Texas Tech University

Sea Dragon

Operation
Title
Sea Dragon
Start Date
10/25/1966
End Date
10/31/1968
CTZ
DRV
TAO
Coast of North Vietnam, Song Giang and Kien Giang Rivers
Objective
to cut the southward flow of munitions and to bombard positions of military significance in the DRV.
Description
The operation began on 25 October 1966 when the first U.S. ships entered the waters north of the DMZ. The Masnfield and Hanson were to stop Communist shipments over water from North Vietnam into Quang Tri Province. By February, the area patrolled extended past the DMZ to the 20th parallel. The ships involved in the operation worked around logistic choke points including the mouths of the Song Giang and Kien Giang Rivers. They attacked radar stations, coastal guns, supply craft, truck columns, boat repair facilities, bridges, and SAM sites, as well as picked up Communist radar transmissions. SEA DRAGON was successful in sinking or damaging an estimated 2,000 logistics craft and inhibiting the movement of supplies south. However, the North Vietnamese did increase their defenses on shore and often fired upon SEA DRAGON ships, damaging 29 vessels, killing 5 and wounding 26. After the bombing halt in April 1968, the operation was limited to below the 19th parallel and it ended on 31 October. However, in 1972 destroyers once again went north above the DMZ to retaliate for the Easter Offensive.
Allied Units Involved
Unit
USN
Killed in Action
5 USN
Wounded in Action
26 USN
Enemy Units Involved
Unit
North Vietnamese shipping units
Sources
Author
Spencer C. Tucker
Title
The Encyclopedia Of The Vietnam War: A Political, Social & Military History