Operation Thor

Operation Thor was a U.S. combined arms operation against People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) positions around, Mũi Lay, North Vietnam from 1-8 July 1968.

Operation Thor
Part of Vietnam War
Date1-8 July 1968
Location
around Mũi Lay, North Vietnam
Result U.S. claims operational success
Belligerents
United States North Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
General Creighton Abrams
LG Richard G. Stilwell
MG Raymond G. Davis

Casualties and losses
1 killed
3 aircraft shot down
US body count: 125 killed
63 infantry weapons destroyed
19 artillery guns destroyed
2 SAM launchers destroyed

Background

On 24 March 1968 3rd Marine Division commander MG Rathvon M. Tompkins proposed a combined arms operation against the area around Mũi Lay to reduce PAVN infiltration and destroy artillery that had been targeting the Cửa Việt and Đông Hà bases and supporting PAVN infantry operations south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The operational area would extend from the southern edge of the DMZ 14km north to Mũi Lay and 25km inland from the coast. The plan was submitted to III Amphibious Force (III MAF) and then to LG Richard G. Stilwell's Provisional Corps and then MACV for approval. On 21 June, after consulting with representatives from III MAF, 7th Fleet and 7th Air Force, COMUSMACV General Creighton Abrams approved the plan with a start date of 1 July.[1]:35960

On 28 June reconnaissance aircraft from VMCJ-1 and the 7th Fleet began photo-reconnaissance of the target area and these were then used by Provisional Corps to develop the target lists. 5 Marine artillery batteries moved east along Route 9 to new firing positions south of the DMZ, while large quantities of ammunition were brought in to support the artillery.[1]:546

Operation

On 1 July the 7th Air Force controlled bombing campaign began and 114 B-52 sorties and 664 Air Force, Marine and Navy attack aircraft sorties delivered over 4000 tons of bombs on the target area over 2 days.[1]:360

On 3 July, 61 guns from 13 Marine and Army artillery batteries and 2 Navy cruisers and 6 destroyers began the artillery bombardment of the target area together with the ongoing airstrikes, delivering over 12,000 rounds on the first day.[1]:360 The North Vietnamese appeared to be unprepared for the assault with Navy ships able to approach to within 10km of the coast without provoking PAVN shore batteries.[1]:546

By 5 July antiaircraft fire had been so reduced in the target area that O-1 artillery observation aircraft were able to operate over the area without sustaining any hits.[1]:5478

By 6-7 July the Marine/Army artillery was firing approximately 4000 rounds into the target area, while the Navy was firing approximately 3000 rounds and the air elements were dropping over 2000 tons of bombs.[1]:548

Aftermath

On 8 July the artillery began to return to their pre-operation positions and control over the target sector returned to the 7th Air Force. The operation was regarded as a success due as it was followed by a sharp decline in artillery fire across the DMZ and reduced antiaircraft fire from the target area.[1]:361

179 artillery positions containing 19 guns, 789 anti-aircraft sites containing 63 weapons, 143 bunkers and storage areas were destroyed, including 2 SAM-2 sites. 352 secondary explosions and 236 secondary fires were observed. PAVN personnel losses were estimated at 125 dead.[1]:361[1]:548

In over 2000 sorties B-52s had dropped a total of 5156 tons of bombs while Air Force, Marine and Navy attack aircraft dropped a total of 3207 tons with 3 aircraft shot down and 1 crewman killed. Marine/Army units fired 23,187 rounds of 155mm, 175mm and 8in artillery. Navy ships fired 19,022 rounds of 5in, 6in and 8in artillery.[1]:548

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

  1. Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 0160491258. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

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