Battles of Nakhang

Battles of Nakhang
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date16 February 1966–28 February 1969
Location
Northern Laos
Result 1st battle: North Vietnamese victory
2nd battle: Royal Lao victory
3rd battle: Royal Lao victory
4th battle: North Vietnamese victory
Territorial
changes
Nakhang captured by the North Vietnamese
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Laos
Supported by
 United States
 Thailand
 North Vietnam Forces Armee Neutralistes
Commanders and leaders

Kingdom of Laos Vang Pao  (WIA)
United States William H. Sullivan
United States Ramon D. Horinek
United States Eagle
United States Charles Larimore Jones
United States Eugene O. Conley
United States Robert E. Turner
United States John D. Haney

United States John Smith Hamilton
Unknown 3 unknown officers
Units involved
Kingdom of Laos Five Royal Lao Army battalions
Kingdom of Laos Three Auto Defense Choc picket lines
Kingdom of Laos
United States AC-47 Spookys
United States Forward air controllers
United States F-105s
United States Air America transports
United States A-1 Skyraiders from the 602nd Air Commando Squadron
United States A-26 Invaders from the 606th Air Commando Squadron
United States One A-130
20th Special Operations Squadron
Thailand Thai air support
Thailand Thai advisers
North Vietnam 5th Battalion, 168th Regiment
North Vietnam 174th Regiment of the 316th Division
Battalion Infantry 5
Strength
Kingdom of Laos 5,120
United States Additional air support
Thailand Thai advisers
Total unknown
First battle: Peaked at 600 to 1,000
Third battle: 600 to 800
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Total unknown
First battle: Slight
Second battle: At least 10
Third battle: 9 killed, 24 wounded
Fourth battle: Very heavy, 50 percent killed of two battalions, over 50 percent killed of three battalions. Thai advisers killed, one captured.
Total unknown, but heavy. One North Vietnamese captured
First battle: Heavy, at least 70 killed with upper estimate of 1,000
Second battle: Heavy
Third battle: Estimated 250 killed
Fourth battle: 26 killed
Three officers executed, battalion members killed or defect to North Vietnam

The Battles of Nakhang (16 February 1966–28 February 1969) were fought between Royalist forces and North Vietnamese invaders for control of the northern base of Nakhang, Laos. The Lima Site 36 airstrip at Nakhang was capable of handling aircraft up to the size of C-123 cargo carriers; its location and length made it a vital component of the Royalist defense. Lima Site 36 was the airhead for their guerrillas' movements and resupply, as well as a staging point for U.S. combat search and rescue helicopters.

The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) first attacked Nakhang from 16–19 February 1966. They successfully overcame an aerial bombardment that razed both the village and the airfield's equipment. Though successful in this First Battle of Nakhang, the PAVN lost Nakhang again on 25 May 1966, as a Royalist counter-offensive attacked behind a screen of tactical air strikes. Once re-established there, the Royalist troops fanned out throughout northern Laos, even unto the border of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

On 6 January 1967, the PAVN renewed their offensive for the Third Battle of Nakhang. Despite their taking advantage of an overcast they thought would prevent aerial support, they were defeated within two days by U.S. Air Force airstrikes. It was not until 28 February 1969 that the Vietnamese succeeded in capturing Lima Site 36 for good, with their surprise assault of the Fourth Battle of Nakhang.