🔥 Trending Remembering the Battle of Long Tan: 60 Years On

The Battle of Long Tan was a significant engagement during the Vietnam War, fought between Australian forces and the Viet Cong (VC) and People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) on August 18, 1966, in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. It is considered one of the most defining and fiercely contested battles for the Australian Army during the conflict.

Background to the Battle

In mid-1966, the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) was established at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province, southeast of Saigon. Their primary mission was to secure the province and deny its use to the Viet Cong. The area around Nui Dat was heavily contested, with the VC 275th Regiment and D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion operating in the region.

Prior to the battle, Nui Dat base came under mortar and recoilless rifle fire on the night of August 16-17, 1966. This attack prompted 1ATF to launch a patrol to locate the firing points and the enemy forces responsible.

The Engagement

On the morning of August 18, D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), consisting of 108 men led by Major Harry Smith, was dispatched to patrol the rubber plantation. Around 3:40 PM, as D Company moved through the dense plantation, they encountered a large force of Viet Cong, estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,500 strong. This significantly outnumbered the Australian patrol.

The battle quickly escalated into a desperate fight for survival for the Australians. D Company found themselves under intense fire from multiple directions, facing a determined enemy. Heavy monsoon rains began to fall, reducing visibility and making conditions even more challenging.

Key Aspects of the Battle:

• Overwhelming Enemy Force: D Company faced elements of the VC 275th Regiment and D445 Battalion, a force far larger than anticipated.
• Artillery Support: Crucial to the Australians' survival was the rapid and accurate artillery support provided by 105th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, located back at Nui Dat. Despite the close proximity of the enemy to D Company's positions, the artillery fire was incredibly precise, often landing within 50 meters of the Australian troops.
• Air Support: RAAF UH-1 Iroquois helicopters played a vital role, not only in resupplying D Company with ammunition (dangerously hovering low over the battlefield) but also in evacuating casualties.
• Reinforcements: As the battle raged, A Company, 6 RAR, and a troop of APCs (Armoured Personnel Carriers) from 1st APC Squadron were dispatched to reinforce D Company. Their arrival late in the afternoon helped to break the enemy's momentum and allowed D Company to consolidate.

Aftermath and Significance

By nightfall, the Viet Cong forces began to withdraw. The battlefield revealed the intensity of the fighting.

Casualties:

• Australian: 18 killed and 24 wounded. This represented a significant loss for a single company-level engagement.
• Viet Cong/PAVN: While precise figures are difficult to ascertain due to the enemy's practice of removing their dead, Australian estimates, based on body counts and intelligence, ranged from 245 to over 500 killed. Many more were likely wounded.

Impact and Legacy:

• Tactical Victory: The Battle of Long Tan was a clear tactical victory for the Australians. Despite being heavily outnumbered, D Company, with critical artillery and air support, held their ground and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy.
• Morale Boost: The battle significantly boosted the morale of the Australian forces in Vietnam and demonstrated their combat effectiveness.
• Strategic Implications: While not a turning point in the war, it solidified the 1ATF's control over Phuoc Tuy Province for a period and disrupted VC operations in the area.
• Heroism and Recognition: The bravery and resilience of the Australian soldiers, particularly D Company, were widely recognized. Major Harry Smith was awarded the Military Cross, and numerous other decorations were bestowed.
• Anzac Day in Vietnam: August 18th is now observed as Vietnam Veterans' Day (originally Long Tan Day) in Australia, commemorating all those who served in the Vietnam War.

The Battle of Long Tan remains a potent symbol of Australian military prowess and sacrifice in the Vietnam War, a testament to the courage of soldiers facing overwhelming odds.