Page 331 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

regarded as a special feat since it was achieved by rnaneuvering in the
dark and in the rnidst of nurnerically superior enerny equipped with the
deadly B40 and 84l rocket launchers and other anti-tank weapons. The
arrnored colurnnrs action served to boost the rnorale of the defenders
who were ernotionally and physically unprepared for such a rnassive
assault by the enerny. At the sarne tirne it threw the whole enerny
assault plan into disorder, i{ not disrupting it, to a point where he was
pinned down at his initial position.
On the rnorning of Tet Day, Jan 30, the 45th Reconnais-
sance Cornpany was twice engaged by the enerny, sorne 14 krns frorn the
city, as they were on the way to rescue the ernbattled ciiy. Having
killed sorne 20 enerny and captured a few assorted weapons, including
one rnortar, the cornpany could not reach the city until rnid-afternoon.

In the rneantirne the governrnent trooPs storrned out of
their defensive positions, carnps and cornpounds to initiate a counter-
offensive and a city-wide sweep operation which would continue into
the night.

Two platoons of the 23rd Reconnaissance Coropany which
swept the Officers' housing quarter, captured three enerny. The 413th
striking Reconnaissance Cornpany, however, failed to dislodge the
nurnerically superior enerny frorn the treasury office building. One
arrnor detachrnent rvas sent to relieve enerny pressure at the station
and lost one tank to anti tank fire. Though out gunned the enerny still
held out. Enerny pressure on the PF training carnp' about I krn frorn
the radio station, were still heavy. Three PF rnen were killed and two
wounded in one of his assaults on the carnp.
The 45th Regirnent was also called in frorn the fields that
day. It was ordered to strike enerny positions frorn the rear. Its Znd
Battalion engaged the enerny about one krn frorn downtown, killing Z5
and capturing ten. AIso captured were four weapons, including one
rnortar and one rnachinegun. The Regirnent's 3rd Battalion, also
striking frorn the rear, killed 70 enerny and captured 3t as well as
taking 44 weapons including an antiaircraft rnachinegun. This occurred
at Buon Kao harnlet just outside the city.
Enerny pressure inside the city was still very rnuch in
evidence until dark. Around 1400 hours agitation propaganda agents
succeeded in herding civilians into a srnall antigovernrnent dernons-
tration. The crowd was swiftly dispersed by police. Friendly troops,
supported by tanks, rnaneuvered to block and defend all sensitive and

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