Page 72 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

in the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Precincis. To rneet this threat the
Second Marine Battalion, which had been ordered to Cholon, it'nrnedi-
ately launched an operation against the area of the An Quang Pagoda.
The 33d Ranger Battalion also was sent to a new front opening in Binh-
An in the Seventh Precinct.

The Sixth Marine Battalion, which had been in Bong Son
on the Central Coast, was airlifted to Saigon where it arrived on 2
February. After resting the night in SaigonJhese elite troops were
irnrnediately dispatched to the sub-eector of Thu Duc,

What was the enernyrs strength in Saigon ?
To stage this unprecedented attack,the Cornrnunist High
Cornrnand had deployed a total of approxirnately I7 battalions, both
Main Force and regional troops including a battalion-size group of
sappers. Included in this total were only those forces directly partici-
pating in the Battle for Saigon. Not included were rnajor units such as
the Seventh and Ninth Divisions that were kept as leserves in the vi-
cinity o{ the capital.

The Cornrnunist attacking force at the height of the V' C,
attack included the following :
' One battalion of Regirnent 271/CT.9 reinforced by
Battalion 56/U.80 with the rnission of attacking the Ouang-Trung Camp
and neighboring areas.
' Battalions 267 and 269, rein{orced by elernents of
Regirnent 27I, with the rnission o{ assaulting the Tan Son Nhut Airport.
t Two battalions of Regirnent z73f CT.9 with the rnission
o{ attacking the Thu Duc Sub-Sector,
I Battalion Cu Chi One, reinforced by a battalion of
Regirnent l}l/CT. ? and elernents of the Second Mechanized Battalion
of the rrRrr Cornrnand, attacking and occuPying the rnany depots at
Go Vap,
i Battalion Go Mon Two, in conjunction with Sapper
Group J. l/F.100, was to attack the JGS general headquarters through
Gate Four.
I Battalion Di An Three ot 3/165 A was in charge of
Hang Xanh area.

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