Battle of Suoi Bong Trang
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Suoi Bong Trang (23–24 January 1966) was a major action during the Vietnam War
fought between US and Australian troops, and the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. The battle occurred during Operation Rolling Stone, a major American security operation to protect engineers building a tactically important road in the vicinity of Tan Binh, in central Binh Duong Province
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) northwest of Bien Hoa airbase
. During the fighting the 1st Brigade, US 1st Infantry Division and the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(1 RAR), which was attached for the operation, fought off a night-time regiment-sized Viet Cong assault with massed firepower from artillery and tanks, inflicting heavy casualties on the communists and forcing them to withdraw by morning. However, the Americans and Australians made no attempt to pursue the Viet Cong as they withdrew, instead focusing on securing the battlefield and evacuating their own casualties. After being repulsed, the Viet Cong attempted to avoid further contact, although they did continue to harass the American sappers with occasional sniper and mortar fire. These tactics proved ineffective, and the road was complete by 2 March.
, on the northern apex of the Viet Cong base area known as the Iron Triangle
. This road was planned to cut the communist supply routes between War Zone C
, the Mekong Delta
, the Iron Triangle and War Zone D, while it would also link the two forward brigades of the US 1st Infantry Division between Phuoc Vinh and Lai Khe
and help to extend the authority of the South Vietnamese government.
In response to the American moves, Viet Cong Local Force elements began harassing the sappers, subjecting them daily to sniping, mines and sabotage in an effort to hamper construction. A large American security operation known as Operation Rolling Stone was subsequently launched by elements of US 1st Division on 11 February, in an area of operations around the Suoi Bong Trang, a major creek 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north-west of Bien Hoa airbase. The US 1st Brigade under the command of Colonel Edgar N. Glotzbach was allocated the task, and he assigned one of his three battalions to guard the engineers on a rotating basis, while the other two would probe the Viet Cong positions nearby in order to keep them off balance.
Meanwhile, following a request from the American divisional commander, 1 RAR—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alex Preece—was detached from the US 173rd Airborne Brigade
and placed under the operational command of the US 1st Division until 5 March. Major General
William E. DePuy
had selected the Australians specifically because of their reputation for dispersed, aggressive patrolling. Attached supporting the infantry from 1 RAR were Australian M113
s from 1 APC Troop
, engineers from 3 Field Troop, Bell Sioux
light observation helicopters and Cessna 180
fixed-wing aircraft from 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight, and 105 millimetres (4.1 in) L5 Pack Howizter
s from 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery
.
in the area with little warning. The concept of operations
required the Australians to protect the engineer base, the laterite
pit and road work parties over a distance of 6000 metres (6,561.7 yd), as well as protecting engineer reconnaissance parties when they moved forward to plan new sections of the road.
1 RAR was inserted by helicopter on 19 February, taking over from 2nd Battalion, US 38th Infantry Regiment
. Preece immediately instituted a program of twenty-four hour dispersed patrolling, and within two days this succeeded in reducing the level of Viet Cong activity against the road construction. Two platoons of American M48 Patton tanks were also moved into the area, patrolling by day with the Australian armoured personnel carriers, while securing the laterite pit at night. However, by 22 February the Australians noted that in several contacts they were now facing Main Force elements, indicating the possibility of a major communist attack. In the early morning of 23 February three Viet Cong soldiers were killed in an Australian ambush, while several others were wounded but escaped. The dead soldiers were well-equipped with new AK-47
assault rifles and webbing, and they were identified as being from 761st Main Force Regiment. Also captured was a large quantity of ammunition, rations and medical supplies. Later that night a North Vietnamese engineer officer was also killed in a separate ambush, adding further weight to the Australian suspicions. As dawn broke the next day, two half-platoon ambushes from B Company, 1 RAR—under the command of Major Ian McFarlane—engaged two squad
s of Viet Cong Main Force. Preece immediately warned Glotzbach of an imminent attack, and then informed Sargent that the Australians were moving to set up a defensive position, recommending that the engineers relocate in order to join them.
Meanwhile to the west, three battalions of Viet Cong 9th Division were massing for a decisive blow, preparing a regimental attack on the American and Australian positions. Units identified included J10 Battalion of the 761st Regiment, 707 Battalion of the 763rd Regiment and D800 Independent Battalion; in total around 2,000 men. By 20:00 they had completed a 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) approach march and were in assembly areas near the village of Ap Bo, using local women and youths as porters to carry ammunition, equipment and supplies. Small reconnaissance parties moved forward as pathfinders, easily locating the American headquarters due to the large amount of noise and light it gave off. The Viet Cong regimental commander determined to attack on three separate axes from the east, and to then send a force around behind the Brigade Headquarters and assault from the west, thereby surrounding the defenders and preventing them from concentrating their forces in defence. Fire support was provided from two separate locations: with 60 millimetres (2.4 in) mortars deployed to the west, in between the Australians and Brigade Headquarters, while 82 millimetres (3.2 in) mortars would fire from a position in Ap Bo to the south-east.
from 1st Battalion, US 5th Artillery Regiment had been moved in to defend the Brigade Headquarters. 1st Battalion, US 26th Infantry Regiment—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Y.Y. Phillips—returned from the field and also deployed in defence by last light, augmenting Company B, 1st Battalion, US 28th Infantry Regiment
. Additional ammunition was also brought forward, in anticipation of a likely Viet Cong attack.
At 22:00, soldiers from B Company, 1 RAR, occupying the western sector of the Australian perimeter noticed lights 250 metres (273.4 yd) to their front. McFarlane subsequently requested artillery and mortar fire to target the location, but the request was declined by Preece. Meanwhile a small Australian standing patrol, deployed forward of the company main defensive position, and under the commander of Private Walter Brunalli, had observed the lights moving closer, east of Brigade Headquarters. Two tanks had been positioned forward of the American positions, with a squad of infantry on the eastern approaches, and by midnight they had also reported sounds of movement and intermittent flashes of light through the trees. In the early morning of 24 April, just after midnight, sporadic firing was heard throughout the area. The forward American listening posts had detected small groups of Viet Cong moving outside the perimeter, killing two and forcing the remainder to withdraw into the darkness after one of the sentries opened fire. Glotzbach waited for the Viet Cong main effort however, and withheld the bulk of the firepower at his disposal.
With their defences alerted, the Americans and Australians stood to for the next 45 minutes. The battle began at 01:45 with a heavy barrage of Viet Cong mortar and small arms fire. The Americans responded with small arms, machine-guns, tank fire, mortars and artillery and over the next hour the firing grew in intensity until, at 03:00, the Viet Cong switched their fires to the north-west side of the American perimeter, augmenting their fire with recoilless rifle
s. Glotzbach expected a full-scale ground assault, but the Viet Cong had been held back by the weight of American firepower, with heavy artillery including 8 inches (203.2 mm) and 175 millimetres (6.9 in) howitzers firing in support from Phuoc Vinh, in addition to the defender's own artillery which was now firing over open sights after lowering their tubes to fire directly at the Viet Cong positions. In total eight field batteries were available. Elsewhere, the Australian standing patrol had remained in position despite the proximity of the Viet Cong, and with the Americans pouring massive fire into the area they were soon caught in the crossfire. Brunalli was subsequently wounded in the arm.
Although the Australian position was not the focus of the attack, it too soon came under attack from 60 millimetres (2.4 in) mortars, killing an American sapper. With the base plate positioned between the Australians and Brigade Headquarters there was initial confusion over the source of the rounds, and both Gloztbach and Preece accused the other of firing on their positions. However, with US aircraft arriving overhead to illuminate the battlefield the Australians were able to join the fighting, and they began firing at masses of Viet Cong seen milling around in the confusion. Earlier, a number of Australian ambushes had intercepted Viet Cong pathfinder groups and this had largely prevented the communists from conducting a final reconnaissance of their objectives. Unaware of the newly strengthened defences they had assaulted into the combined firepower of two American field artillery batteries firing over open sights, as well as tanks supported by infantry. Using anti-personnel canister
, flechette
and splintex rounds, as well as prepositioned banks of Claymore mines, the Americans broke up several assaults with heavy casualties, while the Australians poured small arms fire into the flank of what was now turning into a costly and futile attack.
, killing another Viet Cong soldier before successfully completing the move back to their perimeter.
With the Viet Cong line of withdrawal carrying them past the Australian position, heavy fire was maintained on them as they attempted a partial retreat, resulting in further casualties. However, as daybreak neared the Viet Cong seemed unwilling to commit to an all-out attack, nor to completely withdraw. Finally, the main Viet Cong attack began at 05:30; earlier losses had been heavy, however, and they were unable to mount a massed assault. Instead only a series of disjointed attacks followed, with none more than 40 men strong. By 06:45 all attacks had been repelled by the Americans and the Viet Cong withdrew before dawn, avoiding the arrival of additional American air support.
For the next two days, the Australians continued to provide protection to the US engineers before being replaced by an American infantry battalion. 1 RAR subsequently flew out on 26 February, returning to Bien Hoa airbase. Meanwhile, following their repulse at Tan Binh the Viet Cong attempted to avoided further contact, choosing instead to harass the American work parties with occasional mortar and sniper fire. These tactics proved ineffective however, and although the Americans lost a further three killed and 29 wounded, the road was complete by 2 March. The Americans launched an extensive civic action program
in an attempt to consolidate their gains, repairing damaged houses, distributing food and providing basic health care to the local population. Despite such efforts though, American commanders were pessimistic about the possibility of achieving any long term gains in Binh Duong Province unless the South Vietnamese Army was able to provide lasting protection for the local population. On 7 March, just five days after the completion of Operation Rolling Stone, the US 1st Brigade was redeployed with US 173rd Airborne Brigade and 1 RAR on Operation Silver City, sweeping the southwest sector of War Zone D.
At the strategic level the allied enclave strategy proved only transitory. Further setbacks led to additional troop increases to halt the losing trend, with US troop levels planned to rise to 210,000 by January 1966. As part of this strategy the Australian government increased its own commitment to the ground war in Vietnam in March 1966, committing a two battalion brigade—known as the 1st Australian Task Force
(1 ATF)—with armour, aviation and artillery support; in total 6,300 personnel. 1 RAR was subsequently replaced and 1 ATF was allocated its own area of operations in Phuoc Tuy Province
, thereby allowing the Australians to pursue operations more independently using their own tactics. The task force arrived between April and June 1966, constructing a base at Nui Dat
, while logistic arrangements were provided by 1st Australian Logistics Support Group
which was established at the port of Vung Tau
.
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
fought between US and Australian troops, and the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. The battle occurred during Operation Rolling Stone, a major American security operation to protect engineers building a tactically important road in the vicinity of Tan Binh, in central Binh Duong Province
Binh Duong Province
Bình Dương is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, immediately to the north of Ho Chi Minh City. The province was created from Song Be province on January 1, 1997.-Geography:...
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) northwest of Bien Hoa airbase
Bien Hoa Air Base
Bien Hoa Air Base is a Vietnam People's Air Force military airfield located in South-Central southern Vietnam about 20 miles from Saigon near the city of Bien Hoa within Dong Nai Province....
. During the fighting the 1st Brigade, US 1st Infantry Division and the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a regular light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion in 1945 and since then has been deployed on active service during the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War...
(1 RAR), which was attached for the operation, fought off a night-time regiment-sized Viet Cong assault with massed firepower from artillery and tanks, inflicting heavy casualties on the communists and forcing them to withdraw by morning. However, the Americans and Australians made no attempt to pursue the Viet Cong as they withdrew, instead focusing on securing the battlefield and evacuating their own casualties. After being repulsed, the Viet Cong attempted to avoid further contact, although they did continue to harass the American sappers with occasional sniper and mortar fire. These tactics proved ineffective, and the road was complete by 2 March.
Background
During February 1966, as part of an American road-building program designed to challenge the Viet Cong's ability to manoeuvre in the areas around Saigon, the US 1st Engineer Battalion—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Howard Sargent—had been engaged in constructing an all-weather road between Route 13 and Route 15 in central Binh Duong Province, west of Ben CatBen Cat
Ben Cat , is a district of Binh Duong Province in the Southeast region of Vietnam.As of 2003 the district had a population of 119,138. The district covers an area of 588 km². The district capital lies at My Phuoc.-References:...
, on the northern apex of the Viet Cong base area known as the Iron Triangle
Iron Triangle (Vietnam)
The Iron Triangle was a area in the Binh Duong Province of Vietnam, so named due to it being a stronghold of Viet Minh activity during the war...
. This road was planned to cut the communist supply routes between War Zone C
War zone C
A Vietnamese communist base area located in Tay Ninh province near the Cambodian border during the Vietnam war. Reportedly the general location of COSVN, the headquarters for communist military and political activities in the southern half of Vietnam....
, the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
, the Iron Triangle and War Zone D, while it would also link the two forward brigades of the US 1st Infantry Division between Phuoc Vinh and Lai Khe
Lai Khe
Lai Khê is a small settlement in Vietnam, to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City and about 20 km north of Thủ Dầu Một. During the Vietnam War it was a garrison town as the 5th Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam was based there for most of the 1960s and 1970s.Tucker, pp. 526–533...
and help to extend the authority of the South Vietnamese government.
In response to the American moves, Viet Cong Local Force elements began harassing the sappers, subjecting them daily to sniping, mines and sabotage in an effort to hamper construction. A large American security operation known as Operation Rolling Stone was subsequently launched by elements of US 1st Division on 11 February, in an area of operations around the Suoi Bong Trang, a major creek 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north-west of Bien Hoa airbase. The US 1st Brigade under the command of Colonel Edgar N. Glotzbach was allocated the task, and he assigned one of his three battalions to guard the engineers on a rotating basis, while the other two would probe the Viet Cong positions nearby in order to keep them off balance.
Meanwhile, following a request from the American divisional commander, 1 RAR—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alex Preece—was detached from the US 173rd Airborne Brigade
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team is an airborne infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army based in Vicenza, Italy...
and placed under the operational command of the US 1st Division until 5 March. Major General
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
William E. DePuy
William E. DePuy
William Eugene DePuy was a U.S. Army general and the first commander of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. He is widely regarded as one of the principal architects of the restructuring of U.S. Army doctrine after the American withdrawal from Vietnam.-Early life and career:DePuy...
had selected the Australians specifically because of their reputation for dispersed, aggressive patrolling. Attached supporting the infantry from 1 RAR were Australian M113
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
s from 1 APC Troop
1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron (Australia)
The 1st Armoured Personnel Squadron was an armoured unit of the Australian Army raised for service during the Vietnam War. Raised in 1965 the unit was deployed to South Vietnam in May 1966 to join the 1st Australian Task Force...
, engineers from 3 Field Troop, Bell Sioux
H-13 Sioux
The H-13 Sioux was a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. Westland Aircraft manufactured the Sioux under license for the British military as the Sioux AH.1 and HT.2.-Development:...
light observation helicopters and Cessna 180
Cessna 180
The Cessna 180 is a four- or six-seat, fixed conventional gear general aviation airplane which was produced between 1953 and 1981. Though the design is no longer in production, many of these aircraft are still in use as personal aircraft and in utility roles such as bush...
fixed-wing aircraft from 161 Independent Reconnaissance Flight, and 105 millimetres (4.1 in) L5 Pack Howizter
OTO Melara Mod 56
The OTO-Melara Mod 56 is an Italian-made 105 mm pack howitzer built and developed by OTO-Melara. It fires the standard US type M1 ammunition.-History:...
s from 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery
Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
The Royal New Zealand Artillery forms the artillery section of the New Zealand Army. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer units of artillery in New Zealand.-Modern structure:...
.
Prelude
Headquarters US 1st Brigade was located about 1000 metres (1,093.6 yd) east of the engineer base camp in the vicinity of the hamlet of Tan Binh, just north of the new roadway and less than 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west of Route 16. Meanwhile the battalions of the brigade widely dispersed carrying out search and destroy operations throughout the area of operations, and as such it was only lightly defended. Yet other than the harassment faced by the engineers, contact between the Americans and the Viet Cong had been infrequent during the first weeks of the operation. While details on the location of Viet Cong Main Force regiments was typically limited, Australian intelligence assessed that a minimum of two Local Force platoons, and possibly a Local Force company, were operating in the area but cautioned that the Viet Cong probably had the ability to concentrate a Main Force battalionBattalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
in the area with little warning. The concept of operations
Concept of Operations
A concept of operations is a document describing the characteristics of a proposed system from the viewpoint of an individual who will use that system. It is used to communicate the quantitative and qualitative system characteristics to all stakeholders...
required the Australians to protect the engineer base, the laterite
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
pit and road work parties over a distance of 6000 metres (6,561.7 yd), as well as protecting engineer reconnaissance parties when they moved forward to plan new sections of the road.
38th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 38th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-First 38th Infantry Regiment:The 38th Infantry was first established on July 28, 1866, as part of the Regular Army, one of six segregated, all-black regiments created following the Civil War...
. Preece immediately instituted a program of twenty-four hour dispersed patrolling, and within two days this succeeded in reducing the level of Viet Cong activity against the road construction. Two platoons of American M48 Patton tanks were also moved into the area, patrolling by day with the Australian armoured personnel carriers, while securing the laterite pit at night. However, by 22 February the Australians noted that in several contacts they were now facing Main Force elements, indicating the possibility of a major communist attack. In the early morning of 23 February three Viet Cong soldiers were killed in an Australian ambush, while several others were wounded but escaped. The dead soldiers were well-equipped with new AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
assault rifles and webbing, and they were identified as being from 761st Main Force Regiment. Also captured was a large quantity of ammunition, rations and medical supplies. Later that night a North Vietnamese engineer officer was also killed in a separate ambush, adding further weight to the Australian suspicions. As dawn broke the next day, two half-platoon ambushes from B Company, 1 RAR—under the command of Major Ian McFarlane—engaged two squad
Squad
In military terminology, a squad is a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. In countries following the British Army tradition this organization is referred to as a section...
s of Viet Cong Main Force. Preece immediately warned Glotzbach of an imminent attack, and then informed Sargent that the Australians were moving to set up a defensive position, recommending that the engineers relocate in order to join them.
Meanwhile to the west, three battalions of Viet Cong 9th Division were massing for a decisive blow, preparing a regimental attack on the American and Australian positions. Units identified included J10 Battalion of the 761st Regiment, 707 Battalion of the 763rd Regiment and D800 Independent Battalion; in total around 2,000 men. By 20:00 they had completed a 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) approach march and were in assembly areas near the village of Ap Bo, using local women and youths as porters to carry ammunition, equipment and supplies. Small reconnaissance parties moved forward as pathfinders, easily locating the American headquarters due to the large amount of noise and light it gave off. The Viet Cong regimental commander determined to attack on three separate axes from the east, and to then send a force around behind the Brigade Headquarters and assault from the west, thereby surrounding the defenders and preventing them from concentrating their forces in defence. Fire support was provided from two separate locations: with 60 millimetres (2.4 in) mortars deployed to the west, in between the Australians and Brigade Headquarters, while 82 millimetres (3.2 in) mortars would fire from a position in Ap Bo to the south-east.
Night assault, 23/24 February 1966
By late afternoon on 23 April 1 RAR had adopted a position in all-round defence in the vicinity of the Suoi Bong Trang, west of Brigade Headquarters, while the US engineers had moved into a new defensive position inside the Australian perimeter. Meanwhile, alerted by the Australians, a platoon of M48 Patton tanks from Troop B, 1st Squadron, US 4th Cavalry Regiment and a second 105 millimetres (4.1 in) howitzer field batteryArtillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
from 1st Battalion, US 5th Artillery Regiment had been moved in to defend the Brigade Headquarters. 1st Battalion, US 26th Infantry Regiment—under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Y.Y. Phillips—returned from the field and also deployed in defence by last light, augmenting Company B, 1st Battalion, US 28th Infantry Regiment
28th Infantry Regiment (United States)
Since the establishment of the United States Army in 1775, three regiments have held the designation 28th Infantry Regiment. The first was a Provisional unit that was constituted on 29 January 1813 and served during The War of 1812. The second was a reorganization and redesignation of 2nd...
. Additional ammunition was also brought forward, in anticipation of a likely Viet Cong attack.
At 22:00, soldiers from B Company, 1 RAR, occupying the western sector of the Australian perimeter noticed lights 250 metres (273.4 yd) to their front. McFarlane subsequently requested artillery and mortar fire to target the location, but the request was declined by Preece. Meanwhile a small Australian standing patrol, deployed forward of the company main defensive position, and under the commander of Private Walter Brunalli, had observed the lights moving closer, east of Brigade Headquarters. Two tanks had been positioned forward of the American positions, with a squad of infantry on the eastern approaches, and by midnight they had also reported sounds of movement and intermittent flashes of light through the trees. In the early morning of 24 April, just after midnight, sporadic firing was heard throughout the area. The forward American listening posts had detected small groups of Viet Cong moving outside the perimeter, killing two and forcing the remainder to withdraw into the darkness after one of the sentries opened fire. Glotzbach waited for the Viet Cong main effort however, and withheld the bulk of the firepower at his disposal.
With their defences alerted, the Americans and Australians stood to for the next 45 minutes. The battle began at 01:45 with a heavy barrage of Viet Cong mortar and small arms fire. The Americans responded with small arms, machine-guns, tank fire, mortars and artillery and over the next hour the firing grew in intensity until, at 03:00, the Viet Cong switched their fires to the north-west side of the American perimeter, augmenting their fire with recoilless rifle
Recoilless rifle
A recoilless rifle or recoilless gun is a lightweight weapon that fires a heavier projectile than would be practical to fire from a recoiling weapon of comparable size. Technically, only devices that use a rifled barrel are recoilless rifles. Smoothbore variants are recoilless guns...
s. Glotzbach expected a full-scale ground assault, but the Viet Cong had been held back by the weight of American firepower, with heavy artillery including 8 inches (203.2 mm) and 175 millimetres (6.9 in) howitzers firing in support from Phuoc Vinh, in addition to the defender's own artillery which was now firing over open sights after lowering their tubes to fire directly at the Viet Cong positions. In total eight field batteries were available. Elsewhere, the Australian standing patrol had remained in position despite the proximity of the Viet Cong, and with the Americans pouring massive fire into the area they were soon caught in the crossfire. Brunalli was subsequently wounded in the arm.
Although the Australian position was not the focus of the attack, it too soon came under attack from 60 millimetres (2.4 in) mortars, killing an American sapper. With the base plate positioned between the Australians and Brigade Headquarters there was initial confusion over the source of the rounds, and both Gloztbach and Preece accused the other of firing on their positions. However, with US aircraft arriving overhead to illuminate the battlefield the Australians were able to join the fighting, and they began firing at masses of Viet Cong seen milling around in the confusion. Earlier, a number of Australian ambushes had intercepted Viet Cong pathfinder groups and this had largely prevented the communists from conducting a final reconnaissance of their objectives. Unaware of the newly strengthened defences they had assaulted into the combined firepower of two American field artillery batteries firing over open sights, as well as tanks supported by infantry. Using anti-personnel canister
Canister shot
Canister shot is a kind of anti-personnel ammunition used in cannons. It was similar to the naval grapeshot, but fired smaller and more numerous balls, which did not have to punch through the wooden hull of a ship...
, flechette
Flechette
A flechette is a pointed steel projectile, with a vaned tail for stable flight. The name comes from French , "little arrow" or "dart", and sometimes retains the acute accent in English: fléchette.-Bulk and artillery use:...
and splintex rounds, as well as prepositioned banks of Claymore mines, the Americans broke up several assaults with heavy casualties, while the Australians poured small arms fire into the flank of what was now turning into a costly and futile attack.
Viet Cong withdraw, 24 February 1966
Elsewhere, at 02:45, three Viet Cong soldiers had moved to within 25 metres (27.3 yd) of Brunalli's standing patrol, taking up firing positions. The Australians killed one and wounded another who was dragged away by the third, before they withdrew to another location nearby. Meanwhile, the two American tanks forward of Brigade Headquarters were overrun and their crews killed. Having suffered heavy losses, by 04:00 some of the Viet Cong began to retreat from the battlefield, and many were now filtering past 1 RAR. As groups of Viet Cong began to move past their position the standing patrol was now in an untenable position, clashing briefly with one group of 15 Viet Cong. McFarlane finally ordered the patrol to withdraw, so that he could engage with artillery and mortars. Moving to achieve a clean break, the patrol engaged another group of 10 Viet Cong with a volley of small arms fire, before withdrawing 30 metres (32.8 yd) towards the company position in the darkness. Expecting to be followed up the Australians set up a snap ambushAmbush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
, killing another Viet Cong soldier before successfully completing the move back to their perimeter.
With the Viet Cong line of withdrawal carrying them past the Australian position, heavy fire was maintained on them as they attempted a partial retreat, resulting in further casualties. However, as daybreak neared the Viet Cong seemed unwilling to commit to an all-out attack, nor to completely withdraw. Finally, the main Viet Cong attack began at 05:30; earlier losses had been heavy, however, and they were unable to mount a massed assault. Instead only a series of disjointed attacks followed, with none more than 40 men strong. By 06:45 all attacks had been repelled by the Americans and the Viet Cong withdrew before dawn, avoiding the arrival of additional American air support.
Aftermath
At first light the next morning Australian clearing patrols located 89 dead and 11 wounded Viet Cong in front of their positions, the bulk of which had been killed by the Americans.1 RAR was later credited with killing 17 Viet Cong during the battle. See . Countless others had simply been disintegrated by artillery and tank fire and the battlefield was littered with shattered human remains, severed limbs, and chunks of flesh, while red pulp covered the rubber trees that were still standing. Later, 154 bodies were bulldozed into a B-52 bomb crater nearby, while it was estimated that a further 200 Viet Cong casualties had been removed from the battlefield. 15 Viet Cong had also been captured during the battle, as had a large quantity of equipment, including small arms and ammunition, crew-served weapons and grenades. The villagers of Ap Bo were again used by the Viet Cong to carry many of the dead and wounded from the battlefield with ox carts, and they also suffered a number of casualties from artillery and mortar fire landing in the area. In contrast, American casualties were 11 killed and 72 wounded, while Australian casualties were lighter still, with just two men wounded. One American tank had also been destroyed, while two tanks and four armoured personnel carriers were damaged. Overall, the combined US-Australian force had won an impressive victory. However, with the defenders exhausted and with ammunition running low, Glotzbach cautiously decided not to pursue the withdrawing force. Instead the Americans and Australians focussed on securing the battlefield and evacuating their own casualties.For the next two days, the Australians continued to provide protection to the US engineers before being replaced by an American infantry battalion. 1 RAR subsequently flew out on 26 February, returning to Bien Hoa airbase. Meanwhile, following their repulse at Tan Binh the Viet Cong attempted to avoided further contact, choosing instead to harass the American work parties with occasional mortar and sniper fire. These tactics proved ineffective however, and although the Americans lost a further three killed and 29 wounded, the road was complete by 2 March. The Americans launched an extensive civic action program
Civic action program
A civic action program also known as civic action project is a type of operation designed to assist an area by using the capabilities and resources of a military force or civilian organization to conduct long-term programs or short-term projects...
in an attempt to consolidate their gains, repairing damaged houses, distributing food and providing basic health care to the local population. Despite such efforts though, American commanders were pessimistic about the possibility of achieving any long term gains in Binh Duong Province unless the South Vietnamese Army was able to provide lasting protection for the local population. On 7 March, just five days after the completion of Operation Rolling Stone, the US 1st Brigade was redeployed with US 173rd Airborne Brigade and 1 RAR on Operation Silver City, sweeping the southwest sector of War Zone D.
At the strategic level the allied enclave strategy proved only transitory. Further setbacks led to additional troop increases to halt the losing trend, with US troop levels planned to rise to 210,000 by January 1966. As part of this strategy the Australian government increased its own commitment to the ground war in Vietnam in March 1966, committing a two battalion brigade—known as the 1st Australian Task Force
1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force commanded the Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province...
(1 ATF)—with armour, aviation and artillery support; in total 6,300 personnel. 1 RAR was subsequently replaced and 1 ATF was allocated its own area of operations in Phuoc Tuy Province
Phuoc Tuy Province
Phước Tuy Province was a province of South Vietnam. It now mostly corresponds to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, just southeast of Ho Chi Minh City....
, thereby allowing the Australians to pursue operations more independently using their own tactics. The task force arrived between April and June 1966, constructing a base at Nui Dat
Nui Dat
Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province was the location of a prominent Australian military base in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The site was chosen by Lieutenant General John Wilton in 1966 and was built mainly by men from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment...
, while logistic arrangements were provided by 1st Australian Logistics Support Group
1st Australian Logistics Support Group
The 1st Australian Logistic Support Group was a ground support unit of the Australian Army during the Vietnam War located at Vũng Tàu. The unit was formed in 1965 as the Australian Logistic Support Company and was redesignated as 1 ALSG in April 1966.1 ALSG commanded logistic support units to all...
which was established at the port of Vung Tau
Vung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
.