Operation Elk Canyon

Operation Elk Canyon
	Part of the Vietnam War
Date	12 July – 29 September 1970
Location	Khâm Đức, Quảng Tín Province (now Quảng Nam Province), South Vietnam15°26′17.50″N 107°47′48.85″E / 15.4381944°N 107.7969028°E
Result	inconclusive
Belligerents
United States	North Vietnam
Units involved
196th Infantry Brigade	;
Casualties and losses
6 killed in action; 31 killed in CH-47 crash	US body count: 107 killed; 1 captured

Operation Elk Canyon was a search and clear operation during the Vietnam War near Khâm Đức, Quảng Tín Province, that took place from 12 July to 29 September 1970.

Background

Since the loss of Khâm Đức to the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) during the Battle of Kham Duc from 10–12 May 1968, the PAVN had used the area as a base for operations in Quảng Tín Province. It was decided that US forces should sweep the area to disrupt the PAVN logistics buildup and forestall a PAVN offensive in the autumn and winter.

Operation

On 12 July 1970 elements of the 196th Infantry Brigade launched the operation by securing Khâm Đức airfield.^[1]^: 84 After securing the airfield and establishing a firebase for A Battery, 1st Battalion, 82nd Artillery there, the 196th Infantry proceeded to patrol the surrounding area meeting limited opposition, while suffering several casualties in small skirmishes and mortar attacks.^[1]^[2]^: 1 While they occupied Khâm Đức U.S. forces conducted searches for the remains of the Americans missing in the battle two years earlier.

ARVN troops at LZ Kala, 12 July 1970.

The operation concluded on 26 August with the US forces evacuated by helicopter to Landing Zone Judy (15°22′N 108°05′E / 15.37°N 108.08°E / 15.37; 108.08), 32km to the southeast.^[3] As one of the CH-47s (#67-18445) carrying personnel and munitions came in for landing at Judy it was hit by PAVN fire and crashed in flames killing 30 onboard and 1 soldier on the ground.^[4]^[2]^: 18

Operation Elk Canyon II began on 26 August and continued until 19 September.^[2] Its objective was to disrupt the PAVN's Dak Rose supply route.^[2]^: 11

Aftermath

US losses were 37 killed while PAVN losses were 107 killed and 1 captured.^[2]^: 42

References

^ ^a ^b Cosmas, Graham (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970–1971. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1482384123. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Operational Report, Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 23rd Infantry Division, Period ending 31 October 1970" (PDF). 15 November 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 267. ISBN 978-1555716257.
^ " "Accident Boeing CH-47B Chinook 67-18445 26 Aug 1970". Retrieved 20 November 2018.

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[Cosmas-1] Cosmas, Graham (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Vietnamization and Redeployment 1970–1971. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1482384123. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[23ID-2] "Operational Report, Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 23rd Infantry Division, Period ending 31 October 1970" (PDF). 15 November 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[3] Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 267. ISBN 978-1555716257.

[4] " "Accident Boeing CH-47B Chinook 67-18445 26 Aug 1970". Retrieved 20 November 2018.

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