Initiated in March, 1958, Operation Typhoon was the first
of a number of reconnaissance operations directed against
North Vietnamese infiltration into the South.  Typhoon was
largely directed against Ho Chi Minh trail activities in Laos,
with teams airdropped for extended periods and then recovered
by ARVN elements near the border.
*
The personnel for Operation Typhoon came from the South Vietnamese
1st Observation Group, later renamed Group 77, the predecessor of the
Luc Luong Dac Biet, the South Vietnamese Army Special Forces.
*
At the beginning of 1960, it was determined that greater coverage while
retaining operation effectiveness and mobility could be achieved 
by reducing the number of men per team to 6.  Full teams continued to
operate alongside these new halfed teams.