By August 1964, the United States Navy was supporting South Vietnam’s struggle against North Vietnam in two programs.

Operations Plan (OPLAN) 34 involved South Vietnamese naval and marine forces raiding North Vietnamese coastal installations with American advice and logistical support.

Operation DeSoto involved American naval vessels patrolling international waters off the coast of North Vietnam to observe the North Vietnamese Navy and probe the North Vietnamese radar capabilities by electronic surveillance. The destroyer USS Maddox patrolling 28 miles off the North Vietnamese coast as part of DeSoto came under attack by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats on August 2. Continue reading →