Dates 24 Apr 1966 – 17 May 1966 | ||
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45 casualties 100 killed
500 tons of weapons, ordnance, rice, salt and other foods seized Result U.S.-South Vietnamese tactical victory; Viet Cong successful withdrawal Combatants South Vietnam, Viet Cong, United States of America Similar Operation Patio, Battle of Suoi Bong Trang, Operation Shed Light, Operation Pony Express, Battle of Gang Toi | ||
Operation Birmingham was a military operation of the Vietnam War in War Zone C, north of Saigon. The US 1st Infantry Division and the ARVN 5th Division conducted operations on the eastern flank of War Zone C. The goals were opening Route 13 from Saigon to the north and engaging the Viet Cong 9th Division. The Viet Cong successfully managed to withdraw beyond the Cambodian border, after having only 100 soldiers killed by US and South Vietnamese forces; along with that are 500 tons of weapons, ordnance, rice, salt and other foods seized by anti-communist forces.
Operation Birmingham also employed two brigades of the Vietnamese Mobile Guerrilla Forces (MGFs) whose primary objective was to locate and engage Viet Cong forces as well as to destroy their base camps along the Cambodian border. These brigades moved rapidly to exploit recently acquired intelligence on enemy installations and movements and were frequently transported by helicopter to locations throughout the Tay Ninh Province. The MGFs utilized guerrilla warfare tactics that were often employed by Viet Cong forces against U.S. and ARVN units.