Operation Dragon Fire (Vietnam)

Operation Dragon Fire was an operation conducted by the South Korean 2nd Marine Brigade on the Batangan Peninsula, Quảng Ngãi Province, lasting from 5 September to 31 October 1967.

Prelude
The Batangan Peninsula was a well-known Viet Cong (VC) stronghold and had been the scene of several previous Allied operations, including Operation Piranha in 1965. In 1966 the peninsula became part of the Tactical Area of Responsibility of the 2nd Marine Brigade. In early September 1967 intelligence indicated that the VC 48th Battalion had moved into the peninsula for recruitment and resupply.

Operation
On 5 September 2nd Marine Brigade commander, BG Kim Yun-sang deployed 3 Battalions to sweep the peninsula, while the fourth constructed a base at the south of the peninsula. By the end of September the Marines claimed to have killed 404 Viet Cong and captured 14 and 28 weapons (described as a "remarkably high ratio of kills to weapons captured"), while losing 39 killed.

During October the Marines killed 137 Viet Cong and captured 17 weapons for the loss of 7 killed.

Aftermath
Operation Dragon Fire officially concluded on 31 October, VC losses were 541 killed, ROK losses were 46 killed.