Ia Drang Valley - Page 2 - Wargames Journal

Wargames Journal

Shortly after midnight on day the NVA and Viet Cong launch a massive assault on a narrow frontage against the LZ. However the now reinforced Americans have strengthened their positions and the attack is repulsed. During the remainder of the night the NVA and Viet Cong forces melt away and in the morning the exhausted defenders of LZ X–ray are airlifted out.

Three days of gruelling combat had taken its toll – on both sides.

"American soldiers in battle don't fight for what some president says on TV, they don't fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag… …they fight for one another."

Lt. General Hal Moore

Notes on the Ia Drang Valley Order of Battle

Vietnamese Forces in and around Ia Drang Valley

32nd NVA Regiment

33rd NVA Regiment

66th NVA Regiment

H–15 Main Viet Cong Battalion

US Forces deployed in the Ia Drang Valley

1st Battalion 7th Cavalry (4 Troops)

2nd Battalion 7th Cavalry (4 Troops)

2nd Battalion 5th Cavalry (4 Troops)

Four 105mm Artillery Batteries

The following notes provide a guide to the company and battalion structures used by the NVA, Viet Cong and American forces in Vietnam at the time of the Ia Drang Valley action.

Viet Cong Units

A rifle squad was usually between 5–9 men. If possible there would be one armed with an RPG and one with a light machinegun. The remainder would be armed with an AK–47 if possible or some form of rifle if not. Three squads and an HQ would make up a rifle platoon.

Three rifle platoons would be combined with a Heavy weapons platoon and an HQ to make a Rifle company. Each Heavy weapons platoon had between1–3 medium machineguns.

Three rifle companies would be combined with one Support Company and an HQ to create a Viet Cong battalion. A Support Company had one mortar platoon of four 82mm mortars, one Machinegun platoon of four medium or heavy machineguns and one platoon of three recoilless rifles; these could be anything from 57mm to 107mm weapons.

Two or three battalions were combined with an HQ to form a Viet Cong Regiment.

NVA Units

The NVA had the same basic organisation as the Viet Cong but tended to be better equipped and have more men. All the rifle squads were armed with an AK–47 and the Support Company had 12.7mm Anti–Aircraft machineguns and up to six weapons instead of four in each platoon.

American Units

A rifle squad was led by a Sergeant and was equipped with M14 or M16 rifles and M79 grenade launchers. A Heavy weapons squad was armed with M60 machineguns and/or recoilless rifles. The average strength for a Vietnam rifle squad was 7 men although the theoretical strength was 10–12. Within air cavalry units the type of transportation used also determined the size of the squad. A truck–based squad could consist of 10–12 men. However the maximum size of an airborne squad was 7, because that's what fitted into the UH–1.

Three rifle squads and one Heavy weapons squad made a platoon led by a lieutenant. The regulation platoon strength including the HQ was supposed to be 47 men. On average in Vietnam the platoon was around 25 strong.

Three rifle platoons and a Support platoon was combined with an HQ to make an infantry Company, which was usually led by a Captain. Note that in Cavalry units the title 'Troop' was used instead of Company.

Battalions were formed from 4 rifle Companies (A–D), a small HQ Company and a combat support Company (Company E) which contained the battalions heavy weapons. A battalion was usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and had an authorised strength of around 920 men. In Vietnam the average battalion contained around 500 men. Often in Vietnam under strength platoons created weak companies and this resulted in an under strength battalion.