Operation Maharat

Operation Maharat
Part of Campaign Z, Laotian Civil War
Date 30 December 1971–16 March 1972 Location Route 13 and Route 7 junction at Sala Phoun Khoun, Laos Result Decisive Royal Lao victory Territorial changes Royal Lao Forces occupy Sala Phoun Khoun
Belligerents
Kingdom of Laos Forces Armées Neutralistes	Pathet Lao Patriotic Neutralists
Units involved
Bataillon Voluntaires 25 11th Brigade Bataillon Voluntaires 56 Bataillon Volontaires 52 Bataillon Volontaires 25 Bataillon Commando 208 Bataillon Guerrier 121 Bataillon Guerrier 122 Bataillon Guerrier 131	N/A

Operation Maharat (30 December 1971–16 March 1972) was a military offensive of the Royal Lao Government aimed at Communist insurrectionists. At stake was the sole road junction in northern Laos well in the rear of Royalist troops fighting in Campaign Z. On 30 December 1971, the garrison of a Royal Lao Army artillery battery and two Forces Armées Neutralistes battalions was besieged by an attacking force of Pathet Lao and Patriotic Neutralists. On 21 January 1972, the Royalists were reinforced by 11th Brigade, then overrun. The Communists spread north and south along Route 13 over a 110 km (68 mi) stretch. A Royalist counter-attack on 16 March 1972 would find both Route 13 and the intersection vacated.