Operation Nantucket Beach
Operation Nantucket Beach was a security operation during the Vietnam War conducted by the 198th Light Infantry Brigade, 23rd [Infantry Division (United States)|23rd Infantry Division] on the Batangan Peninsula from 23 July 1969 to 10 March 1971.
Background
The Batangan Peninsula was a Vietcong stronghold and the scene of frequent operations throughout the war. The 6th [Infantry Regiment (United States)|6th Infantry Regiment] and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam ARVN 6th Regiment, 2nd Division were to conduct security and pacification operations throughout the area.Operation
1970
On 7 March Battery A, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment caught a VC force in the open, killing 9. On 13 March Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment triggered a booby-trapped 105mm shell losing 1 killed. On 14 March Company C, 1/6th triggered another 105mm booby-trap losing 2 killed.On 9 April Battery A, 1/82nd Artillery fired on 45 VC killing 12. On 11 April Battery A, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment fired on 20 VC killing 4. On 17 April Company B, 1/6th found 5 weapons. On 26 April Troop A, 1st Battalion, 1st Cavalry Regiment detonated a mine, losing 1 killed.
On 17 November Company B, 1/6th reported 4 VC killed and 1 weapon captured. On 18 November Company D, 1/6th engaged VC killing 3 and capturing 4 weapons and detaining 5 suspected VC. On 21 November Company C, 1/6th detonated a booby trap resulting in 2 US killed.
On 1 December Company C, 1/6th killed 9 VC and captured 1 weapon. From 7–19 December the 1/6th reported 1 PAVN/VC killed and 7 weapons captured.
1971
On 5 January Company D, 1/6th engaged 10 VC killing 1 and capturing 1 weapon. On 9 January Company A, 1/6th Infantry engaged 7 VC killing 6. On 11 January 1/6th killed 3 VC and captured 1 weapon. On 15 January Company D, 1/6th engaged and killed 2 VC. On 20 January Company A, 1/1st Cavalry detonated two booby traps resulting in 1 US killed. On 21 January, Troop D, 1/1st Cavalry’s aero rifle platoon killed 13 VC and captured 2 weapons and 2 suspects. On 22 January, Troop D, 1/1st Cavalry swept the same area and found 6 weapons. On 25 January while on a search and clear mission Company D. 1/6th detonated a "Bouncing Betty” antipersonnel mine killing 1 US soldier.During the first week of February mechanical ambushes killed 2 VC. On 7 February Company C, 1/6th engaged 6 VC killing 1 and capturing 1 and 3 weapons.