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Operation Sayasila

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148: 1258:. However, with a Royalist casualty list that outnumbered the PAVN opposition, it was a dubious victory. Eight Royalist battalions had been rendered unfit for service. The CIA's Chief of Station in MR 4 believed that the failure of Sayasila resulted from several Royalist weaknesses. He blamed the Royalist regulars for poor battle performance. He believed the new commanding general did not yet have a strong command relationship with his subordinates. He also noted that the extensive slow-paced movements by the Royalists gave the PAVN a lot of time to scout out intelligence about the Royalists. 103: 135: 1141:
failed to synchronize their actions. As a result, the PAVN 9th Regiment could fight them in turn. First, it scattered the four Royalist battalions south of them into the bush, and pushed the two Thai battalions back toward Ban Phakkout. Then it intercepted the four guerrilla battalions five kilometers northwest of Paksong. It struck them so hard the four battalions were evacuated for refitting. By 1 September, the failure of this Royalist offensive was evident.
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the Phou Theveda high ground athwart Route 232, four kilometers east of Paksong. The following day, 12 September, a levy of 670 reinforcements cobbled together from three different commands were flown into a landing zone seven kilometers southeast of Paksong. They attacked northwards to back up GM 32. On 13 September, GM 32 repelled PAVN counterattacks.
935:. The plan was for a two phase operation involving not just troops from Pakse's (MR 4), but also from adjoining Military Region 3 (MR 3). As projected, the Royalist force of 11 battalions numbered 4,000 strong; the opposing three Communist battalions could muster barely 1,100 troops. In phase one, MR 3's 1049:(PAVN) by 08:30. At noon, the Royalists controlled the town. Phase one had been accomplished by the afternoon of 28 July 1971. The PAVN troops had slipped away to attack the Royalist contingent that had landed northwest of Pak Song. They would return on 25 August to defeat this contingent of Royalists. 1170:
At 2330 hours 14 September, forward elements of GM 32 captured Paksong. The PAVN 9th Regiment, threatened from the south, east, and west, withdrew to the northeast along Route 23 on the 15th. A few PAVN soldiers still remained secreted in Paksong for GM 32 to grub out. Seven kilometers from town they
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regulars. The FAN battalions moved up to help the Royalists. There followed a ten-day standoff, ended when the communists brought heavy weapons on line. On 18 August, under heavy weapons fire, the two Neutralist and two Royalist battalions scattered to the southwest. With both prongs of the Royalist
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By 6 August, the Royalists were within six kilometers of their objective. On 11 August, they then ran into determined communist counterattacks that drove the monarchists almost back to their landing zone. On 25 August, the Royalists made another attempt at taking Paksong. They were counterattacked by
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in an attack on 1,100 Vietnamese Communist soldiers. When the assault stalled in mid-August, it was elaborated upon with two additional helilifts of Royalist troops behind the PAVN's mobile garrison. When the Royalist command failed to coordinate tactical movements among its various columns, the PAVN
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was a defensive one, the American ambassador had run counter to policy by approving an offensive drive. This provoked a reaction from his superiors. The short notice request for additional USAF tactical air support had brought about a directive on 18 August that requests for tactical air support for
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The pincer movement of the original Sayasila plan had bogged down after GM 32 took Paksong. It would not progress until 18 October, when the regiment advanced westward from Paksong in response to Communist shelling of the Paksong airstrip. Thai mercenary troops further east on Route 23 pushed toward
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Presented with the choice of making another try at capturing Paksong quickly before the rainy season closed down military activities, or waiting until next dry season, the planners of Sayasila decided to ask for help with the former. They garnered a commitment of 40 or more daily sorties of tactical
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on 2 September. BV 41 occupied the vicinity for more than three weeks, but uncovered few enemy supply caches. At about the time BV 41 was due to be withdrawn, the 927th PAVN Battalion moved in close enough to begin mortaring GM 31. When BV 41 received orders for a fresh offensive instead of relief,
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unit of Commando Raiders secured a landing zone six kilometers east of Paksong. GM 32 landed to be greeted by sniper fire. The Royalist regiment advanced despite a glancing engagement with the PAVN 9th Regiment that caused 33 Royalist casualties. By the next morning GM 32 had secured a position on
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Operation Sayasila ended on 31 October 1971. The Royal Lao Armed Forces suffered 136 of its troops killed during the offensive, and 302 wounded. PAVN losses were estimated at 170. However, the Royalists had won the airstrips at Salavan and Paksong. This cleared the way for two follow-up offensive
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The revamped offensive restarted on 21 August. The drive up Route 23 came up against a PAVN bunker complex blocking the road. While most of the tactical air sorties assigned to the operation struck the bunkers, they failed to dislodge the Communists. The two Royalist columns converging on Paksong
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The original plan of attack was elaborated upon. The new plan called for three Royalist and two Thai mercenary battalions to push down Route 23 toward Vietnam. The push on Paksong would be carried out by a pair of converging columns. Two battalions each of Thai mercenaries, Royalist regulars, and
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clearing the way. By the 13th, all five of the Thai howitzers had been shifted forward to more effective firing positions at Ban Phakkout. Four Thai mercenary infantry battalions pushed toward an agricultural research station along Route 23. They just missed intercepting the retreating 9th PAVN
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three PAVN battalions at 1330 hours. By dark, the scattered Royalist forces had suffered 32 dead, 39 wounded, and 192 missing in action. PAVN casualties were estimated at 100 killed. After this thrashing, the three Royal Lao Army battalions were then ordered south to Ban Phakkout.
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sorties daily. Belatedly, the planners realized that RLAF support would be insufficient. Three days before the operation's scheduled start, they requested and received a commitment for 12 daily sorties of tactical air for the next month. The U.S. Air Force (USAF) would fly
806:(RLG) troops had finally gained their objective, their casualties outnumbered the enemy force they evicted from their objectives. The U.S. government, which was supporting the RLG, placed restrictions on U.S. support aimed at limiting the RLG to defensive efforts. 1082:(BI 4) joined them, bringing the Royalist roster to 1,250 troops available. On 30 July, the combined units moved out to the east; their objective was Paksong at UTM XB3377. Nine kilometers northwest of Paksong, they were halted by a PAVN battalion. 1137:
Neutralists were helicoptered to a landing zone south of Paksong, with orders to capture it. Four battalions of Royalist guerrillas were lifted to another landing zone to assault Paksong from the northwest for a coordinated attack.
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By New Year's Day 1972, although Pak Song remained in Royalist hands, Salavan had been recaptured by the PAVN. The Communists still controlled the eastern Bolovens Plateau as a territorial shield protecting the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
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under contract. Not taken into account was the fact that the Royalist columns were not mutually supportive. General Minh, commander of the PAVN battalions, would use this flaw to defeat the Royalists in detail by using his
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target boxes containing no friendly forces were delineated so radar-directed bombing in them could occur despite unfavorable weather. They also managed to persuade neighboring MR 3 to loan them another guerrilla regiment,
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On 11 September, the Thai mercenary artillery battery opened fire from Ban Gnik, immobilizing the Communists further east on Route 23 with a barrage of 500 shells. GM 32 moved east along the road with
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convinced them to hold their position until 6 October. He promised relief by FAN battalions. When on the day only four FAN companies showed up, the remainder of GM 31 abandoned their positions.
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Regiment. On the 20th, the Thais began a three-day struggle to gain possession of the agricultural research station alongside Route 23. Once it was gained on the 23rd, howitzers were moved in.
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by night. However, USAF support would not be on a dedicated basis; instead it would be diverted as needed. Logistical air support would come from USAF helicopters, RLAF transports, and
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MR 4 had a Thai mercenary task force assigned; it now forwarded four battalions to Ban Phakkout. On 8 August, BI 7 and BI 9 moved further east until they came up against entrenched
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XC5237. Phase two would be a squeeze play; a mobile force would be airlifted to a position northwest of Paksong, while a column probed eastward toward it along Route 23. The
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artillery battery. With tactical air strikes and howitzer fire clearing the way, the Neutralists were in Ban Gnik by evening. However, there they met opposition and halted.
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Three battalions of guerrillas were pulled from training to plug the gap left by the retreating Royalist regulars; a fourth battalion was posted to fill the force out to
1654: 235: 798:, the Operation Sayasila offensive was renewed on 10 September 1971. It took until 20 October for the Royalists to finally capture their objectives of 1266:
a planned operation had to be submitted at least ten days in advance. In reality, the process would take 20 to 30 days. The directive, issued by the
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On 28 August, GM 31 were replaced at Salavan by BV 41. This freed GM 31 to advance 20 kilometers west along Route 16 before moving south to capture
944: 908: 786:(PAVN) garrison, Sayasila was planned as a rather complex two phase operation dependent on coordinating two columns containing 4,400 troops with 888:
center for the communists. Its importance can be measured by the fact that among the many attempts to cut the Trail, the multi-divisional
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to ground the U.S. helicopters. After vigorous protests from the CIA concerning the humiliation of failing to fulfill the King's and the
228: 1154:(GM 32) to continue the assault. Once again, the two objectives were taking Paksong and opening Route 23 towards the Vietnamese border. 221: 669: 1636: 1614: 1225:
GM 32, and the pincers finally met on 20 October. Leaving the Thais in charge of Route 23, GM 32 returned to occupy Paksong.
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9th Regiment moved to defeat Royalist aggressor columns one at a time. By 1 September, this Royalist attack had also failed.
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Bolstered by a fresh regiment of guerrillas as reinforcements, plus support by a minimum of 40 daily U.S. Air Force strike
1105:(FAN) battalions moved east along Route 23 for the squeeze play. They were supported by four armored cars and backed by a 1620:
Hukle, Donald G.; Melvin F. Porter; Paul T. Ringenbach; Richard R. Sexton; Judith A. Skipworth; Adolph H. Zabka. (1974).
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was hesitant to try another attack because of the poor fighting qualities of his troops. However, on 1 July 1971, King
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On 26 October, a Thai mercenary battalion swept south and east of Paksong, reoccupying the Phou Thevada high ground.
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team secured the Salavan airfield in 12 minutes. At 07:00 hours, a 13 helicopter air armada picked up the 1,290 man
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designed to block one of the supply arteries of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Route 23. It would also retake two
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the road. Leaving another contingent in the agricultural research station, the 9th retreated toward
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Another Thai battalion swept northwards from Paksong, occupying the high ground at Phou Nongkin.
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for the half-hour flight to the airfield. Tactical air cover found no worthwhile targets as the
213: 1180: 969: 717: 689: 481: 391: 285: 264: 1078:(BV 43) joined them later that day. After a patch of ill weather delays in flight operations, 1659: 1267: 1163: 981: 889: 872:. Over the next seven years, the Trail expanded to 4,000 miles of road, trail, and waterway. 724: 710: 703: 614: 516: 425: 348: 280: 900: 855: 847: 803: 681: 656: 628: 607: 544: 530: 523: 453: 298: 8: 948: 745: 411: 274: 1592:
At War in the Shadow of Vietnam: U.S. Military Aid to the Royal Lao Government 1955–1975
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The Bolovens Campaign, 28 July – 28 December 1971 (Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report)
1042: 835: 823: 815: 696: 488: 474: 460: 418: 359: 342: 329: 323: 310: 291: 270: 1632: 1610: 1595: 1580: 1282:. These requirements were meant to limit offensives under the guise of coordination. 1262: 1255: 1192: 1176: 1027: 952: 912: 861: 851: 787: 779: 775: 771: 674: 621: 593: 579: 537: 354: 304: 246: 165: 27: 1271: 1124: 1034: 932: 924: 600: 397: 877: 169: 108: 70: 66: 1023: 1007: 986: 973: 940: 839: 799: 770:(26 July 1971—31 October 1971) was a major offensive military operation of the 752: 558: 495: 374: 369: 83: 1648: 1275: 915:
paid a royal visit to Pakse and demanded another offensive. Thus it was that
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Phase two fell to MR 4 troops with support via surveillance overflights by
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had ended in an indecisive standoff, despite heavy Communist casualties.
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air support from the U.S. Air Force for Sayasila through 25 September.
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The War Against Trucks: Aerial Interdiction In Southern Laos 1968–1972
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had suffered almost 1,000 casualties in the past two months in MR 4.
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and deposited 34 kilometers northeastward to the Bolovens Plateau.
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would be airlifted to capture the Pakse 47 airfield southwest of
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GM 31 was moved to a quiet village ten kilometers away. General
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was launched on 8 February 1971 to capture Tchepone.
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Undercover Armies: CIA and Surrogate Warfare in Laos
860:Beginning in 1964, the strategic importance of the 1171:posted a rear guard to fortify a hilltop position 1575:Anthony, Victor B. and Richard R. Sexton (1993). 1646: 1655:Battles and operations of the Laotian Civil War 1057: 1498: 1496: 1401: 1399: 1397: 1395: 1393: 1209:130 soldiers deserted and returned to Pakse. 229: 1516: 1514: 1512: 1510: 1508: 1463: 1461: 1421: 1419: 1417: 1415: 1413: 1411: 1261:Given that the American plan for waging the 1128:offensive thwarted, it was time to regroup. 1605:Conboy, Kenneth and James Morrison (1995). 1486: 1484: 1482: 1493: 1390: 236: 222: 1631:. Air Force History and Museums Program. 1505: 1458: 1408: 1372: 1607:Shadow War: The CIA's Secret War in Laos 1479: 1327: 1045:regiment occupied a town vacated by the 1451: 1449: 1363: 778:. Launched on 26 July 1971 against the 1647: 1270:and agreed to by both the CIA and the 1236: 1228: 1199: 1131: 1096: 1014:. It seems that Secretary of Defense 907:'s (MR 4) Commanding Officer General 217: 1446: 1018:had sent an order down through the 774:. It was staged by command of King 13: 14: 1671: 1579:. Command for Air Force History. 670:1973 Laotian coup d'état attempt 146: 133: 121: 101: 1550: 1541: 1532: 1523: 1470: 1437: 1428: 1381: 1529:Conboy, Morrison, pp. 307–308. 1502:Conboy, Morrison, pp. 306—307. 1455:Conboy, Morrison, pp. 305–306. 1378:Conboy, Morrison, pp. 304–305. 1354: 1345: 1336: 1318: 1309: 1300: 1070:(BV 41) was helilifted out of 1: 1568:Ahern, Thomas L. Jr. (2006), 1562: 1556:Anthony, Sexton, pp. 347–348. 1360:Anthony, Sexton, pp. 346–347. 1219: 1066:. At 09:20 hours on 29 July, 992: 895: 1285: 1058:Heliborne assault on Paksong 1052: 997: 245:Military engagements of the 45:26 July 1971—31 October 1971 7: 1590:Castle, Timothy N. (1993). 1186: 921:Central Intelligence Agency 820:Operation Junction City Jr. 809: 802:and Pak Song. Although the 10: 1676: 1627:Nalty, Bernard C. (2005). 1434:Hukle, et al, pp. 5, 9–10. 1244: 1157: 1103:Forces Armées Neutralistes 1101:Meanwhile, on 30 July two 828:Operation Honorable Dragon 813: 113:Forces Armées Neutralistes 1520:Conboy, Morrison, p. 307. 1467:Conboy, Morrison, p. 306. 1425:Conboy, Morrison, p. 305. 1333:Conboy, Morrison, p. 304. 968:strikes on the communist 868:as its key to conquering 259:North Vietnamese invasion 256: 197: 184: 159: 94: 82:Kingdom of Laos captures 37: 25: 20: 1577:The War in Northern Laos 1405:Anthony, Sexton, p. 347. 1351:Anthony, Sexton, p. 346. 1306:Nalty, pp. 5–7; 149–154. 1294: 1076:Batillion Volontaires 43 1068:Bataillon Volontaires 41 1047:People's Army of Vietnam 1033:Before the next dawn, a 1002:On 26 July 1971, MR 3's 866:People's Army of Vietnam 864:became paramount to the 784:People's Army of Vietnam 387:Battle of Ban Houei Sane 365:1966 Laotian coup d'état 1147:Instrument flight rules 844:Operation Silver Buckle 832:Operation Diamond Arrow 1342:Hukle, et al, pp. 1–5. 1181:Royal Lao Armed Forces 1118:Bataillon Infanterie 9 1114:Bataillon Infanterie 7 1080:Bataillon Infanterie 4 970:lines of communication 392:Battle of Lima Site 85 286:Battle of Luang Namtha 160:Commanders and leaders 1268:Joint Chiefs of Staff 1116:(BI 7) from MR 4 and 1020:Department of Defense 890:Operation Lam Son 719 281:Battle of Ban Pa Dong 198:Casualties and losses 1476:Hukle, et al, p. 13. 1443:Hukle, et al, p. 10. 1315:Castle, pp. 108–109. 1152:Groupement Mobile 32 1004:Groupement Mobile 31 951:(RLAF) would supply 931:while occupying the 901:Operation Phiboonpol 856:Operation Phiboonpol 848:Operation Desert Rat 804:Royal Lao Government 566:Sourisak Montry VIII 1387:Hukle, et al, p. 5. 1237:Operation Phou Xang 1229:Operation Red Arrow 1200:Phase one revisited 1162:On 10 September, a 1132:Regroup and restart 1097:Push along Route 23 955:at the rate of two 949:Royal Lao Air Force 275:Battle of Vientiane 1547:Castle, pp. 2, 55. 989:of communication. 836:Tchepone Operation 824:Operation Maeng Da 816:Operation Left Jab 768:Operation Sayasila 360:Battles of Nakhang 343:1965 Laotian coups 324:1964 Laotian coups 271:1960 Laotian coups 21:Operation Sayasila 1637:978-1-47755-007-6 1615:978-1-58160-535-8 1609:. Paladin Press. 1263:Laotian Civil War 1256:Operation Thao La 1252:Operation Bedrock 1193:close air support 1030:carried the day. 1028:Ho Chi Minh Trail 1012:Military Region 4 953:close air support 913:Sisavang Vatthana 905:Military Region 4 862:Ho Chi Minh Trail 852:Operation Phoutah 788:close air support 780:Ho Chi Minh Trail 776:Sisavang Vatthana 772:Laotian Civil War 762: 761: 405:Junction City Jr. 355:Battle of Nam Bac 305:Battle of Lak Sao 248:Laotian Civil War 212: 211: 166:Sisavang Vatthana 90: 89: 28:Laotian Civil War 1667: 1557: 1554: 1548: 1545: 1539: 1536: 1530: 1527: 1521: 1518: 1503: 1500: 1491: 1488: 1477: 1474: 1468: 1465: 1456: 1453: 1444: 1441: 1435: 1432: 1426: 1423: 1406: 1403: 1388: 1385: 1379: 1376: 1370: 1367: 1361: 1358: 1352: 1349: 1343: 1340: 1334: 1331: 1325: 1322: 1316: 1313: 1307: 1304: 1272:State Department 1125:North Vietnamese 1035:Commando Raiders 933:Bolovens Plateau 925:Bolovens Plateau 782:complex and its 468:Honorable Dragon 251: 249: 238: 231: 224: 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479: 477: 476: 472: 470: 469: 465: 463: 462: 458: 456: 455: 451: 449: 448: 447:Diamond Arrow 444: 442: 441: 437: 435: 434: 430: 428: 427: 423: 421: 420: 416: 414: 413: 409: 407: 406: 402: 400: 399: 395: 393: 390: 388: 385: 383: 382: 378: 376: 373: 371: 368: 366: 363: 361: 358: 356: 353: 351: 350: 346: 344: 341: 339: 338: 334: 332: 331: 327: 325: 322: 320: 319: 315: 313: 312: 308: 306: 303: 301: 300: 296: 294: 293: 289: 287: 284: 282: 279: 276: 272: 269: 267: 266: 262: 261: 260: 255: 250: 239: 234: 232: 227: 225: 220: 219: 216: 207: 202: 201: 196: 192: 189: 188: 183: 179: 177:Phasouk Somly 175: 171: 167: 164: 163: 158: 155: 154:North Vietnam 144: 142: 141:United States 130: 118: 114: 110: 99: 98: 93: 85: 81: 76: 75: 72: 68: 65: 62: 61: 57: 52: 49: 48: 44: 41: 40: 36: 33: 29: 24: 19: 1660:1971 in Laos 1642: 1628: 1621: 1606: 1591: 1576: 1569: 1552: 1543: 1534: 1525: 1472: 1439: 1430: 1383: 1374: 1365: 1356: 1347: 1338: 1329: 1320: 1311: 1302: 1289: 1260: 1248: 1240: 1232: 1223: 1211: 1203: 1190: 1173:overwatching 1169: 1161: 1151: 1143: 1139: 1135: 1122: 1117: 1113: 1111: 1100: 1088: 1084: 1079: 1075: 1067: 1061: 1032: 1016:Melvin Laird 1003: 1001: 966:interdiction 919:Unit of the 899: 859: 793: 767: 766: 751: 744: 737: 730: 723: 718:Pony Express 716: 709: 702: 695: 690:Booster Shot 688: 680: 679: 662: 655: 648: 641: 634: 627: 620: 613: 606: 599: 592: 585: 578: 571: 564: 557: 551: 550: 543: 536: 529: 522: 515: 508: 501: 494: 487: 482:Counterpunch 480: 473: 466: 459: 452: 445: 438: 431: 424: 417: 410: 403: 396: 379: 347: 335: 328: 316: 309: 297: 290: 263: 117:Supported by 116: 95:Belligerents 86:and Pak Song 982:Air America 976:by day and 732:Project 404 725:Tiger Hound 711:Steel Tiger 704:Barrel Roll 615:Strength II 517:Lam Son 719 426:Off Balance 205:302 wounded 77:Territorial 32:Vietnam War 1649:Categories 1563:References 1220:Denouement 1164:pathfinder 1091:regimental 1064:Raven FACs 993:Activities 937:guerrillas 896:Background 814:See also: 657:Maharat II 629:Black Lion 608:Strength I 545:Phiboonpol 524:Desert Rat 454:Snake Eyes 433:About Face 412:Toan Thang 299:Pincushion 203:136 killed 190:Over 4,000 1585:232549943 1286:Aftermath 1053:Phase two 1043:irregular 998:Phase one 929:airstrips 882:logistics 746:Raindance 531:Xien Dong 54:Southern 1206:Lao Ngam 1187:Route 23 1039:regiment 978:gunships 874:Tchepone 810:Overview 697:Millpond 675:Hin Heup 552:Sayasila 489:Tchepone 475:Tailwind 461:Maeng Da 419:Left Jab 381:Sone Pet 330:Triangle 311:Hardnose 292:Momentum 185:Strength 129:Thailand 50:Location 26:Part of 1280:CINCPAC 1250:moves, 1245:Results 1214:Thao Ty 1177:Thateng 1158:Paksong 1008:Salavan 959:and 35 941:Salavan 876:in the 800:Salavan 796:sorties 622:Fa Ngum 594:Maharat 580:Thao La 573:Bedrock 538:Phoutah 265:Hotfoot 174:Thao Ty 84:Salavan 79:changes 1635:  1613:  1598:  1583:  1093:size. 854:, and 601:Sinsay 496:Copper 398:Pigfat 151:  138:  126:  106:  63:Result 1295:Notes 1072:Pakse 972:with 957:AC-47 917:Pakse 337:Unity 193:1,100 1633:ISBN 1611:ISBN 1596:ISBN 1581:OCLC 1278:and 1254:and 961:T-28 884:and 753:Menu 349:Star 318:Wapi 208:~170 69:for 56:Laos 42:Date 1010:in 943:at 650:972 510:74B 440:139 180:N/A 1651:: 1594:. 1507:^ 1495:^ 1481:^ 1460:^ 1448:^ 1410:^ 1392:^ 850:, 846:, 842:, 838:, 834:, 830:, 826:, 822:, 818:, 30:; 1639:. 1617:. 1602:. 1587:. 587:Z 277:) 273:( 237:e 230:t 223:v

Index

Laotian Civil War
Vietnam War
Laos
Pyrrhic victory
Kingdom of Laos
Salavan
Kingdom of Laos
Forces Armées Neutralistes
Thailand
United States
North Vietnam
Sisavang Vatthana
Souvanna Phouma
Thao Ty
v
t
e
Laotian Civil War
North Vietnamese invasion
Hotfoot
1960 Laotian coups
Battle of Vientiane
Battle of Ban Pa Dong
Battle of Luang Namtha
Momentum
Pincushion
Battle of Lak Sao
Hardnose
Wapi
1964 Laotian coups

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