US Marines vs Vietcong in Vietnam: "The Battle" 1965 USMC 14min

• Report rights infringement
• published: 19 Mar 2012
• views: 556004

NEW VERSION with improved video & sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKsg32iYchc more at http://quickfound.net/links/military_news_and_links.html "COMBAT FOOTAGE CENTERED PRIMARILY AROUND OPERATION PIRANHA, CARRIED OUT AGAINST THE VIET CONG STRONGHOLD. PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE OPERATION. MARINES EXERCISING "ACROSS THE BEACH" LANDING TECHNIQUES. MARINES CLOSE AIR SUPPORT, NAVAL GUN FIRE SUPPORT AND ARTILLERY. EMPLOYMENT OF HELICOPTERS ILLUSTRATES VERTICAL ASSAULT TECHNIQUES. CAPTURE OF VIET CONG PRISONERS, PATROL ACTION AND TREATMENT OF WOUNDED MARINES.." United States Marine Corps film MH-10278-C Public domain film from the National Archives, slightly cropped to remove uneven edges, with the aspect ratio corrected, and mild video noise reduction applied. The soundtrack was also processed with volume normalization, noise reduction, clipping reduction, and equalization (the resulting sound, though not perfect, is far less noisy than the original). also see "Contact (Ambush)": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oGvNYJTtqI http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batangan_Peninsula Batangan Peninsula 15°13′10.6″N 108°54′47″E is a peninsula in Vietnam. It is located in Quảng Ngãi Province, northeast of Quảng Ngãi and 32 km south of Chu Lai. The Peninsula was, for years, a rich and productive agricultural region encompassing approximately 48 square km of flat, fertile farmland and rolling hills. The Vietnam War Since 1963 the Vietcong converted the Peninsula into a fortified stronghold. Following the conclusion of Operation Starlite, on 24 August 1965, Marine intelligence concluded that the 1st VC Regiment had withdrawn into the Peninsula. Reconnaissance photos of the Peninsula showed a V of older field fortifications pointing inland with the open end to the sea and a new second V further inland under construction. Operation Piranha The Marines decided to launch Operation Piranha against the Peninsula. The plan of operations was for BLT 1st Battalion, 7th Marines to land across White Beach north of the Peninsula and push south, while 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, would be helilifted in by MAG-16 to set up blocking positions 4 km inland. 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines would remain available as a floating reserve. ARVN 2d Battalion, 4th Regiment and the 3rd Vietnamese Marine Battalion would be helilifted into the south of 3/7 Marines to clear and search the An Ky Peninsula. The operation was launched on 7 September 1965, the amphibious landing was unopposed, while the landing of the ARVN force received some minor ground fire. On 8 September, Company B 1/7 Marines discovered a VC field hospital in a large cave near the center of the Peninsula. The Marines captured four prisoners, but then came under fire from other VC in the cave. The Marines returned the fire and attempted to convince the VC to surrender. Marine engineers then placed explosives in the cave. After the detonation, the Marines counted 66 VC dead inside. By the conclusion of the operation on 10 September, 178 VC had been killed and 360 enemy and suspected enemy had been captured. Allied losses were two Marines and five South Vietnamese killed, The operation however failed to wipe out the 1st VC Regiment, villagers told the Marines that Vietcong units had been in the area but had left, some less than 24 hours before Operation Piranha had commenced. Intelligence reports later indicated that the 1st VC Regiment began leaving the peninsula on 4 September, coinciding with the increased movement of the amphibious ships at Chu Lai. The Peninsula later became part of the Tactical Area of Responsibility of the Korean 2nd Marine Brigade in 1966 and then the Americal Division, however despite periodic operations the area remained a Vietcong stronghold. Operations Bold Mariner and Russell Beach Operation Bold Mariner was launched against the Peninsula on 13 January 1969. At this time the peninsula was believed to be supporting elements of the 38th VC Main Force Regiment, the 48th VC Local Force Battalion, P-31st Local Force Company and C-95th Sapper Company all of which posed a threat to Quang Ngai City and allied forces in the area. BLT 2/26 Marines and BLT 3/26 assaulted the north of the peninsula by helicopter and landing craft while the Americal Division's Task Force Cooksey, composed of elements of the 46th Infantry Regiment and 1st Cavalry and the ARVN 2nd Division launched Operation Russell Beach to seal off the southern boundary... In March 1970, a patrol from the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment walked into a minefield on the Peninsula. The battalion commander, LT COL Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. flew in in his command helicopter and walked into the minefield to rescue a wounded soldier.