Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) and units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), designed to secure Cần Thơ in the aftermath of the Tet Offensive.

[1]: 125 The ARVN IV Corps commander, General Nguyễn Văn Mạnh requested U.S. assistance in ejecting the Viet Cong (VC) 303rd, 307th, 309th and Tay Do Battalions from the outskirts of Cần Thơ.

[1]: 156 Operation Coronado XI commenced on 12 February 1968, with the movement of the MRF from Đồng Tâm Base Camp to an anchorage in the vicinity of Cần Thơ.

[1]: 156 During 15–19 February, the MRF conducted river and air operations west of Cần Thơ without encountering significant VC forces.

Although seven people, including a RVNN interpreter, were wounded, the Monitor was able to suppress the communist automatic weapons and small arms fire.

[1]: 156–7 On 22 February the MRF and RVNN armed forces initiated a riverine and air operation in Phụng Hiệp District to locate the VC's Military Region III headquarters.

As the assault boats proceeded west from Phụng Hiệp, sporadic VC sniper fire from the north bank of the canal wounded four US Navy personnel.

When Companies B and C, 3/47th Infantry, beached along the Lai Hieu Canal, just northeast of Hiep Hung, the VC were in bunkers facing the opposite direction towards the rice paddies in anticipation of airmobile attacks.

On 25 February the 2nd Brigade and the MRF returned to Cần Thơ after a VC mortar attack hit the airfield there killing 2 U.S., damaging 2 aircraft and destroying an ammunition dump.

The 2nd Brigade swept the mortar site and on the morning of 26 February, located an entrenched VC battalion 7 km northwest of Cần Thơ.

[1]: 158 Task Force 117 meanwhile had established patrols on the Cần Thơ River along the southern boundary of the operations area to prevent the communists from escaping.

The American units continued their patrols without incident until 02:15 when a major action occurred as a large VC force attempted to escape.

[1]: 159 The VC were unable to escape south across the Cần Thơ River and continued to suffer casualties as the American blockade was maintained successfully throughout the battle.

On 27 February the area was swept again, confirming additional VC losses and discovering caches, including 5 crew-served weapons, 16 small arms, and assorted ammunition.