Summary of the second tour of SVN by 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) 1971-72

Whilst 4 RAR/NZ did not serve the full twelve months of its second tour of South Vietnam, the battalion was directly responsible for causing the withdrawal of the main elements of two enemy regiments from their bases along the northern province border.

Prior to our returning in May 1971, Phuoc Tuy Province had been relatively free from Main Force North Vietnamese Army/ Viet Cong Regiments. However, C2 Company of 274 VC Main Force Regiment moved into the Duc Thanh District in June 1971 with Regimental Headquarters and I Battalion poised on the Province's north western boundary until the attacks on their bunkered bases during Operations HERMIT PARK and IRONFOX by the ANZAC Group, caused them to withdraw to the north of our Area of Operations and out of the Province.

During September 1971, Regimental Headquarters, 2 and 3 Battalion of 33 North Vietnamese Army Regiment attempted to establish control over the northern sector of Phuoc Tuy Province, only to be attacked from two directions simultaneously by our soldiers of the Fourth Battalion. They too, were forced to abandon their plans and withdraw from the Province.

In the four months of fighting between June and September 1971, 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion eliminated by body count seventy-six North Vietnamese Army/Viet Cong, a further six of North Vietnamese were reported killed by a prisoner from 33 Regiment and in addition nine of North Vietnamese Army were reported killed by ordnance from aircraft supporting the unit during the battles of 21 September 1971.

Early in October, control of all operations in Phuoc Tuy was vested in the Province Chief and consequently our offensive patrolling was restricted by political considerations to the protection of our Fire Support Base at Nui Dat.

Total Eliminations for the second tour were:
North Vietnamese Army/Viet Cong KIA (Body count)		76
North Vietnamese Army KIA (PW report)		6
North Vietnamese Army Killed by aircraft		9
North Vietnamese Army/Viet Cong Prisoner of War		5
Viet Cong HOI CHANH		1
	Total	97

Courtney Hill

During the Autumn of 1970, 1 Field Squadron and B Company 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion established Night Defence Post GARTH just over the Phuoc Tuy Province border in Long Khanh Province.

This post was established near two hills (sceptically known to the soldiers as Big and Little Dien Bien Phu), to enable the sappers reconstructing Route 2, to quarry suitable fill.

2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion handed the outpost to the Task Force Defence and Employment Platoon in May 1971, who secured the position for occupation by Task Force Headquarters during Operation OVERLORD in early June.

Early morning. (W02 Gary Holmes).

On 13 June, the Advance Command Post of 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion established itself in a niche amongst the "M.A.S.H. like" confusion of the Task Force Headquarters sprawled atop the old quarry, some eight-hundred feet above sea level.

The following day we were treated to an absolutely incredible sight as the monolith abandoned its attempt at field acclimatisation to escape to the creature comforts of Nui Dat, firmly convinced that never again should it deploy to the field as such a perfect ..attack by fire" target.

Sandbagging with a little help from our friends. (Ptes Bill Croston and Dick Crouch).

As Support Company consolidated during the following weeks (and months), tons of soil were trucked from old Garth/ Fire Support Base Cherie up to the top of "The Hill" (which was rock) and sand bagged into bunkers, command posts and strong points. Well over one hundred thousand sand bags were filled and thousands of metres of barbed and cross meshed wire ringed the feature, which included two helipads and a water/refuelling point. Claymore mines were anchored in position along the quarry edges and land clearing on the western side of the feature (covered in dense jungle), was undertaken by the sappers, pioneers and anyone else who was free from duty.

Malfunction Junction

Most mornings we had our heads in the clouds (as usual) as a thick mist shrouded the feature. However, even with visibility down to a few feet, the "possum" pilots never failed to put their machines down on the top pad, though with eleven aerials rearing their ugly heads about the one-hundred by sixty metre position, they caused many skipped heart beats during "finals".

The Hill was continuously occupied by the Battalion Command Post with Support Company (and V Company for a short rest) for one-hundred and fourteen days and nights.

It will be remembered, for:
- The rain.
- Harry, may he RIP.
- The heat.
- The South Australian Concert Party.
- The consistent reports of noise on the wire during darkness from the Signals section sentry.
- Joe's Cafe.
- The cinema/sauna bath establishment.
As:
- A grandstand for battles.
- The highest patrol base.
- An attractive "attack by fire" proposition to Charlie.
- The only place in South Vietnam where the APC Troop Commander had to walk.