Campaign 74B

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Campaign 74B was a major North Vietnamese assault in Laos, fought from February 2 to April 30, 1971. The aim was to drive out the Royal Lao Government’s forces, seize the strategic Plain of Jars, and reach the crucial guerrilla base at Long Tieng.

The main players were the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), supported by the Soviet Union and China, against Laos’ Royalist forces led by Vang Pao and backed by Thai mercenaries, local guerrillas, and air power from the Royal Lao Air Force and the U.S. All-weather air support was limited by the ongoing Lam Son 719 campaign in southern Laos, making the battle depend more on ground maneuver and local firepower.

The PAVN brought a reinforced force to bear, including the 316th Division plus additional regiments, artillery, tanks, and sapper battalions. The defenders included Hmong guerrillas trained by the CIA, Thai mercenaries, and Royal Lao Army units, with aerial support organized through Raven Forward Air Controllers from Long Tieng. The Thai battalions operated under Task Force Singha, while other Royalist groups—GM 21, GM 22, GM 23, GM 31—carried out mobile operations and kept pressure on the enemy.

The fighting began with a heavy PAVN artillery and tank assault around Moung Soui in early February, followed by attacks on Thai positions at Ban Na. By mid-February, PAVN sappers and Dac Cong commandos pressed Long Tieng, and a Phantoms’ misdirected strike caused civilian casualties, worsening the fighting climate. Thai reinforcements arrived, and a coalition of Thai and Hmong forces tried to blunt the PAVN drive.

From March into April, the Royalists launched limited counterattacks to slow the PAVN and retake key terrain. There were several setbacks, including desertions in some Thai-supported battalions and a deadly friendly-fire incident that killed Thai troops during a relief attempt at Ban Na. Despite these difficulties, Royalist forces eventually wrested key high ground, including Hill 1663 near Ban Na and, later, Phou Long Mat and Phou Phasai, as part of a broader push to disrupt the PAVN’s hold on the Plain of Jars.

By late April 1971, the PAVN’s 74B operation was winding down. The Vietnamese had initially penetrated far enough to threaten Long Tieng, but supply problems, airpower constraints, and the Royalists’ renewed pressure forced the attackers to pull back. The campaign ended with the PAVN still holding portions of territory on the Plain of Jars, but unable to complete a decisive breakthrough.

Aftermath and context show the broader struggle in Laos and the wider Indochina theater. The United States and CIA wanted Washington-favored peace talks and Vietnamization to reduce direct fighting, which translated into less air support for the Royalists over time. Vang Pao pressed his limited counteroffensive strategy to hold the line and reassure the Hmong leadership, who feared abandonment as American support waned. In June and July 1971, Royalist and CIA-supported forces continued to maneuver in the region, attempting to extend their defensive positions and prevent a total Communist consolidation around Long Tieng, while PAVN forces gradually withdrew to their lines in North Vietnam.