Battles of Nakhang
The Battles of Nakhang (16 February 1966–28 February 1969) were fought between Royalist forces and North Vietnamese invaders for control of the northern base of Nakhang, Laos. The Lima Site 36 airstrip at Nakhang was capable of handling aircraft up to the size of C-123 cargo carriers; its location and length made it a vital component of the Royalist defense. Lima Site 36 was the airhead for their guerrillas' movements and resupply, as well as a staging point for U.S. combat search and rescue helicopters.
| Battles of Nakhang | ||||||||||
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| Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War | ||||||||||
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| Belligerents | ||||||||||
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Kingdom of Laos Supported by United States Thailand | North Vietnam | Forces Armee Neutralistes | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||||
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Vang Pao (WIA) | Unknown | 3 unknown officers | ||||||||
| Units involved | ||||||||||
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Five Royal Lao Army battalions Three Auto Defense Choc picket lines AC-47 Spookys Forward air controllers F-105s Air America transports A-1 Skyraiders from the 602nd Air Commando Squadron A-26 Invaders from the 606th Air Commando Squadron One A-130 20th Special Operations Squadron Thai air support Thai advisers |
5th Battalion, 168th Regiment 174th Regiment of the 316th Division | Battalion Infantry 5 | ||||||||
| Strength | ||||||||||
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5,120 Additional air support Thai advisers |
Total unknown First battle: Peaked at 600 to 1,000 Third battle: 600 to 800 | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | ||||||||||
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Total unknown First battle: Slight Second battle: At least 10 Third battle: 9 killed, 24 wounded Fourth battle: Very heavy, 50 percent killed of two battalions, over 50 percent killed of three battalions. Thai advisers killed, one captured. |
Total unknown, but heavy. One North Vietnamese captured First battle: Heavy, at least 70 killed with upper estimate of 1,000 Second battle: Heavy Third battle: Estimated 250 killed Fourth battle: 26 killed | Three officers executed, battalion members killed or defect to North Vietnam | ||||||||
The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) first attacked Nakhang from 16–19 February 1966. They successfully overcame an aerial bombardment that razed both the village and the airfield's equipment. Though successful in this First Battle of Nakhang, the PAVN lost Nakhang again on 25 May 1966, as a Royalist counter-offensive attacked behind a screen of tactical air strikes. Once re-established there, the Royalist troops fanned out throughout northern Laos, even unto the border of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
On 6 January 1967, the PAVN renewed their offensive for the Third Battle of Nakhang. Despite their taking advantage of an overcast they thought would prevent aerial support, they were defeated within two days by U.S. Air Force airstrikes. It was not until 28 February 1969 that the Vietnamese succeeded in capturing Lima Site 36 for good, with their surprise assault of the Fourth Battle of Nakhang.