Search and destroy

Search and Destroy missions, or "S&D patrols" were a common format of combat mission for American ground troops in the Vietnam War. S&D missions entailed sending out a group of soldiers from a fortified position, generally into the jungle, to find the destroy the enemy. Most of the time, the S&D mission involved hiking out into the boonies and laying an ambush in the brush, near a suspected trail.

The S&D mission ambush typically involved use of fixed claymore antipersonel mines, crossing lines of small arms fire, mortar support, and possibly additional artillery support called in via radio from nearby firebases.

Army and Marine companies would perform continuous S&D patrols in a particular area, attempting to pacify the region.