Campaign 972

Campaign 972
Part of Laotian Civil War, Vietnam War
Date28 October 1972–22 February 1973
Location
Southern Laos
Result Decisive North Vietnamese victory. Kingdom of Laos essentially broken in two. Ceasefire takes effect on 22 February 1973, officially ending the Laotian Civil War. Paksong captured shortly after the ceasefire.
Territorial
changes
North Vietnam captures Khong Sedone, Salavan, Thakhek, and Lao Ngam
Belligerents
 North Vietnam
Laos Pathet Lao
 Kingdom of Laos
Supported by:
 United States
Units involved
North Vietnam Two provincial battalions
North Vietnam 4th Battalion of the 270th Regiment
North Vietnam PT-76 tanks
Laos Three companies
Kingdom of Laos 21st Brigade
Kingdom of Laos Infantry Battalion 233
Kingdom of Laos 2 SPECOM teams
Kingdom of Laos Mobile Group 34
Kingdom of Laos Bataillon Guerrier 308
Kingdom of Laos Bataillon Guerrier 311
Kingdom of Laos Mobile Group 31
United States 1 AC-130
United States B-52 Stratofortresses

Campaign 972 (28 October 1972 – 22 February 1973) was the final offensive in the south of the Kingdom of Laos by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN). After fending off a score of Royal Lao Government attacks against the Ho Chi Minh Trail between June 1969 and late 1972, the PAVN attacked and essentially cut Laos in two at Khong Sedone by November 1972. Sporadic ongoing fighting, especially for control of Paksong, continued until 8 February 1973. Although a ceasefire officially ended the Laotian Civil War at noon on 23 February with Salavan, Thakhek, and Lao Ngam in Communist hands, the PAVN launched another successful assault on Paksong 15 minutes later.