Key Facts
- Start date
- 19 April 1968
- Allied participants
- United States and ARVN (South Vietnam)
- Strategic target
- A Shau Valley PAVN supply corridor
- Previous Allied absence
- Since March 1966 Battle of A Shau
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 19 April 1968, U.S. and ARVN forces launched a joint operation, designated Operation Delaware by American commanders and Operation Lam Son 216 by ARVN, to penetrate the A Shau Valley. The operation aimed to disrupt PAVN supply lines and deny use of the valley as a staging ground, marking the first significant Allied ground presence in the area following years of only small special operations reconnaissance patrols.
01 / The Origins
The A Shau Valley in northern I Corps served as a critical PAVN logistics corridor connected to the Ho Chi Minh Trail, used to stage attacks throughout the region. Since March 1966, when a U.S. Special Forces camp was overrun during the Battle of A Shau, Allied forces had been largely absent from the valley, allowing PAVN forces to consolidate control and use it as a major supply and staging area.
03 / The Outcome
The source document does not provide details on the operation's conclusion or immediate aftermath. The outcome and any territorial changes resulting from Operation Delaware cannot be determined from the available information. The broader strategic context indicates the valley remained contested throughout the Vietnam War, with subsequent operations later conducted in the same area.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Side B
1 belligerent