Operation Strength (1972)

Operation Strength
Part of Laotian Civil War; Vietnam War
Date 6 February – 17 March 1972 Location Northern Laos Result Eleven of twenty-two People's Army of Vietnam battalions diverted from Campaign Z
Belligerents
Laos  Thailand Supported by  United States	North Vietnam
Commanders and leaders
Vang Pao George Bacon
Units involved
Groupements Mobile 21 Groupements Mobile 22 Groupements Mobile 23 Groupements Mobile 24 Groupements Mobile 27 Groupements Mobile 31 Groupements Mobile 33 Groupements Mobile 10A Five Bataillons Commando Royal Lao Air Force Thai mercenaries	148th Regiment 174th Regiment 209th Regiment 165th Regiment 141st Regiment

Operation Strength (6 February – 17 March 1972) was a Royalist military offensive of the Laotian Civil War. The attack, undertaken against the advice of his American backers by Hmong General Vang Pao, was launched across the rear of the attacking People's Army of Vietnam forces. A distracting attack was launched from Boumalong in the north while the main assault struck northwards from Ban Pa Dong. A BLU-82 superbomb served as a secondary distraction. Having drawn 11 of the 22 attacking Communist battalions back into their own rear area, the Royalists withdrew after suffering light casualties. The Operation Strength feints into the PAVN rear area sapped the vigor from the ongoing Campaign Z.