Battle of Nam Bac

Part of Laotian Civil War

Date	August 1966 – January 1968
Location	Nam Bac Valley
Result	Decisive victory for Communist forces

Belligerents

Royal Lao Armed Forces

United States

Thailand

People's Army of Vietnam

Pathet Lao

Commanders and leaders

Savatphayphane Bounchanh

Khampai Sayasith

Vang Pao

William H. Sullivan

Theodore Shackley

Units involved

Mobile Group 11

Mobile Group 25

Mobile Group 27

26th Infantry Battalion

Paratroop Battalion 55

99th Paratroop Battalion

Mobile Group 1

Thai mercenary pilots

Irregulars5
NAF Volunteer Battalion 2

Air Force bombers

Air America support aircraft

316th Division

335th Independent Regiment

41st Special Forces Battalion

Strength

7,500

4,100

Casualties and losses

6,100
2,400 captured

Royal Lao Armed Forces

United States

The Battle of Nam Bac was one of the major engagements of the Laotian Civil War. Despite misgivings about their potential performance the Royal Lao Army moved in to occupy the Nam Bac Valley in August 1966; the position would block a traditional Vietnamese invasion route that led to the Lao royal capitol, Luang Prabang.

The location was problematic. It was closer to the North Vietnamese border than to Luang Prabang; any Vietnamese communist invaders would also enjoy the use of Route 19 for part of their route to the valley. Nam Bac itself could only be resupplied by air from Luang Prabang, and its supply line was dependent upon use of an airstrip sited on low ground within artillery range of nearby heights. Those surrounding hilltop positions would have to be held if assaulted by invaders.

Both sides now began to gradually feed in reinforcements. One year later, in August 1967, the Vietnamese communists besieged the Royalist stronghold. Both sides now expedited reinforcements into the battle. The battle-hardened 316th Division, plus an independent regiment, moved in from North Vietnam to join the attack; they brought the North Vietnamese strength to about 4,100 soldiers. Opposing them by now were some 7,500 Royalist troops, including 3,000 irregulars. However, Royalist battle performance was poor. Coordination of close air support ranged from poor to disastrous. Air assets were in short supply as it was, but the Royalists refused to utilize all available air power after a friendly fire incident. Command and control communications within the defense functioned sporadically. The resupply system broke down, leaving some units under-equipped. Artillery support for the infantry was nonexistent or inadequate.

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