The Gulf of Tonkin Incident

August 2 Incident

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident began on August 2, 1964, when the USS Maddox, an American destroyer, was on a De Soto mission in the Gulf of Tonkin. This mission involved gathering signal intelligence from North Vietnam. While patrolling approximately 28 miles off the shore in international waters, the Maddox encountered three North Vietnamese torpedo boats. These boats, each armed with two torpedoes, approached the Maddox at high speeds, prompting the destroyer to fire warning shots. The North Vietnamese boats retaliated with machine gun fire, leading to a skirmish.

The Maddox called for assistance, and aircraft from the USS Ticonderoga intercepted the North Vietnamese boats. In the ensuing fight, all three of the North Vietnamese boats were damaged, and four North Vietnamese sailors were killed. On the American side, no one was killed and no one was injured.

--- Gary Arndt

This encounter, although minor in terms of casualties and damage, marked a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and North Vietnam 1.

   

August 4 Controversy

The events of August 4, 1964, added a layer of controversy to the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. Following the August 2 engagement, the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy were ordered back on patrol. That day, the ships operated under poor weather conditions, with rough seas and limited visibility. Despite these challenges, reports of potential North Vietnamese offensive operations heightened the crews' alertness. In the evening, the Maddox began receiving strange sonar signals, suggesting multiple incoming targets, some resembling torpedoes.

Collectively, they fired 249 five inch shells, 123 three inch shells, and dropped four or five depth charges. The Maddox and Turner Joy both radioed that they were under attack. Despite all of the activity, there were no visual sightings of any ships or any torpedoes.

--- Gary Arndt

This incident led to President Lyndon Johnson addressing the nation and seeking congressional approval for military action, resulting in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 2.