Operation Delaware
Encyclopedia
Operation Delaware was a military operation of the Vietnam War
in the A Shau Valley
. The A Shau Valley was an important corridor for moving supplies into South Vietnam and used as staging area for attacks. American and South Vietnamese had not been present in the area since the Battle of A Shau, when a Special Forces camp located there was overrun.
The operation started with B-52 bombing of anti-aircraft positions. Troops of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 101st Airborne Division
, the 3rd Regiment of the ARVN 1st Division
, and the 3rd ARVN Airborne Task Force were inserted into the north and south of the valley by helicopter. Poor weather and anti-aircraft fire made flying very dangerous.
US and ARVN troops quickly found caches of ammunition, rice, and other supplies. The forces inserted in the north and south, as well as east of the valley, started moving towards each other to sweep the valley of opposition and uncover all supply caches. The abandoned A Luoi
airstrip was captured to allow resupply by aircraft. The first cargo aircraft, a C-7 Caribou, landed on 2 May. After further improvements to the airstrip, the first C-130 Hercules
could land on 4 May.
US and ARVN forces continued sweeping the Valley throughout the beginning of May. Troop extraction started on the 10 May, with the operation terminating on 17 May.
Operation Delaware was hailed as a success. Nevertheless, the withdrawal of US and ARVN troops made it possible for North Vietnamese forces to quickly regain control of the valley. American forces returned to the valley during Operation Dewey Canyon
and Operation Apache Snow
.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in the A Shau Valley
A Shau Valley
The A Shau Valley is a valley in Vietnam's, Thừa Thiên province, west of the city of Huế along the border with Laos. The valley was one of the key entry points into South Vietnam for men and matériel brought along the Ho Chi Minh Trail by the communist forces and was the scene of heavy fighting...
. The A Shau Valley was an important corridor for moving supplies into South Vietnam and used as staging area for attacks. American and South Vietnamese had not been present in the area since the Battle of A Shau, when a Special Forces camp located there was overrun.
The operation started with B-52 bombing of anti-aircraft positions. Troops of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
, the 3rd Regiment of the ARVN 1st Division
1st Division (South Vietnam)
The 1st Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam —the army of the nation state of South Vietnam that existed from 1955 to 1975—was part of the I Corps that oversaw the northernmost region of South Vietnam, the centre of Vietnam....
, and the 3rd ARVN Airborne Task Force were inserted into the north and south of the valley by helicopter. Poor weather and anti-aircraft fire made flying very dangerous.
US and ARVN troops quickly found caches of ammunition, rice, and other supplies. The forces inserted in the north and south, as well as east of the valley, started moving towards each other to sweep the valley of opposition and uncover all supply caches. The abandoned A Luoi
A Luoi
A Luoi is a district of Thua Thien-Hue Province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. It is located to the west of the province in a mountainous area bordering Laos.The population includes many Bru, Hoa and Ta Oi people....
airstrip was captured to allow resupply by aircraft. The first cargo aircraft, a C-7 Caribou, landed on 2 May. After further improvements to the airstrip, the first C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
could land on 4 May.
US and ARVN forces continued sweeping the Valley throughout the beginning of May. Troop extraction started on the 10 May, with the operation terminating on 17 May.
Operation Delaware was hailed as a success. Nevertheless, the withdrawal of US and ARVN troops made it possible for North Vietnamese forces to quickly regain control of the valley. American forces returned to the valley during Operation Dewey Canyon
Operation Dewey Canyon
Operation Dewey Canyon was the last major offensive by the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. It took place from January 22 through March 18, 1969 and involved a sweep of the North Vietnamese Army -dominated A Shau Valley by the 9th Marine Regiment reinforced by elements of the 3rd...
and Operation Apache Snow
Operation Apache Snow
Operation Apache Snow was a joint U.S. and South Vietnamese military operation during the Vietnam War in the A Shau Valley. The A Shau Valley was an important corridor for the North Vietnamese Army , moving supplies into South Vietnam and used as staging area for attacks...
.