[242] In the days that followed 1 ATF received congratulatory messages from the American, South Vietnamese and Australian military commands in Vietnam and from the Prime Minister, Harold Holt. ISBN 0-09-952530-5. [107][Note 7] Hong later expressed amazement the Australians could consider the battle a victory: "How can you claim a victory when you allowed yourselves to walk into a trap that we had set? [164] By this time the Viet Cong had succeeded in pushing behind 11 Platoon in an effort to outflank them, and a large force subsequently clashed with 12 Platoon as they attempted to come to their aid. The missing men from 11 Platoon were also recovered; their bodies found lying where they had fallen, largely undisturbed. [228] Although initial estimates of the Viet Cong force ranged from several companies to a battalion, following the battle Australian intelligence assessed it as having totalled between 1,500 to 2,500 men, while 1,000 men were believed to have directly engaged D Company. Dinham ordered the rear door open and the section disembarked to protect him. [77] The largest Australian force deployed since the Second World War, although many of 1 ATF's officers and non-commissioned personnel had extensive operational service, it had been rapidly assembled and included many untried National Servicemen. Company Headquarters was located in the south-west. [243] Shortly afterwards leaflets circulated throughout the province stating that "...700 Australians were killed, one battalion and two companies were destroyed, and two squadrons of APCs". This also changed, while in future rounds would also be supplied loaded in magazines for quick use. By Pte = Private (Army rank) 2Lt = 2nd Lieutenant (Army rank) [167] Under heavy fire Warrant Officer Jack Kirby, the Company Sergeant Major, and Sergeant Neill Rankin, the 12 Platoon sergeant, began to distribute the ammunition. The battalion group moved in a "two up" formation with D Company, 5 RAR and D Company, 6 RAR both mounted in APCs as the forward left and forward right assault companies, followed by A, B and C Companies in depth, each of which were dismounted. After Long Tan a rifle company with armoured support was dedicated to this role, on standby to respond to an attack or exploit any opportunity. The 275th Regiment was based in the Mao Taos and mainly operated in the east of the province. The Battle of Long Tan (18 August 1966) took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. [285] The account claimed that following the mortar attack on 16/17 August, the force had formed up in a 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) wide semi-circle at 10:15 on 18 August to lie in wait, with the 275th Regiment given the "middle battle" position and tasked with springing the ambush, while other units from the 275th Regiment and one company from D445 Battalion occupied the "front block" position near the village of Long Tan, and two companies from D445 Battalion under the command of Major Sau Thu had been tasked with occupying the "back block" position to encircle the Australians by sweeping beneath their "tail" and destroying them. [127] Considering the terrain, Smith adopted a "two up, one back" formation, with 10 Platoon on the left and 11 Platoon on the higher ground on the right. "[281], While the plan outlined by Hong had many of the components of an annihilation ambush, and drawing the enemy out his base areas was a standard communist tactic, a number of weaknesses were evident, including the lack of a means of neutralising the Australian artillery, the absence of indirect fire weapons in the ambush, and the comparatively small size of the ambushing force. [198] To the west Roberts and the three remaining carriers of 3 Troop had resumed the advance and linked up with Richards at a junction in the road 300 metres (330 yd) south-west of D Company. A 30 percent casualty rate at Long Tan would mean a force of 1,200 would take 360 casualties. [54] Daily platoon patrols and ambushes were initially conducted out to 4,000 metres (4,400 yd), which was the range of the Viet Cong mortars, but were later extended to 10,000 metres (11,000 yd) to counter the threat from artillery. [86], In early August 5 RAR continued operations along Route 2, including the cordon and search of Binh Ba which had been postponed in late July. Turning north-west, Roberts moved back to the company location at 19:10. [130][131] Advancing with three sections abreast—6 Section on the left, 4 Section in the centre and 5 Section on the right—the Australians pushed on through the rubber towards a clearing. [204][205] Although snipers continued to engage the Australians there were no further assaults and the battle came to a conclusion. [226], Meanwhile, at 11:00 6 RAR reported they had located the missing men from 11 Platoon, their bodies found lying in a straight line where they had fallen, largely undisturbed and still holding their weapons. [88] 5 RAR sealed off Binh Ba before first light on 9 August, supported by two companies from 6 RAR, as well as APCs, engineers and artillery. [284] The Viet Cong were probably still conducting their reconnaissance and establishing the ambush in the vicinity of where the rubber met the jungle when the battle occurred and it seems likely the Australians upset their plan, perhaps moving faster than the ARVN and US troops they had previously fought. [260][Note 6] Although D Company had initially been protected by indirect fire, the mobility and firepower of the cavalry proved decisive. scenario by Matt Spooner and published on the new deceased Grunt! 9 Platoon, C Company returned to Nui Dat with nothing to report, leaving A and B Companies to harbour in their night locations. [214] Smith was determined to recover the missing from 11 Platoon and despite its losses D Company would lead the assault. These reports were followed up by the 1st APC Squadron and a number of military age males were detained for questioning. [133] Several 60 mm light mortar rounds were subsequently fired towards the D Company position and although they landed to the east they further separated the remainder of the company from 11 Platoon, putting the main body behind a slight rise. Allen May, on the Battle of Long Tan, 1966, in Stuart Rintoul, Ashes of Vietnam: Australian voices, William Heinemanne, Richmond, 1987, p.90 Thoughts of Alan L Parr, member of 12 Platoon D Company In Terry Burstall’s book “The Soldiers Story” he quotes in his Preface (My concern was to describe what it was like to be caught in that nightmare ambush.) If B Company had located the withdrawal route used by the mortar crews, he was to follow it with the aim of interdiction; otherwise he was to continue the search until the track was located. The Australians had penetrated the Viet Cong base areas to the east and come off the better during a number of clashes with companies from D445 Battalion. LONG TAN’s LEGACY… The battle at Long Tan was not the largest battle the Australian or ANZAC forces experienced in Viet Nam. [55][56] While adding to the physical security of the base, disrupting a major Viet Cong support area and removing the local population from danger,[57] such measures were unlikely to endear the Australians to those affected and may have been counter-productive. [60] Despite such reports no attack occurred though and the initial reaction to 1 ATF's lodgement proved unexpectedly limited. With the Viet Cong enjoying a considerable numerical advantage Smith feared his platoons would be defeated in detail and that it was only a matter of time before his entire company would be overrun, despite the devastating effect of the artillery on the Viet Cong assault formations. 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