Battle of long tan casualties

The defining battle of the Vietnam war is now the subject of the film Danger Close. Harry Smith recalls the afternoon that changed his life. There was so much blood. In the days after the three savage hours that was the battle of Long Tan, battle of long tan casualties soldiers were finding body parts, carnage and corpses spread across the battlefield.

Although the Australians were heavily outnumbered and almost overwhelmed by the Viet Cong the battle ended in a decisive victory for them, establishing their dominance over the province. This has included the possibility that the Viet Cong had intended to attack and overwhelm Nui Dat, with the initial plan to mortar the base to draw a response force into an ambush after which the base would be attacked and captured, but that they had been prevented from doing so after clashing with D Company, 6 RAR. A second possibility was that they may have had the more limited aim of drawing D Company into an ambush to destroy it and secure a small victory over an isolated force. Finally, it was possible no ambush was planned at all, and that the Viet Cong had been moving on Nui Dat in regimental strength when they unexpectedly ran into D Company, resulting in an encounter battle. Later interviews conducted by an Australian veteran of the battle Terry Burstall, with commanders of the th Battalion and D Battalion including the battle commander and later Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Thoi Bung indicate that mortaring was intended to draw out the 6 RAR out of their base, in which an ambush was to occur followed by a retreat before artillery and air support can be utilised, typical of the grab-by-the-belt tactic. After two months it had moved beyond the initial requirements of establishing itself and securing its immediate approaches, beginning operations to open the province. For several weeks Australian signals intelligence SIGINT had tracked a radio transmitter moving westwards to a position just north of Long Tan; however, extensive patrolling failed to find the unit.

Battle of long tan casualties

D Company was on a company patrol named "Operation Vendetta" that remained in place until approximately hours 18 August The Task Force then commenced "Operation Smithfield". The Battle of Long Tan occurred in the late afternoon of 18 August in a rubber plantation some metres to the east of the Task Force base at Nui Dat. The events of previous days set the scene. They were trying to locate enemy identified in the latest intelligence reports. Estimates of enemy strengths operating in the area varied from - However the most recent patrols had only fleeting contacts with 3 - 6 man groups. There appeared to be little to add any substance to reports of three enemy Regiments operating in the area. A Coy, 6RAR were also away from the Nui Dat base involved in patrol work, but they were operating to the east and north-east. A Coy had been in three small contacts, killing 2 VC and capturing one.

Concerned for the safety of the entire force, Jackson was initially reluctant to authorise its dispatch should it weaken the position at Nui Dat. Cameron, David

The battle of Long Tan was fought on 18 August During the battle, 17 Australians were killed and a further 25 were wounded, one of whom later died of wounds. This was the highest number of Australian casualties incurred in any one engagement of the Vietnam War. The losses on the Vietnamese side were at least dead, an estimated wounded, and three captured. The battle of Long Tan was Australia's most costly battle in Vietnam.

The Battle of Long Tan in a rubber plantation in South Vietnam in could have been an Australian military disaster, but is instead remembered as a decisive victory. They had taken over from B Company in pursuit of enemy forces which a day earlier had attacked the Australian operations base at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province. About 3. The Australian soldiers continued their advance, the three platoons of D Company - designated 10,11 and 12 - taking up positions around the rubber plantation. Just after 4. As torrential rain began to pour, artillery support was called in from Nui Dat as it became clear the Australians were facing forces better equipped and more numerous than expected.

Battle of long tan casualties

On August 18, , in a rubber plantation near the small village of Long Tan, Australian and New Zealand soldiers found themselves encircled by an overwhelming force of over 2, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. These men, vastly outnumbered, fought for their lives in the face of insurmountable odds. What led to this dramatic confrontation in the jungle? And how did a small contingent of ANZAC troops manage to hold their ground against such a formidable enemy?

A day and a half imdb

Their visibility was reduced to nil, so the aircraft dropped their ordnance to the north east. Both were evacuated, and later recuperated in hospital. This formation allowed them to cover a broad front, but offered little flank security. Edwards, Peter VC and PAVN casualties were claimed by the Australians to have numbered dead left on the battlefield and three captured, with many more were thought to have been removed as they withdrew. This was considered unlikely, although not impossible, and thus 5RAR were ordered to return to Nui Dat. Hong believed the ambush failed because the soldiers at the front fired on 11 Platoon before the entire Australian force entered the killing zone, while it should have been opened from the rear against 12 Platoon. Yet years later he stated that he doubted the Viet Cong ever intended attacking Nui Dat. These lasted until it was noticeable that it was approaching last light. The dispersion and movement of D Coy and all three Platoons probably deceived the enemy as to the size of the force they had contacted. Both had recently been occupied.

Australian soldiers fought in scores of fierce actions during the war in Vietnam.

D Company took over the pursuit around midday on 18 August. A company-sized VC force formed up to the south on a broad frontage which threatened to engulf them. The assault companies planned to sweep the area then dismount and commence a detailed search, while the others would clear the surrounding features and begin the follow-up. According to them it was the artillery battalion of this regiment which had bombarded Nui Dat. They held firm and controlled their fire, taking a steady toll of the assaulting enemy. The remainder of the position faced the relatively open rubber plantation. Age has not wearied him. Having been repulsed on the left, Smith tried the right flank. Point Lonsdale, Victoria: Ernest Chamberlain. Meanwhile, in response to the growing threat posed by the Australians, the commander of the VC 5th Division finally ordered the th Regiment to move against Nui Dat. It was a suicide mission but it was the right thing to do. Later, an Australian OH reported the presence of scattered groups of civilians, with the largest numbering 30 to 40 people—mostly women with baskets and bags, while others had ox carts—believed to be carrying medical supplies.