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(Sunday, August 2, 1964, 4:08 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Three North Vietnamese Navy torpedo boats from the 135th Torpedo Squadron fired torpedoes and 37-mm. shells at the destroyer USS Maddox today as U.S. forces conducted covert amphibious operations about 30 miles off North Vietnam in became known as the Gulf of Tonkin incident.

Both American and North Vietnamese accounts agree that the North Vietnamese fired first.

Commander Nguyen Van Tu of the T-336 gave the order to launch the first torpedo, followed by launches from the T-339 and T-333.

According to the U.S. Navy, the Maddox evaded two torpedoes at 4:08 p.m. local time. At 4:21 p.m., the Maddox and a third North Vietnamese boat exchanged gunfire.

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During the battle, the Maddox fired over 280 three-inch and five-inch shells. Four U.S. Navy F-8 Crusader jet fighter-bombers also strafed the torpedo boats.

The clash resulted in damage to one American aircraft and a single 14.5 mm round hitting the destroyer.

Four North Vietnamese torpedo boats were damaged, four North Vietnamese sailors were killed, and six were wounded.

This confrontation led to heightened tensions and marked a turning point, drawing the United States deeper into the conflict known as the Vietnam War.

This and an alleged second incident two days later led to congressional approval of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that would propel America deep into war.