page_title: Operation Piranha
section_title: Operation
hierarchical_section_title: Operation Piranha / Operation
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Utility (LCU) landing craft in the well dock of the dock landing ship USS Belle Grove (LSD-2) during "Operation Piranha", in 1965. The amphibious ships landed a Battalion Landing Team (BLT) of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines on the Batangan Peninsula, Vietnam. Note the M48 tanks tanks aboard the LCU.
context_page_description: Operation Piranha was a US Marine Corps operation that took place on the Batangan Peninsula southeast of Chu Lai, lasting from 7 to 10 September 1965.
context_section_description: The operation was launched on 7 September 1965, the amphibious landing was unopposed, while the landing of the ARVN force received some minor ground fire.  
  On 8 September, Company B 1/7 Marines discovered a VC field hospital in a large cave near the center of the Peninsula. The Marines captured four prisoners, but then came under fire from other VC in the cave. The Marines returned the fire and attempted to convince the VC to surrender. Marine engineers then placed explosives in the cave. After the detonation, the Marines counted 66 VC dead inside.
caption: An LCU loaded with M48s leaves USS Belle Grove
exif: {}