Operation Steel Tiger
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| Operation Steel Tiger | |||||||
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| Part of Vietnam Conflict | |||||||
| Image:BRST.jpg Barrell Roll/Steel Tiger Areas of Operations | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| United States </br> Republic of Vietnam | Democratic Republic of Vietnam | ||||||
Operation Steel Tiger was a covert US Air Force aerial interdiction effort targeted against the infiltration of People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) men and materiel moving from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam through southeastern Laos during the Vietnam Conflict.
The operation was initiated by the 2nd Air Division on 3 April 1965, continued under the direction of the Seventh Air Force when that headquarters was created on 1 April 1966, and was concluded on 11 November 1968 with the initiation of Operation Commando Hunt. The purpose of Steel Tiger was to impede the flow of men and materiel on the enemy logistical routes collectively known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail (the Truong Son Strategic Supply Route to the North Vietnamese).
Bombing of the Trail system had begun on 14 December 1964 with the advent of Operation Barrell Roll. Due to increasing US intelligence of the build-up of regimental-size North Vietnamese units operating in South Vietnam, the increased American military presence in that country, and the initiation of Operation Rolling Thunder against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, American planners in Washington and Saigon decided that the bombing in Laos should be stepped up.
It was estimated by US intelligence analysts that, during 1965, 4,500 PAVN troops were infiltrated through Laos along with 300 tons of materiel each month.<ref>John Schlight, A War Too Long. Washington DC: Center of Air Force History, 1993, p. 53.</ref> From April through June 1966, the US launched 400 B-52 anti-infiltration sorties against the Trail system.<ref>Schlight, p. 55.</ref> By the end of 1967 and the absorption of Steel Tiger operations into Operation Commando Hunt, 103,148 tactical air sorties had been flown in Laos. These strikes were supplemented by 1,718 B-52 Arc Light strikes. During the same time frame, 132 US aircraft or helicopters had been shot down over Loas.<ref>Jacob Van Staaveren, Interdiction in Southern laos, 1961-1968. Washington DC: Center of Air Foirce History, 1993, p. 287.</ref> Image:64-68Laos.jpg
[edit] Notes
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[edit] References
- Littauer, Raphael and Normon Uphoff, eds, The Air War in Indochina. Boston: Beacon Press, 1972.
- Schlight, John, A War Too long. Washington DC: Center of Air Force History, 1993.
- Van Staaveren, Jacob, Interdiction in Southern Laos: 1961-1968. Washington DC: Center of Air Force History, 1993.
