Battle of Long Khánh
Battle of Long Khanh | |
---|---|
Part of the Dong Nai Province , Vietnam) | |
Result | See Aftermath |
New Zealand
United States
North Vietnam
Armour and artillery
6 wounded
1 helicopter shot down
The Battle of Long Khanh (6–7 June 1971) was fought during the
Background
As a consequence of the overall allied strategy of
Accordingly, the Australians shifted focus, turning their attention to denying the VC the chance to resupply by close ambushing around villages and towns, such as
Prelude
Intelligence reports in June, in conjunction with the invaluable information gathered by the SASR, located the VC
The
Battle
The operation commenced on 5 June with the insertion of blocking forces consisting of Australian, New Zealand and US troops, followed by the aerial insertion of 3 RAR. The landing zone (LZ) was clear of large trees to about 200 metres (220 yd) and was secured by the
Signs of a strong PAVN/VC presence were detected almost as soon as 3 RAR began its sweep, while the blocking elements also had a number of sightings and a few contacts with small parties moving north.[5][11] Possibly alerted by allied air and road movements, the PAVN/VC seemed to be avoiding open combat.[12] Late on the afternoon of 6 June, 5 Platoon, B Company, located what was thought to be the main PAVN/VC position, however with nightfall approaching, it was decided not to press the attack that night. During the evening a few shots were exchanged between the Australians and VC, and the Australian platoon subsequently withdrew into a night harbour.[5]
At 06:00 artillery commenced bombarding the position, and following a half-hour of preparation, 5 Platoon resumed its advance expecting the PAVN/VC to have vacated the position during the night, as they had done numerous times in the past. However, after having proceeded only 90 metres (98 yd) the Australians came under heavy fire from the front and both flanks, suffering several casualties in the initial volleys. It soon became apparent that the platoon was pinned down on the edge of a strongly defended and well-concealed bunker system, with the platoon commander calling for assistance from helicopter gunships, as well as indirect mortar fire rather than risking further casualties by withdrawing.[5]
Moving to support the platoon in contact, Scott ordered D Company to conduct an assault against the flank and rear of the bunker complex, mounted in APCs with tanks in support. Two troops of Centurions spearheaded the assault through the jungle from the north, and they soon began receiving heavy small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, one of which subsequently caused external damage. Realising that the bunker system was larger than previously estimated, the tanks were forced to halt while the infantry was brought up to begin the assault.[5]
Meanwhile, 5 Platoon was in dire straits and was beginning to run low on ammunition, while a number of its
At 11:00, however, a second attempt to resupply B Company resulted in an Australian Iroquois helicopter being shot down by heavy ground fire and exploding on impact. Two crew members were killed and another two injured, while another soldier was injured on the ground.[5] With ammunition exploding among the burning wreckage a number of Australians rushed to aid the injured, scrambling through the debris and removing the unexploded ammunition and pulling the survivors to safety.[15] Subsequently, another winch point was established to the rear of the Australian positions for casualty evacuation and resupply.[5]
By mid-afternoon, D Company had moved into position and commenced an assault, pushing through the bunker system from the north-east with the Centurion tanks in close support crushing many bunkers and their occupants with their tracks.[5][12] The progress of the Australian assault was slowed by thick vegetation and the size of the position, even as the resistance slackened and volume of fire diminished. Indeed, the bunker system was later found to cover nearly a square kilometre and was wider than the front of the assaulting company. Painstakingly the Australians searched each bunker systematically. With the action now over, D Company and the tanks subsequently linked up with B Company and established a night defensive position.[5]
During the final assault, C Company, located to the south, had uncovered a second bunker system which was subsequently captured by the Australians after being hastily abandoned.
Aftermath
Despite significantly underestimating the size of the position they faced, the Australians had succeeded in pushing the D445 Battalion and the 3/33 Regiment out of a valuable base area intended for long-term use. Regardless, there were few other tangible results to show for the casualties they had incurred as, although numerous blood trails and body parts scattered around the battlefield indicated that PAVN/VC casualties had been heavy, the majority of their dead had either been removed from the battlefield or were entombed in the bunkers that had been crushed by the Australian tanks. The battle had cost the Australians three killed and six wounded, while only five VC bodies were recovered.[18]
The PAVN/VC had defended strongly in order to allow an orderly evacuation of personnel and stores, and with the Australians unable to concentrate sufficient combat power rapidly enough to ensure a decisive result, they were largely able to achieve this objective.
Operation Overlord finally ended on 14 June and 1 ATF returned to Nui Dat. Overall, despite the heavy contact experienced early on, it had yielded little for the Australians[6][18] although the D445 Regiment was not encountered in Phuoc Tuy again. The PAVN 33rd Regiment would be encountered three months later in the Battle of Nui Le during Operation Ivanhoe. This would be the last battle for Australian and New Zealand forces before their withdrawal from Vietnam.[21] Overlord was one of the larger task force operations of the war, while it was also the last joint US-Australian battalion-sized operation.[22] On 18 August 1971, Prime Minister William McMahon announced that 1 ATF would cease operations in October, commencing a phased withdrawal.[6] Ultimately, the last Australian forces were withdrawn from South Vietnam by 1973.[23]
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ As one Australian participant later recounted "during the operations orders group briefing many of the company commanders were aghast at the names given to the AOs, they were the same as those used on the original Overlord operation twenty seven years prior. The PAVN/VC were keen students of history and would have understood the significance of those names. Using the original code names would have alerted the PAVN/VC to the coming operation and possibly its start date."[3]
Citations
- ^ a b Horner 2008, p. 231.
- ^ a b Horner 2008, p. 232.
- ^ a b c Veterans Advocacy and Support Service Australia Inc. "Ops 1971". Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
- ^ Horner 2002, pp. 377–379.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 291.
- ^ a b c d e f Horner 2008, p. 233.
- ^ Horner 2002, p. 379.
- ^ Taylor 2001, p. 164.
- ^ English 1999, p. 99.
- ^ English 1999, pp. 99–100.
- ^ Taylor 2001, p. 167.
- ^ a b Ham 2007, p. 540.
- ^ English 1995, p. 46.
- ^ English 1995, p. 45.
- ^ English 1995, pp. 46–47.
- ^ English 1999, p. 103.
- ^ English 1995, p. 57.
- ^ a b c d Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 292.
- ^ Anderson 2002, p. 264.
- ^ English 1995, pp. 57–61.
- ^ English 1995, p. 63.
- ^ Ham 2007, p. 539.
- ^ Dennis et al 2008, p. 557.
References
- Anderson, Paul (2002). When the Scorpion Stings: The History of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Vietnam, 1965–1972. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-743-2.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7.
- Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0195517842.
- English, Michael (1995). The Battle of Long Khanh: 3 RAR Vietnam, 1971. Georges Heights: Army Doctrine Centre. ISBN 0-642-22226-6.
- English, Michael (1999). The Riflemen: The Unit History of 3 RAR in Vietnam 1971. Loftus: Australian Military Historical Publications. ISBN 1-876439-54-8.
- Ham, Paul (2007). Vietnam: The Australian War. Sydney: Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-7322-8237-0.
- ISBN 1-86508-647-9.
- Horner, David, ed. (2008). Duty First: A History of the Royal Australian Regiment (Second ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.
- Taylor, Jerry (2001). Last Out: 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion's Second Tour in Vietnam. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-561-8.
Further reading
- Ekins, Ashley; McNeill, Ian (2012). Fighting to the Finish: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1968–1975. The Official History of Australia's Involvement in Southeast Asian Conflicts 1948–1975. Vol. Nine. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 9781865088242.