Second battle of Bàu Bàng

The second battle of Bàu Bàng occurred during the night of 1920 March 1967 during Operation Junction City, a search and destroy mission by American military forces in Tay Ninh Province of South Vietnam, to the west of the capital Saigon.

Second battle of Bau Bang
Part of Operation Junction City, Vietnam War
Date1920 March 1967
Location
Result US victory
Belligerents
 United States Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
Sidney S. Haszard Unknown
Units involved
Troop A, 5th Cavalry Regiment

9th Division

  • Two battalions
Strength
~600
Casualties and losses
3 killed
VC Claim:
400 killed
63 vehicles destroyed
US body count: 227 killed
3 captured

Forces from the Third Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment were entrusted with the securing of Fire Support Base 20, around 1.5 km north of the village of Bàu Bàng. They expected an attack, as the area was a known Viet Cong (VC) stronghold. During the evening of 19 March, elements of the VC 9th Division attacked the base with machine guns, mortars, rockets and small arms fire. Initially, they swarmed over the American armored vehicles, but were dispersed by the vehicles firing on one another, although some of the vehicles were destroyed. With the help of artillery and air strikes, as well as flares and aerial searchlights to spot their enemies, the Americans repelled the Viet Cong. U.S. forces claimed 227 VC killed and captured three, while losing 3 and suffering 63 wounded.

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