VENETIC

Night Ambush

Đồng Tiên District

15 August 1969

North of the Plain of Reeds, a South Vietnamese Popular Forces platoon accompanied by three US MACV advisors are moving up to take position along a canal.

It is around midnight, and they are moving into an area where VC activity has been reported.

The Popular Forces platoon’s three squads take up positions behind a road running adjacent to the canal.

The three MACV advisors take up position in a hooch overlooking a footbridge. One has a radio and confirms preset artillery fire co-ordinates along the far bank for use should Charlie turn up.

The canal has a temple overlooking it.

The ambushers do not have long to wait: an hour later, two platoons of VC in transit are coming their way.

The platoon on the right are Local Force VC, who are there to provide an escort for the other platoon as they move through the district:

They are less well armed than their fellow travellers, and are green troops.

The Local Force VC are the first to move up to the canal. Trying to see through the darkness across it is impossible however - it is too wide.

They give the signal to the other platoon to start moving up so they can wade across the shallow canal.

The first VC squad wades across, trying to be as quiet as possible. Fortunately, their noise security is good.

The rest of the Local Force VC move up to cover the footbridge across the canal. There is no sign of movement on the far bank.

Their first squad wades across too, taking up a defensive position on the far bank.

More and more members of the other VC platoon wade into the water, amassing so they can make a dash across the road.

A detachment is sent forward to scout the hooch in their path.

While a VC Local Force DPM light machine gun team moves up to guard their flank.

More Local Force VC move forward to support the LMG team.

Waiting until they are close, a Popular Forces squad opens fire on them.

The South Vietnamese fire is erratic however, and is not helped by the dark night: the VC only get one stand pinned down by their fire.

The VC LMG team opens fire on them, but their fire is erratic too and misses.

Seeing the muzzle flashes, the remainder of the VC Local Force on the other side of the canal open fire too.

The South Vietnamese return fire, focusing on the squad trying to cross the road. They manage to suppress one stand.

And they pin down the VC LMG team, although they fail to knock it out as it proves to be a difficult target even at close range because of the darkness.

Undeterred, another squad of VC dashes across the road, heading for a rice paddy beside the hooch.

While more Local Force VC use the cover provided by the footbridge to wade across the canal unseen.

Focussing on the pinned unit, the South Vietnamese concentrate their fire and achieve their first kills.

Belatedly spotting the VC approaching their hooch, the two MACV advisors decide to take action: the lieutenant lurks by the hooch’s front door in case the VC decide to rush it, while the forward observer on the roof starts calling in artillery fire. The sergeant stays inside to provide covering fire.

The first barrage from a US firebase comes down danger close to the hooch.

Two VC stands are suppressed, and two others are pinned down.

In response to the dangerous situation developing on his left flank, the Popular Forces platoon commander rushes forward to plug the gap, supported by a BAR team.

Following them is another squad that was in reserve in the garden behind the temple.

They move up while their commander and the BAR team cover their front.

They open fire at a VC stand entering the rice paddy they are covering and suppress it.

The South Vietnamese line is fragmented and weak. The VC LMG gunner finally manages to suppress a stand, firing in the darkness.

And the VC in front of the hooch rake the roof with fire, attempting to hit the MACV forward observer, who is pinned down.

And is then killed in a hail of AK-47, LMG and RPG fire.

For the VC Local Force platoon commander, still on the other side of the canal, it is not entirely clear in the dark what is going on up ahead.

The other VC platoon commander is just as unsure about what is going on - they should be leading from the front.

By now, after much firing in the darkness, the VC Local Force light machine gun team has finally made its first kills.

Deciding that the hooch is too hot and is about to be overrun, the remaining 2 MACV advisors bug out just before the VC assault the hooch.

Meanwhile, the Popular Forces platoon commander and his BAR team have moved forward to pour more accurate fire into the VC ahead of them.

To their right, in the next paddy field along, the Popular Forces squad is still engaged in an erratic firefight in the dark with the VC Local Force LMG team and its supporting squad.

The VC platoon that has just taken the hooch turns to face the new threat posed by the South Vietnamese platoon commander and his BAR team. There is lots of firing, but very little is effective in the dark.

Behind the South Vietnamese front line, the second Popular Forces squad forms up with the MACV lieutenant and sergeant on their flanks.

Things are looking hairy for the South Vietnamese platoon commander: now the VC are opening up with an LMG from the roof of the hooch. The BAR team is suppressed.

They pull out but the South Vietnamese commander is caught in crossfire from the VC LMG on the hooch.

He and his sergeant are hit.

The sole remaining South Vietnamese stand holding the front is also forced to withdraw, but gets pinned down by the VC Local Force LMG.

The VC Local Force platoon commander wades across the canal and orders his remaining uncommitted squad to try and outflank the South Vietnamese by working their way around the far side of the temple.

The third Popular Forces squad, defending the temple, opens fire on the VC as they cross the road nearby.

The VC Local Force platoon commander is pinned.

And then killed.

In the absence of its commander, the green squad he was leading comes to a halt and takes cover on the side of the road, taking more losses.

The Popular Forces squad then decides to move forward to assault them and finish them off.

Close combat occurs on the right flank, with the inexperienced VC getting swiftly killed.

The remaining VC are then hit from both sides.

The remaining Local Force VC stand is forced to surrender. Their flanking movement has failed.

Perturbed at the heavy opposition they are facing, and their high number of losses, the VC commander decides to withdraw. The Local Force LMG covers their withdrawal.

The remaining Local Force VC and other VC retreat along the road and the canal.

Having lost the equivalent of a platoon, the VC have experienced unacceptable losses. In spite of being outnumbered, the South Vietnamese have more than held their own and have pulled off a successful night ambush with comparatively few casualties.