1966 in the Vietnam War

1966 in the Vietnam War
← 1965 1967 →
Location	Vietnam
Belligerents
Anti-Communist forces: South Vietnam; United States; South Korea; Australia; Philippines; New Zealand; Kingdom of Laos; Republic of China	Communist forces: North Vietnam; Viet Cong; Pathet Lao; People's Republic of China; Soviet Union; North Korea
Strength
South Vietnam: 735,900; United States: 485,300; South Korea: 45,566; Thailand : 244; Australia: 4,525; Philippines: 2,061; New Zealand: 155	Viet Cong and North Vietnam: 282,000
Casualties and losses
US: 6,350 killed; South Vietnam: 11,953 killed; Australia 63 killed	Viet Cong and North Vietnam: casualties 71,473-55,524 killed

At the beginning of 1966, the number of U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam totaled 184,300.^[5]^: 149 South Vietnamese military forces totaled 514,000 including the army (ARVN) and the Regional Force and Popular Force (the "Ruff-Puffs") militias.^[6]^: 36 The North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) numbered 400,000, most still in North Vietnam. 50,000 PAVN cadre and soldiers infiltrated South Vietnam during 1965. Group 559, charged with transporting supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to supply PAVN troops in both South Vietnam and Laos, numbered 24,400 personnel.^[7]^: 164–71 The U.S. estimated the number of Viet Cong (VC) and PAVN soldiers in South Vietnam at nearly 280,000 by June 1966, including part-time guerrillas.^[8]^: 63 A pause in the bombing of North Vietnam by U.S. warplanes had been announced by President Johnson on 24 December and remained in effect.

^ ^a ^b Clarke, Jeffrey (1988). United States Army in Vietnam: Advice and Support: The Final Years, 1965-1973. Center of Military History, United States Army. ISBN 978-1518612619. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ "Vietnam War U.S. Military Fatal Casualty Statistics". National Archives. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
^ "Australian Casualties in the Vietnam War, 1962-1972" http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/vietnam/statistics/, accessed 12 Nov 2014
^ Lewy, Gunther (1978). America in Vietnam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195027327.
^ Willbanks, James (2013). Vietnam War Almanac: An In-Depth Guide to the Most Controversial Conflict in American History. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781626365285.
^ Summers, Harry (1999). Vietnam War Almanac. Facts on File Publication. ISBN 978-0891416920.
^ Military History Institute of Vietnam (2002). Victory in Vietnam: A History of the People's Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975. trans. Pribbenow, Merle. University of Kansas Press. ISBN 0-7006-1175-4.
^ Adams, Sam (1994). War of Numbers: An Intelligence Memoir. Steerforth Press. ISBN 1-883642-23-X.

[Clarke-1] Clarke, Jeffrey (1988). United States Army in Vietnam: Advice and Support: The Final Years, 1965-1973. Center of Military History, United States Army. ISBN 978-1518612619. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[United-2] "Vietnam War U.S. Military Fatal Casualty Statistics". National Archives. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2021.

[3] "Australian Casualties in the Vietnam War, 1962-1972" http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/vietnam/statistics/, accessed 12 Nov 2014

[Lewy-4] Lewy, Gunther (1978). America in Vietnam. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195027327.

[Willbanks-5] Willbanks, James (2013). Vietnam War Almanac: An In-Depth Guide to the Most Controversial Conflict in American History. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781626365285.

[Summers-6] Summers, Harry (1999). Vietnam War Almanac. Facts on File Publication. ISBN 978-0891416920.

[Prib-7] Military History Institute of Vietnam (2002). Victory in Vietnam: A History of the People's Army of Vietnam, 1954–1975. trans. Pribbenow, Merle. University of Kansas Press. ISBN 0-7006-1175-4.

[Adams-8] Adams, Sam (1994). War of Numbers: An Intelligence Memoir. Steerforth Press. ISBN 1-883642-23-X.

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