The Battle of Binh Ba was a battle between soldiers of the Australian Army and NVA and VC soldiers during the Vietnam War. This Manual of Style has the simple purpose of making things easy to read by following a consistent format — it is a style guide. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ... A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... 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Operation Cedar Falls was conducted by the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War on January 8 – January 26, 1967 to rout out Viet Cong base camps in the so-called Iron Triangle. ... Combatants North Vietnam Viet Cong South Korea Commanders Unknown commander Captain Jin-Kyung Chung Strength 2,400+ 294 Casualties 200+ killed and 2 captured 15 killed and 33 wounded The Battle of Tra Binh Dong was probably the most famous battle fought by the South Korean Marines during the Vietnam... Operation Junction City was one of the largest airborne operations since Market Garden in the latter half of World War II, and one of the largest operations of the Vietnam conflict. ... Combatants NVA United States Casualties 947 killed 455 killed, 455 wounded The Battle of Hill 881 was a battle between soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army and U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. ... Combatants United States Viet Cong Commanders Lt. ... 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The Village of Binh Ba

Binh Ba village situated some two miles North of the Task Force Area and on the Western side just off Route 2 and comprised of around one thousand people in population - made up of mainly farmers and rubber plantation workers. The village houses was constructed of solid brick and tile. The village was well known to the Australians during the first tour and 5RAR stationed a rifle company and a mortar section within the village. This strategy proved to be a deterrent to the Viet Cong tax collectors and assassination squads taking control of the village. This however, was not to continue. In 1969 as the drain on the meagre resources of the Battalion proved to be too much and the village was left to the protection of Regional forces.

·==Prelude==

On separate operations, 6RAR was engaged in a heavy contact with the enemy several miles north of the Task Force base. On the morning of 6 June 1969 at 0800hrs, a Centurion Tank and an armoured recovery vehicle moving through to assist 6RAR were fired upon from Binh Ba village.

The initial intelligence report indicated that two enemy platoons had infiltrated the village and the commander 1 ATF decided to react D. Company to the village.

The Ready Reaction Force ( On 30 Minutes notice to move), consisted of D.Company 5RAR, a troop of tanks( 2 tanks from 1 Troop, 2 Tanks from 2 Troop 1st Armoured Regiment) and an APC Troop (Armoured Personnel Carriers) were alerted to the incident and prepared to move to the area. The OC, D. Company issued orders and the force moved off to the village of Binh Ba.

The company consisted of 3 platoons plus company HQ.

The Battle

With preparation from helicopter gunships ( 9 Squadron RAAF ) D. Company assaulted the village. The Centurion tanks were effective for close action however against concealed enemy firing RPG 7's 2 tanks susstained some external damage whilst one tank was penetrated. Within an hour three of the four tanks from the initial assault were disabled due to damage and crew casualties. The Officer commanding D. Company decided to move his force out of the village and move to Western side of Binh Ba. With a fresh troop of tanks together with APC support, D. Company conducted a second assault on the village. Infantry platoons led the assault. Each platoon had one tank and two APC's in close support.

A platoon made contact with the enemy immediately. The opposing force occupied the houses and was firing from the windows, doors and from any available cover. At this point during the battle an Australian soldier was killed. Pte Wayne Teeling was shot through the neck as his team approached the first line of houses.

A tank fired one round of H.E. into the building ocuppied by the VC. The house exploded and the clearing team assaulted immediately. Six enemy dead were found in the ruins. This type of action was typical all along D. Company's assault line. It was made clear some time ago that the strength of the enemy force was far greater than two platoons. It was confirmed from captured documents that D.Company was facing elements of the 1st Battalion, 33 NVA Regiment. Enemy weapons littered the battle ground. Some Australian soldiers used discarded AK47's to conserve their own ammunition.

Elements of the 1st Battalion 33 NVA took up defensive positions within the village and fought to the death. Other groups discarded their uniforms and weapons and mingled with the pockets of civilians unable to escape the fighting. This added another dimension to the conduct of the battle, and the soldiers of D. Company 5RAR exposed themselves to extreme danger trying to usher these groups to the rear of the battle zone. Other enemy groups tried to flee the village, or hide in the small air raid bunkers attached to every house. In one case, an enemy force as large as an Infantry Company attempted to enter the village to take part in the battle. In the latter case these forces were met by B. Company, blocking the exit and entry routes outside Binh Ba. To fully clear the village, every bunker, house and any likely areas of concealment had to be searched.

On the second day, the clearing of the village continued. D. Company, with a platoon from B. Company did much the same as on day one although, contact with the enemy focused on small groups of NVA still holed up in the village.

Aftermath

The battle concluded on June 8, 1969. A large enemy force had been defeated by the Australian troops. One Australian soldier was killed and 8 were wounded, 91 VC and NVA soldiers were also killed. The battle for Binh Ba ranks as one of the major military victories by the Australian Task Force.^[1]

References