Ambush on Highway 1
*
*
Ap Hung Nghia, South Vietnam*
21 November, 1966*
U.S. Army-Viet Cong Meeting Engagement*
*
Design: C. Berry
*
*
In mid-October of 1966, the 11th Armored Cavalry "Blackhorse" Regiment, moved from it's staging area at Long Binh and established a Regimental base camp 12 kilometers south of Xuan Loc. During this movement, convoys escorted by the regiment's Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles(ACAV) travelled Highways 1 and 2 without incident.
*
*
 On November 21, one of these convoys consisting of regimental staff, supply, and service personel, was scheduled to depart Long Binh at 0600. Due to a delay in the assignment of the escort, the sitting convoy grew as more rear echelon units joined before finally getting underway at 0920 under escort of ACAV's from 1st and 2nd Platoons, Troop C, 1st Squadron under command of 1st Lt. Neil L. Keltner.
*
*
The convoy had been on the road for 45 minutes when the Regimental S-2 recieved information that the Viet Cong 274th Regiment was in the vicinity of Ap Hung Nghia along Highway 1. He notified the regimental flight operations center which dispached the two element flight of Huey gunships,"hogs", already airborne for base security and launched another four element flight of "hogs" which had been on alert. The S-2 then called the airborne spotter overflying the area and diverted a flight of napalm loaded F-100's to support.
*
*
Within moments of Lt. Keltner alerting his escort units, small arms fire erupted along the center of the convoy. Drivers, riders and passengers rolled into the roadside ditches as C Troop's ACAV's moved down the road firing into the jungle, tall grass and tangled banana plantation on either side. Casualties began to mount within the convoy and it's escort as the Viet Cong added recoiless rifle and RPG fire to the ambush.
*
*
Only the rapid re-deployment of regimental firepower; much of it on the way before the first shot was fired, saved the convoy from complete destruction. After several sweeps by the "hogs", the Viet Cong melted back into the jungle pursued by combat elements of the regiment's 1st Squadron sent from base camp in relief of Keltner's battered escort.   
*
*
Sources:*
SEVEN FIREFIGHTS IN VIETNAM by John A. Cash John Albright and Allan W. Sandstrum-OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORY UNITED STATES ARMY WASHINGTON, D.C., 1985 (pgs 41-58)-available at* http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/7-ff/FrontMatter.htm
  





  