Operation Marauder was an operation conducted by the

173rd Airborne Brigade The 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") is an airborne infantry brigade combat team (IBCT) of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy. It is the United States European Command's conventional airborne strategic response force for Eu ...

and the

1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) is a regular motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion of the 34th Brigade (Australia) on Balikpapan in 1945 and sinc ...

(1 RAR) in the Plain of Reeds, Mekong Delta, lasting from 1 to 8 January 1966.

Prelude

The Plain of Reeds had long been used as a base by the

Viet Cong , , war = the Vietnam War , image = FNL Flag.svg , caption = The flag of the Viet Cong, adopted in 1960, is a variation on the flag of North Vietnam. Sometimes the lower stripe was green. , active ...

(VC). Operation Marauder marked the first time that U.S. forces had operated in the area.

Operation

On 1 January 1966

1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment The 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (1–503rd IR) is an active duty airborne infantry battalion in the United States Army, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and stationed in Vicenza, Italy. The battalion has served with ...

, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 1 RAR and C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 319th Artillery Regiment which included 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery, were deployed by air into Ba Tri airfield from Hậu Nghĩa Province. On 2 January 2/503rd landed at Landing Zone Wine () where they were engaged by an entrenched Viet Cong force. After a daylong battle, supported by artillery fire and air support the 2/503rd overran the VC position, finding 111 dead. The remainder of the operation saw only sporadic contact with the VC. On 3 January 1966, two rounds fired by 161 Bty accidentally landed on C Company, 2/503rd killing three paratroopers and wounding seven. The short rounds were found to have happened due to damp powder. The Australians from 1 RAR also were engaged in extensive patrolling activity during the January 2–6 period. They made small, sporadic contact with the enemy in their sector, killing two VC. However, they also found an ammunition cache and several large rice caches. On January 5, one patrol made contact with a VC platoon in the vicinity of Hoa Khanh, but the enemy broke contact and fled. On 6 January the 2/503rd located the abandoned headquarters of the 506th Battalion, recovering arms, ammunition, maps and personnel rosters.

Aftermath

Operation Marauder officially concluded on 8 January with claims of heavy losses having been inflicted on the VC 267th Main Force Battalion and the headquarters of the 506th Battalion.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marauder, Operation Conflicts in 1966 1966 in Vietnam Battles involving the United States Battles of the Vietnam War involving Australia Battles involving Vietnam Battles and operations of the Vietnam War in 1966 History of Đồng Tháp Province History of Long An Province