161200H November 1967

Operation Order 23-67 (Operation Cove)

Ref:     (a)        Maps: Viet Nam, 1:50,000 AMS L7014, Sheets 6541 I and 6541 II.

             (b)        4^th Marines Operation Order 55-67.

Time Zone:            H

Task Organization.

1^st Bn (-) (rein) 4^th Mar                                                      LtCol            E.A.  Deptula

                        1^st Tm, Co A, 3^rd SP Bn

                       H&S Co (-)                                                        1^st Lt            Fagersten

                       Co A (rein)                                                        Capt            Thompson

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO Tm)

                        Det, HQ Co, 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, 81mm Mortar Plt (FO Tm)

                                    Det, Med Plt

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    FAC Team

            Co B (rein)                                                                      Capt            Wirsching

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO TM)

                        Det, HQ Co 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, 81mm Mortar Plt (FO Tm)

                                    Det, Med Plt

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    FAC Team

            Co D (rein)                                                                     Capt             Weede

                        Det, 3^rd Bn 12^th Mar (FO Tm)

                        Det, HQ Co, 4^th Mar (Sniper Tm)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, 81mm Mortar Plt (FO TM)

                                    Det, Med Plt

                                    Det, Comm Plt

                                    FAC Team

1. Situation.
2. Enemy forces.

(1)               Current INTSUMS (PASEP)

1. Friendly forces.

(1)               4^th Marines continues operations to destroy VC/NVA and guerrilla forces.

(2)               2^nd Bn 26^th Marines provided blocking force to north of 1^st Bn 4^th Marines OA.

(3)               1^st MAW provides fixed wing and helo support.  One hour fixed wing prep scheduled.

(4)               Naval gunfire:  one DD (5” 54) in GS of 4^th Marines).

(5)               Artillery

           (a)         3^rd Bn 12^th Marines, in DS of 4^th Marines.

           (b)         4^th Bn 12^th Marines, in GS/Rein.

(6)               Plt, Co B, 3^rd Engr Bn, DS 1^st Bn (-) 4^th Marines.

1. Attachments and Detachments.  See Task Organization.
2. Mission.  1^st Battalion (-) 4^th Marines commencing L-hour.  D-day will conduct search and destroy operations in assigned operating area in the vicinity of Phu Loc to capture/destroy enemy logistic caches, installations and materials, obtain intelligence and kill or capture enemy personnel.
3. Execution.
4. Concept of Operations.

(1)               Phase I.  On D-1 day, 1^st Bn (-) 4^th Marines moves by truck convoy to staging area in vicinity Phu Bai Airfield.  At L-hour on D-day 1^st Bn (-) 4^th Marines lands 3 companies in LZ Falcon by helicopter.  After securing LZ, 2 Companies and Command Group conduct search and destroy operations toward Regimental Objective A and one Company conducts search and destroy operations toward Regimental Objective C.  On order, sweep NW toward blocking positions D and E.  Be prepared to continue Phase II on order.

(2)               Phase II.  To be issued upon receipt Frag Order from higher headquarters.

1. H&S Co.

(1)               On order on D-1 day move to Phu Bai staging area by truck convoy.  On order move 81mm mortars platoon to Blocking Position E to provide GS to 1^st Bn (-) 4^th Mar.

(2)               Provide control/Comm personnel as necessary.

(3)               Provide one squad (rein) as CP security.

1. Company A (rein)

(1)               On order on D-1 day move to Phu Bai staging area by truck convoy.  At L-hour on D-day land by helicopter in LZ Falcon.  Conduct Search and Destroy operations along designated axis toward Battalion Objective 1 and Regimental Objective A.  On order continue search and destroy operations toward Battalion Objective 3.  On order conduct search and destroy operations in designated zoned toward blocking Position E.   Be prepared to continue Phase II on order.

1. Company B (rein)

(1)               On order on D-1 day move to Phu Bai staging area by truck convoy.   At L-hour on D-day land by helo in LZ Falcon, secure LZ and conduct search and destroy operations along designated axis toward Battalion Objective 2 and Regimental Objective C.  On order, conduct search and destroy operations toward Regimental Objective A.  On order conduct search and destroy operations in designated zone toward blocking position E.   Be prepared to continue Phase II on order.

1. Company D (rein)

(1)               On order on D-1 day move by truck convoy to Phu Bai staging area.   At L-hour on D-day land in LZ Falcon.  Follow in trace of Company A to Regimental Objective A.  On order conduct search and destroy operations along designated axis toward Regimental Objective B.  On order conduct search and destroy operations in designated zone toward blocking position D and E.  Be prepared to conduct Phase II on order.

1. Coordinating Instructions.

(1)               Unclassified Code Name: Cove

(2)               D-day:

          (a)         Phase I: 18 November 1967

          (b)         Phase II: 23 November 1967 (tentative)

(3)               L-hour: 0900H

(4)               Time of Departure Camp Evans: 171300H

(5)               In the event helicopters are unavailable due to weather conditions, after 24 hours postponement in the Phu Bai staging area, move to vicinity of LZ Falcon by surface means and conduct operations as planned.

(6)               RCA use authorized.

(7)               Absolute maximum dispersion of personnel at all times.  Maintain no more than visual/audible contact between individuals when moving in canopy of close terrain where possibility of ambush greatly increased.  Flank security mandatory whenever possible.  Recon by artillery/mortar fire along flanks of route of advance in particularly heavy canopy to provide moving envelope in which troops can advance and from which they can attack.  Night positions employ maximum LP’s, minimum illumination.

(8)              Maximum use of supporting arms fires with emphasis on observed fire and preparation fires directed.

(9)             Submit position reports hourly when moving.

(10)          Submit spot reports on occurrence IAW standard format.

(11)          Adhere strictly to rules of engagement.

(12)          Report by fastest means available all enemy contacts.

(13)          Caution friendly forces on mines and booby traps.

(14)          Do not destroy captured food, medicines or materials.  Report their location and await instructions.

(15)          Report POW’s and detainees to Bn CP and await instructions.

(16)          Thrust Points:         Alfa                        ZC 0599

                                                        Bravo                     ZD 0101*

                                                       Charlie                   ZC 0998

                                                      Delta                      ZC 1399

(17)          Operation terminates on order of this Headquarters.

4. Administration and Logistics.
5. Supply.

(1)               Primary source in LSA located at Phu Bai.

(2)               Medical supplies: primary source is BAS.

1. Prescribed Loads.  As prescribed by Company Commander to include:

(1)               Minimum of two days Class I and V.  Ensure that adequate quantities of salt and halazone tablets are carried by all personnel.

(2)               One (1) 60 ft rope per rifle squad.

(3)               One (1) CS grenade per squad.

(4)               One (1) block C-4 per fire team.

(5)               One (1) rubber air mattress per squad.

(6)               One (1) nylon stretcher per squad.

(7)               One (1) probing device per fire team.

(8)               All available machetes.

1. Uniform and Equipment.  As prescribed by Company Commanders to include flak jackets, helmets and ID tags.
2. Resupply.

(1)               Resupply will be by helicopter.

(2)               1^st Team, Company A, 3^rd Shore Party Battalion will relay all resupply requests over the HST Log Net to the LSA.

(3)               All resupply requests will be submitted to the Bn S-4 by 0900H the morning of the day preceding the resupply.  Resupply requests will include a full description of the LZ to include surrounding terrain and height of canopy.

(4)               Six (6) Otters will be available at the LSA for resupply.

1. Hospitalization and Evacuation.

(1)               Primary means of evacuation will be by helicopter to Co A, 3^rd Med Bn.

(2)               Helo evacuation in accordance with standard procedure.

(3)               BAS will be established in the vicinity of the Battalion CP.  BAS will handle all casualties in the event that helo med evac is not possible.

1. Service.

(1)               Engr LZ clearance teams with engineer and tunnel teams will be on standby at LSA.

5. Command and Communications/Electronics
6. Command Posts.  Report positions of all CP’s when established.
7. Visual signals.  (All platoons carry colored smoke and air panels)

(1)            White                           Enemy Positions

(2)            Red                               Not secure/not safe to land

(3)            Violet/Green            Secure/Safe to

(4)            Yellow                        Friendly positions

1. Frequencies and Call signs.

(1)               See 1^st Bn 4^th Marines COI

1. Wire.

(1)               Wire and sound power phones will be available for CP security.

1. Message Center.

(1)               Each operator will carry an initial supply of 5 days KAC-PX and KAC-PX sheets.

(2)               One message center man will carry an additional 5 days’ supply to be issued on order.

This page last corrected 29 August 2011