Operation Game Warden

Operation Game Warden
USS Harnett County (AGP-821) part of CTF 116
Date December 18, 1965 Location Mekong Delta Result Secured South Vietnam’s extensive inland waterways
Belligerents
United States South Vietnam	Viet Cong
Commanders and leaders
William Westmoreland David L. McDonald
Casualties and losses
39 killed 366 wounded 9 MIA	2,000 Viet Cong craft destroyed, damaged, or captured 1,400+ killed, wounded or captured

Operation Game Warden, Task force 116, was an operation to deny Viet Cong access to the resources in the Mekong Delta which was conceived of in December 1965. U.S. naval forces, backed by Marine artillery on the ground, launching a rapid surprise attack on the dozens of small Viet Cong ports which were scattered around the Delta. Unprepared in the face of intense U.S. firepower, which included U.S. F-4 Phantoms dropping special illumination bombs which blinded the Viet Cong deck gunners, leaving to them being unable to accurately return fire on the attacking U.S. craft, the Viet Cong were incapable of mounting a stiff resistance. Much the Viet Cong fleet and its operators were destroyed.

History

The U.S. navy had been steadily consolidating its forces around the Delta for months, assembling several new special test weapons, which the naval commanders were anxious to use.

Units

• River Patrol Force Dispositions
  • River Division 51 Can Tho / Binh Thuy
  • River Division 52 Sa Dec (later Vinh Long)
  • River Division 53 My Tho
  • River Division 54 Nha Be River
  • River Division 55 Danang
• Support Ships 1966
  • USS Belle Grove (LSD-2)
  • USS Comstock (LSD-19)
  • USS Tortuga (LSD-26)
  • USS Floyd County (LST-762)
  • USS Jennings County (LST-846)
• Support Ships 1967-1968
  • USS Garrett County (LST-786)
  • USS Harnett County (LST-821)
  • USS Hunterdon County (LST-838)
  • USS Jennings County (LST-846)

References

• Daniels, Victory and Judith C. Erdheim. Game Warden. Arlington, VA: Center for Naval Analyses, 1976. Appendix A-E, Appendix F-I

Further reading

• Mintz, J. Game Warden. Mobile Riverine Force and Revolutionary Development Operations in the Delta. Arlington, VA: The Center, 1968.

See also

• Operation Market Time CTF-115
• Mobile Riverine Force CTF-117
• Operation Sealords, a combination of CTF-115, 116, 117 and other forces.

External links

• Gamewardens of Vietnam, Inc.
• Mobile Riverine Force Association - CTF-116 page
• United States Naval Operations Vietnam, Highlights; January 1966
• United States Naval Operations Vietnam, Highlights; February 1966
• United States Naval Operations Vietnam, Highlights; March 1966