311600H July 1965

Operation Plan 215-65 (Operation KING)

Ref:     (a)        Map:  Viet Nam 1:50,000 Sheet 6757 III

(b)              4^th Marines (-)(rein) Frag Order No. 10 of 18 July 1965

Time Zone:            H

1.            Situation.

a.                 Enemy forces.  See current ISUMS

b.                 Friendly Forces.

1.                  4^th Marines (-)(rein) continues defense of Chu Lai area.

2.                  3^rd Bn, 12^th Marines.  Provides medium and heavy artillery support as required.

3.                  FMAW.  Provides air support as required.

c.                  Attachments and Detachments.  Non.

d.                 Assumptions.

1.                  That support requirements as planned will be provided.

2.         Mission.  Continue mission assigned in reference (b).  Conduct patrolling daily within TAOR west of grid line 46 and south of Highway 1.

3.         Execution.

a.                 Concept of Operations.  Annex A (Operations Overlay).  Company A (-)(rein) heli-lifts in LZ (BT 430086) and conducts combat patrol along axis of advance.  Establishes patrol base and platoon/squad ambushes vicinity (BT 418081).  Continue patrol arriving (BT 468069) for heli-lift to assigned MLR positions.  One platoon Company C (Operation Plan 214-65) secure LZ at (BT 430086) for A Company lift.  Return by helo to MLR positions upon completion of A Company lift.  One platoon from CP 1 secure LZ (BT 468069) for Company A heli-lift to assigned MLR.

b.                 Company A (rein).

1.                  Conduct company (-)(rein) combat patrol with night ambushes to seek and destroy enemy along assigned axis of advance.  (See Annex A, Operation Overlay).

2.                  Establish patrol base vicinity (BT 418081) conduct platoon/squad night ambushes.  Continue patrol at 040400H.

3.                  Remaining platoon occupy center and right platoon positions of assigned sector of MLR and be prepared for helo/surface lift as striking force (initially one hour alert).

4.                  Coordinating Instructions.

(a)   Tentative H-Hour 030900H.  Alternate to be designated.

(b)   Preplan supporting fires along axis of advance and in support of patrol base and ambush sites.

(c)   Preplan and schedule resupply.

(d)   LZ for lift to objective area LZ GNAT (BT 529110).

(e)   Submit sit reports upon landing and every 30 minutes thereafter or as incidents occur.

(f)     Engineer squad direct support on 3 August.  On call.

(g)   Pickup by helicopter about 041600H vicinity (BT 468069).  Time to be designated.  (See Annex A, Operation Overlay).

(h)   Short Title: Operation KING.

(i)     Operation Overlay.

(j)      Rules of engagement.  No change.

c.                  Company B (rein).

1.                  Assume south platoon sector of Company A MLR.\

2.                  Conduct assigned patrols.

d.                 Company C (rein).

1.                  Maintain outposts on An Tan Bridge (BT 498067) and Hill 69 (BT 468068).

2.                  Platoon (Operation Plan 214-65) secure LZ (BT 430085) by 030900H and return by helo to MLR positions.

3.                  Platoon (OP 1) secure LZ (BT 468069) for Company A lift at 041600H.

e.                 Company D (rein).

1.                  Conduct assigned patrols.

f.                    Supporting Units.

1.                  1^st Plat, Co. A, 1^st AmTrac Bn.

(a)   Conduct assigned waterborne patrol.

2.                  1^st Plat, Co. B, 3^rd Engr Bn.  Provide one (1) squad on call at Engr Bn CP on 3 August in support of Company A.

4.         Administration and Logistics.  Company A submit equipment and resupply request to S-4 by 020900H.

5.         Command and Communications/Electronics.  Company A report location of patrol base MLR/CP when established.