On 8 March 1966 the Australian Government announced that 1 RAR would be replaced at the end of its tour by a two-battalion brigade—the 1st Australian Task Force, with armour, aviation, engineers and artillery support; in total 4,500 men. Additional
Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR) in Phước Tuy Province, thereby allowing them to pursue operations more independently using their own methods.[4]
Phước Tuy Province, South Vietnam
By 1966
Viet Cong Infrastructure provided support and extended control into the villages and hamlets. The military forces which supported the political apparatus consisted of main forces, local forces and guerrillas.[5]
: 136–7
Geography
Located 40 kilometres (25 mi) south-east of
rubber plantations also provided employment.[5]: 136 [3]
: 210–1
Geographically the province was ideal for
Song Dinh. Phước Tuy had a tropical climate, with the monsoon lasting from mid-May to the end of October, which resulted in several hours of heavy rain up to twice a day, while the dry season lasted from October to May.[3]: 208–10 The VC and their predecessors, the Viet Minh, had dominated Phước Tuy since 1945.[2]: 324 As a consequence, the local population had a long tradition of resistance to the former French colonial administration, while revolutionary elements later challenged repeated attempts by the ARVN to bring the province under control of the central government in Saigon.[3]: 217–8 By comparison Vũng Tàu was largely free from VC activity and several large allied military installations had been established there. A popular seaside resort with many bars and nightclubs, it was rumoured to have been used as a rest centre by both Allied and VC soldiers.[3]
: 211
Planning
Phước Tuy had been selected by the Australians because it was an area of significant VC activity, was located away from the
counter-insurgency warfare, developed in part from its operations during the Malayan Emergency.[3]: 194–6 1ATF would be commanded by BrigadierDavid Jackson, an experienced infantry officer who had served in the Middle East and New Guinea during the Second World War and later in Korea, and commanded the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and Australian Army Force Vietnam prior to taking up the appointment.[9] With the new force given less than two months to deploy, hasty preparations began in Australia to ready it.[3]
: 191
1 ATF was tasked with dominating its TAOR and conducting operations throughout Phước Tuy as required, as well as deploying anywhere in
lines of communication, was close but not adjacent to the main population centres, and would allow 1 ATF to disrupt VC activity in the area.[9]: 7 Astride a major transit and resupply route, it was close to a VC base area yet near enough to Bà Rịa to afford security to the provincial capital and facilitate liaison with the local authorities.[8]: 46 Australian doctrine emphasised establishing a base and spreading influence outwards to separate the guerrillas from the population.[3]: 172 By lodging at Nui Dat they aimed to form a permanent presence between the VC and the inhabitants.[3]: 199 1 ATF would then focus on destroying VC forces in the province, while security of the towns and villages remained a South Vietnamese responsibility.[5]: 145 Nui Dat would be occupied in three phases. Firstly, the province chief would remove the inhabitants around the base to create a security zone. Secondly, the 503rd Infantry Regiment would secure the area with 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR), following its deployment. Finally, the main body would move forward after acclimatisation and training at Vung Tau.[3]: 240 1ATF began arriving at Vũng Tàu between April and June 1966.[4]
On 16 May the 1/503rd Infantry moved by road from its base at Long Binh to Bà Rịa and began operations around the village of
company of the 1/503rd Infantry lost 12 killed and 35 wounded during the clash, while VC losses were 16 killed. The clearance of the fortified village of Long Phước began two days later.[5]
: 139
On 22 May the 2/503rd Infantry was deployed by helicopter to Nui Dat. Within the planned security zone, the 3,000 inhabitants were relocated following heavy fighting between two companies from D445 Battalion and the 2/503rd Infantry and ARVN. By 24 May the clearance was complete with VC casualties of 18 dead and a further 45 estimated killed.[3]: 244–246
On 24 May 5 RAR was moved by helicopter from Vũng Tàu to Nui Dat the same day and was tasked with clearing any VC in an area 6,000 metres (6,600 yd) east and north-east of Nui Dat.[3]: 244–246
1 ATF occupied Nui Dat from 5 June, with Jackson flying-in with his tactical headquarters to take command.[2]: 326
Aftermath
Casualties
The operation concluded on 8 June with US claiming that the VC losses totaled 48 killed, while five Australians were killed and 15 wounded.[3]: 444 Among the dead was a National Serviceman accidentally shot on the first day of the operation—the first killed during the war.[2]: 326 Total U.S. losses were 23 killed and 160 wounded.[10] 1 RAR returned to Australia in early June 1966, having completed 13 major operations attached to U.S. forces for the loss of 19 killed and 114 wounded.[2]: 321
Establishment of Nui Dat base
The plan to operate independently resulted in significant self-protection requirements and 1 ATF's initial priorities were to establish a base and ensure its own security.
claymore mines, concertina wire and other obstacles were laid, and the vegetation cleared out to small arms range.[2]: 326 Standing patrols were established outside the base in the evening and clearing patrols sent out every morning and evening along the 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) perimeter.[5]: 141 Daily platoon patrols and ambushes were initially conducted out to Line Alpha 4,000 metres (4,400 yd), which was the range of the VC mortars, but were later extended to Line Bravo 10,000 metres (11,000 yd) to counter the threat from artillery.[2]
: 326
As part of the occupation all inhabitants of Long Phước and Long Hải villages within Lina Alpha were removed and resettled nearby. A protective security zone was then established and a
Nui Dinh hills.[2]: 326 Movement was heard around the perimeter over the first few nights as they attempted to locate the Australian defences under the cover of darkness and heavy rain. Although no clashes occurred and the reconnaissance soon ceased, they were believed to be finalising preparations for an attack. On 10 June reporting indicated a VC regiment was moving towards Nui Dat from the north-west and was about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away.[3]: 249 The same day three 120 mm mortar rounds landed just outside the base.[3]: 265 That night Australian artillery fired on suspected movement along Route 2, although no casualties were found the next day. Further warnings of a four-battalion attack hastened the call-forward of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), which arrived from Vũng Tàu on 14 June.[3]: 249 Despite such reports though no attack occurred, and the initial reaction to 1 ATF's lodgement proved unexpectedly limited.[3]
United States
Australia
Viet Cong
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.