on 16 june, "groupement mobile 33" (gm 33) was landed seven kilometers west of pakxe site 47. it divided in two to assault differing objectives. group alpha was directed at the mountaintop of phou khong. group bravo was targeted at route 13. the communist defensive positions were laid out with a basic weakness; while antiaircraft guns and artillery pieces were sited on one bank of the se done river, most of their infantry protection was stationed on the other.