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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 6 of Chapter 2 The Fighting Fourth; 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) 2nd tour, 1971-72 |
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The Task Force departed.............. |
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Operation SOUTH WARD 6 Oct 1971 - 7 Nov 1971 |
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| The ANZAC Battalion was to remain at Nui Dat to cover the withdrawal of 1st Australian Task Force on 16 October to Vung Tau. On 16 October, the 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion Group came into being with the task of securing "our" part of Nui Dat. Under this grouping we had our normal Field Battery, a Troop of APCs including a section of Fire Support Vehicles, Sappers, Corps detachments of the "Services- and our own "air force" (Forward Air Traffic Operation Centre). A platoon of B Battery 5/42nd Battery US Artillery with medium guns were in general support from Fire Support Base Carmen. Also a group of 10 Military Intelligence Detachment lived with us in Nui Dat. |
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A minimum of nine platoons and numerous APC/FSV ambushes were deployed outside the wire at any one time. Within the base APC/FSVs were deployed at key defensive points by night and at check points throughout the day. To increase flexibility and counter mortar capability, a section of mortars was positioned on Nui Dat Hill, whilst the other three sections remained in their prepared base plate position in Support Company lines. Following the move to Vung Tau by the bulk of the Task Force, an appearance of normal activity was maintained by continuing Caribou flights on normal schedules, usual visual reconnaissance, voice aircraft and taskin2 -sniffer- missions in and outside our Area of Operations. Simulated SAS patrol insertions and extractions were carried out and a solid harassing and interdiction programme was maintained by both mortars and gunners firing out of Fire Support Base Hornbill. The actual withdrawal of the Battalion Group to Vung Tau was conducted in two phases. Initially an administrative movement of heavy/bulky equipment and stores with our advance party was completed by 6 November. The final move was a carefully co-ordinated tactical move utilising our own artillery and armoured support to extract ourselves to the last base (in Vung Tau) in South Vietnam on 7 November. Results: Own Troops - Nil Enemy - Nil |
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and the Anzac group remained |
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with our own Air Force and Cavalry |
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while the mortars fired H&I's. |
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The bunkers on SAS Hill |
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10 Mil Int Det remained with us |
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Claymores in! (Ptes Peter Edwards & Ben Reynolds) |
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The 105s at Hornbill |
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Last patrol on tracks |
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V & C Companies headed for Vung Tau |
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Pioneers extracted (Pte Bill Lawlor, L/Cpl Malcolm Stone & Pte "Artie" Kingston). |
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| 946 Regional Forces Coy (SVN) took over SAS Hill |
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Arrival at Vung Tau |
