Campaign Toan Thang

Operation Toan Thang
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date18—27 June 1969
Location
Northern Laos
Result North Vietnamese victory
Territorial
changes
North Vietnam captures Muang Soui
Belligerents
 North Vietnam Forces Armee Neutral
 Kingdom of Laos
 Thailand
Units involved
312th Division
13th Dac Cong Battalion
Paratroop Battalion 85
8th Special Requirements
Kingdom of Laos RLAF air support
United States USAF air support
20th Special Operations Squadron
21st Special Operations Squadron
40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron
Air America transport support

Operation Toan Thang (Operation Total Victory) was the first communist wet season offensive of the Laotian Civil War. Launched on 18 June 1969 and successful by the 27th, the assault by People's Army of Vietnam troops from the 312th Division and sappers of the 13th Dac Cong Battalion captured Muang Soui. Although the defenders outnumbered the assailants by three to one, the only hard surfaced airfield near the Plain of Jars would fall to the communists, depriving the defending Royal Lao Government of its only forward fighter-bomber base.

Operation Toan Thang was an effective riposte to the Royalist attacks of Operation Pigfat and the U.S. Air Force Operation Raindance. The Vietnamese victory at Muang Soui left them firmly in command of the war in northern Laos.