Chronology of the Laotian Civil War Laotian Civil War

1 chronology of laotian civil war

1.1 1945: prelude war
1.2 1946: french return; vietnamese arrive
1.3 1947–52: build-up of forces
1.4 1953–54: first north vietnamese invasion , french defeat
1.5 1955–58: lull
1.6 1959: second north vietnamese invasion
1.7 1960: neutralist coup
1.8 1961: superpowers involvement deepens
1.9 1962: disaster , new government
1.10 1963: stasis
1.11 1964–65: escalation , air force involvement

1.11.1 operations steel tiger , tiger hound


1.12 1966–67
1.13 1968: royal lao army neutralized
1.14 1969–72
1.15 1973–74
1.16 taking of vientiane

chronology of laotian civil war

1945: prelude war

the end of world war ii left laos in political chaos. french, had been displaced protectorate japanese, wanted resume control of laos, , sponsored guerrilla forces regain control. japanese had proclaimed laos independent lost war. though king sisavang vong thought laos small independence had proclaimed end of french protectorate status though favored french return. let known accept independence if should occur. there nascent movement independence amid turmoil.

underlying strong undercurrent of vietnamese involvement. sixty percent of population of laos s 6 urban areas vietnamese, vietnamese holding key positions in civil bureaucracies , police. since 1930s indochinese communist party had established wholly vietnamese cells in laos.

prince phetsarath ratanavongsa, viceroy , prime minister, established lao royal treasury account indochinese treasury in hanoi in attempt establish functional economy.

french commandos parachuted laos beginning in 1945 organize guerrilla forces. november, had formed guerrillas 4 light infantry battalions of newly founded french union army. officers , sergeants of new lao battalions french.

in october, 1945, lao nationalist movement called lao issara (free laos) founded new government laos. among lao issara s prominent members 3 european-educated princes; brothers phetsarath ratanavongsa , souvanna phouma, , half brother, souphanouvong. former became titular founder of lao issara. souphanouvong became commander in chief, minister of foreign affairs. souvanna phouma became minister of public works.

independence began uprising of vietnamese residents in savannakhet. prince souphanouvong took command of band of partisans armed weapons looted local militia. band moved northward administrative capitol of vientiane provisional revolutionary government. souphanouvong urged signing of military cooperation treaty newly established north vietnamese communist government, done. french military mission escorted out of laos thailand contingent of chinese troops.

however, lao issara never gained more tenuous hold on entirety of laos. roving viet minh detachments ruled northeast, viet minh declined aid new government. chinese troops, including chinese nationalist 93rd division, occupied cities far south luang prabang. french-sponsored guerrillas controlled southern provinces of savannakhet , khammouan. prince boun oum, sympathized french, occupied rest of southern panhandle.

for these, , other reasons, lao issara not hold country against returning french colonial government , troops. french negotiated chinese withdrawal laos prior own return, removing them field.

1946: french return; vietnamese arrive

in january 1946, french began reconquest of laos sweeping bolovens plateau. had organized 6 battalions of light infantry, added minor force of french troops.

on 21 march 1946, souphanouvong , largely vietnamese force fought french union troops @ savannakhet, no avail; attackers mustered paratroopers, artillery, armored cars, , spitfire fighter-bombers. lao issara troops suffered 700 killed. fled, leaving behind 250 bodies , 150 prisoners.

on 24 april, french dropped paratroop battalion on outskirts of vientiane, , took city without resistance. on 9 may, repeated airborne tactics drop outside luang prabang. coupled thrust north french forces, vientiane luang prabang, chased phetsarath ratanavongsa , lao issara ministers out of laos. king reinstated french rule repudiating actions had been pressured him japanese, chinese, , lao issara.

by september, 1946, lao issara had been defeated , had fled exile in bangkok. 1 of splinter groups, led thao o anourack fled hanoi. there allied himself 2 men trusted ho chi minh; nouhak phoumsavanh vietnamese, , kaysone phomvihane vietnamese-lao. these 3 men founded military movement become pathet lao (land of laos).

thao o anourack established initial pathet lao base @ con cuong, vietnam. kaysone phomvihane organized first detachment of new force. end of 1946, @ least 500 viet minh agents had crossed laos.

1947–52: build-up of forces

on 11 may 1947, king sisavang vong granted constitution declaring laos independent nation within french union. began building of new government on next few years, including establishment of national army, armée nationale laotienne, first iteration of royal lao army.

the nascent army plagued lack of lao leadership, , weaponry hodgepodge. new armée nationale laotienne consisted of light infantry battalions officered french. there 1 paratroop battalion included. french began training lao officers , non-commissioned officers continued lead , train new army.

in opposition, viet minh raised subsidiary revolutionary movement, pathet lao, starting initial guerrilla band of 25 in january, 1949.

in october, 1949, exiled lao issara dissolved , 3 royal brothers each chose separate destiny.

phetsarath rattanavongsa chose remain in bangkok. stay temporary. once again become viceroy of laos.

souvanna phouma chose return laos via amnesty, believing lao free themselves. in 1951 became prime minister first time , held office until 1954.

souphanouvong, had spent 7 years in nha trang during sixteen years in vietnam, met ho chi minh, , acquired vietnamese wife while in vietnam, solicited viet minh aid in founding guerrilla force.

in august, 1950, souphanouvong had joined viet minh in headquarters north of hanoi, vietnam, , become head of pathet lao, along political arm dubbed neo lao hak sat (lao patriotic front). attempt give false front of authority lao communist movement claiming represent united non-partisan effort. 2 of important founders members of indochinese communist party, advocated overthrow of monarchy expulsion of french. got laos involved in first indochina war started off against french.

on december 23, 1950, pentalateral mutual defense assistance pact signed united states, france, vietnam, cambodia, , laos; tool transfer american military aid french war effort in indochina. year marked infiltration of @ least 5,000 more viet minh laos.

in february, 1951, indochinese communist party decided split in 3 sponsor war against french in cambodia , laos, along war in vietnam. new laotian branch consisted of 2,091 members, included 31 lao.

also, 1951, pathet lao had mustered sufficient trained troops join viet minh in military operations.

by october, 1951, armée nationale laotienne had raised 2 more battalions of infantry , begun training battalion of paratroops. anl ended year strength of 5,091.

by end of 1952, royal lao army had grown include battalion of troops commanded laotian officers, 17 other companies.

1953–54: first north vietnamese invasion , french defeat

french general salan , prince sisavang in lao capital, luang prabang, 4 may 1953

in april, 1953, viet minh s people s army of vietnam (pavn) invaded northeastern part of still french protectorate of laos 40,000 troops commanded general võ nguyên giáp; including 2,000 pathet lao soldiers led souphanouvong. objective of two-pronged invasion capture of royal capital of luang prabang , of plain of jars. in november 9 pathet lao began conflict kingdom of laos beginning civil war , technically second indochina war while first indochina war still going.

they opposed 10,000 lao troops , 3,000 french regulars.

the north vietnamese invaders succeeded in conquering border provinces of phongsali , xam neua, adjacent northern vietnam , on northeastern verge of plain of jars. moved aside allow pathet lao force mismatched scrounged equipment occupy captured ground, , souphanouvong moved pathet lao headquarters xam neua on 19 april.

the other strike, moving Điện biên phủ , aimed downriver @ luang prabang, thwarted oncoming monsoons , resistance french.

pathet lao soldiers in xam neua, 1953

the vietnamese invasion stalled, because french had airlifted in battalions of foreign legionnaires , moroccan tirailleurs.

in december, french union army, part of attempt protect laos pavn, recaptured dien bien phu valley.

in january 1954, pavn launched 2 assaults on laos. 1 thrust crossed top of panhandle mekong river town of thakhek. other again aimed @ luang prabang. both thwarted in month.

these diversions famous battle of dien bien phu, took place march through may 1954 within ten kilometers of lao border, on lines of communication plain of jars. ruggedness of karst mountains of northern laos channels movement few canyons; small watercraft move Điện biên phủ down nam ou, , thence directly downriver luang prabang, or cross pdj via ban ban.

the united states used civil air transport, later morphed air america, in covert operation fly supplies embattled french in Điện biên phủ. pavn launched diversionary thrust @ seno, laos aimed @ cutting away panhandle main body of laos. thrust foiled paratroopers french union s army of republic of vietnam.

when relief troops failed lift siege in time, french , local allies lost bastion of Điện biên phủ. 1 of troopers in relief column marching luang prabang young hmong named vang pao.

the french loss @ Điện biên phủ marked end of first indochina war; french driven negotiate peace. on 20 july, agreement on cessation of hostilities in laos signed, ending french rule. 2 months later, north vietnamese established support group pathet lao forces @ ban nameo, within northeastern laos.

the geneva conference of 1954.

the agreement radically changed geography of indochina, resulting in independence laos. on 1 august 1954 french army withdrew laos declaring independence nation alongside north vietnam, south vietnam , cambodia ended first indochina war laotian civil war still ongoing. northern half of vietnam became independent of french imperialist enterprise , ruled independent vietnamese communist government. lao french union troops joined military of independent laos, france kept 2 military bases in laos , maintained military advisors in new lao military. royal lao government military received first aircraft french in 1954; 9 morane-saulnier ms-500 criquets supplied support , medevac.

1955–58: lull

see operation booster shot

in january, 1955, french advisors began training first lao aviation force. later year, thailand supply sikorsky h-19 helicopters , volunteer pilots lao military. thais trained thirty lao officers in weapons use @ hua hin, thailand.

in 1955, united states operation mission set in laos. primary purpose supply of military defense materials royal lao government; 80% of budget dedicated purpose. united states paid 100% of lao military budget. however, embassy staff not monitoring program. there obvious need military assistance advisory group; however, united states had signed treaty expressly forbade such.

u.s. president dwight d. eisenhower s solution establish programs evaluation office (peo) in december, 1955, staffed american civilians prior military experience , headed retired brigadier general rothwell brown. these civilians given u.s. state department status. however, did not work strictly state department. on military matters, reported commander in chief pacific command, information supplied american ambassador; on non-military matters, reported directly ambassador.

1955 notable despatch of royal lao government troops sam neua , phong saly, resented pathet lao. result of resentment, , disputes electoral procedures, laotian communists boycotted year s national elections.

on 21 march 1956, souvanna phouma began second term prime minister. opened dialogue brother, souphanouvong. in august, announced intention of declaring ceasefire , reintegrating pathet lao , occupied territory government. however, pathet lao claimed right administer provinces occupied.

at same time, , north vietnamese backers ran massive recruitment campaign, aim of forming 9 battalions of troops. many of new recruits sent north vietnam schooling , training. led united states concern royal lao army inadequately equipped , trained because there 1 small french military mission working rla.

in february, 1957, programs evaluation office personnel began supplying training materials french military mission charged training royal lao army. rationale improved training better fit army defending country. part of process, united states took on paying royal lao army s salaries.

beginning in march, 1957, royal lao army began shuttling arms hmong guerrillas, enable them fight on side of rla.

in november, 1957, coalition government incorporating pathet lao established. using slogan, 1 vote right, 1 vote left prevent civil war , pro-communist parties received one-third of popular vote , won 13 of 21 contested seats in elections of 4 may 1958. these additional seats, left controlled total of 16 seats in 59 member national assembly. combined independents, enough deny souvanna s center right, neutralist coalition two-thirds majority needed form government. parliament deadlocked, u.s. suspended aid in june force devaluation of overpriced currency, leading abuse of u.s. aid. national assembly responded confirming right-wing government led phuy xananikôn in august. government included 4 members of u.s.-backed committee defence of national interest (none of them national assembly members). 3 more unelected cdni members added in december, when phuy received emergency powers govern without national assembly.

in november, 1958, brigadier general john a. heintges reviewed programs evaluation office. promptly replaced general brown, , forged new agreement lao , french. integral new agreement displacement of french military trainers americans. result, peo expanded on twentyfold. included in expansion 149 special forces on temporary duty, , 103 filipino military veterans working newly formed front company named eastern construction company in laos.

1959: second north vietnamese invasion


the ho chi minh trail used vietnamese , laotian people beginning. captured viet cong, circa 1959

on 15 may 1959, people s army of vietnam established group 559; unit charged logistics of moving necessities of war north vietnam south. foremost feat building , maintaining ho chi minh trail down eastern spine of laos. eventually, transportation network power vietnamese communists victory. have survive relentless air campaign comparable interdiction bombing in world war ii.

also in may, long-awaited integration of 1,500 pathet lao troops national army scheduled. u.s. embassy told lao government difficult gain congressional approval of aid laos communists serving in army. pathet lao stalled.

under orders souphanouvong, pathet lao battalions refused integrated royal lao army. souphanouvong arrested , imprisoned, along aides. 2 pathet lao battalions, 1 after other, escaped during night no shots fired, taking equipment, families, , domestic animals them. on 23 may, souphanouvong , companions escaped unscathed.

in july, u.s. special forces mobile training teams 77th special forces group, working under code name hotfoot, began training royal laotian army. green berets attached programs evaluation office, , other peo employees, nominal civilians , dressed such.

the rla being formed groupement mobiles—regimental-sized units of 3 battalions. training teams assigned 1 per gm, battalions meriting team.

on 28 july, pavn units attacked along north vietnamese-lao border. took ground royal lao army, moved in pathet lao occupation troops. poor battle performance rla seemed verify need further training; rla outnumbered attackers, still gave ground.

also in july, american embassy began contract aerial resupply rla troops, hiring robert brongersma , beech 18.

in september, group 100 succeeded group 959; north vietnamese upgrading military mission pathet lao, americans had expanded peo. both sides raising larger client armies, in hopes lao fight.

1960: neutralist coup

the laotian armed forces training center @ khang khai, laos, march 1960

on 9 august 1960, captain kong le , special forces-trained neutralist paratroop battalion able seize control of administrative capital of vientiane in virtually bloodless coup, while prime minister tiao samsanith, government officials, , military leaders met in royal capital, luang prabang. stated aim coup end fighting in laos, end of foreign interference in country, end consequent corruption caused foreign aid, , better treatment soldiers. however, kong le s coup did not end opposition him, , there scramble among unit commanders choose sides. if 1 not pro-coup, had further decision make whom counter coup. front runner general phoumi nosavan, first cousins prime minister of thailand, field marshal sarit thanarat. central intelligence agency s support, sarit set covert thai military advisory group, called kaw taw. kaw taw, support counter-coup mounted; supplied artillery, artillerymen, , advisers phoumi s forces. committed cia-sponsored police aerial reinforcement unit (paru) operations within laos.

immediately after kong le s coup, thailand began embargo via land blockade, cutting off main source of imported goods vientiane. united states secretary of state, christian herter, made clear united states supported legitimate government under king s direction. united states supported pro-western government of prime minister tiao samsanith.

the neutralist forces in vientiane organized executive committee of high command of revolution interim government in laos following day. general phoumi nosavan, stated on 10 august planned retake vientiane force. united states ambassador laos, winthrop g. brown, responded general phoumi stating united states supported restoration of peace through quick , decisive action.

peo had turned support general phoumi. of air america , covert aid thailand, general , troops moved north toward vientiane savannakhet in southern laos, in november.

the soviet union began military air bridge vientiane in december; characterized largest soviet airlift since world war ii. air bridge flew in pavn artillery , gunners reinforce neutralist/pathet lao coalition.

on side, united states flew 4 b-26 invader bombers taiwan takhli royal thai air force base, poised strike laos. later joined additional 8 b26s. dozen guns, half dozen rockets, , napalm canister apiece, potent threat, never used.

on 13 december, phoumi s army began three-day bombardment of vientiane. 5 hundred civilians , seventeen of kong le s paratroopers killed shellfire. on 14th, u.s. carrier task force went on alert, , second airborne brigade stood seize selected laotian airfields. u.s. poised rescue paramilitary , diplomatic advisers in laos.

kong le , neutralists withdrew northward plain of jars. withdrawal covered artillery fire pavn 105 mm howitzers rushed in hanoi, , supported soviet airdrops of crucial supplies of rations, munitions, , radios. in retreat, kong le picked 400 recruits, swelling force 1,200 men.

phoumi s coup successful, end result alliance of neutralists pathet lao on 23 december. 1960 ended, nation of laos had become arena of confrontation world s superpowers.

1961: superpowers involvement deepens

beginning on 1 january, new coalition of kong le s neutralists, pathet lao, , pavn drove 9,000 royal lao army troops plain of jars.

on 3 january, royal laotian air force (rlaf) received first counter-insurgency aircraft, american-built t-6 texans, via royal thai air force (rtaf). these 4 reconfigured trainers armed 2 .30 caliber machine guns , five-inch rockets, , carry 100-pound bombs. 4 trained lao pilots undertook transition training in thailand; on 9 january, pilots flew new rlaf fighter-bombers vientiane. 2 days later, flew first combat sorties, against pavn , pathet lao covering kong le s retreat plain of jars.

anti-communist hmong guerrilla troops in 1961.

russian soviet air supply continued, bringing in heavy weapons supplement light arms delivered. on 7 january, north vietnamese presence escalated additional 4 battalions; 2 of battalions moved point of conflict, on route 7, connected vientiane. third pavn battalion moved action @ tha thom, south of plain of jars. on 15 january, entire 925th independent brigade of pavn had crossed laos reinforce pathet lao/neutralist coalition.

this led counter-escalation, united states began airdropping arms force of 7,000 hmong guerrillas later in month. air america bequeathed 4 h-34 helicopters u.s. navy.

by beginning of february, first 4 volunteer pilots rtaf arrived fly 4 more t-6s supplied rlaf. thai pilots had been officially discharged rtaf, , held no official position in rlaf. growth of rlaf nullified casualties, 5 of t-6s had been lost in action end of march.

the incoming kennedy administration found pitched laotian crisis. inter-agency task force founded in february began two-month study of possible american responses laotian war. drastic alternative envisioned 60,000 man commitment of american ground troops in southern laos, possible use of nuclear weapons.

less drastic options elected. french ended training mission, american training efforts ramped up. sixteen h-34 helicopters transferred u.s. marine corps air america; maintenance facilities established @ udorn in northern thailand, 85 kilometres south of vientiane.

on 9 march, communists captured road junction between luang prabang , vientiane. when rla troops ordered counterattack , retake junction, dropped weapons , ran. special forces team moon assigned advisers rla unit.

on 22 april 1961, team moon overrun. 2 sergeants killed, , team leader captain walter h. moon captured; later executed while trying escape captivity. sergeant released sixteen months later.

the operation millpond b-26s had been scheduled strike @ kong le, strike stayed event on far side of world. bay of pigs invasion failed, , failure gave pause u.s. actions in laos. ceasefire sought. simultaneously, programs evaluation office shed civilian guise , went above ground become military advisory assistance group. emblematic of change, hotfoot teams donned u.s. uniforms , became white star mobile training teams.

the truce supposedly went effect first week of may, repeatedly breached communists. royal lao army ineffective, hmong guerrillas left opposition communists. in june, forced beleaguered position @ ban padong artillery barrage followed ground assault. under command of general vang pao, fell long tieng.

the u.s. central intelligence agency had begun secretly recruiting lao montagnards 100 man militia companies. riflemen trained these militias receive 8 weeks basic training, serve several months in militia. once had experience, included first combat, further recruited battalions of irregular troops called special guerrilla units. battalions filled out along ethnic lines, being hmong, being yao (iu-mien) or lao theung (lao saetern). sgus, once formed up, underwent 3 further months training thai officers , sergeants in phitsanuloke, thailand.

by summer, cia had mustered 9,000 hill tribesmen ranks of armée clandestine. aided 9 cia agents, 9 special forces augmenters, , 99 thai special forces troopers police aerial resupply unit.

by autumn, future course of american involvement set. paramilitary trainers train guerrilla units, resupply coming via airdrops, , specialized short takeoff , landing aircraft using makeshift dirt airstrips. other trainers try mold royalist regulars fighting force. fighter-bombers serve flying artillery blast communist forces retreat or submission.

in december, royalists decided assert control on provincial capital of nam tha, on northwestern border, in southern china. laotian army groupement mobiles (gms) 11 , 18 stationed there, , came under pressure communists.

1962: disaster , new government

see battle of luang namtha

by february, royal lao government s hold on nam tha seemed tenuous enough reinforced paratroopers of gm 15. gave numerical edge defenders , should have guaranteed nam tha s retention. presence of armed american special forces advisors should have stiffened them military expertise. in may, pavn assault broke rlg forces , routed them. royalist soldiers fled southward across entirety of northwestern laos thailand, retreat of on hundred miles.

faced fiasco, u.s. , other foreign powers pressured rlg coalition pathet lao , kong le s forces armee neutrale. technically fulfilled geneva agreements on laos , triggered treaty requirement foreign military technicians withdrawn laos october. united states disbanded military assistance advisory group , withdrew military mission. vietnamese communists did not; repatriated token 40 technicians out of estimated 2,000.

july 1962 saw field tests of pilatus porter short takeoff , landing aircraft bird , sons. original 2 porters performance degraded heat , height robbing power engine performance. 1 of porters crashed in december, killing on board.

several companies of hill tribes irregulars sent hua hin, thailand training.

1963: stasis

see battle of lak sao

by middle of year, pathet lao , neutralists had begun squabble 1 another. neutralist group divided between right-leaning neutralists (headed kong le) , left-leaning neutralists (headed quinim polsena , colonel deuane sunnalath). on 12 february 1963 kong le s second in command, colonel ketsana, assassinated. shortly afterwards quinim polsena , deputy assassinated. neutralist camp split going on pathēt lao. fighting between pathet lao , government troops resumed.

vang pao gathered 3 sgu battalions groupement mobile 21 , spearheaded drive sam neua against pathet lao. offensive resupplied supplies airdropped civilian aircraft of air america , bird , sons.

in meantime, united states re-established military assistance advisory group support efforts in laos, basing in bangkok. requirements office of u.s. embassy in vientiane manned civilians , monitored need u.s. military aid laos.

in august, royal laotian air force received first 4 t-28 trojans had been adapted counter-insurgency warfare.

the irregular companies trained previous year in thailand formed battalion called sgu 1. irregular forces proliferated throughout country. in military regions 3 , 4, action, intelligence, , road watch teams infiltrated ho chi minh trail.

in december, vang pao promoted brigadier general king sisavong.

between 1963 , 1965, 18-20,000 hmong tribesmen victims of genocide committed against them pathet lao forces.

1964–65: escalation , air force involvement


barrel roll operational area, 1964

on 1 april, usaf set project waterpump, pilot training program in udorn royal thai air force base supply lao pilots royal laotian air force. rlaf began augmenting ranks thai volunteer pilots in 1964.

run 41-man team detachment 6 of 1st air commando wing, facility end run around treaty obligation forbade training in laos. besides training pilots, waterpump encouraged cooperation between rlaf , royal thai air force. tasked, last resort, augment rlaf counter renewed communist offensive in laos.

in laos itself, there effort train laotians forward air guides. meantime, butterfly forward air control program began.

even air commandos established in udorn , laos, several lao generals attempted coup in vientiane. capital in turmoil, communists on plain of jars attacked , overran royalist , neutralist positions. united states released necessary ordnance rlaf bomb communist encampments, beginning on 18 may.

on 19 may, united states air force began flying mid , low-level missions on renewed fighting, under code name yankee team. began reconnaissance missions on laotian panhandle obtain target information on men , material being moved south vietnam on ho chi minh trail. time, footpaths on trail had been enlarged truck roads, smaller paths bicycles , walking. trail had become major artery use north vietnam infiltrate south vietnam.

on 9 june, u.s. president lyndon b. johnson ordered f-100 strike against enemy in retaliation shoot down of u.s. aircraft.

the summer of 1964 marked successful attack forces armee royale. operation triangle cleared 1 of few roads in laos; route 13 connected administrative capitol of vientiane royal capitol of luang prabang.

the plain of jars activities expanded december 1964, named operation barrel roll, , under control of u.s. ambassador laos, approved targets before attacked.

operations steel tiger , tiger hound


barrel roll , steel tiger operational area, 1965.

1965 began event showed how commanding generals of 5 military regions of laos warlords of own domains.

in february, commanding general of military region 5 kouprasith abhay mounted coup against group of generals had attempted coup previous year. among losers fleeing exile general phoumi nosavan.

on 3 april, u.s. began operation steel tiger on laotian panhandle , vietnamese dmz locate , destroy enemy forces , materiel being moved southward @ night on ho chi minh trail south vietnam. however, since circumstances made highly complex matter in regard apparent neutrality of laos, target approval had come u.s. government in washington, d.c.. additionally, u.s. ambassadors in south vietnam, laos, , thailand involved in controlling these u.s. air operations.

late in 1965, communists increased infiltration along ho chi minh trail. united states decided concentrate airpower upon small segment of trail closest south vietnam , used extensively enemy. result, operation tiger hound initiated in december 1965, utilizing aircraft air force, united states navy, , u.s. marines, vietnamese air force, , royal laotian air force. on 11 december, b-52 heavy bombers called in tactical operation, in first use on laos.

from 1965 1973, civil war moved , forth in northern laos, characterized short intense engagements.

1966–67

see battle of nam bac

damage caused communist ground attack on luang prabang airfield, 1967



north vietnamese troops march through laos, 1967

in far northwest, team fox, intelligence team of mien hill tribesmen began long range reconnaissance of southern china.

in july, royal lao government (rlg) forces seized nam bac valley. 3 infantry regiments, 1 independent infantry battalion, , 1 artillery battalion took nam bac , established defensive line north of luang prabang.

on plain of jars, pathet lao advance gradually slowed due destruction of supplies airpower, , laotian troops counter-attacked. august 1966, had advanced within 45 miles of drv border. north vietnam sent thousands of regular troops battle , once again laotians forced retreat.

steel tiger operations continued down length of panhandle in 1966, special emphasis upon tiger hound area. since of communist truck traffic @ night, air force developed , began using special equipment detect nighttime traffic.

barrel roll, steel tiger , tiger hound operational areas.

in eastern laos, u.s., royal laotian, , vnaf aircraft continued attacks on traffic along ho chi minh trail. during 1967, b-52s flew 1,718 sorties in area, triple 1966 record. major targets trucks had hunted down , destroyed one-by-one. seemed irrational thinking many americans flying these combat missions these trucks have been destroyed en masse before, during, or after unloading freighters had hauled them north vietnam if bombing of haiphong had been permitted. presence of soviet, british, greek , panamanian neutral ships in haiphong prevented united states bombing duration of war.

in northern laos, communists continued slow advance across plain of jars in 1967. laotian victories few , far between, , end of year, situation had become critical air support had been provided royal lao air force.

laotian tribal irregulars operating out of nam bac, under cia direction luang prabang, 60 miles south of guerrilla base. in midyear, on objections of lao colonels, american advisors pressured royal lao troops forming smaller units combat battalions. despite poor training of lao soldiers, of whom had never fired weapon, these raw new units moved northward out of luang prabang on several month period garrison nam bac. mid-october, 4,500 government troops held valley secure air strip resupply, la dien bien phu. american intent establishment of nam bac keystone of iron arc of defensive positions across northern laos.

in response, pavn 316th infantry division dispatched laos assault nam bac. royalist garrison surrounded. had american-supplied 105 mm howitzers artillery support. call on royal lao air force t-28s close air support. u.s. air force fighter-bombers struck communist supply lines. communist gunfire closed nam bac airstrip fixed wing resupply. air america copters flew in supplies , evacuated wounded; american c-123s parachuted supplies ferried udorn rtafb beleaguered government troops. royalist troops not launch clearing attack regain use of runway resupply. on 25 december, vietnamese artillery barrage kicked off offensive.

1968: royal lao army neutralized

a map of ho chi minh trail, 1967.

on 13 january north vietnamese launched multi-division attack on royal lao army @ nam bac, laos. of government troops began withdrawing valley. after third of defenders had retreated, final assault on royalist garrison came out of heavy mist , hit royalist command post. communications defenders cut; rout on. heavy weapons , scale of pavn attack not matched national army , sidelined several years.

most of government soldiers scattered surrounding hills; 200 of defenders killed in action. of 3,278 royalist soldiers, third returned government service. royalists had suffered such staggering defeat army never recovered; government left tribal irregulars using guerrilla tactics fighting on side.

throughout 1968, communists advanced across northern part of laos, defeating laotian forces time , time again. important u.s. navigation aids site fell in battle of lima site 85 on 10 march 1968. success achieved despite u.s. military advice , assistance. in november, u.s. launched air campaign against ho chi minh trail because north vietnam sending more troops , supplies ever along route south vietnam. new operation, named operation commando hunt, continued until 1972, little success.

1969–72

a u.s. air force bell uh-1p 20th special operations squadron green hornets @ base in laos, 1970.

on 23 march 1969, royal lao army launched large attack (cu kiet campaign) against communists in plain of jars/xieng khoang areas, supported own air units , u.s. air force. in june, pathet lao , pavn launched attack of own , gained ground, august, royal laotian forces attacked again , regained had been lost. in these operations, u.s. air force flew hundreds of barrel roll missions; however, many canceled because of poor weather.

pathet lao forces supported pavn s 174th vietnamese volunteer regiment. september, 174th had fall regroup. in mid-september, launched counterattack , recovered plain of jars. forces participating in campaign included 316th , 312th infantry divisions, 866th infantry regiment, 16th artillery regiment, 1 tank company, 6 sapper , engineer battalions, 1 nghệ province local force battalion, , ten pl battalions.

on 11 february, offensive (campaign 139) opened. 20th, control of plain of jars secure. rlg forces withdrew muong xui. on 25 february, rlg abandoned xieng khoang city. xam thong fell on 18 march , long tieng threatened. on 25 april, campaign ended. after end of campaign, 316th division, 866th regiment, , number of specialty branch units ordered stay behind work our lao friends.

at beginning of 1970, fresh troops north vietnam advanced through northern laos. air force called in b-52s and, on 17 february, used bomb targets in northern laos. enemy advance halted laotian reinforcements, , remainder of year seesaw military campaign.

on 1 may, elements of svn pavn units (28th , 24a regiments) joined north vietnamese army , pathet lao seize attopeu.

although communist movements down ho chi minh trail grew during year, u.s. war effort reduced because authorities in washington, believing u.s. objectives in southeast asia being achieved, imposed budget limits, reduced number of combat missions usaf fly.

because of significant logistical stockpiling pavn in laotian panhandle, south vietnam launched operation lam son 719, military thrust on 8 february 1971. goals cross laos toward city of tchepone , cut ho chi minh trail, thwarting planned north vietnamese offensive. aerial support u.s. massive since no american ground units participate in operation. on 25 february, pavn launched counterattack, , in face of heavy opposition, south vietnamese force withdrew laos after losing approximately third of men.

combined offensive take plain of jars. on 18 december, pavn , pathet lao forces launched counteroffensive (campaign z) recover plain. volunteer forces included 312th , 316th divisions, 335th , 866th infantry regiments, , 6 artillery , tank battalions. xam thong fell , push continued toward long tieng.

lower laos – 968th infantry regiment , pathet lao forces reclaimed tha teng , lao nam areas, , captured bolaven plateau.

a royal lao air force (rlaf) north american t-28d-5 trojan armed trainer loaded bombs @ long tieng airfield in laos, september 1972

during dry season 1971–72, pl/pavn forces dug defensive positions , fought permanent control of plain of jars. units participating included 316th infantry division, 866th, 335th, , 88th regiments, , 9 specialty branch battalions under command of senior colonel le linh. 7 pl battalions participated.

on 21 may, rlg forces attempted seize plain. battle lasted 170 days (until 15 november 1972). communists claimed have killed 1,200 troops , captured 80.

when pavn launched nguyễn huệ offensive (known in west easter offensive) south vietnam on 30 march, massive u.s. air support required inside south vietnam , air strikes in laos dropped lowest point since 1965.

in northern laos, communists made additional gains during year failed overwhelm government forces. in november, pathet lao agreed meet laotian government representatives discuss cease-fire.

the war had resulted in large number of refugees peak number of 378,800 internally displaced persons under government control in october 1973.

1973–74

pathet lao soldiers in vientiane, laos, 1973

the pulled out of laos in 1973, stipulated paris peace accord. north vietnam not required remove forces under terms of treaty.

the national government forced accept pathet lao government. during 1974 , 1975 balance of power in laos shifted steadily in favour of pathēt lao u.s. disengaged indochina. prime minister souvanna phouma tired , demoralised, , following heart attack in mid-1974 spent months recuperating in france, after announced retire politics following elections scheduled 1976.

hmong woman , child @ long tieng, laos military base in 1973.

the anti-communist forces leaderless, , divided , mired in corruption. souphanouvong, contrast, confident , master political tactician, , had behind him disciplined cadres of communist party , pathēt lao forces , north vietnamese army. end of american aid meant mass demobilization of of non-pathēt lao military forces in country. pathēt lao on other hand continued both funded , equipped north vietnam.

in may 1974 souphanouvong put forward 18-point plan national reconstruction , unanimously adopted – sign of increasing dominance. plan uncontroversial, renewed promises of free elections, democratic rights , respect religion, constructive economic policies. press censorship introduced in name of national unity , making more difficult non-communist forces organise politically in response creeping pathēt lao takeover. in january 1975 public meetings , demonstrations banned. recognising trend of events, influential business , political figures began move assets, , in cases themselves, thailand, france or u.s.

taking of vientiane

in march 1975 north vietnamese began final military offensive in south vietnam, end of april carried them victory fall of saigon. thirteen days earlier khmer rouge army had captured phnom penh. pathēt lao knew victory within reach, , vietnam war on north vietnamese authorised seizure of power in laos. pathēt lao forces on plain of jars supported north vietnamese heavy artillery , other units began advancing westward.

in late april, pathēt lao took government outpost @ sala phou khoum crossroads opened route 13 pathēt lao advance toward muang kassy. non-pathēt lao elements in government, compromise seemed better allowing had happened in cambodia , south vietnam happen in laos. surrender thought better change of power force.

demonstrations broke out in vientiane, denouncing rightists , demanding political change. rightist ministers resigned government , fled country, followed senior royal lao army commanders. pathēt lao minister took on defence portfolio, removing chance of army resisting pathēt lao takeover. prime minister souvanna phouma, dreading further conflict , apparently trusting souphanouvong s promises of moderate policy, gave instructions pathēt lao not resisted, , u.s. began withdraw diplomatic personnel.

the pathēt lao army entered major towns of southern laos during may, , in june occupied luang phrabāng. panic broke out in vientiane of business class , many officials, officers , others had collaborated u.s. scrambled families , property across mekong thailand. recognising cause lost, vang pao led thousands of hmong fighters , families exile – third of lao hmong left country. pathēt lao forces captured vientiane in august.

for few months pathēt lao appeared honour promises of moderation. shell of coalition government preserved, there no arrests or show-trials, , private property respected. diplomatic relations u.s. maintained, despite immediate cut-off of u.s. aid. (other western countries continued offer aid, , soviet , eastern european technicians began arrive replace departed americans.) in december there sharp change in policy. joint meeting of government , consultative council held, @ souphanouvong demanded immediate change. there no resistance.

on december 2 when vientiane fell pathet lao king savang vatthana agreed abdicate, , souvanna phouma resigned. lao people s democratic republic proclaimed, souphanouvong president. kaisôn phomvihān emerged shadows become prime minister , real ruler of country. no more heard of elections or political freedoms: non-communist newspapers closed, , large-scale purge of civil service, army , police launched. thousands dispatched re-education in remote parts of country, many died , many more kept ten years. vast majority of royal family of laos, including deposed king, sent re-education camps , died due hard labor in 1980s. prompted renewed flight country. 90 percent of laos s intellectuals, technicians, , officials left laos following communist takeover. many of professional , intellectual class, had been willing work new regime, changed minds , left – easier thing laos either vietnam or cambodia. in proportional terms, laos experienced largest refugee flight of indochina nations 300,000 people out of total population of 3 million crossing border thailand.

once in power, pathet lao economically cut ties neighbors (including china) exception of drv , signed treaty of friendship hanoi. treaty allowed vietnamese station soldiers within laos , place advisers throughout government , economy. considered historians , journalists end of second indochina war.