LESSONS LEARNED, OPERATION NIAGARA/CEDAR FALLS.
Abstract
THE WIDE SPREAD TERRORISM IN THE SAIGON-CHOLON AREA PERPETRATED THE CONCEPTION OF OPERATION NIAGARA/CEDAR FALLS, ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST COMPLEX AND ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE OPERATIONSIN THE VIETNAM WAR. INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FED TO MACJ2 INDICATED THAT THE SOURCE OF THESE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH THE LOCATION OF THE VIET CONG MILITARY REGION IV HEADQUARTERS WAS IN FACT LOCATED IN THE HERETOFORE INPENETRABLE IRON TRIANGLE NORTH OF SAIGON. THE MISSION OF OPERATION NIAGARA/CEDAR FALLS: TO SEAL OFF THE TRIANGLE AND ANIHILATE THE ENEMY WITHIN, DESTROYING HIS FORTIFICATIONS AND GENERALLY CRUSHING THE POWER OF THE MR IV HEADQUARTERS. THE OPERATION WAS THE FIRST PLANNED MULTI-DIVISION OPERATION IN VIETNAM, EMPLOYING THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, THE 196TH LIGHT INFANTRY BRIGADE, THE 5TH ARVN DIVISION, ELEMENTS OF THE 11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT, THE 18TH NGINEER BRIGADE, AND THE 173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE). THIS MARKS THE SECOND TIME THE BRIGADE HAS OPERATED IN THE IRON TRIANGLE (OPORD 25-65, 8-14 OCTOBER 1965). THE TASK GIVEN TO THE 173D AIRBORNE BRIGADE (SEPARATE) WAS TO CONDUCT A DECEPTION OR FEINT FROM A STAGING AREA NEAR PHU LOI IN THE CAU DINH JUNGLE, AN ISLAND OF DENSE FOREST, NORTH OF A RUBBER PLANTATION BETWEEN NATIO HIGHWAY 13 AND THE THI TINH RIVER.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 25, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0391115
Entities
Organizations
- Adjutant General's Corps