Operation Starlite

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Operation Starlite was a major early U.S. Marine Corps offensive in the Vietnam War, launched in August 1965 to preempt a Viet Cong attack near the Chu Lai base area.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle of the Vietnam War
military operation
belligerent United States Marine Corps
Viet Cong
casualties approximately 45 U.S. Marines killed
over 200 U.S. Marines wounded
codename Operation Starlite
commander Brigadier General Frederick J. Karch
Colonel Oscar F. Peatross
conflict Vietnam War
country United States
endDate 1965-08-24
enemyCasualties over 40 Viet Cong captured
over 600 Viet Cong killed
engagementType armor-infantry cooperation
close air support operations
infantry combat
naval gunfire engagement
followedBy subsequent U.S. Marine Corps search-and-destroy operations in I Corps
forceStrength approximately 1,500–2,000 Viet Cong troops
approximately 5,500 U.S. Marines
historicalSignificance demonstrated U.S. capability to conduct large-scale heliborne and amphibious assaults in Vietnam
influenced subsequent U.S. Marine Corps operational doctrine in Vietnam
location Chu Lai, South Vietnam
Quảng Ngãi Province, South Vietnam
militaryBranch United States Marine Corps
notableAs first major purely U.S. offensive operation of the Vietnam War
first regimental-sized U.S. Marine Corps operation in Vietnam War
objective destroy Viet Cong 1st Regiment
preempt Viet Cong attack on Chu Lai base area
opponent Viet Cong 1st Regiment
partOf Vietnam War
plannedBy III Marine Amphibious Force
predecessor establishment of Chu Lai Marine base
result U.S. and South Vietnamese tactical victory
Viet Cong forces withdrew from area
startDate 1965-08-18
support U.S. Marine Corps aviation support
U.S. Navy gunfire support
supportedBy U.S. Seventh Fleet
tacticsUsed amphibious assault
combined arms
helicopter-borne air assault
theater I Corps Tactical Zone, South Vietnam
typeOfOperation preemptive strike
search and destroy


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