Van Tuong

The Battle of Van Tuong (aka Operation Starlite) was considered the first US offensive of the Vietnam War. It started with an amphibious landing and three helicopter landings. In Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, this map mixes semi-urban combat and a sprawling river network surrounded by jungle.

Gameplay & Strategies

Van Tuong is a particular Hell Let Loose: Vietnam map in that its central point, Riverside Village, is located south, leaving a huge portion of the middle section wide open for attacks behind the enemy lines while troops concentrate around it. Therefore, flanking the enemy team becomes a key strategy during the middle point of Warfare and Offensive matches.

The many riverways also allow patrol boats to sneak around enemy outposts and garrisons to quickly deploy squads. They also difficult on-foot movement, with infantry often having to swim to cross the canals. Recon soldiers and snipers should keep an eye for sneaky enemy attacks from bodies of water, gunning down strays and making sure the action away from the frontlines stays under control.

Despite the difficult terrain for constant forward movement, tanks and other ground vehicles can move fast using dirt roads before arriving to CPs where they can support troops. As always, check for small anti-armour squads hiding behind trees and bushes.

History

Between August 18 and 24, 1965, Operation Starlite was launched by a pure US military unit as the first major offensive action in the country, with support from the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The plan was to strike the Viet Cong's 1st Regiment before they could hit the Chu Lai Air Base.

The operation involved ground, air, and naval units, with helicopter insertions and an amphibious landing deploying US Marines across the Van Tuong area. Despite initially countering the assault from prepared positions, the VC eventually had to retreat. The operation went on for five extra days in an attempt to search the area systematically for resistance.

Reports say the Marines had killed 614 VC soldiers by the end of Operation Starlite, at the cost of 45 dead and 203 wounded. Meanwhile, the VC also claimed victory, saying they had killed or wounded roughly 900 Americans, destroyed 22 tanks, and downed 13 helicopters, with only 50 VC soldiers dead. The US Armed Forces' supply column was ambushed during the offensive, as reported by journalist Peter Arnett, though the USMC denied the story.