Chapter2 of The Fighting Fourth: Blood Sweat & Tears

Chapter2 of The Fighting Fourth: Blood Sweat & Tears
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Introduction: The Fourth Battalion was involved in nine operations during the period from May, 1971 to November, 1971.
These ranged from the initial commitment of V Company on Operation IRON MAIDEN, whilst the remainder of the battalion underwent in-country training to the participation in Task Force operations; and finally during the withdrawal phase, our own ANZAC Battalion Group operations. An outline to refresh the memories of those who participated in each operation, together with maps to define the areas of operations follows. In several instances, the direction of company advances are illustrated, e.g. a Task Force "Hammer and Anvil" type strike against a pre-determined target. The results of each operation are also included. During all operations the battalion received excellent support from other arms and services.

Operation IRON MAIDEN 23 May 1971 - 2 June1971

V Company were all ready deployed when 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion took over from 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion at midnight on 23 May 1971.

The operation commenced on 15 May as a combined cordon and search of the area of the Viet Cuong and Ngu Yen Hiep rubber plantations (a known VC supply area) with Regional Force Companies, National Police and South Vietnamese officials from District Headquarters at Duc Thanh.

APCs from B Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment inserted most of the friendly forces and assisted in forming part of the cordon. Though in excess of three dozen illegal unidentified civilians were detained as a result of the cordon and then held at District Headquarters, nearly all were released to return to the plantation area, due to lack of evidence.

V Company continued to operate in the Courtney Plantation area. Their patience was tried repeatedly by small civilian groups "legally" carrying food to and from the village of Cam My, located just across the border of Phuoc Tuy and Long Khanh Province.

However, in late May, acting on information obtained by an SAS Reconnaissance patrol, V Company deployed further west and located evidence of recent VC main force activity. On 2 June, Two Platoon logged the battalion's first "kill" - a member of 274 VC Regiment. Increasing evidence and intelligence obtained from I ATF set the stage for 4 RAR/NZ to be inserted into the general area in which V Company had been operating, across the northern boundary of Phuoc Tuy Province astride Route 2. Results: Own Troops - Nil Casualties Enemy - I KIA

Operation BHOWANI JUNCTION 3 June 1971- 4 June 1971

On 3 June, B, C and D Companies were inserted into Area of Operation Erica with V Company remaining in the rubber to the west of Route 2. The following day Support Company less Mortars and Signals Platoon secured a Fire Support Base site on the eastern edge of the Courtney Plantation. Initial patrolling had revealed little sign of enemy activity in the area within the previous five days. However, few will forget the mad dash in darkness after the elusive D445 reportedly "soft-shoeing it" through the Courtney Plantation, as a climax to the deployment.

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Operation OVERLORD 5 June 1971-14 June 1971
Battalion Headquarters deployed into Fire Support Base Trish with a section of 104 Field Battery on 5 June. The companies were re-deployed into a cordon and blocking position with A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment to our west, generally along the line of the Suoi Ran in Area of Operation Juno with 2/8 Battalion 3 Cavalry Brigade (US) on our north eastern flank in Area of Operation Omaha and 3 RAR driving against these blocking positions from the north west in Area of Operation Gold. On 6 and 7 June, 2/8 Battalion and 3 RAR with C Squadron, I Armoured Regiment were involved in a series of clashes with elements from 3 Battalion, 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment driven from their base/training camps in the Suoi Nhac. A further base/training camp of D445 Local Force Battalion was located by 3 RAR near the Suoi Nhac as they continued to push into the cordon.
Eventually, 4 RAR/NZ and 2/8 Battalion were ordered to close their blocking positions and link up an open cordon along the Suoi Nhac and the Suoi Loc. Small groups of enemy were attempting to penetrate the cordon and the unit suffered its first casualty (when a soldier from C Company Headquarters was wounded in a clash with a group of enemy seeking to escape). Further clashes were reported by the companies whilst they maintained patrols between the blocking forces. Even Fire Support Base Trish had movement contacted on its perimeter. B Company and the Assault Pioneers were re-deployed as a reaction force when the Task Force Defence and Employment Platoon were ambushed on 12 June to the west of Courtney Hill. Operation OVERLORD forced 3 Battalion, 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment and D445 Local Force Battalion to relocate to the north and east from Phuoc Tuy by mid-June and it was obvious that our next task would be to seek out elements of 1 Battalion, 274 Regiment in the north eastern area of Phuoc Tuy Province. Prior to their re-deployment, D Company with sappers and SAS guides, demolished a number of valuable bunker systems to further lower VC morale. Results: Own Troops - I WIA Enemy - I KIA

HERMIT PARK sprawled over the northeastern sector of Phuoc Tuy astride both sides of Route 2 and included most of Areas of Operation, Birdsville and Picton. A drawn out but fruitful operation in which every sub-unit was involved in some action, and, through sheer determination, the enemy was out-foxed repeatedly.

Initially the battalion was involved in contacts against members of 274 VC Regiment and Sub Region 4. Our I Troop carried out an effective ambush of approximately twenty-five members of Sub Region 4 on 21/22 June, accounting for thirteen VC killed in action, four prisoners of war and one Hoi Chanh, this being the first of two successful APC ambushes during the operation.

On 25/26 June, V Company's contact, west of the Cu Bi Rubber and the subsequent assault with C Squadron's tanks on a bunker system occupied by C2 Company, 274 Regiment was our first practical demonstration of just how effective those mechanical monsters are in a bunker assault. The attack pre-empted a serious threat to Route 2 in the Duc Thanh Area.

C and D Companies tasked against Chau Duc Units, destroyed a number of occupied, bunkered camps in the Chau Pha Valley. One extensive and extremely well constructed tunnel, in excess of twelve hundred feet, with up, to twelve feet of overhead protection and five feet in height, was demolished by the sappers and assault pioneers.

V, B and C Companies finally moved in on the Regimental Headquarters of 274 VC Regiment along the Suoi Quit, capturing a number of bunker systems and three valuable Chinese radio sets amongst other equipment. This action caused a rapid withdrawal of the Headquarters to the north, leaving I Battalion, 274 Regiment for us to deal with.

Results: Own Troops 1 KIA NZ 8 WIA (4 NZ 4 C Squadron)

Enemy 37 KIA 5 POWs 1 HOI CHANH