1966 in the Vietnam War
| 1966 in the Vietnam War | |||
|---|---|---|---|
← 1965 1967 → | |||
| |||
| Belligerents | |||
|
Anti-Communist forces: South VietnamUnited States South Korea Australia Philippines New Zealand Kingdom of Laos Republic of China |
Communist forces: North VietnamViet Cong Pathet Lao People's Republic of China Soviet Union North Korea | ||
| Strength | |||
|
South Vietnam: 735,900 | Viet Cong and North Vietnam: 282,000 | ||
| Casualties and losses | |||
|
US: 6,350 killed South Vietnam: 11,953 killed Australia 63 killed | U.S estimate: 55,524 killed | ||
At the beginning of 1966, the number of U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam totaled 184,300. South Vietnamese military forces totaled 514,000 including the army (ARVN) and the Regional Force and Popular Force (the "Ruff-Puffs") militias. 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. 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. 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.