This story is printed with the very kind permission of "Australian & NZ Defender Magazine."
I can thoroughly recommend this great magazine for any one interested in Australia's commitment to all Wars
THE often rebroadcast image of North Vietnamese T-54 MBTs smashing down the ornate gates of the South Vietnamese Presidential Palace in Saigon in April 1975 has over time become the symbol of the defeat of the allied effort to halt communism in South Vietnam.
While the few feet of 16mm film depicting the final moments of the South Vietnamese regime (ironically shot by Aussie cameraman Neil Davis) has embedded itself in the public's collective memory, few Australians are aware of the final moments of the ANZAC Vietnam.
On March 12, 1972, Delta Company, 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and 1 Troop B Squadron 3 Cavalry Regiment finally withdrew from Vung Tau. Few bugles or drums marked the departure of the last Diggers in Vietnam. It ended with a whimper rather than a bang.
A team of less than forty advisors and trainers remained in country with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. They would be withdrawn with less than 48 hours notice after the December 1972 victory of Gough Whitlam to return home to a country that was at best indifferent and at worse openly hostile.
THE FIGHTING FOURTH
The 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was only eight years old when the last of its Diggers boarded planes and ships to depart South Vietnam in March 1972.
Raised at Woodside Barracks in Adelaide in February 1964, 4RAR was the first of the RAR battalions raised in Australia. One, two and three RAR had been formed in Moratai and Japan in the years after WW2 and had seen action in Korea and during the Malayan Emergency.
4RAR was not to lounge for long at Woodside, deploying to Malaysia in September 1965 as part of the Australian contribution to the British Commonwealth effort to defeat the Indonesian attacks on the Malayan states in Borneo.
4RAR replaced 3RAR in the eastern Malay city of Kuching and immediately commenced intense patrolling to stop Indonesian incursions into Malaysia and making the odd foray into Indonesia proper in search of target opportunities.
Malaysia was just a foretaste of things to come. After returning to Australia, 4RAR was reformed and bought up to strength with intakes of National Serviceman prior to deployment to South Vietnam. In Vietnam the battalion was joined by V Company Royal New Zealand Infantry Corps and renamed 4RAR/NZ for the battalion's first tour in Phuoc Tuy Province in 1968/69.
Two years later the battalion returned to Vietnam on its predictable rotation. But this was not to be an ordinary tour, if any of the battalion deployments could be called ordinary - it was to be the last Australian/New Zealand fighting unit tour of Vietnam and the last ever ANZAC battalion.
Reflecting the almost ten years of operational experience in south east asia, 4RAR/NZ arrived at Nui Dat on 23 May 1971 with nearly 60 members on their third operational tour and almost half on their second tour.
LAST TOUR OF DUTY
As the Australian component of 4RAR/NZ choppered in from the converted carrier HMAS Sydney to Nui Dat, its fifth company (the Kiwi Victor Coy) was already hard at it. Having arrived in country a couple of weeks earlier, the Kiwis had been deployed into the field with sister battalion 2RAR/NZ on Operation Iron Maiden in the area around the Courtney Rubber Plantation along the border of Long Khanh province in Phuoc Tuy's north.
Supported by B Squadron 3Cav Regt, Vietnamese Regional Force Companies and National Police; Victor Four worked the rubber looking for Charlie. While frustrated by 'legals', the Kiwis scored the battalion's first 'kill' on 2 June 1972 when a Main Force guerilla of 274 VC Regiment was dropped.
The Kiwis were not left alone in the paddock for long. On 3 June, Bravo, Charlie and Delta Four were inserted into the Courtney area in Operation Bhowani Junction. The following day Support Coy secured a Fire Support Base site on the edge of Courtney Plantation and began constructing Fire Support Base Trish.
A section of M2A2 105mm guns from 104 Field Battery joined the Digs at Trish a few days later, and 4RAR/NZ's long term relationship with the Courtney area began in earnest.
Operation Overlord saw 4RAR/NZ working closely with 3RAR, A Squadron 3 Cavalry Regt, Centurion tanks from A Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment and 2/8 Battalion 3 Cavalry Brigade (US) in hammer and anvil ops against 33 NVA regiment and D445 Local Force Battalion (VC) in the thick forests along the Long Khanh border.
Five years of intensive operations by the fighting units of 1ATF had all but driven the communist forces from Phuoc Tuy province proper, and now the Australians followed the enemy over the border to Long Khanh where he had sought refuge from the ANZAC onslaught.
Overlord all but crushed the Communist infrastructure in northern Phuoc Tuy, with elements of 33 NVA Regt and D445 LF Battalion forced to fight their way through the closing cordon of Australian and US troops as they fled their long established bunker systems along the Suoi Nhac and Suoi Loc rivers.
With 33 NVA Regt and D445 Local Force effectively run out of town, 4RAR/NZ turned its attention to 274 VC Regiment and Sub Region 4 troops which were imbedded in the north eastern sector of Phuoc Tuy along Route 2.
Operation Hermit Park was launched on 14 June to root them out and for six weeks the Diggers of 4RAR/NZ supported by Centurion tanks and APC's went toe to toe with the enemy in a drawn out but fruitful operation.
During the early phase of Hermit Park, M-113A1 APCs of 1 Troop 3 Cav caught approximately 25 VC from Sub Region 4 Force in an ambush, killing 13 and capturing five of their number. Two days later the Kiwis found a VC bunker system in the Cu Bi Rubber and assaulted it with tank support. The combination of infantry and tanks was to prove a winner throughout Hermit Park, the assault driving the enemy from the bunker system with one Anzac KIA and eight wounded.
Charlie and Delta Four were also busy working Chau Duc units in the Chau Pha Valley, uncovering a number of occupied bunkered camps. After the shooting stopped sappers and assault pioneers were able to blow up many VC installations including one tunnel that was almost 500 metres long and one and a half metres high with over four metres of overhead protection.
While body counts are only part of the story, Hermit Park accounted for over 37 enemy KIA and 6 PoWs for the loss of one Kiwi KIA.
THE GOING GETS ROUGH
Things were heating up for 1ATF, with the enemy clearly disorganised and hurting from the Australian offensives into what had been safe havens for a long time. To keep the pressure on the Communists, the Australians launched Operation Iron Fox on 28 July 1971 with a hammer and anvil operation along the Suoi Ca river in conjunction with 3RAR, 1st Armoured Regt and 3 Cav.
On the second afternoon of Iron Fox, Charlie Four found an occupied VC bunker complex and attacked with tank support at last light. The VC were not fools and pulled out of the bunker system during the night, allowing Charlie and Delta Four to occupy and destroy the position the next morning.
Delta Four continued the push down the Suoi Ca encountering a large occupied bunker system in very thick jungle.
Centurion tanks scrub bashed for an hour to join Delta Four on the assault, which was met by a hail of small arms and RPG fire from the defenders. The VC response was professional, with well-directed fire coming from the concealed, supporting bunkers. RPGs were fired into the canopy and off the turrets of the tanks to 'spray' shrapnel down on the Diggers in the assault line.
Delta Four was not deterred and with tank support fought their way through the big complex with assistance from Charlie Coy - securing the entire objective before last light.
Iron Fox continued until 5 August at a cost of one Australian KIA and seven wounded. But the VC faired worse. While only 12 bodies were recovered, Iron Fox completed the disruption of 274 VC Regiment in Phuoc Tuy's approaches and pre-empted its offensive on the outposts along Route 2.
The Anzac push into the aptly named 'Border Sanctuary Area' was interrupted when the battalions were asked to help provide security around Phuoc Tuy for a three week period during the South Vietnamese lower house elections. 4RAR's companies were redeployed from the Courtney area to the Nui Dinh hills, Hat Dich and Duc Thanh to counter any communist interference with the elections. While taking the pressure off the main enemy concentrations in the bush along the province border, 11 enemy KIA were scored with no loss to the battalion.
The Australian withdrawal from South Vietnam was beginning to take effect on the force still in country. The worst drain on the operational capability was the withdrawal of the Centurion tanks of C Company 1st Armoured Regt, which left the infantry without heavy support on the ground.
With or without support the war dragged on for the Diggers of 4RAR/NZ. Operation Ivanhoe was launched on 18 September after intelligence had detected enemy movement back into Phuoc Tuy from Long Khanh Province.
On the night of 19 September, NVA troops mortared and rocketed a small outpost manned by Vietnamese Regional Force troops along Route 2. A column of Aussie APCs sent to relieve the Vietnamese was ambushed as it approached the outpost by a strong force of enemy firing RPGs and small arms.
Little did the Anzacs realise, but the attack and ambush were bait designed to draw the 4RAR/NZ/3 Cav Regt ready reaction force into a well planned major ambush along the logging track that led to the area.
Not frightened of a fight, 4RAR/NZ and elements of 3RAR began pushing in the direction of the ambush and an all out shit fight began to gather momentum.
D Company was engaged by RPG and small arms on the 21st and the action rapidly accelerated into a daylong assault on what was later discovered to be the western most bunker system of a four-system complex. Artillery and air strikes supported the Diggers as they fought their way through the well sited defences of 2 Battalion 33 NVA Regiment.
The fighting was intense with the VC having prepared a complex fire plan and an interlocking series of fire lanes cut through the scrub. The going was tough without tank support but Delta Four eventually dislodged the NVA defenders who withdrew from their positions during the night.
Bravo Four encountered a number of groups of NVA fleeing from the contact early the next morning; killing eight in a series of well conducted ambushes.
Delta Four was not out of trouble yet, coming under fire while casevacing wounded at the bunker system. The NVA had taken a beating the night before, but were back with a vengeance forcing Delta Four into a series of fierce fire fights as the enemy tried to stop them advancing on to 33 NVA Regts HQ which lay in the Aussies path.
Fighting continued throughout the day, with the Aussies successfully beating off the NVA's attempts to alter their advance. Delta Coy and NVA casualties were heavy, but it was to be the last major battle fought between Australians and Vietnamese. It was also the last major contact fought by Australian since that time.
The last blow went to the enemy. Two APCs from 1 Troop detonated anti tank mines in the Courtney Rubber on the 25th of September. Fortunately only light wounds were suffered by the bucket crews who were saved by the heavy aluminium belly armour that had been fitted to the M-113s
WINDING DOWN
Facing their imminent withdrawal from South Vietnam, the Australian commanders began to wind back operations with a view to leaving town without losing any more blokes.
Operation Valiant kicked off on 3 October 1971 and was aimed at a phased withdrawal of Australian forces along the Long Khanh border back to Nui Dat. Victor and Bravo Four were the first out, moving by foot and APC back to Nui Dat along Route 2. Charlie and Support companies maintained a presence in the Courtney Rubber and Battalion Headquarters remained in their redoubt on top of Courtney Hill until evacuation commenced on October 4.
Fire Support Bases Debbie and Robin were closed down and the guns and equipment transferred to Nui Dat by October 6. Three RAR departed from Vietnam aboard HMAS Sydney on the same day, leaving 4RAR/NZ and its allocated battery (104 Fd Bty) and APC support (B Sqn 3 Cav Regt) as the only combat units still in Phuoc Tuy.
The final withdrawal from Nui Dat then began in earnest with Operation South Ward. Four RAR/NZ had been tasked with securing part of Nui Dat with the balance of the Task Force base being occupied by South Vietnamese forces.
The bulk of the Task Force had already been redeployed to Vung Tau or returned to Australia, but 4RAR/NZ was reinforced with a Troop of APCs including a section of Fire Support Vehicles, engineers, a platoon of 155mm guns from the 5/42nd Battery (US) and helicopters to hold Nui Dat until room could be made for them at Vung Tau by units leaving for Australia.
A basic defensive position was occupied, centred on Ap An Phu lines with SAS Hill fortified and Fire Support Base Hornbill resurrected to provide defence in depth for the 4RAR/NZ Battalion Group as it was now known. More than 1000 Claymore mines were placed on the perimeter along with plenty of wire to ensure that the VC were not tempted to throw a farewell party for the Australians.
Luck was with the Anzacs who were left pretty much alone apart from the odd shot taken at clearing patrols by the South Vietnamese defenders on the other side of the base.
The Vietnam chapter of Anzac history was about to close. On 7 November 1971 the final column of APC's from 1 Troop B Squadron 3 Cavalry Regt carrying Diggers from Delta Four passed through Nui Dat's gates bound for the Logistic Support Group's base in Vung Tau.
As the final Diggers walked back to their APCs, the sun set on Australia's ten year involvement in Vietnam - a controversial war but one of the high points in Australian military history.
4RAR/NZ was to stay on in Vung Tau until finally repatriated to Australia in early March 1972. After almost constant operations in the scrub along the Long Khanh border, the four months in Vungers were a breeze if somewhat boring to blokes who wanted to go home.
AT THE END OF THE DAY
The senior NCOs and Officers (about 40) of the Australian Army Training Team stayed on, providing professional training and leadership to the Vietnamese soldiers who were taking up the slack left in the wake of the withdrawing US and Aussie forces. The odd angry shot was fired by Aussies until the AATTV was hastily withdrawn by Gough Whitlam as his first act after election in December 1972.
After 30 years of almost constant operations in asia, the Australian and New Zealand Armies came home. It was not an easy homecoming. Budgets were cut, conscription was ended and units were closed down. Horizons seemed too short for many soldiers used to the exhilaration and adrenaline rushes of operational service.
Approximately 50 000 Aussies and 3000 New Zealanders served in South Vietnam. While a small number in comparison to the forces assembled for the great campaigns of WW1 and WW2, it was to be the last great deployment of the Australian Defence Force.
Some say it was the high water mark of the ADF. The accumulated experience amongst the leadership from WW2, Korea, Malaya and early tours and an excellent grasp of close country warfare saw the evolution of extremely capable fighting formations. Hopefully some of that professionalism, aggression and sheer guts has rubbed off on the current generation of Diggers. But only war can test that.
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