DECLASSIFIED HEADQUARTERS 1st Tank Battalion, (Rein) 1st Marine Division, (Rein), FMF FPO, San Francisco, California, 96602 CONFIDENTIAL COMMAND CHRONOLOGY 1 February 1968 to 29 February 1968 INDEX Part I - Organizational Data Part II - Narrative Summary Part III - Sequential Listing of Significant Events Part IV - Supporting Documents ENCLOSURE (1) CONFIDENTIAL DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) PART I ORGANIZATIONAL DATA 1. DESIGNATION COMMANDER Headquarters, LtCol V. J. GENTILE 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) 1-29 February 1968 1st MarDiv (Rein), FMF SUBORDINATE UNITS H&S Company Maj L. A. GILDERSLEEVE 1-19 Feb 1968 Company A (Rein) Capt C. R. CASEY 1-19 Feb 1968 Company B (Rein) Capt R. E. ROEMER 1-19 Feb 1968 Company C (-) (Rein) Capt R. D. GUNSELMAN 1-29 Feb 1968 Company A (Rein), 1st AT Bn 1stLt V. C. DAVIS 1-29 Feb 1968 2. LOCATION HEADQUARTERS (AT 997723) H&S Company (AT 997723) Company A (AT 997723) Company B (AT 962621) Company C (BT 072644) Company A, 1st AT Bn (YD 815165) 3. STAFF OFFICERS Battalion Executive Officer Maj P. G. RADTKE 1-29 Feb 1968 Battalion Adjutant 1stLt C. S. SCHURING 1-29 Feb 1968 Battalion S-2 Officer Capt R. G. MCPHERSON 1-8 Feb 1968 Capt R. T. HOPKINS 9-29 Feb 1968 Battalion S-3 Officer Maj D. R. DICKEY 1-19 Feb 1968 Battalion S-4 Officer Maj J. A. SCHUYLER 1-29 Feb 1968 Battalion S-5/Civic Action Officer Capt N. C. WHITTINGTON 1-29 Feb 1968 4. AVERAGE MONTHLY STRENGTH USMC USN OFF ENL OFF ENL 43 707 2 16 1 ENCLOSURE (1) (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) PART II - NARRATIVE SUMMARY PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION The total strength of 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) is 43 Marine officers, two Naval officers, 633 Marine enlisted, and 16 Naval enlisted. The battalion joined one Marine officer and 133 Marine enlisted during February 1968. Loses were five Marine officers and 83 Marine enlisted. The battalion anticipates the loss of two Marine officers and 48 Marine enlisted during the month of March. Five requests for extensions of overseas tour were forwarded during February. These extensions bring the total man-months gained through extensions during 1968 to 59. The major incentive for exten- sions of overseas tour is the special 30-day leave program. During February, the marked increase in enemy activitiy made it necesssary for the battalion to further support the Southern Sector Defense Command in the form of two provisional platoons and a pro- visional company Headquarters. The need for personnel for this force required calling on support personnel (administration, tank main- tenance, motor transport, and supply) to fill these infantry bill- ets. During this same period it was also necessary to place all remaining available personnel on nightly guard for defense of the contonment, reducing not only the number of personnel available to work but also reducing normal working day to approximately four hours. The support of the tank companies became a prime requirement, with all but priority work being put on a "necessary work only" basis. This put the administration section of the battalion behind in its daily duties. Much of this work was made up by working nights whenever the tactical situation allowed the reduction of the nightly defensive posture. The battalion administrative chain also suffered the loss of two company administrative chiefs as well as some clerks without replacements. To support the tank companies, two battalion clerks were transferred to companies and personnel with typing ability were placed in the battalion office. An extensive training program was initiated with a group enrollment in an MCI Course (Correspondance Practices), supervised by the Battalion Administrative Chief. The battalion's morale during this period was very high, although all personnel were required to work long hours in many varied jobs. A total of 67 casualties were sustained during February, 18 KIA's, 33 med-evac, and 16 non-med-evac. There were also two non-hostile casualties. No special courts-martial were held during February. There were five instances of punishment under Article 15, UCMJ, in the battalion. ENCLOSURE (1) 2 DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) INTELLIGENCE WEATHER: The high mean temperature for February was 76 degrees, the low was 66 degrees. This is well below the 25 year mean of 81 degrees and 70 degrees respectively. Rainfall this month was negligible, however, tanks did not appreciably increase their operating area in the DaNang AO. INTELLIGENCE: Enemy activity, high during the first of February decreased significantly towards the end of the month in the Da Nang area. In the Task Force X-Ray AOR enemy contact continued heavy through the month, especially in the Hue City area. With the decrease in contact in the Da Nang area there was an accompanying decrease in highly reliable intelligence. Mine incidents numbered four (average 50 lbs.) a sharp decrease from the nine encountered in February 1967. However, there were 44 RPG incidents involving 19 vehicles (17 tanks and 2 Ontos) reflecting the change in enemy posture from an unconventional to conventional role. During the TET offensive elements of major NVA units were identified in the Da Nang Ao. The 31 NVA Regiment in the Charlie Ridge, Happy Valley area to the west and the 2 NVA Division to the south in the Goi Noi Island area. Coontinuing evidence of an enemy buildup was provided by the capture of documents indicating the possibility of hte 29th Regiment, 325C NVA Division west of Hue. Prisoners captured during Operation Hue City claim to be from such deverse units as the 7th Battalion, 90th Regiment, 324B NVA Division; the 416th Battalion NVA Regiment, and the 32nd Battalion which allegedly infiltrated in September 1967 with the mission of suppporting and coordinating with guerrilla units in Thua Thien Province. Information from many sources reveal that the NVA combined individuals and small units from wide spread units to create the impression that the enemy was heavily reinforced during the TET Offensive. During the month, 1st Tank Battalion alone and in coordination with other units was responsible for the capture of much enemy equipment. Among these were a 75mm recoilless rifle, 4 cases of 75mm ammo, and four AK 47's. One significant event in the Southern Sector Defense Command's intelligence gathering efforts was the capture of 3 VC by a combine force of the local Revoltionary Development Tean and 7th Communications Battalion Marines in a tunnel in Cam Hoa. Interrogation of these prisoners revealed information on VC ntentions and objectives in the Southern Sector's AOR. ENCLOSURE (1) (MARKED OUT) 3 DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) OPERATIONS AND TRAINING During the month of February the 1st Tank Battalion participated in one major operation, Operation Hue City. On 3 February, the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, and the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, started operations in the Hue City area in an attempt to recapture the city. On 13 February these units were reinforced by he 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and the 3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Tanks. Elements of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, and 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, were initially supported by a platoon of tanks frm the 3rd Tank Battalion; however, on 17 February, this unit was replaced by 2nd Platoon (Rein), Company A, 1st Tank Battalion. The 3rd Platoon, Company A, operated from 13-24 February in the area if (YD7623). From 24-27 February, the 3rd Platoon, Company A, operated in the area of (YD7720). From 17-24 February, the 2nd Platoon, Company A, operated in the area of (YD7821) and from 24-29 February, in the area of (YD7824). The fighting in Hue was consistent and heavy for the period 13-24 February. On 24 February, the Citadel was secured. During this period of contact, Company A tanks suffered 34 RPG hits and stuck two mines. The 1st Platoon, Company A (Rein), continues to provide security for the Song Cau Do and Song Tuy Loan Bridges in the Southern Sector Defense Command AOR. These Company A tanks and two squads from the Southern Sector Defense Command are located at each of the bridges. Company B (Rein) continues to provide support for the 7th Marines. The operations were primarily involved with tank/infantry sweeps, reaction forces for infantry and CAP units, security for road sweeps, and security for command posts. Company (-) (Rein) was in direct support of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, from 1-29 February and then in direct support of 3rd Battalion 27th Marines when they assumed the responsibility for the area of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines on 2 March. One platoon is in direct support of the 2nd ROK Bridgade in the Hoi An area. The 3rd platoon remains attached to Company B, 1st Tank Battalion. Company A (Rein), 1st Antitank Battalion, 1st Tank Battalion (Rein), remains in direct support of Task Force X-Ray. The Antitank Company participated in Operation Hue City with the Company Headquarters remaining at Gia Le. 4 ENCLOSURE (1) (MARKED OUT) DECLASSIFIED |
DECLASSIFIED (MARKED OUT) The task organization for the 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) is as follows: Company A (Rein): G/S 1st Mar Div (Da Nang) 2nd Platoon: D/S Task Force X-Ray (Phu Bai) 3rd Platoon (Rein): D/S Task Force X-Ray (Phu Bai) Company B (Rein): D/S 7th Mar (Da Nang) Company C (-) (Rein): G/S 1st Mar Div (Da Nang) 1st Platoon: D/S of 3rd Bn. 27th Mar. (Da Nang) 2nd Platoon: D/S of ROK 2nd Bridgade (Hoi An) Company "A" (Rein), 1st Antitank Bn, 1st Tank Bn. (Rein): D/S X-Ray (Phu Bai) On 23 February the 1st Platoon (-), Company B, 5th Antitank Battalion was attached to the 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) and immediately began orientation and training. It is anticipated that this unit will be further attached to the Antitank Company when deployed. During the month of February, the 1st Tank Battalion's M67A2 flame tanks expended approximately 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel and napalm on assigned missions. Many of the flame comitments have been for tenant units in the Southern Sector Defense Command. This included burning brush on perimeters to improve fields of fire, and clearing brush in order that a minefield in the Camp Monahan area could be removed. The 1st Tank Battalion conducted 58 patrols and ambushed in the battalion area of responsibility and responded with many special activities from platoon to company size in the SSDC TAOR. Total ammunition expended during February by the 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) follows: 90mm Small Arms 106mm HE WP APERS-T .30 cal .50 cal H. E. APERS-T DIRECT 957 33 45 17 34,600 12,650 627 1 INDIRECT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 957 33 45 17 34,600 12,650 627 1 The results of action involving the 1st Tank Battalion (Rein) during February follows: VC/NVA KIA _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _124 VCC _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2 VCS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1 &nb |