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The Fighting Fourth is part of the Digger History group of sites. |
A history of the 4th Bn Royal Australian Regiment during their second tour of Vietnam when with members of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment they served as 4RAR/NZ ( ANZAC ) |
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Page 5 of Chapter 2 The Fighting Fourth; 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) 2nd tour, 1971-72 |
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An operational load: Cpl John Bergmans |
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Napalm delivery by F4 Phantom |
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APCs in the Courtney Plantation |
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APC mined in the Courtney Plantation |
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| "Zero Alpha...this is Shelldrake...I'm hitting it! I'm hitting it!...But it just won't go down! |
| There is no doubt that the quick retaliatory reaction by the APCs from 1 Troop when ambushed on 20 September and the aggressive action by B and D Companies, with plentiful close air and artillery support during this last battle fought by Australian troops, were responsible for forcing 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment to abandon their efforts (which had been considerable) to dominate the District and return to more secure surroundings north of the Phuoc Tuy Province boundary. Results: Own Troops; 5 KIA 30 WIA (including I NZ and 4 from I Troop) Enemy - 14 KIA (battle casualties) 6 KIA (prisoner of war report) 9 Killed by aircraft Remember: The 'return' of US air power to Phuoc Tuy and 1st Australian Task Force. |
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Operation VALIANT 3 October 1971-6 October 1971 |
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| This operation marked the commencement of the phasing out of the ANZAC Battalion from Area of Operation Birdsville and re-deploying to Areas Kingsgrove and Otago to the west and east of Nui Dat. V and B Company moved south by foot and APC, searching to the east and west of Route 2 arriving at Nui Dat on 6 October. C and Support Company maintained a presence around the Courtney Rubber/Northern Province Boundary area whilst Battalion Headquarters remained on Courtney Hill. C Company flew out to Nui Dat on 4 October. |
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| The command post with Support Company and the guns from Fire Support Base Debbie withdrew by convoy the following day.
A report of small elements of 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment to the south on Binh Gia, though doubtful, was checked by V Company. 3 VC were sighted, probably from Binh Ba guerillas. B Company on the western side of Route 2 found no fresh sign of the Chau Duc District Forces as they cleared south. Fire Support Base Robin was closed down and brought into Nui Dat on 6 October. Following the withdrawal of 3 RAR to HMAS SYDNEY on 6 October, the ANZAC Battalion moved in to protect Luscombe Field and occupy SAS Hill and Ap An Phu lines to form the basis of the last defence of Nui Dat. Results: Own Troops - Nil Enemy - Nil |
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V Coy cleared to the east of Route 2, south to Nui Dat. (Ptes D. Woffe and W. Sydney). |
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Courtney Hill was handed over to 177 RF Coy (SVN). |
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B Coy with APCs cleared to the west of Route 2 (Gnr Gary Denis) |
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......clearing south. (Tpr Bonie, Sgt "Blue" Collins & Tpr Leithman). |
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Moving to Ap An Phu lines. |
