United States III Marine Amphibious Force, Vietnam, circa mid-1968
v.1.0 September 18, 2002

Notes by Ravi Rikhye

HQ III MAF

C/5^th Special Forces Group

Marine Air Wing 1

1^st Marine Division

-         5^th Marine Regiment

-         7^th Marine Regiment

-         27^th Marine Regiment

Americal Division

-         11^th Light Infantry Brigade

-         199^th Light Infantry Brigade

2^nd Republic of Korea Marine Brigade

-         [four marine battalions]

Provisional Corps, Vietnam

3^rd Marine Division

-         1^st Marine Regiment

-         3^rd Marine Regiment

-         4^th Marine Regiment

-         9^th Marine Regiment

-         26^th Marine Regiment

-         2^nd Brigade, 1^st Cavalry Division

1^st Cavalry Division

-         1^st Brigade

-         3^rd Brigade

-         196^th Light Infantry Brigade

101st Airmobile Division

-         1^st Brigade

-         2^nd Brigade

-         3^rd Brigade, 82^nd Airborne Division

Task Force Clearwater

-         Dong Ha River Security Group

-         Hue River Security Group

Notes

At this time the United States had 98 maneuver battalions in the region:

26 USMC infantry battalions
31 US Army battalions
37 ARVN battalions
4 ROK Marine battalions

The Communists had 76 maneuver battalions:

58 PAVN battalions
18 VC battalions

Of the US Marine Corps infantry regiments:

1^st Regiment belonged to 1^st Marine Division
26^th Regiment belonged to 5^th Marine Division activated at Camp Pendleton, CA
27^th Regiment belonged to 5^th Marine Division

196^th Light Infantry Brigade belonged to the Americal Division, also known as 23^rd Infantry Division. All three light brigades had been activated as independent units for service in Vietnam, then consolidated under the reactivated Americal.

TF Clearwater was a riverine force; it was gradually wound down as ground security in the area improved. Commanded by a USN Captain, it was headquartered first at Tan My and then at Cua Viet.