Battle of Loc Ninh The Battle of Lộc Ninh was a major battle fought during the Easter Offensive during the Vietnam War , which took place in Bình Long Province , South Vietnam between 4 – 7 April 1972 . Towards the end of 1971 , North Vietnamese leaders decided to launch a major offensive against South Vietnam , with the objective of destroying Army of the Republic of Vietnam ( ARVN ) units and capturing as much territory as possible , in order to strengthen their bargaining position in the Paris Peace Accords . On 30 March 1972 , two North Vietnamese Army divisions smashed through the Demilitarized Zone , marking the commencement of the Easter Offensive . They quickly overwhelmed South Vietnamese units in the I Corps Tactical Zone . With the rapid collapse of South Vietnamese forces in the northern provinces of South Vietnam , North Vietnamese and Việt Cộng forces began preparing for their next offensive , targeting Bình Long Province in the Mekong Delta region . On 4 April , the Việt Cộng ' s 5th Division opened their attack on Lộc Ninh , defended by the ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment . After three days of fighting , the vastly outnumbered South Vietnamese forces , though well supported by American air power , were forced to abandon their positions in Lộc Ninh . Background . In December 1971 , following the defeat of South Vietnamese forces during Operation Lam Son 719 , North Vietnamese leadership in Hanoi decided to launch a major military offensive against South Vietnam . In what became known as the Easter Offensive , the combined North Vietnamese and Việt Cộng forces employed combined arms tactics using heavy weapons that were a radical departure from the low - intensity guerrilla warfare of previous years . Although North Vietnam eventually used the equivalent of 14 army divisions , its leaders did not seek to win the war outright . Rather , their objective was to gain as much territory and destroy as many units of the South Vietnamese military as possible , in order to strengthen their bargaining position at the Paris Peace Talks . The Easter Offensive began on 30 March 1972 , when the 304th and 308th North Vietnamese Divisions drove across the DMZ and attacked South Vietnamese positions in the I Corps Tactical Zone , which consisted of South Vietnam ' s northernmost provinces . Caught by surprise , South Vietnamese General Vũ Văn Giai ordered his newly created 3rd Infantry Division to withdraw towards the Cua Viet River , where it could reorganize . On 2 April , ARVN Colonel Pham Van Dinh surrendered his 56th Infantry Regiment at Camp Carroll , which enabled the North Vietnamese to take the former American fire base without a fight . Quảng Trị City was captured by the North Vietnamese army on 28 April , following several counterattacks by South Vietnamese units around Đông Hà . With the northern provinces of South Vietnam under their control , North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces turned their attention to the Mekong Delta region , which formed part of the ARVN III Corps Tactical Zone . During the Offensive , the objective of the combined Communist forces in the zone was the capture of An Lộc , capital of Bình Long Province . The Viet Cong committed three infantry divisions to the mission ( 5th , 7th and 9th Divisions ) . North Vietnamese support came in the form of one artillery formation ( 69th Artillery Command ) , one armored regiment ( 203rd Armored Regiment ) , two independent regiments ( 205th and 101st Regiment ) , and one sapper unit ( 429th Sapper Group ) . The Viet Cong ' s 5th Division was to initiate the offensive by taking Lộc Ninh , while the 9th Division was assigned to An Lộc . The 7th Division was ordered to block National Highway 13 to prevent reinforcements from reaching An Lộc . Prelude . In late December 1971 , ARVN intelligence in the III Corps Tactical Zone had detected the buildup of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong formations across the border in neighbouring Cambodia . Even though it was obvious that preparations for a major Communist offensive were under way , South Vietnamese commanders were unable to predict their enemies ' intentions . In January 1972 , the Viet Cong 5th Division was reported to have taken up positions in Snuol , a Cambodian city located about west of Lộc Ninh . South Vietnamese intelligence also detected the presence of the Viet Cong ' s 7th and 9th Divisions in Dambe and Chup respectively . Between January and May 1971 , the South Vietnamese army mounted Operation Toan Thang TT02 , with the aim of destroying Viet Cong main force divisions based in Cambodia , specifically in the Snuol area . But due to the death of General Đỗ Cao Trí , the commander of the ARVN III Corps Tactical Zone , in a helicopter accident , the South Vietnamese were forced to retreat from Snuol without achieving their objective . In February and March 1972 , South Vietnamese units patrolling the international border with Cambodia detected increased Communist activity in the Fishhook area , most notably the presence of the Viet Cong 5th Division in an area north of Bình Long Province . On 13 March , a South Vietnamese mechanized task force operating in Cambodia discovered a huge depot which contained large quantities of assault rifles , machine guns , rockets , anti - aircraft guns and ammunition in Base Area 354 ( Svay Rieng Province ) and Base Area 708 ( Kampong Cham Province ) . On 27 March , a Việt Cộng deserter from a reconnaissance company of the 7th Division revealed that his unit was surveying a portion of road between Tây Ninh and Bình Long in preparation for its next move . Between 27 March and 1 April , more enemy prisoners and documents were captured by the South Vietnamese army , which revealed that the Viet Cong ' s 7th and 9th Divisions were coordinating their efforts against an unidentified target . The movements of Communist forces near the Cambodian - South Vietnamese border during the first three months of 1972 clearly indicated that a major offensive was in the making . However , the whereabouts of the next Communist thrust was the topic which concerned South Vietnamese and U . S . intelligence officers the most . In previous offensives , the Communist had used Tây Ninh as an invasion route , as it was surrounded by Viet Cong bases in War Zone C , the Iron Triangle and the Parrot ' s Beak , Cambodia . South Vietnamese and U . S . military intelligence reached a consensus that Tây Ninh would be the next target for the Communist Easter Offensive . To reinforce that perception , on 2 April , the Viet Cong 24th Independent Regiment overran Fire Support Base Lac Long , defended by elements of the ARVN 49th Infantry Regiment , 5th Infantry Division , about northwest of Tây Ninh . The attacks on Lac Long and other outposts in Tây Ninh were a diversion designed to cover the main thrust into Bình Long Province . To initiate the campaign in Bình Long , the Viet Cong ' s 5th Division ( numbering about 9 , 230 soldiers ) was ordered to take Lộc Ninh , Bình Long ' s northernmost town . The Viet Cong were supported by the North Vietnamese 69th Artillery Command ( 3 , 830 soldiers ) and the 203rd Armored Regiment ( 800 soldiers ) . In 1972 , Lộc Ninh was a small district town situated on Route 13 , home to about 4 , 000 people , mostly members of the various Montagnard tribes . The task of defending Lộc Ninh was entrusted to the ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment , 5th Infantry Division , commanded by Colonel Nguyễn Công Vinh . It was supported by the 1st Cavalry Squadron , 1st Regional Force Battalion , and elements of the 74th Ranger Battalion . Prior to the battle , the 9th Infantry Regiment had occupied the former U . S . Special Forces compound at the south end of the airfield , which was about west of the district center . The district headquarters was defended by more than 200 South Vietnamese Regional Forces soldiers , who operated from a Japanese - built fortified bunker system located north of the airfield . To assist the 9th Infantry Regiment , the U . S . military provided seven advisers . The U . S . advisory team at 9th Regimental Headquarters was led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard R . Schott , who was assisted by Major Albert E . Carlson and Captain Mark A . Smith , and two communication specialists , Sergeant First Class Howard B . Hull and Sergeant Kenneth Wallingford . Additionally , Captain George Wanat and Major Thomas Davidson operated from the north end of the airfield , attached to the district headquarters . Fall of Loc Ninh . From the beginning of April , there was a sharp increase in Viet Cong activities along National Highway 13 , which connects Bình Long Province with Saigon . Between 3 – 4 April , South Vietnamese Regional Force units clashed several times with the Viet Cong , resulting in more than twenty Viet Cong fatalities . Also , the French owner of the Cexso Rubber Plantation in Lộc Ninh reported that the Communists had established field telephone lines northwest of the district . However , ARVN Colonel Colonel Nguyễn Công Vinh was reluctant to send reconnaissance patrols to that area . On 4 April , the ARVN 9th Reconnaissance Company operating west of Lộc Ninh was destroyed when it came into contact with elements of the Viet Cong main force units . On the same evening , the 3rd Battalion , ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment captured two enemy soldiers during an ambush operation . The Viet Cong prisoners revealed that they were from the 272nd Regiment , 9th Division , and that their unit was moving south to prepare for an assault on An Lộc . At around 6 : 50 am on 5 April , the Viet Cong 5th Division moved across the Cambodian border to stage the main attack on Lộc Ninh . The Viet Cong assault opened with a heavy barrage of artillery , rocket and mortar fire targeting the headquarters of the ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment and the Lộc Ninh district compound . The Viet Cong simultaneously mounted other attacks throughout the ARVN 5th Infantry Division ' s areas of operations in Lai Khê and Quần Lợi . There was also indirect fire on South Vietnamese positions in Phước Long Province , mainly targeting Phước Vinh , Sông Bé , and Bo Duc . Following the artillery barrage , Viet Cong infantry , supported by about 25 tanks , attacked Lộc Ninh from the west . In the initial assault , they tried to overrun the South Vietnamese regimental compound located at the south end of the airstrip . Despite the ferocity of the onslaught , South Vietnamese soldiers held their ground and fought desperately to hold the enemy at bay ; South Vietnamese artillerymen lowered the muzzles of their 105mm howitzers and fired directly at enemy infantry formations moving through the rubber trees . Even though the situation was stabilized , the South Vietnamese were forced to retreat into small compounds at the north and south ends of the town . The intensity of the attack on Lộc Ninh revealed the true intentions of the Communists ; ARVN Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Minh , commander of the III Corps Tactical Zone , and his American advisor Major General James F . Hollingsworth realized that Bình Long , not Tây Ninh , would be the focus of the Communist offensive . In order to halt the Communist advance , Minh and Hollingsworth directed all available tactical support aircraft towards Lộc Ninh . Almost immediately , South Vietnamese air force F - 5 and A - 1 fighter - bomber s , United States Air Force ( USAF ) A - 37s from the 8th Special Operations Squadron based at Biên Hòa , attack aircraft from the aircraft carrier , and USAF F - 4 and AC - 130 aircraft from Thailand began flying over the skies of Lộc Ninh . U . S . and South Vietnamese tactical support aircraft were directed against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese formations by American advisers on the ground . As the fighting intensified , Colonel Nguyễn Công Vinh ordered the 1st Cavalry Squadron — commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Huu Duong — to withdraw from Fire Support Base Alpha to reinforce Lộc Ninh . However , Duong refused , saying he would surrender his unit to the Viet Cong instead . Angered , Captain Mark A . Smith reportedly threatened to destroy the 1st Cavalry Squadron with American air power if the squadron didn ' t fight . Schott , in recognition of Smith ' s combat experience and knowledge of the Vietnamese language , allowed him to take control of the situation . From that point on , Smith virtually controlled the South Vietnamese forces . A few moments later , elements of the ARVN 74th Ranger Battalion and the 3rd Battalion , ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment notified the regimental command post that they had broken out and were fighting their way back towards Lộc Ninh . Meanwhile , the 1st Cavalry Squadron began moving west towards the Cambodian border with the Viet Cong , with the rest of their tanks and armored personnel carriers . On the afternoon of 5 April , the Viet Cong ' s 5th Division launched another major ground assault on Lộc Ninh from the west to try to break through the defenses of the southern compound . American AC - 130 and AH - 1 Cobra gunship s stopped the Viet Cong formations in their tracks , as supporting North Vietnamese tanks were either destroyed or forced to pull back . Despite having suffered many casualties as a result of U . S . air strikes , the Viet Cong continued their assaults well into the evening . In order to deal with the onslaught , Smith continued to direct the AC - 130 Spectres against targets around Lộc Ninh . Vinh , on the other hand , was either planning to surrender or desert when he ordered two of his soldiers to open the gates of the command compound at around 10 pm . Throughout the night , the North Vietnamese 69th Artillery Command continued bombarding South Vietnamese positions around Lộc Ninh , as the Viet Cong massed for another assault . On the morning of 6 April , South Vietnamese forces reported hearing the sound of tanks moving toward the southern end of the district airfield . At about 5 : 30 am , the Viet Cong launched another attack from southern Lộc Ninh , with the support of about 25 T - 54 and PT - 76 tanks . Viet Cong infantry initially managed to breach the South Vietnamese lines , but the attack soon stalled , and neither side gained a clear advantage . In the afternoon , elements of the Viet Cong E6 Regiment forced their way through the compound gates , but air strikes from U . S . AC - 130s stopped them from advancing any further . By that stage , however , the ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment had absorbed a significant number of casualties ; it only had 50 soldiers left , while another 150 wounded were in the hospital bunker . The defenders in Lộc Ninh were cut off from outside help since heavy - calibre North Vietnamese anti - aircraft guns effectively prevented resupply and medivac flights into the area . In an attempt to save Lộc Ninh , Brigadier General Le Van Hung — commander of the ARVN 5th Infantry Division — ordered Task Force 52 to move north to reinforce the beleaguered 9th Infantry Regiment . Task Force 52 consisted of the 2nd Battalion , 52nd Infantry Regiment , and the 1st Battalion , 48th Infantry Regiment ; both units had been transferred from the ARVN 18th Infantry Division in late March to serve as a border screen for General Hưng ' s forces . Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Bá Thinh — commander of Task Force 52 — ordered the 2nd Battalion to advance towards Lộc Ninh . The unit was ambushed at the junction of National Highway 13 and Route 17 . Unable to withstand the Viet Cong ' s superior firepower , it was forced to withdraw . To prevent Task Force 52 from evacuating to either Lộc Ninh or An Lộc , the Viet Cong pursued Task Force 52 and bombarded their bases with heavy artillery throughout the day . Meanwhile , on the afternoon of 6 April , the South Vietnamese inside Lộc Ninh were slightly reinforced by the 3rd Battalion , ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment , along with the men of the 1st Cavalry Squadron at FSB Alpha who had refused to surrender . Furthermore , wounded South Vietnamese soldiers who were still able to fight made their way back to the defensive perimeter to await the next wave of attacks . During the night , the South Vietnamese compound descended into chaos when North Vietnamese artillery scored a direct hit on the hospital bunker , killing a large number of wounded men . Later on , another round of rockets struck the South Vietnamese artillery compound , striking the ammunition storage bunker , which exploded . From the eastern side of the district , the Viet Cong tried to penetrate the defense line at Lộc Ninh , but were beaten off . Realizing that the situation had become hopeless , Vinh took off his uniform and told his to surrender . At 7 am on 7 April , the Viet Cong massed for another ground assault from the north and west of Lộc Ninh , with support from heavy artillery , tanks and armored personnel carriers . As the Viet Cong closed in , Vinh and his bodyguards ran out the opened gate and surrendered . Several South Vietnamese soldiers also tried to surrender , but they all returned to their positions after Smith stopped a South Vietnamese officer from raising a white T - shirt up the flagpole . By 8 am , the ARVN 9th Infantry Regiment was completely overwhelmed when the Viet Cong overran the southern compound with their superior numbers . At around 10 am , all tactical air support was called off in order to clear the way for B - 52 strikes against Viet Cong formations west of Lộc Ninh . However , the B - 52 strikes could not prevent the Viet Cong from overrunning Lộc Ninh . By 16 : 30 , the Viet Cong were in complete control of Lộc Ninh District . Aftermath . The fight cost both sides dearly . The true extent of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese casualties is largely unknown , but due to their exposure to American firepower , the Communist forces undoubtedly suffered heavy losses . Nonetheless , the successful capture of Loc Ninh exceeded Communist expectations , as they had thought that the South Vietnamese would hold out longer . Lộc Ninh became the seat of the Provisional Revolutionary Government , the capital of Communist - occupied territories in South Vietnam . The South Vietnamese , in their efforts to hold the district , lost more than a thousand soldiers killed or captured ; only about fifty soldiers actually reached An Lộc . The Viet Cong also captured all seven American advisers and an embedded French journalist , Yves - Michel Dumond , in Lộc Ninh ; they were taken to a prison camp in Kratié Province , Cambodia . Dumond was released on 14 July 1972 . On 12 February 1973 , the Americans were released in accordance with the Paris Peace Accord . As Lộc Ninh was succumbing , other Communist formations turned their attention to the provincial capital of An Lộc . At 9 am on 7 April , Brigadier General Lê Văn Hưng ordered Task Force 52 to abandon its bases , destroy all heavy weapons and vehicles , and withdraw to An Lộc , following their failed attempt at reinforcing the 9th Infantry Regiment . As Task Force 52 tried to break through National Highway 13 , they ran into another large Viet Cong ambush . It would take the soldiers of Task Force 52 about a week to reach An Lộc , infiltrating through Viet Cong and North Vietnamese positions along the main road . Late on 7 April , the Viet Cong ' s 9th Division attacked Quan Loi airfield , just north of An Lộc . Elements of the ARVN 7th Infantry Regiment defending the area were unable to hold off the Viet Cong , so they were ordered to destroy their equipment and join other South Vietnamese units in the provincial capital . The next step in the North Vietnamese offensive was the " Battle of An Lộc " .