1970 in the Vietnam War

1970 in the Vietnam War
← 1969 1971 →
Blueboy assault group aboard Banana HH-3E at the start of Operation Ivory Coast CPT Richard Meadows is seated in the left foreground.
Location Vietnam
Belligerents
Anti-Communist forces:  South Vietnam  United States  South Korea  Australia  Philippines  New Zealand Khmer Republic  Thailand Kingdom of Laos Republic of China	Communist forces:  North Vietnam Viet Cong Khmer Rouge Pathet Lao  People's Republic of China  Soviet Union
Strength
South Vietnam: 968,000 United States: 335,790 South Korea: 48,540 Thailand: 11,570 Australia: 6800 Philippines: 70 New Zealand: 440
Casualties and losses
US: 6,081 killed [1] South Vietnam: Killed

April

April 1 to September 5

Operation Texas Star was a military operation of the Vietnam War in the A Shau Valley and the mountains east of the valley. It aimed at regaining the initiative in the area. The operation culminated in the Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord.^[2]

April 29 – July 22, 1970

The Cambodian Campaign (also known as the Cambodian Incursion) was a series of military operations conducted in eastern Cambodia by the United States (U.S.) and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) during the Vietnam War. A total of 13 major operations were conducted by the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) by U.S. forces between 1 May and 30 June.^[2]

June

June 12–16

The Battle of Kompong Speu was when the combined forces of the South Vietnamese and Cambodian Armies fought to recapture the provincial capital of Kompong Speu. The town was captured by Communist forces on June 13 but was retaken by allied forces on June 16.

June 15, 1970

The Battle of Prey Veng was part of the Army of the Republic of Viet Nam's campaign in Cambodia. It took place in Prey Veng on June 15, 1970, where ARVN and Cambodian troops battled the Vietnam People's Army and Vietcong forces. It ended with an allied victory.

July

In response to North Vietnam's support of Soviet Union in the Sino-Soviet split China removes its final troops that where in place to support the Chinese anti-aircraft batteries.^[3]

1 July

President Richard Nixon named diplomat David K.E. Bruce to head the U.S. delegation to the peace talks in Paris with North Vietnam and the Viet Cong.^[4]

1-23 July

The Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord was a 23-day battle between the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and the North Vietnamese Army from July 1, 1970 until July 23, 1970. It was the last major confrontation between United States ground forces and North Vietnam of the Vietnam War.

August

August 1970-February 1971

Operation Chenla I was an operation involving the Cambodian armed forces launched the operation during late August 1970 with limited air support from the South Vietnamese army and air force. The operation was terminated in February 1971, after the Cambodian High Command made a decision to withdraw some units from Tang Kauk to protect Phnom Penh after Pochentong airbase was attacked. The objective of the operation was to reconnect Skoun and Kompong Cham along Route 7, which was repeatedly attacked by Communist forces.

August 20 - December 3, 1971

Operation Chenla II was a major military operation conducted by the Cambodian military (then known as FANK) during the Cambodian Civil War. It began on August 20 and lasted until December 3, 1971.

September

5 September - 6 October 6, 1971

Operation Jefferson Glenn was the last major operation in which U.S. ground forces participated in Vietnam.^[5]

11-13 September

Operation Tailwind was a covert incursion into southeastern Laos by a company-sized element of U.S. Army Special Forces and Montagnard commando (Hatchet Force) of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG or SOG), conducted between 11 September and 13 September 1970 during the Vietnam War (also known as the Second Indochina War). The purpose of the operation was to create a diversion for a Royal Lao Army offensive and to exert pressure on the occupation forces of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN).

October

7 October

In a televised speech, President Nixon proposed a cease-fire in place in South Vietnam. Previously the U.S. had demanded the withdrawal of all North Vietnamese forces from South Vietnam. North Vietnam rejected the proposal as it required an eventual withdrawal by North Vietnam which claimed that it had to right to maintain forces in South Vietnam as South and North were a single country.^[6]

November

November 21, 1970

Operation Ivory Coast was a failed rescue mission conducted in North Vietnam during the Vietnam War by United States Special Operations Forces and other elements of the U.S. Military.

Year in numbers

Armed Force	Strength	KIA	Reference		Military costs - 1968	Military costs in 2016 US$	Reference
South Vietnam ARVN	968,000		[7]
United States US Forces	335,790	6,081	[1]
South Korea	48,540		[7][8]
Thailand	11,570		[7]
Australia	6800		[7]
Philippines	70		[7]
New Zealand	440		[7]
North Vietnam

Bibliography

Notes

1. United States 2010
2. Stanton 2003, p. 13
3. Li 2007, p. 206
4. /Fulghum, David and Maitland, Terrence (1984), South Vietnam on Trial, Boston: Boston Publishing Company, p. 11.
5. Stanton 2003, p. 14
6. Fulgrum and Maitland, p. 11
7. Military strengths are provided via the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City as seen in Dec 2010.
8. Leepson & Hannaford 1999, p. 209

References

• Li, Xiaobing (2007). A history of the modern Chinese Army (2007 ed.). University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2438-7. - Total pages: 413
• Stanton, Shelby L. (2003). Vietnam order of battle (2003 ed.). Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-8117-0071-2. - Total pages: 396
• United States, Government (2010). "Statistical information about casualties of the Vietnam War". National Archives and Records Administration. Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2010.