Author's Note: The following is a timeline of the events leading up to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that precipitated increased American troop involvement in the Vietnam War. This timeline is based upon the raw US Navy notes at the time. Where possible, I have clarified and expanded on these notes to assist the reader's understanding. In the nearly 41 years since this incident, various authors have disputed the second attack on the USS MADDOX and USS TURNER JOY. While the ships may have been shooting at radar "spooks" [imaginary targets] caused by nightime weather conditions at the time, on-scene eyewitnesses were convinced they were under attack. Electronic intercepts suggest that the North Vietnamese Navy were tracking the movements of both MADDOX and TURNER JOY. It was obvious from the attack on MADDOX by three P-4 torpedo boats on 2 August 1964, that the North Vietnamese would certainly have taken the opportunity to do so again under the right conditions.
0800H, 28 July 1964: USS MADDOX (DD-731) under the command of Commander Herbert L. Ogier departs from Keelung, Taiwan. His destination: the South China Sea. On board is Captain John Herrick, Commander, Destroyer Division 192, and Commander, Task Group 72.1. Electronic intelligence collection personnel and equipment have been temporarily assigned to MADDOX from various shore stations. A petty officer has been attached to accomplish conventional photography, and another man -- specially trained in radarscope photography -- has been transfered to MADDOX from USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14).
Morning, 31 July 1964: MADDOX rendevous with the oiler USS ASHTABULA (AO-51) for underway refueling due east of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) off Vietnam at 17 degrees, 1.5 minutes N; 108 degrees, 29.5 minutes E.
Approximately 0820H, 31 July 1964, MADDOX sights two unidentified craft, which appear to CAPT Herrick to be similar to Nasty-class PTF boats, passing five miles ahead on a southerly course. [Author's Note: Under the Navy's Operations Plan 34A, American-owned PTF craft, maintained by US Navy personnel, and crewed by Vietnamese Navy personnel were conducting maritime raids and intelligence gathering activities against North Vietnam. Op Plan 34A missions were staged from Da Nang, Republic of Vietnam begining in March and April 1964.]
A photo taken of PTF-3 at top speed in Subic Bay, Philippines, about February 1964. Transferred to Da Nang along with her sisters PTF-1 (ex PT-810), PTF-2 (ex PT-811) and PTF -4. These boats formed the nucleus around which the Op Plan 34A raids against North Vietnam were built. PTF-3 and PTF-4 were the first boats to begin combat operations in the March-April 1964 time period. The PTF was 80' long by 24' wide x 6.5' draft; cruised at 38 knots with a 45 knot top speed on two 3,100 hp Napier Deltic T18-37K turbosupercharged diesel engines. PTF-3 and PTF-4 originally carried two Mk 3 Mod 4 40 mm Bofors guns fore an aft and two Mk 10 Mod 20 mm Oerlikon single guns port and starboard of the bridge. This was quickly changed to a Mk 2 Mod 0 Navy-designed 81 mm mortar that could shoot high explosive, white phosphorous smoke, and illumination rounds. The lighter weight gun gave the PTF increased performance. (Photo: US Navy)
During the next half hour, two more vessels pass astern of MADDOX also heading south. One appears to observers as a Soviet P-6 class torpedo boat. But, the boat is the American-built PTF-2. No communications are exchanged and all four South Vietnamese-manned PTF's return to Da Nang.
A photo of PT-811 just beginning to plane on a run in Chesapeake Bay during the mid-1950's. (The boat was renumbered PTF-2 in December 1962). Built by John Trump and Sons, Annapolis, MD in 1950, it had four Packard 1M-330/W-100 gasoline engines driving four shafts. Max speed was 46 knots (55 knots in calm seas). Range was approximately 500 nm at 40 knots on 6,920 gallons of 115/145 octane aviation gasoline. The boat was 94' long by 25' wide by 6.5' draft and made of aluminum. Armament was two Mk 3 Mod 4 40 mm Bofors guns, two twin Mk 24 20 mm Oerlikon guns and one Mk 2 Mod 0 81mm mortar. PTF-1 (ex PT-810) was slightly smaller (90' long by 24' wide by 5.5' draft) and both boats weighed in at 90 tons. Armament was the same, but the arrangement was slightly different. PT-810 (aka PTF-1) was built by Bath Iron Works in 1950. In service, the gasoline engines were a continuing source of concern (spare parts) and the volatile gasoline made them floating bombs in combat. Both boats were taken out of service by the end of 1965 and sunk as targets the following year off Hawaii. (Photo: U.S. Naval Institute)
0845H, 31 July 1964: MADDOX activates radars, other electronic equipment, and steams for Point Alpha. At 1320H, the Desoto Patrol ship [MADDOX] reaches her destination and begins an orbit of the area. MADDOX personnel sight 60 to 80 fishing junks, an observation post, and a radio facility on Hon Gio island. Electronic activity is identified as emanating from this station; these are Communist early warning emissions. MADDOX heads for Point Bravo.
Morning, 1 August 1964: U.S. intelligence sources note the first reaction by the North Vietnamese to the presence of the July-August Desoto Patrol. MADDOX remains in the vicinity of Point Bravo, eight miles off the mainland. No incidents are reported, although North Vietnamese fishing craft are sighted. During the late afternoon, MADDOX passes five miles to the northeast of Hon Me island.
1800H, 1 August 1964: Point Charlie is reached. MADDOX reports the existence of a number of communications antennas along the beach. Intelligence later reveals that the MADDOX has been tracked all day.
2115H, 1 August 1964: MADDOX reaches a position five miles southeast of Ho Vat, a smal islet close to Hon Me island. MADDOX remains in international waters and does not intruded into North Vietnamese territorial waters.
Early morning hours, Sunday, 2 August 1964: North Vietnamese Naval Headquarters orders coastal forces to prepare for battle. Soon after, [North Vietnamese] Norther Fleet Headquarters at Van Hoa (Port Wallut) dispatches reinforcements for the three "Swatow" gunboats [Chinese-built boats using the Russian P-6 torpedo boat design] already in the Hon Me and Hon Nieu area. Three P-4 [Soviet-designed torpedo boats] of this unit are due to arrive at Hon Me island around 0400H.
0324H, 2 August 1964: CAPT Herrick is informed by American intelligence of the imminent danger. At 0354H, Herrick is sent a FLASH precedence message stating: "[You should] contemplate [a] serious reaction [to] your movements [in the vicinity of] Point Charlie." Shortly afterward, MADDOX ends the orbit at Point Charlie and steams due east for the open sea at 10 knots. CAPT Herrick remains there unti daylight when it is safer to return to coastal waters.
0645H, 2 August 1964: Herrick reports that unless otherwise directed he will proceed back toward the coast and Point Delta. He adds that "if information received concerning hostile intent by DRV [Democratic Republic of Vietnam, that is, North Vietnam] is accurate, [I] consider that continuance of patrol presents unacceptable risk." Admiral Roy L. Johnson, Commander Seventh Fleet [COMSEVENTHFLT] "notes" Herrick's concern but directs the Desoto Patrol commander to resume the operation. Herrick reminds Johnson he is authorized to "deviate from itinerary at any time you consider unacceptable risk to exist."
1045H, 2 August 1964: MADDOX reaches vicinity of Point Delta and turns south on the first leg of a planned 8-hour orbit of Thanh Hoa province. A number of junks sail into the area, but MADDOX adjust her track to avoid passing through any concentrations. Herrick reports there is "no further evidence of hostile intent." At the same time the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet [CINCPACFLT] and COMSEVENTHFLT receive new intelligence that the North Vietnamese are preparing to repulse further intrusions on Hon Me island and may attack MADDOX.
About 1235H, 2 August 1964: MADDOX lookouts and radar pick up three naval craft, identified as P-4 torpedo boats, 10 miles north of Hon Me island and heading south at 20 knots. MADDOX reverses course and heads northeastward toward Point Delta. Soon afterwards, MADDOX personnel observe two Swatow-class gunboats north of Hon Me island heading south at 10 to 15 knots. Both groups enter a cove on Hon Me island. Herrick reports that the North Vietnamese forces are preparing to attack.
The North Vietnamese group that gathers at Hon Me consists of Swatow-class gunboats T-142 and T-146 and Division 3 of PT Squadron 135, consisting of P-4 torpedo boats T-333, T-336, and T-339. Abour 1400H, the torpedo boat force is ordered to carry out a torpedo attack on the enemy [MADDOX].
The Chinese-built "Swatow"-class gunboat was an indigenous design based upon the Russian Project 183, or P-6 class, torpedo boat. Swatows carried no torpedoes. Instead they mounted two twin water-cooled 37 mm/63 caliber heavy machine guns. These guns were Russian copies of the famed Swedish-designed 40 mm Bofors gun of World War 2. Swatows also carried eight depth charges and some boats mounted two 12.7 mm DShK M1938/46 machine guns, one on each side behind the bridge. With a crew of 17, the Swatow was heavy at 80 tons and not particularly fast at a top speed of 28 knots. Swatows were used to track but did not attack the MADDOX. The boat was 83.8' long by 19.8' wide by 6.5' draft. Two 1,200 hp diesel engines and two 300 hp diesel engines [3,000 total hp] turned four shafts to give the boat a range of 500 nautical miles at 28 knots. (Photo: Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) via Chip Marshall)
Meanwhile, MADDOX departs the Hon Me area and steams toward Point Delta. The weather is overcast, but visibility extends 10 miles. A 10-knot wind does not disturb the relatively calm sea.
1500H, 2 August 1964: MADDOX surface search radar picks up a contact 30 miles to the southwest near Hon Me island. Radar operators track the contact and evaluate it as a patrol gunboat because of its 30-knot speed. It is on a course of 050 degrees, or almost parallel to MADDOX. During the next 45 minutes, MADDOX increases speed from 10 t0 25 knots, heads east briefly, and then makes to the southeast as more enemy boats are identified. The radar contacts increase their speed and close the range.
1530H, 2 August 1964: CDR Ogier sounds General Quaters [battle stations]. At 1540H, CAPT Herrick sends an un-coded FLASH precedence message to COMSEVENTHFLT and the commander of the carrier task group stating that MADDOX is "being approached by high sped craft with apparent intention of torpedo attack. Intend to open fire if necessary in self-defense." The Task Group 72.1 comander [Herrick] requests USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14) to provide air support.
Steaming 280 miles southeast of MADDOX, TICONDEROGA already has four F-8E "Crusader" fighters airborne. The aircraft are armed with "Sidewinder" air-to-air guided missiles, "Zuni" 5-inch air-to-ground rockets, and 20 millimeter cannon. They are immediately vectored to MADDOX.
USS TURNER JOY (DD-951), serving as a forward radar picket ship for the carrier group, also receives orders to steam toward MADDOX at its best possible speed. Before reinforcements arrive, Herrick reports three enemey torpedo boats closing on MADDOX, 11-1/2 nautical miles distant.
US Naval Historical Society plot showing the track of MADDOX during the first Gulf of Tonkin Incident of 31 July to 2 August 1964.
1600H, 2 August 1964: MADDOX is 25 miles from the North Vietnamese coast and steaming to the southeast at 27 knots. Enemy vessels, positively identified as three P-4 torpedo boats in cloumn, close to 9,800 yards off the starboard quarter.
1605H, MADDOX fires three 5-inch/38-claiber warning shots to deter further approach. The North Vietnamese craft continue closing fast. The NVN craft make no attempt with signal flags, lights, pyrotechnics, radio, or other means to clarify their threatening maneuvers.
1608H, MADDOX opens fire on the enemy, then 9,000 yards from the ship, with 5-inch and 3-inch guns. Unobserved by MADDOX, the first enemy boat in formation, T-336, launches one of two torpedoes at a range of between 9,000 and 5,000 yards. Herrick reports: "because her [T-336] torpedo was launched or because of heavy fire from MADDOX, the lead boat temporarily turned away to the south. The second and third vessels, T-339 and T-333, continued to attack."
"Surface action, starboard!" USS MADDOX engaging the three North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats
on 2 August 1964 (Naval Historical Society painting by E.J. Fitzgerald)
Closing to 3,000 yards of MADDOX, T-339 launches two torpedoes. The 5-inch guns of MADDOX hit this craft. The damaged boat retires from the battle with difficulty. MADDOX changes course to 110 degrees to avoid two torpedoes that pass within 200 yards to starboard. At the same time, T-333, with North Vietnamese squadron commander CAPT Le Du Khoai on board, passes astern of the ship without launching torpedoes and T-336 returns to the scene, falling in behind T-333.
US Navy photo of a P-4 torpedo boat that attacked MADDOX. Note the 5-inch shell splash to the rear of the boat.
Closing to 2,000 yards, T-336 launches one torpedo and fires 14.5 millimeter machine guns at MADDOX. A 14.5 mm round hits the Mark 56 fire control director pedestal on MADOX and lodges in the ammunition handling compartment below. MADDOX gunfire hits the T-336 as it passes astern, killing the enemy boat commander, LT Tu. CDR Ogier states the "attacking boats were aggressive and showed no tendency to abort their torpedo run even though they were confronted with a heavy barrage of fire."
1630H, 2 August 1964: The surface action is over. The enemy boats make for shore. CAPT Herrick pursues them for a short while until it is clear that the North Vietnamese craft have out distanced MADDOX and there is a danger of hitting unexploded torpedoes in the area. At the same time, TICONDEROGA aircraft, led by CDR James B. Stockdale arrive overhead. MADDOX directs the aircraft to the enemy boats and retires to the southeast at best speed.
An F-8E "Crusader" of the type flown from USS TICONDEROGA at the time of the first Gulf of Tonkin Incident. It carried four 20 mm Mk 12 cannon in the nose and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or Zuni air-to-ground rockets on the rails behind the national insignia. (Photo: US Navy)
The F-8E's discover torpedo boat T-339 only five miles from MADDOX while the other boats have covered several additional miles. Two Crusaders from [fighter squadron] VF-51 unsuccessfully attack the northerly pair of PT boats with Zuni rockets and cannon fire. Anti-aircraft fire from the boats hits one of the aircraft, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at Da Nang. At the same time, two F-8E's of VF-53 concentrate on T-339, first expending Zuni rockets and then strafing it with 20 mm cannon. Hits are observed on the vessel. It stops dead in the water and begins to burn near the stern. Running low on fuel, the three remaining Crusaders return to the TICONDEROGA.
USS TICONDEROGA (CVS-14) after conversion to an anti-submarine carrier from an attack carrier (CVA) in 1969 and 1970. Fighters from CVA-14 provided air support to USS MADDOX during the first Gulf of Tonkin Incident on 2 August 1964. (Photo: US Navy Historical Society)
Intelligence sources indicate that the T-339 sinks in the vicinity of 19 degrees, 47 minutes N; 106 degrees, 31 minutes E. The T-336 boat is damaged and requires a two from T-333. Although T-336 received damage to her auxiliary engine, with the exception of a low lubrication oil-pressure reading, she is ready for further action. Both boats beach just south of the Lach Chao Estuary. The two boat groups remain there for the next three days.
A Russian Project 123K (P-4 class) torpedo boat at top speed. The P-4 class was built in large numbers by Russia and China. The type carried two 45 centimeter torpedoes, twin 14.5 mm/93 caliber heavy machine guns, and four depth charges. Three diesel engines (3,600 hp) turning three propellers drove the boat to speeds of 45 knots or above. The boat was 63.3' long by 12.1' wide by 3.3' draft and carried a crew of 11. (Photo via Chip Marshall from a Russian language book on torpedo boats)
MADDOX is out of immediate danger. Admiral Johnson [COMSEVENTHFLT] takes steps to limit the consequence of the action. A second flight of F-8E Crusaders relieves the first group over MADDOX and is ordered not to pursue the enemy boats. CAPT Herrick is directed to "retire from [the] area until situation cears and [you are] further advised." Herrick is also instructed to "not pursue attacking craft" but to "fire as necessary in self-defense." No further action takes place on 2 August 1964.
Plot summarizing the first Gulf of Tonkin Incident between USS MADDOX and North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats.
(US Naval Historical Society)
U.S. leaders in Washington do not share COMSEVENTHFLT's interpretation.
Continued in Part 2
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