CTG 117.2 Combat After Action Report 

September 15-16, 1967

Commander Task Group 117

                                                                                                                                      RAS 11/FER:hn
                                                                                                                                      3000
                                                                                                                                      Ser: 08
                                                                                                                                      22 September 1967

From: Commander Task Group 117.2
To: Commander Task Group 117
Subj: Combat Operation After Action Report (MACVJ 3-32)
Encl: (1) CTG 117.2 Water Movement Plan 9-12-67
      And Frag order 2-67 to Water Movement Plan 9-12-67
(2) Transit Formation
(3) Regroup Formation

References: Map Vietnam 1:50,000; Sheets 6229 I and 6229 IV

1. Name of Operation: Coronado V (CORONADO OPORD 32-67), Strike and Search and Destroy Operation.
2. Date Of Operation: 15 and 16 September 1967.
3. Location: Cam Son Secret Zone, Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of South Vietnam
4. Command Headquarters: In command and Communications Boat, CCB-111-1 in area of Operation, and in Communications and Command Helo above CCB and Area of Operation

5. Command: Rank: Name:
2nd Bde, 9th Inf. Div COL B. A. David, USA
3rd/60th Inf. Bn. LTC M. M. Doty, USA
TG 117.2 LCDR F.E. Rhodes, Jr. USN
TU 117.0.2 2LT V. B. Conzales, USMC
TU 117.2.5 LT D. Ritter, USN
TU 117.2.1 LT R.E. Riesgo, USN
TU 117.2.3 LT H.W. Taylor, USN

6. Task Organization:

    a. Navy
        (1)Task Group 117.2.

             Task Unit 117.2.1

             9 ATC Armored Troop Carriers
             9 ATC Battalion Helo Deck Aid Boat
             1 ATC Armored Troop Carriers (Mine Sweepers)
             1 CCB Command and Communications Boat

        (2) Task Unit 117.0.2. Riverine Survey Team Embarked in Task Group Boats.

        (3) Task Unit 117.2.5 Embarked in Group Boats

        (4) Task Unit 117.2.3

              5 ATC Armored Troop Carriers
              2 Monitors

7. Supporting Forces: Fixed wing aircraft, pre planned air strikes and on call helos (2) C and C, 1 Navy, 1 Army; artillery beach prep and call; dust-off Medevac helos (8); re- supply helo (1)

8. Intelligence: As per Coronado OPORD 32-67

9. Mission: Task Group 117.2 supported 3rd-60th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division in the conduct of Riverine Strike, Search and Destroy Operations in the Cam Son Secret Zone, Dinh Tuong Province, Republic of South Vietnam to locate and destroy VC main and local forces and installations during the period 15-16 September 1967.

10. Concept of Operations: Mobile Riverine Force conducted combined airmobile, mechanized and riverine strike, and search and destroy operations during the period 15-16 September 1967 in the Can Son Secret Zone, Dinh Tuomg Province, Republic of South Vietnam. Task Group 117.2 executed assault landings at XS 203474, White Beach 1 and XS 193471, White Beach 2. Task Group 117. 2.  Then blocked water route and supported 3rd-60th Infantry Battalion as required.

11. Execution
   
150300H Commenced loading 3rd-60th at USS Colleton.
 
0410H Loading Completed.
 
0415H Task Group 117. 2 underway for area of operations.
 
0645H Task Group 117. 2 arrived at check point w23 and took formation for transit.
 
0700H Entered.
0730H Minesweeper T-91-4 took 2 rounds B-50 off bow starboard side. Reported being mined, vicinity water check point w42, XS 194450. 0732H-0740H too additional B-40 rounds one round starboard side 20mm mount; one round on machine gun 30 caliber starboard bow; one round port 22mm mount. All rounds penetrated. Eight crew members WIA. Boat ordered to rear of column.
 
0731H Minesweeper T-91-1 took initial B-40 hit. Between 0730H-0738H boat suffered 5 hits from RPG2-B40 rockets. Eight men wounded One round starboard side amidships went through well deck 1 round starboard side 50 Caliber machine gun mount, 1 round on canopy starboard side, 2 rounds port side engine room. All rounds penetrated. Boat ordered to rear of column wounded treated. Crew wanted to stay with boat and on operation. Boat remained throughout and participated in Action at 1015H-1115H, suffered no additional hits.
      
0733H Monitor 111-2 took B-40 heat round port side coxswain flat, direct hit on 30 caliber  machine gun. Blast entered cockpit. Monitor beached loss of steering and control.
   
0733H CCB-111-1 Hit by two B-40 rounds portside 40mm mount. Minor damage.
  
0735H Monitor-111-3 hit by two B-40 rockets, shrapnel in mortar pit three men wounded in action. On front of 40mm gun mount, killing one crew member and wounding two.
  
0737H Monitor-111-2 took third hit forward lip of 81mm mortar pit injuring three ATC-111-13 took B-40 under port 50 caliber machine gun Mount. Two Marine Corps wounded in action.
  
0738H Minesweepers ordered back. Monitor 112-2 beached. ATC-111-12 hit by small arms, Army Wounded in action. 
  
0745H Monitor-111-3 took B-40 rocket hit port side engine room, holed all the way through, one wounded in action.
   
0745H ATC-111-11 hit on stern by B-40 rocket. P-250 pump destroyed.
 
0748H ATC-111- 6 hit by two rounds B-40 port side coxswains flat. Monitor-111-1 hit port side engine room and port side deck house four wounded in action.
 
0749H ATC-111-6 hit port side 50 caliber machine gun mount. One killed in action five wounded in action.    ATC-111-13 hit by 1 round B-40. Boston Whaler and gas on Fire.
 
0750H Commander Task Group ordered all units back to Red Beach TWO vicinity XS 188194. Medical    Aid Boat Beached. Units with KIA’s ordered alongside to transfer injured for treatment wounded in Action transferred for treatment. Task Group Commander requested two replacement mine sweepers and one monitor from Commander Task Element 117.1.1.
 
0750H CCB-111-1 took two near misses B-40. Fins fragmented striking port side damaging two 292 antenna leads.
 
0752H ATC-111-6 proceeding up to White Beach TWO alone with no Communications.
 
0802H ATC-111-6 beached White Beach TWO, 1 platoon Bravo Company inserted. Company ordered back into boat.
 
0810H ATC- 111-6 retracted. Proceeded South alone to Red Beach TWO.
 
0812H ATC-111-6 received 1 round B-40 port 50 caliber machine gun mount. One Killed in action, four wounded in action.
 
0815H ATC-111-6 Rejoined. Fighting fires on canopies and sterns of units.
 
0830H MEDEVAC making good progress.
  
0835H All fires extinguished.
  
0840H Commenced Re-Crewing ATC-111-6 from ATC-111-12.
     
0900H Replacement minesweepers T-91-11. T-91-13 and Monitor 91-3 arrived.
  
0845H-0930H Consolidating units, transferring wounded and KIA’s. Re-arming.
  
0935H-1015H Commenced forming up for two transits from Red Beach TWO to Beaches White ONE and TWO in the following formation.
  

T-91-11, T-91-13, M-91-3, T-111-4, T-111-7, T-111-11, M-111-1, T-111-1, T-111-5, T-111-10, CCB-111-1, M-111-3, T-111-12, T-111-6, T-111-13, T-111-3 ATC (H), T-91-1
 
1020H Medevac Completed 52 WIA’s transferred under sniper fire.
 
1025H Commenced transit to objective beaches.           Top

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