The 1968 Tet Offensive Battles

The

1968 Tet Offensive Battles

of

Quang Tri City and Hue

U.S. Army Center of Military History

103 Third Avenue, Building 35, Collins Hall

Fort McNair, D.C. 20319-5058

The

1968 Tet Offensive Battles

of

Quang Tri City and Hue

by

Erik Villard

Contents

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 1968 Tet Offensive Battles of Quang Tri City and Hue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The 1st Cavalry Division Moves North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Assault on Quang Tri City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Enter the Cavalry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Target: Hue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A City Besieged: 31 January¨C1 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thon La Chu: 2¨C10 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Fight for the Triangle and the Citadel: 2¨C10 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

West of Hue: 11¨C20 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stalemate in the Citadel: 11¨C20 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Final Push: 20¨C25 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Aftermath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Page

v

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8

12

19

25

34

46

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70

78

Maps

1. I Corps Tactical Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2. The Battle of Quang Tri City: Original Allied Situation, 31 January 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. The Battle of Quang Tri City: Enemy Attack, 31 January 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. The Battle of Quang Tri City: 1st Bde, 1st Cav Div Counterattack, 31 January 1968 . . . .

5. The Battle of Hue: Enemy Attack, 30¨C31 January 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. The Battle of Hue: Friendly Situation, 31 January¨C2 February 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. The Battle of Hue: Friendly Situation, 2¨C10 February 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. The Battle of Hue: Enemy Situation, 11¨C20 February 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. The Battle of Hue: Friendly Situation, 11¨C20 February 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10. The Battle of Hue: Friendly Situation, 21¨C25 February 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

15

16

20

35

41

49

62

63

71

Illustrations

Quang Tri City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hue Citadel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Illustrations courtesy of the following: p. 9, Jim Singer; p. 26, Department of the Army files.

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