

The
Battalion's Second Tour of Duty
Situation
Report February 1969
In
1969 the Task Force was operating in Bien Hoa Province
which still contained the major airbase and the major
logistics base in South Vietnam. At nearby Long Bin and
Long Khan Province to the north was the area of
operations of the 199 U.S. Brigade, and Bin Tuy Province
was an area of operations for ARVN and Regional Force
units.
Phuoc Tuy Province
Within
Phuoc Tuy Province an ARVN Battalion was responsible for the
Long Hai Hills and Route 2 and Regional Force Units looked after
Route 4, long Dien, Long and Light Green, and Zuyen Moc. This
left 1ATF responsible for the Nui Dinh Hills, Binh Ba, the
rubber east of Route 2, and some areas west of the route. The
enemy units operating in the five provinces were a number of NVA
and VC units, local force VC consisting of the D440 Battalion
and the long standing protagonists, the D445 Battalion, plus
local VC units at Dat Do, Long Dien, and Hoa Long. The Battalion
encountered all of these units and we developed a healthy
respect for our enemy who showed great courage and
determination, and showed a willingness to die for his cause.
From February 1969 to February 1970, 17 major operations with
constant day and night patrolling to ensure local security of
the area. Frequently during the four or five day breaks between
operations, resting Companies were required for clearing patrols
and
ambushes. The Battalion, like other Battalions remained on
continuos operations throughout the year and this placed
tremendous sustained pressure on the Infantryman which has not
been surpassed in any war, and must inevitably take its toll.
On several major operations a Vietnamese company or battalion
were placed under the command of the CO 5RAR. This would
normally necessitate the allocation of the Battalion's NCO's to
the Vietnamese units to guide and assist with their operations,
and liaise with 5RAR for support and assistance. It was while on
one such task with an ARVN company in the Long Green area that
Sgt Allan McNulty of A Company organised the defences of the
company, and the evacuation of the wounded while under heavy
enemy attack. He directed the use of artillery and helicopter
gunships for two hours to prevent the enemy from over-running
the ARVN force. Advisory teams called MAPS were dispatched for
lengthy periods to assist Vietnamese Regional Forces protecting
villages. Within two weeks of arrival in Vietnam the Battalion
was involved in its first shakedown operation around the Nui
Dinh Hills, and the dry paddy fields west of Nui Dat. The
operation was a "recce in force" to prevent the movements of
Viet Cong forces towards the provincial capital Baria. Almost
immediately the companies came in contact with small enemy
parties resulting in 14 VC K.I.A.
Towards the end of March 69, the Battalion was moved to an
isolated area of operations in Long Khan Province, and
established the first major independent Fire Base "Sally". The
aim of the operation was to locate the main Viet Cong
headquarters which was responsible for the organisation and
control of all the VC operations around Saigon. Contact with the
enemy was immediate and continuos. It was the beginning of the
'Tiger Bunker Operation' which was to continue throughout the
year. The bunker complexes in the area of operations was typical
of the type the Battalion was to strike. The exception was that
they were the biggest to find, some consisting of 100 individual
bunkers with communications trenches connecting between the
bunkers. The Battalion located the senior enemy headquarters and
in excess of 800 bunkers, destroying 700 and rendering the
remainder unusable.
Throughout May the Battalion was on operation 'Twickenham' in
the Nui Thi Vai mountains, against the VC D67 Sapper Battalion
and the D445 Battalion. The Battalion were laying ambushes
around the mountain and A Company found itself in continuos
contact with its ambush patrols with the VC unit D67. The
operation was successful with 22 enemy K.I.A. and cleared the VC
from the mountain.
The Battle of Binh
Ba
June 69 saw D Company as the 'Ready Re-action Force' on stand by
with what was part
of
a tank troop and a APC troop on 30 minutes notice to react
anywhere within the province. Binh Ba village was three miles
north of Nui Dat, on Route 2, with a population of 1,000 rubber
workers and farmers. The houses were concrete and tile
structures.
At 0800 hours on the 6th June a tank and other vehicles moving
through Binh Ba were fired on by RPG's from the village.
Initially, intelligence believed there were two enemy platoons,
so Task Force H.Q. despatched the Ready Re-action Force. At 1030
hours
D Company came under heavy RPG and machine gun fire, and it was
evident that there were more than two enemy platoons. The
District Chief immediately gave permission to take whatever
action was necessary to clear the VC from the village. At 1300
hours when it was realised that the action was escalating, the
Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion was given control of the
battle and he deployed forward a small tactical headquarters. He
ordered D Company into blocking positions east of the village.
At the same time C Company was dispatched to counter another
enemy attack against the village of Hoa Long south of Nui Dat.
By this time D Company, supported by Centurion Tanks, had fought
their way to the centre of the village, fighting from house to
house and grenading dugouts. The tanks were receiving heavy RPG
and machine gun fire which drew much of the fire away from D
Company. Fierce and confused fighting continued for over two
hours and it was later revealed from bodies and captured
documents that the enemy force was the First Battalion 33 NVA
Regiment and the local guerilla unit. D Company made a second
sweep through the village in the afternoon. Supported by APC's
and a fresh troop of tanks, the initial troop having been badly
hit; all crew commanders having been wounded, and all ammunition
expended. Further clearance of houses ensured and on a number of
occasions soldiers had to hold their fire and expose themselves
to the enemy as a number of civilians were still in the village
and unable to escape. The value of training was borne out. Of
the 21 rifle sections involved, 12 were commanded by private
soldiers, two platoons were led by sergeants and 1 by a
corporal.
Binh Ba was one of the major operations of the war, working with
the local Vietnamese forces and responding to their call against
an enemy force which had long been using Binh Ba for resupply
and transit purposes. The battle accounted for 91 VC K.I.A., for
the
loss of 1 member K.I.A. and eight W.I.A. While D Company was
involved at Binh Ba, C Company with a tank troop was heavily
involved in a similar but smaller successful operation against
the VC Chau Duc District Unit.
The months of June and July saw a long operation east of Nui Dat
around the towns of Long Dien, Dat Do, Hui Mi and Zuyen Moc and
will be remembered for the mines. Another highly successful
operation was 'Camden' conducted throughout the month of August
in the tri border area of Long Khan, Bien Hoa and Phuoc Tuy
provinces. The enemy involved was the 700 strong 274 Regiment.
During Camden, 40 separate contacts were made with enemy main
force units and on several occasions three companies were in
major contacts in different areas of the operation at the same
time. Once five contact incidences occurred simultaneously.
'Kings Cross', a six week operation saw the Battalion back in
the same area as the
bunker
battles in operation Camden, two months earlier. The enemy once
again was the 274 Regiment and in particular the 3rd Battalion,
Regional Headquarters and their heavy weapons company. as always
the Battalion was supported by APC's and tanks.
As a farewell gesture the Battalion was given Operation Bondi 1
& 2, a seven week mission in a huge area of operations extending
some 30 kilometres square. The area concerned was the eastern
half of Phuoc Tuy Province, in the areas of Long Khan and Binh
Tuy Province and for the first time for 5RAR, the May Tao
Mountains. The area was so large that one conventional fire
support base "Pat" was established in the area of Tua Tich and
three other temporary bases to support the Australians out of
range of Pat.
The Battalion
returned to Australia in February 1970.
Lieutenant
Colonel Colin Khan D.S.O., had this to say
about the Battalion's second tour.
"The Battalion was proven to be second to
none. Our Warrant Officers and NCO's were
superb and the unequalled wealth of their
experience shone through. Our officers from
the three schools of Duntroon, Portsea and
Scheyville blended as one to give the
direction and example expected of them.
Trusted as they were by being given the
singular honour by leading the greatest
infantrymen Australia has produced and I
refer to our private soldiers, that regular
and national serviceman the man who walked
up front to bear the brunt and made whatever
was achieved possible. It was a humbling
experience to all of us who had the
privilege of leading such men. We remember
our achievements have a price. 25 killed in
action and 202 wounded in action. To all of
the then young Tigers I pay my tribute and
my thanks for the year you gave of your best
to uphold the finest traditions of the
Australian Army, the Regiment and the
Battalion."
During its tour
of South Vietnam the battalion had suffered the loss of 25
killed in action or died of wounds and 202 wounded in action".
The Battalion were
accorded 20 awards and returned to Australia in February 1970
Operations carried out by the 5th Battalion During its Second
Tour
FEDERAL |
1 MARCH 1969 |
9 MARCH 1969 |
OVERLANDER |
10 MARCH |
8 APRIL |
DEERSTALK |
12 APRIL |
18 APRIL |
SURFSIDE |
21 APRIL |
2 MAY |
TWICKENHAM 1 |
2 MAY |
13 MAY |
ROADSIDE |
13 MAY |
22 MAY |
TWICKENHAM 2 |
22 MAY |
2 JUNE |
HAMMER |
6 JUNE |
8 JUNE |
TONG |
7 JUNE |
8 JUNE |
ESSO 1, 2 AND 3 |
15 JUNE |
15 JULY |
DISTANT TRUMPET |
21 JULY |
25 JULY |
CAMDEN |
29 JULY |
30 AUGUST |
KINGSTON |
14 SEPTEMBER |
15 OCTOBER |
KINGS CROSS |
31 OCTOBER |
12 DECEMBER |
BONDI 1 AND 2 |
27 DECEMBER |
16 FEBRUARY 1970 |
In
December 1973, the Fifth and Seventh
Battalions merged to become the 5/7th
Battalion and later the 5/7th Battalion
(Mechanised). 5/7th maintained the mascot of
the old 5th Battalion, "Quintus" the Tiger
and maintained the motto, "The Fighting
Tigers."
On the 3rd of
December 2006 saw 5RAR de-linked from 7RAR and became once
again a battalion within its own right within the Royal
Australian Regiment. The De-Linking Ceremony was conducted
at 1 Brigade Parade Ground, Robertson Barracks Darwin.
On the 14
February 2007, on a hilltop overlooking Port Augusta, the
Tiger Battalion re-dedicated itself to its Colours in a
ceremony at Cultana Field Training Area. CO 5RAR, Lt-Col
Jake Ellwood, said the Colours, which were originally
consecrated and blessed on October 29, 1967, symbolise the
regiment's important links with its history, traditions and
its soldiers.
Lt-Col Ellwood said the re-dedication of the Colours follows
the de-linking of 5/7 RAR and the re-raising of 5RAR on
December 3, 2006, after 33 years to the day as 5/7RAR. The
original Colours were laid up at Kapooka (with 7RAR Colours)
in April 2004.
The ceremony marked a small milestone in Australian
military history, with the Tiger Battalion being the first
unit to re-dedicate itself to its original Colours.
For more, read the history of the 5th Battalions'
Here
Biblography
Video Cassette
The History of the Fifth Battalions VHS Colour,
Copyright 1993, 5th Battalion R.A.R. Association
M. R. Battle (1970)The Year of the Tigers, Sydney
Australia, Printcraft Press
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