At 03:15 a U.S. Navy LCM-6 tied up at Cửa Việt causeway 76
miles NW of Da Nang was damaged by an explosion in the vicinity of the boat’s
engine compartment, killing one sailor. At 04:00 two other beached LCMs were
damaged by explosions. At 04:20 an explosive ordinance team (EOD) detonated
another satchel charge attached to a 4th LCM, but yet at 05:48 a 5th
explosion hit another LCM but failed to damage it. The explosive devices were
believed to be Soviet-built limpet mines, weighing approximately 12 pounds with
magnets attached to the bottoms of each landing craft. U.S. Navy personnel saw
a swimmer in the water and fired on him. [204] A Communist attacker killed in
the operation was found equipped with a Soviet-made underwater breathing
apparatus and a Chinese-made head mask. Because of its proximity to North
Vietnam, the Cua Viet became the most heavily mined river in South Vietnam. [204] [254]
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Image Source: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1194724
