

Background

Since the loss of Khâm Đức to the

People's Army of Vietnam The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; vi, Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam, QĐNDVN), also recognized as the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) or the Vietnamese Army (), is the military force of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the armed wi ...

(PAVN) during the

Battle of Kham Duc The Battle of Kham Duc was a major battle of the Vietnam War. The event occurred in Khâm Đức, now district capital of Khâm Đức District, then in Quảng Tín Province (now part of Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam), from 10–12 May 196 ...

from 10–12 May 1968, the PAVN had used the area as a base for operations in Quảng Tín Province. It was decided that US forces should sweep the area to disrupt the PAVN logistics buildup and forestall a PAVN offensive in the autumn and winter.

Operation

On 12 July 1970 elements of the

196th Infantry Brigade The 196th Infantry Brigade ("Chargers"), also known as the Charger Brigade was first formed on 24 June 1921 as part of the United States Army Reserve's 98th Division with the responsibility of training soldiers. World War II During World War II ...

launched the operation by securing Khâm Đức airfield. After securing the airfield and establishing a firebase for A Battery, 1st Battalion, 82nd Artillery there, the 196th Infantry proceeded to patrol the surrounding area meeting limited opposition, while suffering several casualties in small skirmishes and mortar attacks. While they occupied Khâm Đức U.S. forces conducted searches for the remains of the Americans missing in the battle two years earlier. The operation concluded on 26 August with the US forces evacuated by helicopter to Landing Zone Judy (), 32km to the southeast. As one of the CH-47s (#67-18445) carrying personnel and munitions came in for landing at Judy it was hit by PAVN fire and crashed in flames killing 30 onboard and 1 soldier on the ground. Operation Elk Canyon II began on 26 August and continued until 19 September. Its objective was to disrupt the PAVN's Dak Rose supply route.

Aftermath

US losses were 37 killed while PAVN losses were 107 killed and 1 captured.

References

1970 in Vietnam Elk Canyon Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1970 History of Quảng Nam province {{Vietnam-war-stub