U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam Monthly Historical Summary for October 1971
Abstract
Enemy activity increased sharply as expected throughout the Republic of Vietnam just prior to the 3 October 1971 presidential election. Although rockets fell on both Saigon and Vung Tau during the early morning of the Election Day, little damage resulted. U.S. Navy casualties rose slightly during October. The VNN took steps on 1 October to strengthen its Coastal Surveillance Force by a staff reorganization. This move considerably streamlined command and control of coastal surveillance. The North Vietnamese sent three trawlers to probe RVN defenses during the month. All three trawlers were tracked by MARKET TIME forces; two of the vessels were scared off without attempting an infiltration, while the third was still being tracked at the end of the month. Typhoon Hester, the worst such storm in 27 years, struck the coast of MR 1 near Chu Lai on 23 October and then veered north. The storm brought all military activity virtually to a standstill. The VNN Supply System continued its rapid improvement in October. The Vietnamese now control all spare parts for their riverine craft in their own supply system. U.S. Navy Seabee assets continued to decrease as several details of the only remaining naval construction battalion in Vietnam finished up their projects and retrograded to CONUS. The remaining Seabees in Vietnam are now engaged primarily in civic action projects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- ADA953902