The following chronology comes from the website http://www.history.navy.mil/docs/vietnam/tonkin-7.htm#maddoxchron. The Naval History & Heritage Command is the official history program of the Department of the Navy.
Chronology of Second Attack
(All times are local time at the destroyer's position.)
After the first attack on the USS Maddox on Sunday, the Maddox joined with its sister destroyer, the USS Turner Joy, in the Gulf of Tonkin and resumed its patrol in international waters, as directed by President Johnson. The patrol was uneventful during most of the daylight hours of Tuesday, August 4.
Late afternoon, August 4, the Maddox reported radar contact with unidentified surface vessels who were paralleling its track and the track of the Turner Joy.
7:40 PM, August 4.
The Maddox reported that from actions being taken by the unidentified vessels, an attack by them appeared imminent. The Maddox was heading southeast near the center of the Gulf of Tonkin in international waters approximately 65 miles from nearest land.
8:36 PM, August 4.
The Maddox established new radar contact with two unidentified surface vessels and three unidentified aircraft. At this time, U.S. fighter aircraft were launched from the USS Ticonderoga to rendezvous with the Maddox and the Turner Joy to provide protection against possible attack from the unidentified vessels and aircraft, in accordance with the President's previously issued directives.
9:08 PM, August 4.
The Maddox reported that the unidentified aircraft had disappeared from its radar screen and that the surface vessels were remaining at a distance. The U.S. aircraft from the Ticonderoga arrived and commenced defensive patrol over the Maddox and the Turner Joy.
9:30 PM, August 4.
Additional vessels were observed on the Maddox radar, and these vessels began to close rapidly on the destroyer patrol at speeds in excess of 40 knots. The attacking craft continued to close rapidly from the west and south and the Maddox reported that their intentions were evaluated as hostile.
9:52 PM, August 4.
The destroyers reported that they were under continuous torpedo attack and were engaged in defensive counterfire.
10:15 PM, August 4.
The destroyers reported that they had avoided torpedoes and had sunk one of the attacking craft.
10:42 PM, August 4.
The destroyers reported that they had evaded additional torpedoes and had sunk another of the attacking craft. Other protective aircraft had arrived overhead, but weather and darkness were hampering their capabilities.
10:52 PM, August 4.
The Maddox reported that the destroyers were again under attack.
Midnight.
The patrol reported that, even though torpedoes had been fired at them, they had suffered no hits nor casualties and that the defensive aircraft from the Ticonderoga were illuminating the area and attacking the enemy surface craft.
12:32 PM, August 5.
The patrol reported that at least two enemy craft had been sunk and that low ceilings continued to hamper the aircraft operations.
12:54 AM, August 5.
The Turner Joy reported that during the engagement, in addition to the torpedo attack, she was fired upon by automatic weapons while being illuminated by searchlights.
1:30 AM, August 5.
The destroyers reported that the attacking craft had apparently broken off the engagement.
The Maddox and Turner Joy were directed to resume their patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin at daylight on the 5th of August.
END