Battle of Quang Tri*
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Date: August-September 1972*
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Battle Location: Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam*
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Battle Type: South Vietnamese assault vs. North Vietnamese defence*
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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
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As so called vietnamization of Vietnam War was occuring and US troops were gradually pulling off, the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) conducted a number of more and more powerful offensives to test ARVN (Army of Republic of Vietnam) combat abilities.
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One of such offensives happened in April 1972 and was targeted agaoinst Quang Tri province, particularly the cities of Dong Ha, Cam Lo and Quang Tri itself. NVA moved in with tanks and heavy artillery, quickly overwhelming ARVN defences (though certain strongpoints resisted bravely). NVA troops were finally stopped few kilometres north of city of Hue. This was the time for South Vietnamese to act back.
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Recapturing of Quang Tri and finally removing entire NVA presence from border area of Republic of Vietnam was first real test of ARVN troops. Frankly, it was the first time divisional operation was to be conducted by South Vietnamese Staff with US commanders acting only in advisory role. It must be noted that heavy US air and naval support were still available.
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The command of the operation was given to General Quang Truong, a US-graduaded airborne soldier. Quang Truong was considered one of the best and most vicious commanders ARVN had to offer. Furthermore, Saigon deployed two most elite ARVN divisions for capture of the province: The South Vietnamese Marines (VNMC - Vietnam Marine Corps) and its Airborne Division with airlift capacity (RVAD - Republic of Vietnam Airborne Division). These troops, supported with ample artillery and massive US Air Force and Navy fixed wings - including the mighty squadrons of B-52s strategic bombers - first contained NVA presence in the province itself and in early august descended upon Quang Tri City.
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The province itself was protected by 3 NVA infantry divisions, including those with tank battalions. Yet, Quang Tri City was defenced by reinforced infantry regiment with some 130mm guns and limited armour. The city however was densely populated, cut by Thach-Han river and - most importantly - protected by stone and brick citadel built in 1824 by Vietnamese Emperor Minh Mang and lated upgraded by French colonial administration. Citadel itself provided excellent forward observation positions and entire tunnels connecting the fortress' defences.
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It was long and bloody battle, lasting 81 days until citadel fell on 16th of September. In urban street combat nearly 1000 South Vietnamese soldiers perished and probably twice as much of those of NVA. US and Vietnamese forces dropped 80 kilotons of explosive ordnance, turning everything into ruins.*
Still, at the end of the day, South Vietnamese emerged victorious and proved they can put up a good fight.
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION
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This scenario is slightly scaled down, however it is probably that a few battalions of both divisions were engaged in the city. You must remember that battle was raging also in entire province with about 15000 killed on both sides.
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You command:*
1) 1st Battalion, 147th South Vietnam Marine Brigade (1/147 VNMC) - at full strenght deployed frontal-north*
2) 4th Battalion, 147th South Vietnam Marine Brigade (1/147 VNMC-) - at 2/3rds of it's strenght (battalion took losses while approaching your objective from very north)*
3) 1st Marine Artillery Battalion, 147th South Vietnam Marine Brigade (1MAB/147) - entire 105mm gun battalion for Marine support*
4) 5th Battalion, 2nd Task Force of Airborne Brigade - at 2/3rds strenght, unit already screened the outskirts and took casualties at center-south sector*
5) 7th Battalion, 2nd Task Force of Airborne Brigade - at full strenght and reinforced, freshly entering combat and airlifted*
6) 2nd Airborne Artillery Battery, 2nd AAB Battalion, 2nd Task Force - 4 75mm guns supporting 5th RVAD Battalion*
7) 1st Company, 11th Battalion, 2nd Task Force - this unit is blocking and screening enemy at extreme south. Rest of the battalion is resting*
8) Army attached 155mm gun battalion - for general support*
9) US and South Vietnamese rotor squadron - for general support of protection of 7th RVAD Battalion*
10) Massive South Vietnamese and US fixed wing support*
11) 24x B-52s for bombardment
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Get the Quang Tri with those. Airlifted battalion will begin deployment at turn 15. Use them to gradually land at LZ Foxtrot at the northern bank of Thach-Han river, in order to cut NVA retreat ability and encircle them completely.
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Note that historically Marines and Air Cavalry were not fighting together. Airborne troops got worn down after weeks of siege and street fighting and Marines stepped in. Since battle lasted 81 days I decided to present them both in order to simulate "longer" course of action.
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B-52 bombardment (starting at turn 3) will be probably the biggest one you have seen in this game. It will turn city into ruins. Depending on luck and accuracy, your mission will be easier or harder.
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You have lots of time. Advance carefully. NVA probably mined and booby trapped the city.
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You can use ammo depots to refill your gunships.
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ACCOUNTS
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TOM STREITHORST, reporting:
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The carrier-based Marine Corps helicopters, accompanied by U.S. army gunships headed immediately for the sea after takeoff. They circled for fully an hour over an imposing naval force. The purpose of the delay was to perfect the timing of the operation and to confuse the enemy as to its destination. South Vietnamese marines are considered to be the toughest, most aggressive of this countrys combat troops. Then the helicopters raced in for land, low to avoid possible ground fire. The 4th Battalion, which we accompanied, was assigned a landing zone on the beach, about eight miles northeast of the communist-held provincial capital of Quang Tri. The troops first job was to run from the landing zone to establish their perimeter. They received some hostile fire and fought back.
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The battalion commander said his troops killed ten of the enemy, wounded and captured these two Viet Cong. American ground involvement in this war is almostbut not completelyover. There are still the battalion-level U.S. Marine advisors and their assistants. Throughout the day, the marines had American gunships on call in addition to the naval support. The technique here is for the light observation helicopters to dart around, attempting to draw ground fire which the gunships will return. The marines captured a Russian-made field piece. This is the biggest weapon in the North Vietnamese arsenal. The marines rounded up 161 civilians for eventual evacuation. This whole region is apt to become a free-fire zone when the civilians are removed. We had a chance to witness something of what that would mean-- the earth-shaking power of a B-52 bomb load, two and a half miles away. South Vietnamese face more than three North Vietnamese divisions. A good many South Vietnamese believe that if either side mauls the other badly enough in the expected heavy fighting, it could play a decisive role in a political solution. Tom Streithorst, NBC News, with the 4th Battalion of the South Vietnamese marines.
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ARTHUR LORD reporting:
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Most of the South Vietnamese units are operating from small fire bases outside Quang Tri City. Here, airborne artillery men constantly fire at enemy positions. But the barrage has so far failed to move the enemy. Despite the optimistic predictions and press releases of the South Vietnamese high command, the communists are still well entrenched in Quang Tri City and Saigons forces have made little progress during the past week. The ground troops are not following up the artillery with ground assaults. Their commanders are worried about taking too many casualties. Besides, these men are tired. The Saigon command has been less than candid about events here. At one point, newsmen were told that two-thirds of Quang Tri City was in the hands of South Vietnamese troops. Later, that was refined to We have the city surrounded. Then, the command barred newsmen from the front to hide the fact that the drive to retake Quang Tri City has become completely bogged down.
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The South Vietnamese had hoped to retake Quang Tri City before the Paris peace talks had resumed. That mission has been a failure. So now, without any political deadlines to worry about, the battle for Quang Tri will continue. Judging by the lack of progress made by the South Vietnamese during the past few days, the fight is likely to be a long one. Arthur Lord, NBC News, Quang Tri Province.

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Notes: If played against the AI the human player should take the South Vietnamese side.*
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Sources: NBC archive news from 1972 (https://archives.nbclearn.com/portal/site/k-12/flatview?cuecard=60104), varous internet sources*
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Design by: Marcin "SaS TrooP" Kaluza
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