LZ X-Ray Battle Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the battle at LZ X-Ray and explore the possibility of an alternative outcome based on the imagined absence of key airborne signals intelligence assets used just before and during the battle. Under these conditions, friendly forces would not have been able to precisely locate the enemy and provide continuous updates on disposition and intentions. This would have allowed the enemy to gain and retain the initiative in the battle, potentially overrunning or otherwise defeating American forces. As this battle also represented a proof-of-concept for helicopter warfare and the first distinctive engagement of the war, the second and third order effects would have been substantial.
The value of intelligence is

The 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, under the command of Lt. Col. Harold Moore, engaged with the 66th Regiment of NVA regular infantry under the command of General Chu Huy Man. Given a search and destroy mission, 1-7 Cavalry infiltrated the objective area via helicopter to search for and destroy the NVA enemy. This represented the first operational test of air assault operations.
Terrain and Weather. Within this operational framework, Moore had to take into consideration important weather and terrain factors. In mid-November, the weather was hot and muggy, exacerbating an already problematic lack of water. Col. Moore would later raise this as a major concern in his after action report, recognizing the toll that too little water has on combat effectiveness. Additionally, the terrain was difficult to overcome. Tall elephant grass and large termite hills obscured the enemy and became pre-built NVA fighting positions (Moore, 1965). The enemy also controlled the key terrain; namely, Chu Pong Mountain. Their entire 66th Regiment was contained within the mountain. This also meant the enemy controlled key avenues of approach, from a traditional standpoint. It could be argued that the introduction of helicopter infiltration opened up a whole new domain of operational approach, which the American forces