Battle of Suoi Bong Trang
Battle of Suoi Bong Trang | |
---|---|
Part of the Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam | |
Result |
Both sides claim victory
|
Australia
New Zealand
North Vietnam
Y.Y. Phillips
Alex Preece
2 platoons of M48 Patton tanks
1 RAR
161 Bty RNZA
707/763rd Regt
D800 Battalion
About 200 killed (Vietnamese claim)
72 wounded
1 tank destroyed
2 tanks and four APCs damaged
2 wounded
200 wounded
15 captured
The Battle of Suoi Bong Trang (23–24 February 1966) was an engagement fought between US, Australian and New Zealand forces, and the
Background
Military situation
During February 1966, as part of an American road-building program designed to challenge the Viet Cong's ability to manoeuvre in the areas around
In response to the American moves, Viet Cong Local Force elements began harassing the sappers, subjecting them daily to sniping, laying mines and carrying out sabotage in an effort to hamper construction.[3] A large American security operation known as Operation Rolling Stone was subsequently launched by elements of US 1st Division on 11 February,[4] in an area of operations approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) north-west of Bien Hoa airbase.[5] The US 1st Brigade under the command of Colonel Edgar N. Glotzbach was allocated the task, and he assigned one of his three battalions to guard the engineers on a rotating basis, while the other two would probe the Viet Cong positions nearby in order to keep them off balance.[6]
Meanwhile, following a request from the American divisional commander, 1 RAR—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alex Preece—was detached from the
Prelude
Opposing forces
Headquarters US 1st Brigade was located about 1,000 metres (1,100 yd) east of the engineer base camp in the vicinity of the hamlet of Tan Binh, just north of the new roadway and less than 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Route 16. The brigade's constituent battalions were widely dispersed carrying out search and destroy operations, and the area of operations was only lightly defended.
On 19 February, 1 RAR was inserted by helicopter, taking over from
Meanwhile, to the west three battalions of Viet Cong 9th Division were massing for a decisive blow, preparing a regimental attack on the American and Australian positions. Units included J10 Battalion of the 761st Regiment, 707 Battalion of the 763rd Regiment and D800 Independent Battalion; in total around 2,000 men.[2][8][11] By 20:00 they had completed a 25-kilometre (16 mi) approach march and were in assembly areas near the village of Ap Bo, using local women and youths as porters to carry ammunition, equipment and supplies. Small reconnaissance parties moved forward as pathfinders, easily locating the American headquarters due to the large amount of noise and light it gave off. The Viet Cong regimental commander determined to attack on three separate axes from the east, and to then send a force around behind the Brigade Headquarters and assault from the west, thereby surrounding the defenders and preventing them from concentrating their forces in defence. Fire support was provided from two separate locations: with 60-millimetre (2.4 in) mortars deployed to the west, in between the Australians and the US 1st Brigade's headquarters, while 82-millimetre (3.2 in) mortars would fire from a position in Ap Bo to the south-east.[12]
Battle
Night assault, 23/24 February 1966
By late afternoon on 23 February 1 RAR had adopted a position in all-round defence in the vicinity of the Suoi Bong Trang, a major creek to the west of the US 1st Brigade's headquarters, while the US engineers had moved into a new defensive position inside the Australian perimeter.[12][13] Meanwhile, alerted by the Australians, a platoon of M48 Patton tanks from Troop B, 1st Squadron, US 4th Cavalry Regiment and a second 105-millimetre (4.1 in) howitzer field battery from 1st Battalion, US 5th Artillery Regiment had been moved in to defend the Brigade Headquarters. 1st Battalion, US 26th Infantry Regiment—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Y.Y. Phillips—returned from the field and also deployed in defence by last light, augmenting Company B, 1st Battalion, US 28th Infantry Regiment.[2][12] Additional ammunition was also brought forward, in anticipation of a likely Viet Cong attack.[14]
At 22:00, soldiers from B Company, 1 RAR, occupying the western sector of the Australian perimeter noticed lights 250 metres (270 yd) to their front. McFarlane subsequently requested artillery and mortar fire to target the location, but the request was declined by Preece. Meanwhile, a small Australian standing patrol that had deployed forward of the company main defensive position under the command of Private Walter Brunalli, observed the lights moving closer, east of the US 1st Brigade's headquarters.[12] Two tanks had been positioned forward of the American positions, with a squad of infantry on the eastern approaches, and by midnight they had also reported sounds of movement and intermittent flashes of light through the trees.[15] In the early morning of 24 February, just after midnight, sporadic firing was heard throughout the area. The forward American listening posts had detected small groups of Viet Cong moving outside the perimeter, killing two and forcing the remainder to withdraw into the darkness after one of the sentries opened fire.[2] Glotzbach waited for the Viet Cong main effort, however, and withheld the bulk of the firepower at his disposal.[14]
With their defences alerted, the Americans and Australians "stood to" for the next 45 minutes.[2] The battle began at 01:45 with a heavy barrage of Viet Cong mortar and small arms fire. The Americans responded with small arms, machine-guns, tank fire, mortars and artillery and over the next hour the firing grew in intensity until, at 03:00, the Viet Cong switched their fires to the north-west side of the American perimeter, augmenting their barrage with recoilless rifles. Glotzbach expected a full-scale ground assault, but the Viet Cong had been held back by the weight of American firepower, with heavy artillery including 8-inch (200 mm) and 175-millimetre (6.9 in) howitzers firing in support from Phuoc Vinh, in addition to the defenders' own artillery, which was now firing over open sights after lowering their tubes to fire directly at the Viet Cong positions.[2] In total eight field batteries were available.[16] Elsewhere, the Australian standing patrol had remained in position despite the proximity of the Viet Cong, and with the Americans pouring massive fire into the area they were soon caught in the crossfire. Brunalli was subsequently wounded in the arm.[14]
Although the Australian position was not the focus of the attack, it too soon came under attack from 60-millimetre (2.4 in) mortars, killing an American sapper. With the
Viet Cong withdraw, 24 February 1966
By 02:45 three Viet Cong soldiers had moved to within 25 metres (27 yd) of Brunalli's standing patrol, taking up firing positions. The Australians killed one and wounded another who was dragged away by the third, before they withdrew to another location nearby. Meanwhile, the two American tanks forward of the US 1st Brigade's headquarters were overrun and their crews killed.[16] Having suffered heavy losses, by 04:00 some of the Viet Cong began to retreat from the battlefield, and many were now filtering past 1 RAR. As groups of Viet Cong began to move past their position the standing patrol was now in an untenable position, clashing briefly with one group of 15 Viet Cong. McFarlane finally ordered the patrol to withdraw, so that he could engage with artillery and mortars. Moving to achieve a clean break, the patrol engaged another group of 10 Viet Cong with a volley of small arms fire, before withdrawing 30 metres (33 yd) towards the company position in the darkness. Expecting to be followed up the Australians set up a snap ambush, killing another Viet Cong soldier before successfully completing the move back to their perimeter.[16]
With the Viet Cong line of withdrawal carrying them past the Australian position, heavy fire was maintained on them as they attempted a partial retreat, resulting in further casualties.[19] However, as daybreak neared the Viet Cong lingered, unwilling to commit to an all-out attack, but also unwilling to completely withdraw. Finally, the main Viet Cong attack began at 05:30. Earlier losses had been heavy, though, and they were unable to concentrate in sufficient numbers to mount a massed assault. Instead only a series of disjointed attacks followed, none more than 40 men strong. By 06:45 these attacks had been repelled by the Americans and the Viet Cong withdrew before dawn, avoiding the arrival of additional American air support.[2]
Aftermath
Casualties
At first light the next morning Australian clearing patrols located 89 dead and 11 wounded Viet Cong in front of their positions. The bulk of the casualties had been inflicted by the Americans,
Subsequent operations
For the next two days, the Australians continued to provide protection to the US engineers before being replaced by an American infantry battalion. 1 RAR subsequently flew out on 26 February, returning to Bien Hoa airbase.
At the strategic level the ARVN and the South Vietnamese government had both rallied after appearing on the verge of collapse and the threat against Saigon subsided. General
Notes
- ^ a b c d Breen 1988, p. 206.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Carland 2000, p. 180.
- ^ a b c d Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 281.
- ^ Carland 2000, p. 179.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 280.
- ^ Carland 2000, pp. 179–180.
- ^ Horner 2008, p. 176.
- ^ a b c McNeill 1993, p. 443.
- ^ a b Breen 1988, p. 208.
- ^ Breen 1988, pp. 208–209.
- ^ Breen 1988, pp. 209–210.
- ^ a b c d Breen 1988, p. 209.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 280–281.
- ^ a b c Breen 1988, p. 211.
- ^ Breen 1988, p. 210.
- ^ a b c Breen 1988, p. 212.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 281–282.
- ^ Horner 2008, pp. 176–177.
- ^ a b c Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 282.
- ^ a b Breen 1988, p. 213.
- ^ a b c Horner 2008, p. 177.
- ^ Breen 1988, p. 214.
- ^ a b Carland 2000, p. 181.
- ^ McNeill 1993, p. 171.
- ^ Dennis et al 2008, p. 556.
References
- Breen, Bob (1988). First to Fight: Australian Diggers, NZ Kiwis and US Paratroopers in Vietnam, 1965–66. Nashville, Tennessee: The Battery Press. ISBN 0-89839-126-1.
- Carland, John (2000). Stemming the Tide: May 1965 to October 1966. The United States Army in Vietnam. Washington D.C.: Center of Military History, US Army. ISBN 1-931641-24-2.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7.
- Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Bou, Jean (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
- ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.
- McNeill, Ian (1993). To Long Tan: The Australian Army and the Vietnam War 1950–1966. ISBN 1-86373-282-9.