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Advisors Sent
The Australian government sends 30 advisors to South Vietnam for military assistance for American troops in the jungle. This was Australia's first involvement in the Vietnam War. -
Period: to
Australia's Involvement in the Vietnam War
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Good Relationship
The relationship between the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam and the US remained good throughout the advising stage which lasted several months. -
First Australian Death
Warrant Officer Class Two Kevin Conway of the Australian team was killed on 6 July 1964, with Master Sergeant Gabriel Alamo of the USSF, during a sustained Viet Cong attack on Nam Dong Special Forces Camp, which became Australia's first battle death. -
200 Troops Sent by end of 1964
In response to the soldier casaulty in early 1964, Australian troops were sent to Vietnam. By the end of 1964, there were almost 200 Australian military personnel in the Republic of Vietnam, including an engineer and surgical team as well as a larger AATTV team. -
Prime Minister requests further assistance
Because of growing conflicts involveming American troops, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced that the government had received a request for further military assistance from South Vietnam. -
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment deployed
As a result of the announcement, the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was deployed. Advanced elements of the battalion departed Australia on 27 May 1965. -
1st Australian Task Force Sent
The 1st Battalion fought in a number of significant events including Gang Toi, Operation Crimp and Suoi Bong Trang. Meanwhile, 1 RAR's attachment to US forces had highlighted the differences between Australian and American operational methods and Australian and US military leaders subsequently agreed to the future deployment of Australian combat forces in a discrete province. This would allow the Australian Army to "fight their own tactical war", independently of the US. -
Battle of Long Tan
By August 1966 the Australian task force base at Nui Dat was only three months old. Concerned at the establishment of such a strong presence in their midst, the Viet Cong determined to inflict an early defeat on the Australians. Viet Cong attacked in force, putting the Australians under mortar, machine gun and small arms fire. Only the quick response of a New Zealand artillery battery to desperate calls for support saved D Company from annihilation.Eighteen Australians were killed in the Battle. -
Operation Bribie
On the afternoon of 17 February 1967, an Australian force found itself facing defeat in a thick patch of jungle near the coast of Phuoc Tuy province. Operation Bribie, as the battle was known, was one of Australia’s worst days in Vietnam. In just over five hours of fighting eight Australians had been killed and another 27 wounded. -
More RAR's Sent
After the many fatalities, the US ordered Australia to send further troops to vietnam. Australia had no choice, and were forced to send more Royal Australian Regiment's (RAR's). By the end of 1967, there were six in total. -
Coral/Balmoral CORAL ATTACK
Early on the morning of 13 May 1968, just hours after Australian and New Zealand forces had established Fire Support Base Coral, North Vietnamese troops attacked in strength. The Australian rifle companies had taken up ambush positions up to four kilometres from Coral, inside the perimeter were a collection of units or parts thereof, including 102 Field Battery and the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment’s (1RAR) mortar platoon. -
Coral/Balmoral CORAL ATTACK 2
By 15 May Coral had become a strong defensive position, more prepared than it had been on that first night to withstand further North Vietnamese attacks. The next one came early on the morning of 16 May and, like the earlier assault, it began with a barrage of mortar and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) fire, this time directed mainly against the guns of 102 Field Battery, A Battery 2/35th Battalion US Artillery and the headquarters and maintenance areas. -
Coral/Balmoral BALMORAL ATTACK
Fire Support Base Balmoral was established on 24 May 1968 some four and a half kilometres north of Coral. The following day a four tanks from 2 Troop, C Squadron arrived from Coral. On their way, the tanks had extricated their escorting infantry platoon from a dangerous contact among a series of North Vietnamese bunkers. It was the first time since 1945 that Australian tanks had fought in close support of infantry. The Australians were victorious, and six North Vietnamese people were killed. -
Coral/Balmoral BALMORAL ATTACK 2
The North Vietnamese launched their second major assault against Balmoral at 2.30 am on 28 May 1968. It appeared at first that they were trying to hit 3RAR’s A Company, on Balmoral’s southern side, but this was a feint. As firing died down in this vicinity, a large North Vietnamese force attacked towards D Company on the far side of the base. The North Vietnamese were eventually trapped between Australian soldiers and were shot down. -
Australian Forces Less Used
Even though Australia was victorious in their battles, the US government requested Australian forces to leave Vietnam after the US's defeat by North Vietnam. Most Australian forces were taken back home, but a few advisors remained to advise the US after their defeat. -
Last Australian Advisors Leave
The final advisors leave Australia as the US no longer needed them. By the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam war, out of the 60,000 soldiers sent, there were over 520 soldiers were killed, and over 3,000 were severely injured, where they recovered in Australia.