Key Facts
- Dates
- 7–9 December 1964
- Duration
- 3 days
- Province
- Bình Định Province, II Corps tactical zone
- Objective
- Capture An Lão valley as corridor between PAVN bases
- Attacker
- PAVN forces and Viet Cong guerrillas
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 7 December 1964, PAVN regulars and Viet Cong guerrillas jointly attacked and captured the An Lão district headquarters. Over the following two days, the combined communist force successfully repelled repeated counterattacks launched by Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops, maintaining control of the captured position throughout the three-day engagement.
01 / The Origins
By late 1964, communist forces in South Vietnam's II Corps area sought to link their military bases in Quảng Ngãi and Bình Định provinces. The 5th Military Region launched Campaign An Lão to seize the An Lão valley as a strategic corridor, targeting the district headquarters in coastal Bình Định Province as a key objective within this broader operational plan.
03 / The Outcome
After three days of fighting, the communist forces had successfully held the An Lão district headquarters against ARVN counterattacks. The battle formed part of the broader Campaign An Lão, which achieved its strategic aim of establishing a corridor between communist bases in Quảng Ngãi and Bình Định provinces, consolidating PAVN and Viet Cong influence in the An Lão valley.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.