Atlas of Battles

battle, Cold War

Battle of Lima Site 85

Battle of Lima Site 85 was a battle fought on 10 March 1968 at Lima Site 85, in what is now Laos; it lasted 1 day. It was part of the Vietnam War, which ran from 1955 to 1975. The recorded result: North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao victory. Recorded strength: United States: 19; Kingdom of Laos: 1,000; Thailand: 300 against 3,000.

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This photograph was taken by USAF Lieutenant Colonel Jeannie Schiff in 1994, as part of the Lima Site 85 Recovery Effort. This photograph shows an aerial of Phou Pha Thi.
This photograph was taken by USAF Lieutenant Colonel Jeannie Schiff in 1994, as part of the Lima Site 85 Recovery Effort. This photograph shows an aerial of Phou Pha Thi.. Jeannie Schiff, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought10 March 1968lasted 1 day
WhereLima Site 85, Laos20.446N, 103.714E
OutcomeNorth Vietnamese and Pathet Lao victory
BelligerentsUnited States; Kingdom of Laos; ThailandagainstNorth Vietnam; Pathet Lao
Part ofVietnam War1955 to 1975

Where it sits in the Vietnam War

Battle of Ap Bac, 1963Battle of Go Cong, 1963Battle of Nam Dong, 1964Battle of An Lao, 1964Gulf of Tonkin incident, 1964Battle of Binh Gia, 1964Operation Starlite, 1965Battle of Dong Xoai, 1965Battle of Ba Gia, 1965Battle of Song Be, 1965Battle of Dương Liễu–Nhông Pass, 1965Attack on Camp Holloway, 1965Battle of Núi Thành, 1965Siege of Plei Me, 1965Battle of Gang Toi, 1965Battle of Ap Bau Bang, 1965Battle of Ia Drang, 1965Battle of Xa Cam My, 1966Battle of A Shau, 1966Operation Crimp, 1966Battle of Bong Son, 1966Battle of Suoi Bong Trang, 1966Battle of Long Tan, 1966Battle of Tra Binh Dong, 1967Battle of Tam Quan, 1967Operation Cedar Falls, 1967Operation Bribie, 1967Battle of Hill 881, 1967Battle of Suoi Chau Pha, 1967Operation Francis Marion, 1967Battle of Ong Thanh, 1967First Battle of Loc Ninh, 1967Battle of Dak To, 1967Battle of Saigon, 1968New Year's Day Battle of 1968, 1968Battle of Khe Sanh, 1968Battle of Ban Houei Sane, 1968Battle of Quang Tri, 1968Battle of Lang Vei, 1968Tet Offensive battle of Cholon and Phu Tho Racetrack, 1968Action of 1 March 1968, 1968Battle of Hue, 1968Battle of Lima Site 85, 1968Battle of An Bao, 1968Battle of Kham Duc, 1968Battle of Coral–Balmoral, 1968Operation Speedy Express, 1968Battle of Hat Dich, 1968Operation Dewey Canyon, 1969Battle of Hamburger Hill, 1969Battle of Binh Ba, 1969Battle of Kompong Speu, 1970Battle of Prey Veng, 1970Battle of Fire Support Base Ripcord, 1970Operation Ivory Coast, 1970Operation Lam Son 719, 1971Battle of FSB Mary Ann, 1971Battle of Snuol, 1971Battle of Long Khanh, 1971Battle of Nui Le, 1971First Battle of Quảng Trị, 1972Battle of Loc Ninh, 1972Battle of Đồng Hới, 1972Battle of Kontum, 1972Second Battle of Quảng Trị, 1972Operation Linebacker II, 1972Battle of Cửa Việt, 1973Battle of the Paracel Islands, 1974Battle of Kampot, 1974Battle of Svay Rieng, 1974Battle of the Iron Triangle, 1974Battle of Phuoc Long, 1974Battle of Ban Me Thuot, 1975Battle of Xuan Loc, 1975Fall of Saigon, 197519631975Battle of Lima Site 85, 1968
75 placed engagements of the Vietnam War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date10 March 1968
to 11 March 1968
PlaceLima Site 85, Laos
20.446N, 103.714E
KindBattle, Cold War
StrengthUnited States: 19; Kingdom of Laos: 1,000; Thailand: 3003,000
Casualties and lossesTotal casualties: 13 U.S. killed; 42 Thai and Hmong killed + few dozens Hmong wounded (North Vietnamese claim)Total casualties: 1 killed (North Vietnamese claim); 2 wounded
Commanders
  • Richard Secord
  • Vang Pao
Battle of Lima Site 85Battle of Lima Site 85Battle of Na SanBattle of Dien Bien PhuBattle of Muong KhouaBattle of Nghia LoBattle of Na SanBattle of Dien Bien PhuBattle of Muong KhouaBattle of Nghia LoLouangphrabangHoa BinhPhonsavan100 km20.446N, 103.714E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1968

Battle of Lima Site 85 is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 7 in present-day Laos.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q4871558, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Lima Site 85, revision 1376912518, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.