Page 313 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

sorrre alnrnunition to tine 22lst Artillery Battalion to Prepare the local
garrison for any eventuality, There had been sorne indications that
the cornrnunist rnight atternpt sornething big against the headquarterg
of the Special Zone and the locai MACV cornpound.

Later developrnents were to prove that the Viet Cong
had directed all their strength tc this decisive battle. Battalion K. 5
was assigned to attack the headquarters of the Z4th Spe;ial Zone.
Battalion K.6 was assigned to attack the cornrnand Post of the B' 12
Special Forces unit and the MACV cornpound, while Battalions 304th
and 406th were assigned to attack ihe adrnini. str ative section of the city.
Battalion K.4 was to serve as general reserve.

On the friendly side, beeides organic units of the
Special Zone, there were two additional fighting units : Battalion Z/42
and the 406th Reconnaissance Cornpany'

Here follows the synopsis o{ the fighting in Konturn :
2000 Hours : The attack began with an assault on the
residence of the local cornrnander and the adrninistrative headquarters
which was followed by harassrnent fire against t}:.e ZZlst Arti}lery
Battalion, Battalion Z/42 and Cornpany 406/TK. Meeting with heavy
resiatance the enerny withdrew.
2120 Hours : A four-pronged attack against the head-
quarters of lt,e 24th Special Zone was atternPted at the sarne time as
ernaLler assaults against various units in the city were made. The
situation quickly grew serious and the defenders had to radio for

reinforcernents,
2130 Hours : With artillery pieces and helicopter
gunships firing point blank at the assaulting enerny trooPs the frontal
attack on the headquartets 6oon stopPed. However, harassrnent fire
continued against the Fourth Engineer Cornpany and Cornapny 406/'IK,

2135 Hours : Cornrnunist trooPs apPeared at the High-
land Language School only to be fired at by artillery pieces set up
at the base carnp of tbe Z?lsf Artillery Battalion, the 8.12 Cornrnand
Post, and the MACV cornpound, Meanwhile, airplanes tried to cut
enerny withdrawal routes. At zzz0 hours a short 1u11 6et in'

2230 Hours : The fight continued with Viet Cong gunners
rnortaring the police headquarters and the airport' Allied planes
straJed enerny positions near the Bac Ai Pagoda and the provincial
tr easury building s.

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