FSPB - CORAL---OPERATION THUANG THANG

The Battle of Fire Support Patrol Base "CORAL" took place just North of Tan Uyen and some 40 miles NorthWest os Saigon in Bien Hoa Province feom 12 May 1068 till 4 June 1968.
This Battle is the largest fought by 1 RAR in the 25 years of its history
The batlle directly involved all sub units of 1RAR, 102 Fd Bty, A Bty 2/35 Arty, 1Fd Sqn RAE, C Sqn 1 Arm Regt, A Sqn 2 Cav Regt, 9 Sqn RAAF and the USAF. The Battle indirectly involved the US 1 Div (The Big Red One), 3RAR, 161 Bty RNZA and all of the "Bien Hoa Arty" up to and including the 8 Inch Guns
The heaviest action occured on the night of 12/13 of May 1968, when, after initial contact with B and D Companies, the 141 NVA Regiment overan the Mortar Platoon and part of the 102 Fd Bty gun position, turning the mortars and one Gun on to Bn HQ and the 12 Fd regt. RHQ.
The Gunners, by an inspired local counter attack, recaptured the their damaged Gun and continued in action with half of each gun crew manning and the others repelling the North Vietnamese in front of the protective bunds.
This was the second time 102 fd Bty had lost and recaptured their Guns. The first time being at Lagincourt in france on April 15 1917 when the Germans overan their postion. The Guns were recaptured later that day and with the excetion of damaged Gun ( the same as at Coral) were back in action almost immediatley.
The Battle on the 12/13 of May 1968 petered out shortly before dawn as the North Vietnamese withdrew in the face of heavy air support from the USAF F-4 and AC-47 aircraft and US army Gunships.
The Battle continued on the night of 15/16 May 1968 when the 141 Regt assisited by the 88 NVA Regt and preceded by a rocket attack, again attempted to overun the Fire Support Patrol Base.
A and C Coys bore the brunt of the attack with A Coy forward pits being overun. The remaining Coys were subjected to divisionary attacks. The second attempt also failed and the Battle of CORAL gradually petered out after a series of Coy set piece attacks on known NVA positions.
The NVA withdrew from the area and the units located at CORAL were withdrawn to Nui Dat on the 4 June 1968.

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