Chapter 2.3

Operation NORTH WARD 5 August 1971 -18 September 1971
The concept of this operation was to maintain a strong infantry presence along the known VC re-supply and courier routes in the north of the province and to the east and west of Route 2. V Company contacted and cleared out a series of small sapper groups based in the swampy head of the Suoi Tam Bo. Evidence suggested that in addition to Chau Duc sappers, there were sappers from C2 Engineer Company, Ba Long (ex D65 Engineer Battalion) co-located near their target area of Courtney Plantation/ Route 2. Shortly after, D Company despatched a senior cadre of Ba Long, Province Headquarters into the Hoa Loc Plantation near a six hundred and fifty pound rice cache. V Company next concentrated their attention farther to the east (than planned) and they surprised a VC logistics base on the eastern slopes of Nui Le, apparently building up a supply system for the subsequent deployment of a large force (later proven to be 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment) into that area.

C Company re-searched the area of the Suoi Ca/Suoi Soc where the previous operation was conducted. They located a number of freshly constructed and recently occupied bunker systems.

Evidence located, supported the idea that elements of 274 Regiment (most probably I Battalion) had returned to the "Border Sanctuary" area. Of satisfying interest, was the finding of a lecture area in one of the systems with diagrams illustrating methods of destroying tanks, a reminder of our past successful infantry/ armoured assaults against I Battalion in June and July. Perhaps they had learnt a valuable lesson too late, as our tank support at that stage was unfortunately being phased out of operations.

The operation was interrupted for a period of ten days either side of the South Vietnamese Lower House Elections on 29 August. At the request of the Province Chief, C Company deployed to the Nui Dinhs, D Company to the Hat Dich and B Company to the west of Duc Thanh. V Company and a troop of APCs remained to operate in the Courtney Area. Liaison was maintained with 177 Regional Force Company and the village officials of Cam My during this period and it continued throughout the operation. A communications link with Cam My was reestablished and maintained by the Intelligence Section. The link proved useful on a number of occasions, when fire support was requested to assist the Regional Forces in contact, as mine incidents and ambushing became a regular occurrence against the village inhabitants.

On 11 September, on the eastern edge of the Courtney Plantation, a party from Chau Duc District was successfully ambushed by the Tracker Platoon. Two of the VC killed in action were subsequently identified from documents captured in the contact as being Bay Giang and Nam Thang. The elimination of these two senior executives from Chau Duc District Forces, together with the capturing of a number of documents and a sizeable amount of currency, was a most significant contribution to the deterioration of a once effective District Force.

During the second week of September in the Nui Le area, D Company found fresh signs of movement of at least squad size groups of enemy, generally moving from east to west and navigating with the assistance of compasses. No identification could be obtained from a number of contacts as no documents were captured. However, it was apparent that a new and active force had commenced reconnoitring the area and shortly afterwards, Operation IVANHOE commenced.

Results: Own Troops - Nil
Enemy - 11 KIA (battle casualties)

Remember: The Vietnamese man on the bicycle that the AM couldn't catch as he "burned" through the rubber.