unit history information
for 57 AHC
Tet-68 in Kontum
52 CAB
Tet-68
For date 680130
57 AHC was a US Army unit
52 CAB was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Kontum
Description: The 57th Assault Helicopter Company after action report states the sustained attack by NVA/VC forces in the Kontum area began at 0212H and was reduced to minor sniper fire and occasional mortar/rocket rounds by 0800H on 5 Feb. This was a coordinated attack against the city of Kontum as well as all U.S. and ARVN military installations in the area. Indications are that the overall plan called from taking advantage of the isolated locations of the U.S. and ARVN compounds. The plan was time phased to eliminate specific compounds on given dates. The 57th was the first to come under heavy ground attack from 300230 thru 3109000 with a estimated force of 200 which included sappers, security and indirect fire elements. The major attack on this compound was basically a repeat of the 10 Jan action. The enemy was either over confident in their ability to eliminate this unit or were inflexible to initiate alternate plans once the attack had failed. Their action on subsequent days was oriented mainly against MACV, SF, 43d Signal and the 24th STZ compounds.
At 300212 a coordinated rocket, mortar fand ground attack was launched against the compound. During the battle that followed NVA forces reached a point within 50 meters of our defensive wire. Gunships engaged the enemy outside the entire eastern perimeter at a range of 20 - 30 meters utilizing miniguns and M-5 systems. This action, combined with ground defensive fire, broke the attack but fighting continued until 310900. Defensive fires of this unit combined with those of B/2/1 Cav inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking force and sealed off escape routes. The action during the early monring hours resulted in one aircraft receiving minor damage on the ground while six additional aircraft, including four gunships, received varying degrees of damage during flight. From first light until 0900 52d CAB gunships engaged isolated units to the east and northeast of the compound. Action was later continued with TAC air. A firm body count for all units was not obtained, but the 57th guns accounted for 35 NVA during this phase. At 0900 a sweep of the area was initiated but was terminated by intense sniper fire. Body count reached 59 at this time. Sniper fire continued throughout the day along the east, west and north perimeter. A 122mm rocket and mortar attack was initiated at 1845. Sporatic fire and small scale problems continued until 2400H.
Comments: MAJ Burnison, George E.; 57th AHC CO; ;
The source for this information was 57th AHC After Action Report dated 5 Feb 68
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023