On paper, the hammer-and-anvil attack plan was not complicated. After 3rd Brigade elements secured mountain positions west of the Bồng Sơn and set up Firebases Brass and Steel, covering the northern and southern parts of the search area, 2/7th Cavalry would push north from LZ Dog and 2/12th Cavalry, also staging from LZ Dog, would work its way south from the opposite end of the target zone.
Theoretical plans for the hammer-and-anvil attack were straightforward. After securing key mountain positions by 3rd Brigade elements west of Bồng Sơn and setting up two firebases to cover the search area, 2/7th Cavalry would launch a northern push from LZ Dog, while 2/12th Cavalry would conduct a southern sweep from the opposite end of the target zone.