Operation Cedar Falls was conducted by the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War on January 8 – January 26, 1967 to rout out Viet Cong base camps in the so-called Iron Triangle. The operation involved nearly 16,000 American and 14,000 South Vietnamese troops. The Viet Cong choose not to fight and melted away into the jungle. In response, tunnel rats were introduced to root them out. This was the first time they were used^[1]. Combatants Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) United States of America South Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand the Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) National Liberation Front Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~420,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead: 230,000 South Vietnamese wounded: 300,000 US dead: 58,191... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... This article is about a region of Vietnam. ... Part of the tunnel complex at Cu Chi. ...

Casualties

U.S. and South Vietnamese forces accounted for nearly 750 confirmed enemy dead and 280 prisoners. Enemy equipment losses were 23 crew-served weapons, 590 individual weapons, and over 2,800 explosive items such as mines, grenades, and mortar and artillery rounds. Some 1,100 bunkers, 525 tunnels, and over 500 structures were destroyed. Mortar has several meanings: A mortar is a military weapon into which is dropped a mortar shell, which is then fired in a high ballistic trajectory. ...

U.S. battle losses totaled 72 killed and 337 wounded; those for the South Vietnamese, 11 killed and 8 wounded. U.S. equipment lost included 1 tank and 3 armored personnel carriers. Damage was sustained by 3 tanks, 9 APC's, 1 tankdozer, 2 jeeps and 2 light observation helicopters. The South Vietnamese lost 3 individual weapons. East German BRDMs on parade during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of East Germany in 1989 Armoured personnel carriers (APCs) are light armoured fighting vehicles for the transport of infantry. ...

Salvage

Over 60,000 rounds of small arms ammunition were captured, as were many miscellaneous items of equipment, including over 7,500 uniforms. Captured were also 3,700 tons of rice, enough to feed 13,000 troops for a full year, and more than a half million pages of assorted documents.

References

1. ^ Cold War Files

External links

• Bernard William Rogers. Vietnam Studies Cedar Falls-Junction City: A Turning Point
• Battle map