The 50th Anniversary of The Battle Of Long Tan (1 Viewer)

[Northgate Woods]

Today the 18th August, 2016, Australians stop to remember those who fell and were wounded in Australia's first major battle of the Vietnam War. On this day 50 years ago 105 men of "D" Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment with 3 men of the New Zealand Artillery Forward Observers left Nui Dat, Australia's main Military Base to patrol to the east.

At 3.15pm that afternoon they bump into, what was at first thought to be a Viet Cong force, but later to be found to be approx. 2000 members of a combined VC and NVA force, who were on their way to attack the Base at Nui Dat. Heavy fighting took place in pouring rain for over 3 hours as the Aussie were hit with mortar, machine gun and RPG fire. Only the quick response from the New Zealand artillery battery in support saved "D" company from annihilation. In torrential downpour two RAAF helicopters located the beleaguered Australians and dropped boxes of ammo and blankets for the wounded. Accurate artillery fire from the NZ 161 Field Battery as well as the Australian 103 and 105 Field Batteries and a U.S. battery inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. As the fighting continued Australian reinforcements were committed to the battle. "B" Company were on the way by foot and "A" company loaded into APC's of 3 Troop, 1st APC Squadron motored to the battle.

At 7pm as daylight was fading the enemy was massing for a final attack, the M113's of 3 Troop with "A" company on board advanced towards the position in line abreast with lights on and .50 cal blazing. The enemy were forced to retreat suffering terrible casualties.

The following day the body count was 245 enemy dead which did not account for those who were dragged away. Australian KIA were 17 members of "D" Company and 1 member of 3 Troop and 24 WIA from "D' company.

LEST WE FORGET

 

[DM101]

I had a Helicopter model that was used in this epic Battle.... the actual helicopter it is now being displayed in an Australian museum as permanent exhibit

Battle of Long Tan On August 17-18 1966 Australian troops were surrounded by overwhelming numbers of enemy troops in Vietnam. As night was falling they were running low on ammunition and the only method of re-supply was by helicopter.

The Huey Helicopter tail number A2-1020 (the model shown here) and another sister helicopter off-loaded 520 kg of ammunition to the Australian troops on the ground to hold on until an artillery barrage and armoured vehicles arrived, driving the enemy soldiers into a retreat....

 

[Norman508a]

The History channel on cable showed the documentary on Long Tan last night, it is well worth watching and has interviews with the men who fought in the battle.

 

[TomNT]

Howard mate

Great post and a fitting tribute to a battle that I think many Australians are not aware of and the heroic actions by our diggers and the support they received from the Oz, Kiwi and US Artillery Batteries.

Tom

 

[waynepoo]

As a long haired lay about in the late sixties / seventies wandering around in a haze of blue smoke and having missed national service by a few years I cared little to nothing about the Vietnam war and have to admit I still don't, wrong war in the wrong place for all the wrong reasons, but that doesn't distract one bit from the bravery, devotion to mates and country that Australian and Kiwi soldiers of the era displayed during Long Tan and the whole war.............LEST WE FORGET.
Wayne.