Within minuets a third of its strength was gone, dead or wounded, the rest tried to fire and stay low. Soon after Platoon 10 arrived for support but were pinned down by fire before they got there.
The Viet Cong attacked using mortars, rifle and machine gun fire. The Australian Forces returned fire with platoon weapons and artillery which was firing from the Nui Dat base, a few kilometers to the west. Close air support was also called for but couldn't be used because the target couldn't be identified accurately enough in the conditions.
At around dusk (6:50p.m.) the relief force arrived in the D Company area and soon after the enemy and the night fell together. The battle was “won”.
Morning revealed that the Viet Cong force, estimated at 2,500, had been badly mauled. 245 Viet Cong bodies were found in the battle area. It was apparent that the Viet Cong commanders had failed to appreciate the effectiveness of artillery fire. The Australians had lost 18 killed, 17 from D Company (including the young platoon commander of 11 platoons) and one from 1st APC Squadron, 24 wounded, 3 men that suffered severe battle stress and were send home. It took the Australians three days to bury the enemy dead.
The battle of Long Tan shows us the extent of defense on the Australian side and the sheer numbers of the Vietcong. By studying one specific battle it helps us understand the difference of the Vietnam war to the sort of war and battle stereotypes we commonly think of like classic “Cowboys and Indian” warfare or the absence of guns way to much Gin in the M.A.S.H series.
Most of the Vietnam War was not fought “face to face”, where you could tell where the shots are coming from and where and to whom to shoot back at.
The Vietcong knew their enemy and there surroundings very well so they were able to booby trap and sniper the A.N.Z.A.C. forces, where as the allies of the South Vietnamese were not used to the climate or surroundings.
The Battle of Long Tan was a typical attack-defense fight and it shows us that the Vietnam War was one of many different war techniques and strategies.
As the allies of the south were potential in the more vulnerable position- They were in unfamiliar territory, they had about an eighth of the men and they were under a surprise attack. And as the Allied forces hadn’t seen much of the enemy as they struck at the most vulnerable times and by the sneakiest ways, The battle of long Tan was revenge for all those wounded and killed by sniper fire and booby traps in the weeks before, This sense and earning for revenge must have been the source keeping the Australians going as they were clearly the unfavored side.
Sarah Kelshaw
