A 56-day search-and-destroy operation in Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan and Lam Dong Province was launched by 1st BDE, 101st ABN DIV and supported elements.
(USMACV; Command History 1967; Volume III; 16 September 1968)
Headquarters I Field Force Vietnam directed the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division to move from vicinity KONTUM on 21 January 1967 to base camp vicinity PHAN RANG and, on 26 January to initiate operations to search out and destroy enemy units and installations in the FARRAGUT AO with priority to Secret Base 7 and 35 in that order. Shortly after the initiation of the operation, the Brigade (-) was withdrawn from Operation FARRAGUT and conducted Operation GATLING I & II. Upon completion of GATLING II on 15 February 1967 the FARRAGUT AO was extended and the Brigade's mission modified to include the conduct of search and destroy operations in areas adjacent to National Route 1 between PHAN THIET and PHAN RANG.
Operation FARRAGUT consisted of search and destroy operations conducted in four distinct phases. Phase I of Operation FARRAGUT was oriented into Secret Base 7 during the period of 26 January - 16 February 1967. Following a feint by elements of the 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry toward Secret Base 35 on 26 January, the 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry conducted airmobile assaults on 27 January to exploit a B-52 strike in Secret Base 7. 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry conducted airmobile assaults to the north of the B-52 strike zone and conducted search and destroy operations to the south, while 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry moved overland and conducted search and destroy operations north into Secret Base 7. Following the departure of the Brigade minus on 30 and 31 January for Operation GATLING, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry continued search and destroy operations in and adjacent to Secret Base 7 through 16 February. During the period 17-28 February, Phase II of Operation FARRAGUT was conducted in the LE HONG PHONG Secret Base, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry and 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry conducted thorough search and destroy operations in exploitation of a B-52 strike while 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry and 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry minus blocked to the NE and SW respectively. During the later stage of Phase II, 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry conducted search and destroy operations to the north, attempting to drive the enemy against blocking positions manned by elements of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry and Troop A, 2d Squadron, 17th Cavalry. Phase III of Operation FARRAGUT (1-8 March 1967) was characterized by Brigade minus search and destroy operations against suspected enemy locations north of SONG MAO while 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry secured portions of Route 1 and conducted cordon and search operations against VC controlled villages and hamlets between PHAN RANG and SONG MAO. The final phase of Operation FARRAGUT was a three battalion search and destroy operation against Secret Base 35. Two battalions: 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry and 2d Battalion, 502d Infantry, conducted airmobile assaults from SONG MAO into Secret Base 35 and conducted search and destroy operations to the south and west. 2d Battalion, 327th Infantry moved overland along Route 1, conducted search and destroy operations to the east and blocked routes of egress out of Secret Base 35 to the west.
Operation FARRAGUT was characterized by small unit actions and sporadic contact with small enemy forces. The search and destroy tactics utilized consisted of saturation patrolling, night movement, night ambushes, raids and the use of small unit stay behind forces. The terrain over which operations were conducted included mountainous jungle, rolling hills, sandy scrub forest and flat cultivated lowlands. During the operation 80 individual weapons, 80.4 tons of rice, 6.6 tons of corn, 17 radios, 2 generators, miscellaneous ammunition, medical and administrative supplies captured.
(HQ, 1BDE, 101st ABN DIV; Combat Operations After Action Report, Operation FARRAGUT)
Unit(s) tasked organized or under brigade control: 2-502 IN BN
Operation Farragut commenced on 26 January 1967 and terminated on 23 March 1967 with the following results:
Friendly: 15 KIA, 128 WIA
Enemy: 115 KIA, 4 PW, 155 DET, 80 I/W
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