Operation Bushmaster II

Operation Bloodhound, later renamed Operation Bushmaster II, commenced on 1 December when the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment (2/2nd Infantry) was landed at Landing Zone Dallas (11°06′29″N 106°10′55″E / 11.108°N 106.182°E / 11.108; 106.182) inside the Michelin Rubber Plantation.^[4] LZ Dallas was to serve as the command post for the two Battalions involved in the operation. From 2–5 December the US Battalions searched southeast of LZ Dallas in the VC base area known as the Long Nguyen Secret Zone.^[3]: 89

At midday on 5 December, three companies from the 2/2nd Infantry assaulted a VC base complex and were met by heavy fire from the entrenched VC.^[2] An American attempt to outflank the VC position was repulsed and the VC force then attempted to outflank and press the Americans who retreated into a defensive perimeter.^[1]: 5 The 2/2nd Infantry commander LCol. Shuffer called for air and artillery support and the 8th Battalion, 6th Artillery Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 32nd Artillery Regiment provided fire support on the southwestern perimeter, while air strikes were conducted on the east and helicopter gunships strikes on the north. The VC attempted to escape this firepower by "hugging" the American positions, but were forced back by small arms fire. The barrage continued for over four hours allowing the 2/2 Infantry to secure their position and to allow Companies A and C to move south behind a creeping barrage to overrun the VC bunkers. Eighteen aerial sorties were conducted alongside the artillery barrage, which prompted the VC to withdraw.^{[1]: 2 [5]} By 14:30 the VC begun withdrawing, leaving behind their dead and wounded. Shuffer decided not to pursue the retreating VC fearing a further ambush and withdrew into a night perimeter.^{[3]: 89–92}

The 2/2nd Infantry spent the next few days policing the battlefield and destroying bunkers and Operation Bushmaster II ended on 6 December.^[3]: 92

Total US casualties were 44 killed and three missing, while the US claims VC losses were 318 killed and 27 captured and 75 individual weapons were recovered.^[1]: 6–7 The 272nd Regiment disappeared for the next four months presumably to recover its losses.^[3]: 92

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.