The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan, in phu. On this private day trip from ho chi minh city youll explore the battlegrounds of long tan, site of a notorious conflict fought between anzac forces and the viet cong during the vietnam war. This listed totalled 852 ie 159 less than the strength figure of 1,011 recorded on 9 august. Map courtesy of department of public information army.
Aug 18, 2016 a memorial called the long tan cross marks the site of the battle. Should you enjoy this page may i suggest you read the book. In that battle, a small group of soldiers from australia and new zealand. The paper is called was the battle of long tan a vc ambush, and was presented to the australian war memorial on friday 1st november 1996.
One of the contacts to the local association is through bellys bar as mentioned by wantok. As part of the work behind our battle of long tan documentary and our movie danger close. Fortytwo years after the battle of long tan, harry smiths long campaign for due recognition for his men is over. While the author brings a first hand account of the battle to the reader, he also offers insight into the life and times of an australian soldier of the era. August 18, 2016, marks the 50th anniversary of the battle of long tan, australias first major conflict in the vietnam war. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Long tan is the archetypal instance of the paradigm of western troops winning the battle but losing the war. Aug 20, 2010 for three and a half hours in the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called long tan, 105 young australians and 3 new zealanders fought and defeated 2,500 viet cong and north. The action was fought between viet cong vc and peoples army of vietnam pavn units and elements of the 1st australian task force 1 atf australian signals intelligence sigint had tracked the vc 275th regiment and d445 battalion.
The battle of long tan national library of australia. The co of canungra announced on friday night that delta company was the best company, and 12 platoon the best platoon, that has been through since world war ii. Robert grandin was a helicopter pilot and in this book describes the key role the helicopters played in supplying the men directly involved in the battle of long tan. After attacks on their base at nui dat, 108 men from d company of 6rar were patrolling in the area of the long tan rubber plantation. Bob buicks viet nam page welcome to the bob buick site. D company was on a company patrol named operation vendetta that remained in place until approximately 2300 hours 18 august 1966.
A memorial called the long tan cross marks the site of the battle. Much has been written about the battle of long tan by others. The battle of long tan could have been an australian military disaster, but is instead remembered as a decisive victory. Here is a list of the australians who were killed fighting in the battle of long tan. Watch the long tan ppt slide presentation 7 mbytes. The area of nui dat and long tan is still within a military zone and to get to the long tan cross you need to get a local guide which is organised through the local vet association. Australian army and the vietnam war,195066 official history of australias involvement in southeast asian conflicts, 194875 ian mcneill. While the battle of long tan is obviously pivotal to this book of lieutenant colonel harry smith sg mc, there is so much more. The battle of long tan sample history unit introduction this sample history unit focus es on the battle of long tan, which was a key battle in the vietnam war.
Australian army and the vietnam war, 195066 official history of australias involvement in southeast asian conflicts, 1948 75 ian mcneill. It was a provincial engagement that changed nothing by both usaustralian standard nor to vietnam. Experience this full day tour, listen to the history of the war, the battle of long tan is arguably the most famous battle fought by the australian army during the vietnam war. Starring travis fimmel, luke bracey, daniel webber, nicholas hamilton and richard roxburgh. Long tan battlefield full day private tour from ho chi minh. In august 1966, 161 battery rnza participated in the battle of long tan. Be sure that you will need to book this battefield tour with experience, knowledgeable tour guide in advance through any local travel agent because simply that you are not allowed to some areas individually. Here are some maps to help you understand vietnam during the vietnam war and the general area of operations for the 1st australian task force in phuoc tuy province and the task force base at nui dat. Remembering 21 year old private paul large battle of long. The action was fought between australian forces and viet cong and north vietnamese units after 108 men from d company, 6th battalion, royal australian regiment 6 rar clashed with a force of 1,500 to 2,500 from the viet cong 275th regiment.
Battle of long tan peter harvey 60 minutes vietnam war. The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan, in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam during the vietnam war. Source 4 some australian soldiers accounts of the battle. Thus this is a minute by minute account of the happenings during the battle of long tan 18th of august 1966. The battle of long tan hardcover january 1, 1987 by lex mcaulay author visit amazons lex mcaulay page. The battle of long tan, an extensive and comprehensive amount of research has been undertaken to ensure the accuracy of our documentary and movie through the use of reliable facts and figures. Here is a range of evidence about the battle of long tan. Here are some maps of vietnam, phuoc tuy province, south vietnam where the australian task force was based and the 1atf nui dat base. The other contributors to this book harry smith, geoff kendall, bob buick, dave sabben, morrie stanley, and adrian roberts are commanders actively involved in the battle who. Source 2 extract from the official history of australia in the vietnam war. Cameron viking, an imprint of penguin books melbourne, victoria wikipedia citation please see wikipedias template documentation for further citation fields that may be required.
Aug 18, 2012 he was killed in action 10 weeks later at the battle of long tan on 18 august 1966. The action was fought between viet cong vc and peoples army of vietnam pavn units and elements of the 1st australian task force 1 atf. Diaries, unit logs, interviews, transcripts, government cables, intelligence reports, books. Many authors have dwelt on the politics of why we were sent to vietnam. Overhere, however, it was seen as the iconic battle for australian, in the same effect as in galipoli in ww1, kokoda campaign in ww2 or kapyong in korea.
The battle of long tan holds a special place in the hearts and minds of australians. All guts and no glory the battle of long tan as told by the commanders through enemy. The battle of long tan in a rubber plantation in south vietnam in 1966 could have been an australian military disaster, but is instead remembered as a decisive victory. This year, in addition to vietnam veterans day celebrations across australia, a group of australian veterans was scheduled to hold a lowkey service at the battle site itself before a friendship dinner with vietnamese veterans and a memorial concert. Find any address on the map of long tan or calculate your itinerary to and from long tan, find all the tourist attractions and michelin guide restaurants in long tan. Battle of long tan the fallen battle of long tan blog. Aug 25, 2011 animated educational video for the army museum of western australia in fremantle. The battle of long tan anzac day commemoration committee. As though we were all at a ladies tea party in downtown toorak, townsend instead proposed an alpha company. Click in the map to zoom in and move around or check out the satellite and terrain. The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan. Looking to the west towards the 1st australian task force base across the rubber plantation near the village long tan left out of frame, south east of ho chi minh city saigon where, on the afternoon of 18 august 1966 the battle of long tan was fought, between my company, d company of 6 battalion royal australian regiment 6rar only numbering 108 against elements of the 5th vc division.
The documentary offers an investigation into the catandmouse game of intelligence and counterintelligence which both sides engaged in. Aug 18, 2015 the battle of long tan lasted just four hours on august 18 in 1966, but for colonel smith, delta d companys commander, the torment of his memories and a fight against those who managed the. The action was fought between australian forces and viet cong and north vietnamese army units after the this is a book that every australian should read. Grimbold can be found at the center of the warstead of the helmingas 45. The battle of long tan lex mcaulay national library of. I have read every book on offer in relation to the battle of long tan and being an amateur military historian i have visited nui dat and walked. In the battle of long tan, caulfield takes us through that hellish day in the long tan rubber plantation, combining gripping firsthand accounts from eleven of the men who fought with an authoritative overview of the battle itself from headquarters to the men in the field. Battle of long tan intelligence background this is an extract from the book. Mr smith and two fellow officers will get top gallantry awards for the 100odd men of d company 6 rar who on august 18, 1966, fought against 1500 north vietnamese regular troops and viet cong guerillas. Long tan battlefield full day private tour from ho chi. The area of nui dat and long tan is still within a military zone and to get to the long tan cross. David murray, frank parisio, ted chitham, peter campbell, darryl backwell and four serving soldiers from 89 rar, james jenkins, sharna appleton, john mcfayden and adam timins, led by arthur willemse, set off from toowoomba in queensland on a marathon cycle ride to canberra to commemorate the. For a 49page detailed discussion of sigint against vc elements in phuoc tuy in 1966 see annex e in chamberlain, e. This tells the story of the battle of long tan during australias involvement in the vietnam war.
As an aside, i have been told that this long tan cross is the only memorial to an enemy in the american vietnam war allowed by the vietnamese government. This map indicates the area occupied by the australian at 1st australian task force. Official website of the battle of long tan which took place on 18 august 1966 during the vietnam war. With travis fimmel, toby blome, alexander england, aaron glenane. Battle of long tan, may not be familiarised with by the people outside australia. Footnote vc defector in 1969, ex sgt loc of d445 bn, battle of long tan, a guide and interpreter with 6 rar stated that most casualties were caused by artillery. After your visit to nui dat sas hill, head to long phuoc tunnels for a look at the underground network. Apr 22, 2018 while the battle of long tan was before my own service in vietnam, it was a moving experience. Witness the true story of ordinary boys who became extraordinary men in the most ferocious anzac battle of the vietnam war.
Elfmar can be found on the eastern edge of the warstead of the. Mr smith and two fellow officers will get top gallantry awards for the 100odd men of d company 6 rar who on august 18, 1966, fought against 1500 north vietnamese regular troops and. With this book, david ventured into the reality of being able to talk to the veterans who were actually present at the battle. Jan 01, 1987 the battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place near the village of long tan, in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam during the vietnam war. The task force then commenced operation smithfield the battle of long tan occurred in the late afternoon of 18 august 1966 in a rubber plantation some 4500 metres to the east of the task. American courage and firepower won the dayeven when massively outnumberedtime and again in vietnam. Battle of long tan commemorative vetride the battle of. Click to see all battle of long tan danger close books. The battle of long tan took place on august 18 th, 1966 in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam, during the vietnam war. Remembering 21 year old private paul large battle of. That the total number of vc killed in the battle was well in excess of 1,000. From 1962 to 1973 almost 60,000 australians served in vietnam during the second indochina war, commonly known as the vietnam war. This place is situated in long dat, ba ria vung tau, vietnam, its geographical coordinates are 10 32 0 north, 107 16 0 east and its original name with diacritics is xa long tan. In august 1966, in a vietnamese rubber plantation called long tan, 108 young and inexperienced australian and new zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives against 2500 north vietnamese and viet cong soldiers.
This is the first book ever written about the battle of long tan and it is a fantastic read and resource. No discussion of the battle of long tan would be complete without remembering the ultimate sacrifice of the australians and vietnamese who fought and died in the battle. Descriptionbattle of long tan, 18 august 1966 sourceself created from map of battle in cite booklastmcneill firstian coauthors titleto long tan. Source 3 list of the australian dead battle of long tan. A true story of 108 ordinary soldiers who fought and defeated an enemy force of 2,500 and became extraordinary heroes. The battle of long tan lex mcaulay hutchinson of australia hawthorn, vic 1986.