page_title: Operation Maui Peak
section_title: Operation
hierarchical_section_title: Operation Maui Peak / Operation
caption_attribution_description: "Mobile Artillery: Marine Armored Amphibian tractors fire their 105mm howitzers to support of Operation Maui Peak 30 miles southwest of here. Five of the ‘tracs’ fired 3,480 of the 33 pound projectiles at enemy positions during the period October 6-18 (official USMC photo by Gunnery Sergeant Chuck Lane)." From the Jonathan Abel Collection (COLL/3611), Marine Corps Archives &amp; Special Collections. OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
context_page_description: Operation Maui Peak was a US Marine Corps operation that took place near the Thường Ðức Camp southwest of Danang, lasting from 1 to 19 October 1968.
context_section_description: On 6 October B-52s and tactical aircraft began bombing the intended landing zones in the hills around Thường Ðức while the 2/5 Marines moved west along Route 4 towards the Camp. As they advanced the Marines were engaged by the PAVN 1st Battalion, 141st Regiment in a battle that lasted all day.
  At 07:30 the helicopters carrying the 3/5 Marines approaching Landing Zone Sparrow 4 km south of Thường Ðức were met with intense antiaircraft fire forcing the helicopters to return to An Hoa Combat Base. At 11:00 BLT 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines was landed at Landing Zone Vulture and two ARVN Battalions were landed at Landing Zone Hawk 7 km northwest of Thường Ðức. Two Companies from 2/7 Marines began traversing the hills towards Thường Ðức. At 17:40 3/5 Marines were landed at Landing Zone Kiwi southeast of Thường Ðức.
  On 7 October the Marine units began to close in on Thường Ðức. Landing Zone Sparrow was hit again by tactical aircraft dropping 750 lb and fuel-air bombs in preparation for a landing by the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines however as the helicopters approached at 09:10 they were once again forced back by intense anti-aircraft fire.
  On Route 4 2/5 Marines encountered another well entrenched PAVN position 200m west of the site of the previous day's battle and were forced to withdraw with 12 wounded.
  On the afternoon of 8 October after artillery and airstrikes, 2/5 Marines renewed their attack supported by 4 M-48 tanks quickly overrunning the PAVN position and killing 37 PAVN for 1 Marine killed.
  At 04:00 on 12 October following a preparatory mortar attack the PAVN attacked the 2/5 Marines on Route 4. The Marines called in extensive artillery and gunship support killing 46 PAVN and capturing 1 for the loss of 8 Marines killed
  On 14 October Company F 2/7 Marines arrived at Thường Ðức officially ending the siege.
caption: Marine LVTH-6s fire their 105mm guns
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