User:Tplusplus/Sandbox/Operation Delaware

Operation Delaware was a military operation of the Vietnam War in the A Shau Valley. The A Shau Valley was an important corridor for moving supplies into South Vietnam and used as staging area for attacks. American and South Vietnamese had not been present in the area since the Battle of A Shau, when a Special Forces camp located there was overrun.

The operation started with B-52 bombing of anti-aircraft positions. Troops of the 1st Cavalry Division, the 101st Airborne Division, the 3rd ARVN Regiment of the 1st ARVN Division, and the 3rd ARVN Airborne Task Force were inserted into the north and south of the valley by helicopter. Poor weather and anti-aircraft fire made flying very dangerous.

US and ARVN troops quickly found caches of ammunition, rice, and other supplies. The forces inserted in the north and south, as well as east of the valley, started moving towards each other to sweep the valley of opposition and uncover all supply caches. The abandoned A Luoi airstrip was captured to allow resupply by aircraft. The first cargo aircraft, a C-7 Caribou, landed on 2 May. After further improvements to the airstrip, the first C-130 Hercules could land on 4 May.

US and ARVN forces continued sweeping the Valley throughout the beginning of May. Troop extraction started on the 10 May, with the operation terminating on 17 May.

Operation Delaware was hailed as a success. Nevertheless, the withdrawal of US and ARVN troops made it possible for North Vietnamese forces to quickly regain control of the valley. American forces returned to the valley during Operation Dewey Canyon and Operation Apache Snow.