Operation Maharat II

Operation Maharat II
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date31 December 1972 – 5 February 1973
Location
Sala Phou Khoun, central northern Laos
Result Royalist capture Routes 7/13 road junction
Belligerents
 Kingdom of Laos
Supported by
 United States
Laos Pathet Lao
Supported by:
 Soviet Union
 People's Republic of China
Units involved
Four Royal Lao Army battalions
One Forces Armee Neutralistes battalion
11th Brigade
Elements of 12th Brigade
Elements of 13th Brigade
Three Thai mercenary battalions
Groupement Mobile 31
Groupement Mobile 203
Two M24 Chaffee tanks
Three 155mm howitzers
Four Pathet Lao battalions
Two PT-76 tanks
Strength
Regimental-size Battalion-size
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

Operation Maharat II (31 December 1972 – 5 February 1973) was a Royalist offensive against Pathet Lao insurrectionists during the Laotian Civil War. The Royalists planned a two pronged convergence on four Pathet Lao battalions holding the intersection of routes 7 and 13. With neither side particularly avid for combat, the situation was resolved by the Royalist reinforcement of its attack forces until the Communists faced overwhelming odds. The Pathet Lao then decamped. Operation Maharat II ended on 5 February with an artillery fire base supporting an irregular regiment occupying the road intersection. On 22 February 1973, a ceasefire took effect.