Battle of Nam Bac

The Battle of Nam Bac was one of the major engagements of the Laotian Civil War. Despite misgivings about their potential performance the Royal Lao Army moved in to occupy the Nam Bac Valley in August 1966; the position would block a traditional Vietnamese invasion route that led to the Lao royal capitol, Luang Prabang.

The location was problematic. It was closer to the North Vietnamese border than to Luang Prabang; any Vietnamese communist invaders would also enjoy the use of Route 19 for part of their route to the valley. Nam Bac itself could only be resupplied by air from Luang Prabang, and its supply line was dependent upon use of an airstrip sited on low ground within artillery range of nearby heights. Those surrounding hilltop positions would have to be held if assaulted by invaders.

Both sides now began to gradually feed in reinforcements. One year later, in August 1967, the Vietnamese communists besieged the Royalist stronghold. Both sides now expedited reinforcements into the battle. The battle-hardened 316th Division, plus an independent regiment, moved in from North Vietnam to join the attack; they brought the North Vietnamese strength to about 4,100 soldiers. Opposing them by now were some 7,500 Royalist troops, including 3,000 irregulars. However, Royalist battle performance was poor. Coordination of close air support ranged from poor to disastrous. Air assets were in short supply as it was, but the Royalists refused to utilize all available air power after a friendly fire incident. Command and control communications within the defense functioned sporadically. The resupply system broke down, leaving some units under-equipped. Artillery support for the infantry was nonexistent or inadequate.

As the Royalist defense deteriorated, diversionary relief columns set out from both east and west of the besieged positions. Their progress was too slow however. Royalist troops under pressure began to desert their positions and evade to the south. General Bounchanh, the Royalist commander, left his headquarters and headed south. As the leaderless Royalist force dissolved, it suffered heavy casualties as the Vietnamese rounded up fleeing Lao soldiers. Ultimately, the Royal Lao Army would only muster 1,400 of the Nam Bac troops again. Conversely, over 600 of the Lao prisoners of war held by the Vietnamese would switch their allegiance away from the Royal Lao Government. Additionally, Lao material losses were high. In addition to uncounted small arms, they had left the communists seven howitzers, 49 recoilless rifles, 52 mortars, and copious ammunition.