2 February 1966

Operation Order 005-66 (Operation DEAD END)

 

Ref:  (a)           Map: Viet Nam, 1:50,000 AMS L701 Series Sheet 6757 III

           (b)              Battalion Operation Order 222-65

Time Zone:            H

Task Organization:

            1^st Battalion (-), 4^th Marines                 LtCol            SULLIVAN

                        Command Group (-)

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, Comm Plat

            Company D (rein)                                        1^st Lt            ALBRECHT

                        Company D

                                    Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, Comm Plat

                                    Det, Med Plat

                        Det, HQ Btry, 1/11

                        ARVN LnO

            Company M (-) (rein)                                    1^st Lt        BRAUDE

                        Company M

                        Det, H&S Co

                                    Det, Comm Plat

                                    Det, Med Plat

                        Interpreter

            Battalion Reserve                                           1^st Lt            HENDERSON

                        Platoon (rein), Company C

                                    Det, H&S Co

                                                Det, Comm Plat

                                                Det, Med Plat

1. Situation.
2. Enemy forces.  Element of a local guerrilla company, (A-19 or A-21) are known to operate between the Ky Khuong Peninsula (BT 4410) and the Hill 22 area (BT 4209), collecting taxes, establishing roadblocks and in general terrorizing the local inhabitants.
3. Friendly forces.

(1)               Rear elements of the 1^st Battalion continue to defend the 1^st and 2^nd Battalion’s TAOR within the 1^st Marines TAOR.

(2)               Battalion Artillery Group continues artillery support as requested.

(3)               FMAW provide CAS as Requested.

(4)               LY TIN District Headquarters provided two RF platoons and two PF platoons in support of the operation.

(5)               Vietnamese Coastal Defense Fleet 15 provides a waterborne blocking force to the north and east of the Ky Khuong Peninsula (BT 4410).

(6)               FLSU #1 provides transportation as requested.

(7)               Company A, 1^st AmTrac Battalion provides LVTs as requested.

(8)               Company A, 1^st Tank Battalion provides one platoon of Tanks to act as a part of the blocking force.

(9)               Company B, 3^rd AT Battalion provides one platoon of Ontos to act as a part of the blocking force.

(10)          Company B, 3^rd Engineers provides engineer support as requested.

1. Attachment and Detachment.  None
2. Mission.  1^st Battalion, 4^th Marines with the assistance of Ly Tin District forces conducts a coordinated search and clear operation to seek out and destroy the Viet Cong insurgents on the Ky Khuong Peninsula.
3. Execution.
4. Concept of operation.  The 1^st Battalion, 4^th Marines lands at H-hour with one rifle company (-) by LVT on Blue Beach and establishes blocking positions along the entire northern coastline.  At the same time one rifle company (-) arrives by motorized convoy and establish blocking positions along National Route #1 (BT 430109) to 450089).  At H-hour+5 minutes one rifle platoon moves up Route #1 by armored convoy and established blocking positions parallel to the positions occupied by the rifle company.  At H+3½ hours the rifle company moves from Route #1 with two PF platoons and commences a search and clear operation northeast along its designated axis of advance.  Upon link up with the company blocking force on Blue Beach, and upon completion of the march of the tide lands (BT 4312, 4411, and 4511) the Battalion (-) reverses course and resweep the peninsula to the southwest to National Route #1.  Upon completion of the operation the Battalion returns by foot march to its forward CP.
5. Company D (rein).

(1)               Commence withdrawal from defensive positions on the Hill 69 complex at H minus 1 hour.

(2)               Embark aboard trucks located in the MT area at H minus 30 minutes.

(3)               Commence motor march to initial blocking positions by H minus 15 minutes.

(4)               Upon arrival at blocking position debark and assume defensive positions on the northeast side of National Route #1.

(5)               At H-minus 45 minutes one platoon embarks aboard the platoon of tanks and proceeds to the blocking position along Route #1 to arrive at H+5 minutes and assumes protective/defensive positions along the route and blocking positions upon commencement of the company (-) sweep of the peninsula.

(6)               At H+3 hours be prepared to receive two platoons of PF from Ly Tin District Headquarters.

(7)               At H+3½ hours cross the LD and commence search and clear operations

(8)               Upon link up with Company M at PL WHITE chop one PF Platoon to that company.

(9)               An order, commence resweep of the peninsula along the southeastern section of the peninsula.

(10)          Upon reaching PL PINK assume defensive positions along Route #1 to the northeast and southwest, within your sector.

(11)          Be prepared on order to conduct a tactical retraction march back to the Hill 69 Complex.

1. Company M (-).

(1)               Conduct foot march from defensive positions on Ky Ha, at H-minus 2 hours to LVT splash point.

(2)               Embark aboard LVTs and depart splash point at H-minus 1½ hours.

(3)               Proceed to arrive at Blue Beach at H-hour on D-day and upon debarking from the LVTs establish blocking positions along the northern coast of the Ky Khuong Peninsula (BT 4410).

(4)               Upon link up with Company D at PL WHITE assume control of one PF platoon from that Company.

(5)               On order commence resweep of the peninsula along the northwestern section of the peninsula.

(6)               Upon reaching PL PINK assume defensive positions along Route #1 to the northeast and southwest within your sector.

(7)               Be prepared on order to conduct a tactical retraction march back to the Hill 69 Complex.

1. Battalion Reserve.

(1)               Platoon (rein) Company C.

(a)         Effective H-hour, maintain a 15-minute alert posture as a mobile strike force, to be helo lifted anywhere within the area of the operation.

1. Coordinating Instructions.

(1)               D-day 5 February 1966.

(2)               H-hour 0300H.

(3)               Retraction hour 1600H (tentative).

(4)               Rules of engagement – no change.

(5)               Sit Reps every hour after H-hour, Spot Reps upon each occurrence.

(6)               Prevent unnecessary destruction to private and public property.

(7)               Companies distribute Psy War leaflets along axis of advance.

(8)               Order for tactical retraction march:

Company D

Command Group

Company M

Tracked vehicles parallel to troops.

(9)               Companies conduct MedCAP during the operation.

(10)          Annex A (Operation Overlay).

(11)          The unclassified code name for this operation is DEAD END.

4. Administration and Logistics.
5. Admin Order 222-65
6. Body armor (upper) will be worn by all Marines.
7. Carry one MCI and two full canteens of water.
8. Panic allowance of ammunition for all weapons.
9. VCS moved with apprehending company.
10. Support vehicles have full gas tanks and full ammunition allowances.
11. Command and Communications/Electronics.
12. Reference (b).
13. Command Group moves initially with Company D.
14. Activate TAC nets at H-minus 2 hours on D-day.
15. Call sign of Command Group and control element is Pied Piper Leader.
16. Company M assumes call sign of Pied Pip