The Mayaguez Operation

Note: This reconstruction and analysis of the Mayaguez Operation was originally published by CNA in 1977 as a classified document. The report was declassified in 1980. CNA is re-publishing it for the 50th anniversary of the Mayaguez Operation.

INTRODUCTION

The S.S. Mayaguez, a U.S. containership, was fired on, boarded, and seized by Cambodians on 12 May 1975. The seizure took place in the Gulf of Thailand near Poulo Wai Island. Before her transmitter went dead, the Mayaguez reported that she was following a gunboat toward the Cambodian port of Kompong Som. On 13 May, she anchored about a mile northeast of Koh Tang and remained there until 15 May 1975, when a U.S. Marine boarding party recaptured her. Also on 15 May, a Marine force assaulted Koh Tang to seize the island and search for the Mayaguez crew.

PURPOSE

This study was conducted by the Marine Corps Operations Analysis Group (MCOAG) of the Center for Naval Analyses at the request, and under the sponsorship, of the Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. Its purpose is to:

• Document the U. S. military operations related to recovery of the Mayaguez and her crew.
• Analyze the military operations for future application.

SCOPE

The study examines the U.S. Marine Corps/Navy response to the Mayaguez crisis, the recovery of the Mayaguez and her crew, and the assault on Koh Tang. U.S. Air Force aircraft supported the assault on Koh Tang and the boarding of the Mayaguez; therefore, their combat operations are included. The study covers 12 May through 15 May 1975, but includes some background information relating to the Seventh Fleet amphibious force posture, which resulted from events that occurred before 12 May. A chronology of events that relate to the Mayaguez operation is contained in appendix A.

This study used the following data sources to make a detailed reconstruction of the events relating to the Mayaguez operation:

• Message files at Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPac) and Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC).
• After-Action Reports.
• Personal interviews with participants.
• Taped recordings of interviews with participants.
• Notes made at FMFPac and HQMC of the "real time" reporting (and tapes of the real time reporting) by the U.S. Joint Command in Thailand to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CinCPac) and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
• Pilot OpRep-4 Message Reports.

Following the reconstruction of the events, these phases of the operation were analyzed:

• Response,
• Planning,
• Command and Control,
• Communications,
• Helicopter vulnerability, and
• Amphibious assault doctrine.