Rung Sat Special Zone
Encyclopedia
Rung Sat Special Zone, also known as the "Forest of Assassins" was an area of approximately 1256 square km of tidal mangrove swamp including over 4800 km of interlocking streams located approximately 36 km south-southeast of Saigon. Its boundaries were Nhà Bè District and Nhơn Trạch District to the north, Long An Province
and Go Cong Province to the west, Phước Tuy Province
to the east and the South China Sea
to the south.
On 8 June 1962, the South Vietnamese Government organized the Rung Sat Special Zone (Dac Khu Rung Sat) as a military region in order to defend the Lòng Tàu River, the main shipping channel from Saigon to Vũng Tàu
.
The Vietcong established base areas in the zone from the late 1950s and in April 1966 COSVN
designated the area as the D-10 Special Military Zone.
Due to the difficult conditions for ground operations within the zone, the VC regarded it as a safe area, however from 1965 onwards the USAF began defoliating the area as part of Operation Ranch Hand
.
Following attacks on allied shipping on the Lòng Tàu River, from 27 March to 6 April 1966, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2 Battalions of Vietnamese Marines
launched Operation Jackstay, a search and clear operation along the Lòng Tàu shipping channel killing 63 VC and seizing and destroying large supply caches.
Following the conclusion of Operation Jackstay, the Marines handed over responsibility for the zone to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. Responsibility for security in the zone was then passed to the Mobile Riverine Force
and the 9th Infantry Division.
Long An Province
Long An is a province in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam.-Administrative divisions:The province comprises one town and 14 districts:#Bến Lức#Cần Đước#Cần Giuộc#Châu Thành#Đức Hòa#Đức Huệ#Mộc Hóa#Tân Hưng...
and Go Cong Province to the west, Phước Tuy Province
Phuoc Tuy Province
Phước Tuy Province was a province of South Vietnam. It now mostly corresponds to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, just southeast of Ho Chi Minh City....
to the east and the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
to the south.
On 8 June 1962, the South Vietnamese Government organized the Rung Sat Special Zone (Dac Khu Rung Sat) as a military region in order to defend the Lòng Tàu River, the main shipping channel from Saigon to Vũng Tàu
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
.
The Vietcong established base areas in the zone from the late 1950s and in April 1966 COSVN
COSVN
COSVN, pronounced "CŎS-vĭn" and standing for Central Office for South Vietnam , was the American term for People's Army of Vietnam political and military headquarters during the Vietnam War...
designated the area as the D-10 Special Military Zone.
Due to the difficult conditions for ground operations within the zone, the VC regarded it as a safe area, however from 1965 onwards the USAF began defoliating the area as part of Operation Ranch Hand
Operation Ranch Hand
Operation Ranch Hand was a U.S. Military operation during the Vietnam War, lasting from 1962 until 1971. It was part of the overall herbicidal warfare program during the war called "Operation Trail Dust"...
.
Following attacks on allied shipping on the Lòng Tàu River, from 27 March to 6 April 1966, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines and 2 Battalions of Vietnamese Marines
Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps
The Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps ) was part of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam . It was established by Ngo Dinh Diem in 1954 when he was Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam, which became the Republic of Vietnam in 1955. The longest-serving commander was Lieutenant General Le...
launched Operation Jackstay, a search and clear operation along the Lòng Tàu shipping channel killing 63 VC and seizing and destroying large supply caches.
Following the conclusion of Operation Jackstay, the Marines handed over responsibility for the zone to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment. Responsibility for security in the zone was then passed to the Mobile Riverine Force
Mobile Riverine Force
In the Vietnam War, the Mobile Riverine Force , initially designated Mekong Delta Mobile Afloat Force, and later euphemistically the Riverines, were a joint US Army and US Navy force that comprised a substantial part of the Brown Water Navy...
and the 9th Infantry Division.
