three dozers work on line on the "cut"
on the steep slopes on the left side of
the photo; two have been working on
the vegetation on the right side of the
photo; and, three more vehicles are
visible on the horizon.
On 1 March 1971, Operation NANTUCKET BEACH ended. Enemy operations
on the Batangan
Peninsula and other areas east of LZ Dottie had been substantially
reduced after nearly six years of
combat. From 22 March 1970, when the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry
moved into the area, until the
end of the operation a year later, the synergistic effect of three
significant activities brought about the
reduction of enemy operations: the devastating effect on the
Viet Cong of night ambushes and
saturation patrolling; the loss of food stuffs through rice denial
operations; and, the land clearing
efforts of the 59th Engineer Company (Land Clearing) that deprived
the Viet Cong of concealment
and cover.
Land clearing was accomplished by use of a dozen or more bulldozers
that cut a combined swath of
destruction across the landscape. Underbrush, trees, and jungle
vegetation were destroyed.
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Photo taken near Hill 76, BS 683 836:
three dozers work on line on the "cut" on the steep slopes on the left side of the photo; two have been working on the vegetation on the right side of the photo; and, three more vehicles are visible on the horizon. |
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Above: The operator seat and controls. Left: The business end of the machine. Note the "Rome" designation on the blade--a tribute to the inventor and manufacturer. Photos from the US Army Engineer Museum at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. The only other surviving Vietnam era dozer is on display at Fort Hood, TX. |
Once the Viet Cong realized that their cover and concealment were being
stripped away, they attempted
to stop the land clearing efforts with mines and booby traps.
According to the 59th Engineer Company
Commander's Evaluation of land clearing, a 105 mm artillery round detonating
under or in front of the
blade did "slight or no damage to the dozers." Likewise, if a 175mm
round (which had a casualty
producing radius of 515 m.) detonated underneath the blade, the dozer
continued to operate. The
introduction of delay type fuzes resulted, however, in damage to the
machines that exceeded the unit's
repair capability.
The explosion of the larger artillery rounds and bombs under the dozer
blades perforated the operator's
eardrums. This meant a medivac flight back to the real "world"
of the USA. The most danger to the
engineers came from artillery rounds hung in trees, with the trip wire
strung so that the round exploded
next to the cab of the vehicle. Saturation patrolling and night
ambushes in the areas to be cleared helped
prevent the Viet Cong from putting mines and booby traps in the path
of of the operators.
Due in part to the success of land clearing operations, one half of
the Viet Cong 48th Battalion (about
100 soldiers in September 1970) left the Batangan and moved westward
across QL 1. The impact
of operations by the 59th Engineer Company (Land Clearing) and the
infantry units was dramatic.
From 3 December 1970 to 28 January 1971, an intensive PSYOP campaign
with leaflet drops,
helicopter mounted loudspeaker broadcasts, and ground operations led
to 92 Hoi Chans leaving the
Viet Cong and surrendering to the government.
The 59th Engineer Company (Land Clearing) moved their operations to
the area between of LZ Stinson
BS 538 824 and highway QL-1 on 31 March 1971. In that area the
Viet Cong bitterly contested the
land clearing and road building efforts of the engineers. Often
the accompanying infantry forces suffered
multiple casualties from the booby traps apparently intended for the
engineers. The engineers and
infantry troops were victims of their success -- remaining parcels
of land were often heavily booby
trapped.
From 1 August 1970 to 31 March 1971, the 59th Engineer Company (Land
Clearing) operated from
seven different locations in the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry area of
operations. They cleared 17,22 acres
of vegetation. They also destroyed 13,486 meters of tunnel, 2,730
meters of trench, and 206 bunkers.
A significant quantity of munitions were also destroyed: 19 hand
grenades and 60mm mortar rounds;
19 of the 80mm and 81mm mortar rounds; nine 105mm artillery shells;
six 155mm artillery shells;
two 175mm rounds; 6 bombs; and, 38 mines of various sizes.
A heartfelt "thanks" is due to the 59th Engineer Company (Land Clearing).
Their efforts undoubtedly
saved the lives and limbs of many soldiers in the 1st Battalion 6th
Infantry during 1970-71.
For additional photos of land clearing, click here.
Link to the 59th Engineer Company (Land Clearing) web
site
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