Re: USMC Cobras

During early 1972, the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU) with ARG "A" and HMM-164 stayed within 4 days travel of Military Region One (MR1), the former I Corps. ARG "B" stayed within 7 days travel of MR1. The 33rd MAU with HMM-165 joined the 9th MAB on 28 Apr.

On 30 March, the North Vietnamese launched the Easter offensive focused on the two northern provinces of Quang Tri and Thua Thien. The NVA marched south, overrunning Dong Ha and Quang Tri and advancing toward the My Chanh River north of Hue. RVN losses were significant. The South Vietnamese Marine Division (VNMC) held the advancing NVA at the My Chanh in April.

By the beginning of May, Marine amphibious units were in position offshore. Two composite squadrons, HMM-165 (reinf) on the USS Tripoli, and HMM-164 (reinf) off of the USS Okinawa from the 9th MEB had arrived to support the Vietnamese Marines. Each of the two Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) consisted of a composite squadron of four H-53s, fourteen H-46s and four UH-1Es.

Marine helicopters and crews on the ARGs stood by with a 300-man reaction force on a 48-hour standby to rescue downed crews or escaping American Prisoners of War (POWs).

On 13 May, VNMC units were heli-lifted by HMM-164 of the ARG north behind NVA lines in two waves. One H-53 was downed in the operation, and destroyed by its crew. Several H-46s were damaged. The 9th MAB naval gunfire element flew with Det "B" of HML-367 from the USS Denver (LPD-9). The 66th NVA Regiment had been completely surprised by the assault. On 24 May, HMM-164 again inserted VNMC assault troops near Quang Tri City. May was costly for the NVA with significant personnel and equipment losses.

On 16 June DET, HMA-369 arrived at the 9th MAB with AH-1J Sea Cobra gunships to commence Marine Hunter-killer operations (MarHuk) against small boat traffic ferrying cargo from merchant ships to landing sites off the North Vietnamese coast. Other targets were truck traffic and anti-aircraft guns in North Vietnam. The Area of Operation (AO) was from 80 miles south of Hanoi to Tiger Island. The MarHuk cobras were armed with 20mm cannon and 5" Zuni rockets. They arrived aboard the USS Denver, then transferred to the USS Cleveland (LPD-7) and then the USS Dubuque (LPD-8).

Prior to the battle for Quang Tri City, on 27 Jun, HMM-165 conducted an amphibious demonstration (feint) off of Quang Tri. On 29 Jun, HMM-165 and HMM-164 conducted a helicopter assault along the coast with the VNMC. The operation was a complete success with the NVA on retreat north into Quang Tri Province. On 11 Jul, 9th MAB helicopters again landed VNMC troops north of Quang Tri City. 28 of 34 helicopters were hit. One H-53 loaded with VNMC troops was hit by an SA-7 missile 100 feet above the LZ and destroyed on impact. Most on board were killed.

The NVA determined to hold Quang Tri City at all costs. On 22 July, HMM-164 again heli-lifted VNMC troops into Quang Tri. Quang Tri was defended by the main-force NVA 325th Division, reinforced. The 9th MAB carried out an amphibious demonstration off of the DMZ on 9 Sep, which pulled major NVA units north from Quang Tri. On 15 Sep, VNMC troops took the Citadel and Quang Tri City.

Vietnamese Marines retook Quang Tri and the NVA invasion stalled as the monsoons arrived in September. HMA-369 continued their LPD-launched hunter killer ops off the North Vietnamese coast. Richard M. Nixon was re-elected President of the United States, defeating Senator George McGovern on 7 November.

Re: USMC Cobras

H&MS-36 Sub Unit #1 operated 4 AH-1Js from July 1971 through March 1972. It served as the activation cadre for HMA-369, which activated 1 April 1972. Two of the Js were deployed with HMM-164 on 18 April, transferred to HMM-165, then returned to HMA-369 in June for the MARHUK operation.

Re: USMC Cobras

Hello again.
Thank you both for the information. I really appreciate the history 'lesson'.
Thank you for taking time to reply.
Although Dad was a US Army Aviator I still have plenty of interest in what you Marines did.
Thanks again & may God bless you all.