1. DECISIVE BATTLES INDO-CHINA WARS
THE
DECISIVE BATTLES
OF THE
INDO-CHINA WARS
presented by
DAVE SABBEN MG
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT
05b – Coral/Balmoral
May-June 1968

2. III Corps (Third Military Region)
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1ATF &
Coral/Balmoral
Area of Ops
(See next map)
South
Viet Nam
2 of 22

3. BACKGROUND N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
Ben Cat
Tan Uyen
BIEN HOA
Ba Ria
Nui Dat
Bear Cat 15 23 1 20
Saigon River
Dong
PHUOC
TUY
BIEN HOA
LONG
KHANH
BINH DUONG
GIA DINH
20 Km N
Mangrove Swamp
Vung Tau
South China Sea
Long
Binh
Xuan Loc 2
SAIGON
Binh My
THANH 16 13
Nai
River
“BlackHorse”
PROVINCE BORDERS
BACKGROUND
Mid-1965 – mid-66
1RAR with 173rd Airborne Bde -
Operates out of Bien Hoa
May/June1966
1ATF & 1ALSG into Phuoc Tuy with
5RAR, 6RAR and supporting units.
August 1966
Battle at Long Tan foiled NVA/VC
plan to eliminate ANZAC base.
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Primary Result:
NVA stop major ops in Phuoc Tuy for rest of 1966, all of 1967 and until
Tet of But the VC still active.
Secondary Result:
Because of this, 1ATF considered
“under-utilised”, so Westmoreland requested 1ATF to operate outside Phuoc Tuy province.
Feb 1968 – Tet Offensive
Hits all major centres in SVN.
1ATF (3RAR) fighting in Ba Ria
3 of 22

4. WAR SITUATION N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY
Ben Cat
Tan Uyen
BIEN HOA
Ba Ria
Nui Dat
Bear Cat 15 23 1 20
Saigon River
Dong
PHUOC
TUY
BIEN HOA
LONG
KHANH
BINH DUONG
GIA DINH
20 Km N
Mangrove Swamp
Vung Tau
South China Sea
Long
Binh
Xuan Loc 2
SAIGON
Binh My
THANH 16 13
Nai
River
“BlackHorse”
PROVINCE BORDERS
WAR SITUATION
By the end of 1967…
The VC/NVA were almost broken.
So much so that the North was ready to start Peace Talks in early 1968.
Pre-Talk Offensives…
The Communists had a history of launching major Offensives just prior to and during Peace Talks:
* Korea, for Panmunjom Talks;
* French IndoChina War, for the Geneva Peace Accords;
* and now for the “American War”…
…so the West was ready…
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Planning for Tet 1968…
The Offensives had usually been started during a holiday stand-down and Tet (Lunar New Year) had been used before. So ARVN and US forces kept reserves on duty over the Tet period – just in case.
Feb 1968 – Tet Offensive
When the Tet 68 Offensive started, only the Press was really surprised!
4 of 22

5. Operation “Quyet Thang”
Ben Cat
Tan Uyen
BIEN HOA
Ba Ria
Nui Dat
Bear Cat 15 23 1 20
Saigon River
Dong
PHUOC
TUY
BIEN HOA
LONG
KHANH
BINH DUONG
GIA DINH
20 Km N
Mangrove Swamp
Vung Tau
South China Sea
Long
Binh
Xuan Loc 2
SAIGON
Binh My
THANH 16 13
Nai
River
“BlackHorse”
PROVINCE BORDERS
TET 1968
Why?
The mostly-VC Offensive was set to trigger a general population uprising prior to the start of the Paris Talks.
Result?
All major population centres and military targets were attacked. Few were taken. Only one was held for more than a few days: Hue. There was no uprising.
The ARVN fought better than expected.
The VC were decimated, and they never recovered for the rest of the War.
Where the NVA took part (the few major centres) they too were defeated.
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“Counter-Attack”…
From 19 Feb to 10 Mar, the ARVN did Ops to clear up the results of Tet. They then recalled troops to the Saigon area and mounted a major Op to clear around Saigon:
Operation “Quyet Thang”
(“Determined To Win”) Started 11 Mar. By 7 April, >2600 enemy kia.
It was so successful, it was decided to extend it to a Phase 2….
5 of 22

6. Operation “Toan Thang” I and II
Ben Cat
Tan Uyen
BIEN HOA
Ba Ria
Nui Dat
Bear Cat 15 23 1 20
Saigon River
Dong
PHUOC
TUY
BIEN HOA
LONG
KHANH
BINH DUONG
GIA DINH
20 Km N
Mangrove Swamp
Vung Tau
South China Sea
Long
Binh
Xuan Loc 2
SAIGON
Binh My
THANH 16 13
Nai
River
“BlackHorse”
PROVINCE BORDERS
THE FOLLOW-UP
Operation “Toan Thang” I and II
(“Complete Victory”) Started 8 April. 70,000 troops. Similar success..
Then, a surrender…
On 19 April, a senior NVA officer surrendered – Col Dac, Assistant Political Officer for all the VC around Saigon. He told of a 10,000 NVA force headed to Saigon for a new offensive due early May. With the same aims as the Tet Offensive – win ground, trigger an uprising, influence the Paris Talks - this was dubbed “Mini-Tet”.
Allied forces were gathered to Saigon.
…to 4 May
AO MURRAY
BRIDGE:
AO Hunter
AO Nepean
AO Swan
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AO Belize
AO Kennedy
AO Lawson
From 21 Apr…
AO Taupo:
AO Sturt
AO Hume
AO Giles
1ATF ANZAC
As part of the Allied cordon, 1ATF deployed to the NW of Phuoc Tuy on 21 Apr and then placed 3RAR outside the province on 23 Apr.
Build-up…
On 25 April, 2RAR went even further into Bien Hoa and a 1ATF forward HQ was established at Bear Cat. On 29 Apr, APCs were also deployed..
6 of 22

7. MINI-TET 5 May 68 N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY
BINH DUONG
PHUOC
THANH
On 3 May, 3RAR returned to Nui Dat and was replaced by 1RAR, which had arrived in VN only 2 months ago.
PROVINCE BORDERS
Binh My
Ben Cat 20
Nai
River
MINI-TET 5 May 68
Tan Uyen
Dong 13
LONG
KHANH
Saigon River
5 – 11 May
AO COLUMBUS
Mini-Tet launched:
4am, 5 May, co-ordinated attacks on all three cities. 11 Regiments from 7NVA Div and 9 VC Div – 10,000 soldiers. The defenders were waiting. 16
AO Ayre
AO Simpson
BIEN HOA
Xuan Loc
Long
Binh 1
…to 4 May
AO MURRAY
BRIDGE:
AO Hunter
AO Nepean
AO Swan
“BlackHorse” 1
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Bear Cat
1ATF ANZAC
Once the attacks went in, on 5 May, 1RAR, 2RAR, APCs and Artillery redeployed to Ayre and Simpson to cut off enemy withdrawal to the NE.
SAIGON
AO Belize
AO Kennedy
AO Lawson
BIEN HOA 2
GIA DINH
From 21 Apr…
AO Taupo:
AO Sturt
AO Hume
AO Giles
PHUOC
TUY
Result?
It was another disaster. By 9 May, half of the 10k attackers were dead. 15
Nui Dat
Mangrove Swamp
Backfire…
The attacks failed, but it was also a disaster for the US with 652 kia and 2225 wia, it set a new record for US weekly casualties. The US media, fresh from their Tet scare, ignored the victory and stressed the new record.
Ba Ria 23 N
20 Km
Vung Tau
South China Sea
7 of 22

8. New Block position orders:
BINH DUONG
On 10 May, 3RAR flew to Simpson to replace 2RAR which was due to RTA in June (replaced by 4RAR).
Tan Uyen
Dong
BIEN HOA
BINH DUONG
Binh My 16
Nai
River
AO NEWPORT
AO BONDI
AO MANLY
PROVINCE BORDER 1a
Approx 5 Km N
PHUOC
THANH
PROVINCE BORDERS
Binh My
Ben Cat
12 May –
6 June
AO SURFERS 20
BLOCK POSITIONS
AO Newport
AO Manly
AO Bondi
Nai
River
Tan Uyen
Dong 13
Saigon River
LONG
KHANH
5 – 11 May
AO COLUMBUS
New Block position orders:
Also on 10 May, 1ATF was ordered into new cut-off positions to the North of Saigon and Bien Hoa. 16
AO Ayre
AO Simpson
BIEN HOA
Xuan Loc
Long
Binh 1
“BlackHorse” 1
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Allied locations…
To the West was the US 1st Infantry Div (the Big Red One); to the East, Bns from 101 Airborne; to the South, ARVN 5 Div and to the North, known NVA territory. 1
Bear Cat
SAIGON
BIEN HOA 2
GIA DINH
PHUOC
TUY
AO SURFERS
The new position was in the Ba Da Secret Zone – an NVA-controlled area between the known enemy staging town of Binh My and Tan Uyen.
It was 7 or 8 Km of road plus 7 or 8 Km on either side. The whole area was named “AO Surfers” and was divided into three parts – AOs Newport, Bondi and Manly. 15
Nui Dat
Mangrove Swamp
Ba Ria 23 N
20 Km
Vung Tau
South China Sea
8 of 22

9. THE TASK: BINH DUONG N BIEN HOA THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
PROVINCE BORDER
BINH DUONG
1ATF was given the task of blocking enemy forces withdrawing from the South. The enemy were said to be moving fast, disorganised, with low morale and low on ammo.
Little was said of the enemy within the sanctuary areas to the North.
AO NEWPORT 16
Binh My
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3RAR
3RAR
102 Bty
1RAR, 161 Bty
THE (ORIGINAL) PLAN:
7am,12 May – 3RAR fly in and secure LZ to become FSB Coral.
AO BONDI
FSB Coogee
FSB Coral
C/1RAR
Once secure, 102 Bty to fly in, then 1RAR, then 161 (NZ) Bty. The FSB to be in place by early afternoon. 1a
AO MANLY 16
Once 1RAR at the LZ, C/1RAR to start to clear road SE to Tan Uyen; and 3RAR to move West to establish FSB Coogee. N
BIEN HOA
Tan Uyen
River
Nai
Approx 5 Km
On 13 May, road convoy would bring 1ATF HQ, Engineers, US Artillery, APCs etc to FSBs.
Dong
9 of 22

10. BINH DUONG N BIEN HOA THE EXECUTION: THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
PROVINCE BORDER
Overnight 11/12 May, US forces, unaware of 1ATF plans, moved into AO Manly and had a major contact 3000m West of LZ.
BINH DUONG
AO NEWPORT 16
Binh My
The LZ selected for the first Coy was unsuitable – B/3RAR was landed 1000m to the SE and had to go to the original LZ and clear it for the others - delay.
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The delay compounded, and the US wanted some choppers back for their own use during the day.
1RAR,
3RAR,
102 Bty
AO BONDI
FSB Coral
3RAR was not on the ground until noon, and then at both LZs.
161 Bty
161 Bty arrived before the LZ ready – landed 1000m SW.
102 Bty arrived 3 hours late at 2pm. 1RAR followed. Last Coy in at 4pm. Mortars in at 5pm. 1a
AO MANLY 16
Confusion and disorder at the LZs. No one in overall control or to co-ordinate units & defences. N
BIEN HOA
Tan Uyen
River
Nai
And 9Km to the East, the NVA Commanders watched, and sent out their recce parties…
Approx 5 Km
Dong
10 of 22

11. THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
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An Infantry patrol returns to base at FSB Coral. The Terrain was
generally flat to gently undulating. Open spaces either cleared or with tall grass and shrubs. Rubber plantations. Open forest (as here) or thick forest. Some jungle.
11 of 22

12. BINH DUONG N N BIEN HOA NIGHTFALL 12 MAY THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION16
D/1RAR
A/1RAR
C/1RAR
B/1RAR
11 & 12 Pl
D-/3RAR
A/3RAR
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
1RAR HQ
ATk,APnr
Mor/1RAR
102 Fd Bty
Arty HQ
3RAR HQ
Approx 2 Km N
161 NZ Arty
Mor/3RAR
10 Pl D/3RAR
PROVINCE BORDER
At 6pm, it rained – heavily. Shallow pits, no wire and no Claymore mines out. Defences were not co-ordinated.
BINH DUONG
AO NEWPORT 16
Binh My
During the day there had been several small contacts but the enemy had always bugged out – they were the recce parties sent to gather info, not to fight.
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The 1RAR and 3RAR Coys were dispersed for defence, as per standard CRW war tactics. Here’s a closer look at FSB Coral as at nightfall, 12 May…
3RAR
102 Bty
1RAR
AO BONDI
FSB Coral
102 Bty and 1RAR HQ were defended by the Mortars, AntiTank and Assault Pioneers of 1RAR, with HQ 3RAR nearby.
C/1RAR 1a
AO MANLY
161 Bty defended by 3RAR Mortars plus only one Platoon were 1000m away. 16 N
BIEN HOA
Tan Uyen
The Companies of 1RAR and 3RAR were scattered thinly around the FSB up to 2000m away from the guns.
River
Nai
Approx 5 Km 16 16
Dong
12 of 22

13. N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
OVERNIGHT 12/13 MAY
D/1RAR
At 5:00 there was a renewed assault at reduced strength. The enemy again breached the Mortar lines, capturing two mortar tubes but being unable to remove them.
The enemy recces continued into the night. A few contacts but again, quickly broken off.
A/1RAR
Midnight to 3:30am, noises out front of 1RAR Mors & ATk Pls. (Enemy marking assault lines, digging shell-scrapes etc)
MAIN
ATTACK
11 & 12 Pl
D-/3RAR
At first light, 6:10, the enemy again withdrew NE, taking most of their casualties with them. 16
3:30am – enemy mortars & RCLs into FSB for 5 minutes. Then 3:40 – assault on 1RAR Mor & Atk and 102 Bty fronts. Attacks lasted an hour.
3RAR HQ
ATk,APnr
Mor/1RAR
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Arty HQ
At dawn the Australians regained their lines. 9 kia, 28 wia, of which 5 kia and 8 wia were from 1RAR Mortars of 18 men. 1 gun, 2 mortars damaged. 52 enemy kia buried plus 1 POW. Many weapons captured.
102 Fd Bty
1RAR HQ
ATk,APnr
C/3RAR
B/1RAR
161 Bty and the two Mortar Pls fired indirect support but 102 Bty & the Anti-Tank Pl fired splintex and HE over open sights. US air (Spooky, gunships, ground attack aircraft) overhead.
161 NZ Arty
Mor/3RAR
10 Pl D/3RAR
A/3RAR
RESULT:
It was a win, but a costly one. As at Long Tan, the NVA claimed an extravagant victory.
B/3RAR
Enemy over-ran Mors and into 102 Bty lines, reaching two gun positions. Close fighting and a counterattack took back 1 gun. N
In view of the disorganisation of the fly-in and the lack of co-ordinated defences, the result is a credit to the men in the forward lines (50% Nashos!).
C/1RAR
At 4:40 the attack faltered - the enemy withdrew to the NE.
Approx 2 Km 16
13 of 22

14. N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
(TODAY) 16
D/1RAR
A/1RAR
C/1RAR
B/1RAR
11 & 12 Pl
D-/3RAR
A/3RAR
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
1RAR HQ
ATk,APnr
Mor/1RAR
102 Fd Bty
Arty HQ
3RAR HQ
Approx 2 Km N
161 NZ Arty
Mor/3RAR
10 Pl D/3RAR
Here’s a Google map image dated 2011 of the Coral area.
Note that the kink at the road junction is now gone.
The area in the white square is enlarged below – on the corner of the road is a monument to the NVA who died at Coral and nearby is a Shrine to their memory.
We will visit both these places.
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These two memorials have been placed near the site of the mass grave where the NVA dead were buried after the second attack.
The site corresponds to the North- East front of the 102 Bty defences, also to the front of the 1RAR Mortar Platoon and the 1RAR Anti-Tank Platoon as will be shown when we replace the air photo with the map we’ve been using. Keep your eye on the white square…..
13a of 22

15. The 105mm gun overrun by the NVA at FSB Coral.
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The 105mm gun overrun by the NVA at FSB Coral.
Note again the terrain – flat, open and with little cover. Normally the guns would have been “dug in” behind earth revetments but these were incomplete when the attack came in.
14 of 22

16. BIEN HOA BINH DUONG N N N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY
1ATF HQ
1ATF
maint area
US Arty
Mor/1RAR US
Arty HQ
131
Div
Loc
102 Fd Bty
Atk/1RAR LZ
APCs
B/1RAR
Day # MAY
Tan Uyen
Dong
BIEN HOA
BINH DUONG
Binh My 16
Nai
River
AO NEWPORT
AO BONDI
AO MANLY
PROVINCE BORDER 1a
Approx 5 Km N
FSB Coral 16
1RAR HQ
D/1RAR
Tanks APCs
C/1RAR
B/1RAR
102 Fd
Bty
Arty HQ
Engineers 1Fd Regt
1ATF HQ
Approx 2 Km N
Atk/1RAR US
2/35
Arty
APnr/1RAR
A/1RAR
Mor
1RAR
Track 16
1RAR HQ
ATk,APnr
D/1RAR
A/1RAR
C/1RAR
B/1RAR
Mor/1RAR
102 Fd Bty
Arty HQ
3RAR HQ
11 & 12 Pl
D-/3RAR
A/3RAR
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
161 NZ Arty
Mor/3RAR
10 Pl D/3RAR
Approx 2 Km N
As soon as the road was cleared by C/1RAR, two convoys drove to Coral.
APCs, Engineers, 1ATF HQ, a US 155 Bty and much-needed defence and ammo stores arrived. In view of the attacks of the previous evening, the defences were shrunk and tightened. Coral became the largest FSB established by 1ATF in SVN.
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3RAR
161 Bty
2Tp APC
Moreover, the Australians realised they were no longer in a CRW war – this was Conventional warfare and required a change of strategy: limited patrols by day and tight defence at night.
FSB Coogee
. FSB COOGEE
On the 13th, the US broke contact and moved back West, allowing 3RAR to move to their assigned area in AO Manly. They established FSB Coogee with 161 Bty and a Troop of (6) APCs.
15 of 22

17. N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
Day # MAY 16
1RAR HQ
D/1RAR
Tanks APCs
C/1RAR
B/1RAR
102 Fd
Bty
Arty HQ
Engineers 1Fd Regt
1ATF HQ
Approx 2 Km N
Atk/1RAR US
2/35
Arty
APnr/1RAR
A/1RAR
Mor
1RAR
Track
Around Coral, Platoon patrols went out m. It was active, with 9 contacts resulting in 3 kia, 5 wia for 14 enemy casualties. The enemy was still around, and interested.
4:00am
Attack
5:15am
Attack
Despite this, the night of 14/15 May was quiet.
2:40am
Attack
Day # MAY
Less action than the 14th, but still contacts with recce parties.
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2:40am
Attack
Night 15/16 MAY
At 2:30am, Coral was shelled again, followed at 2:40 by large attacks from the East against A and B Coys. The A Coy position was penetrated.
60 guns fired in support, plus US air. Another attack at 4:00am targeted C Coy and a third attack at 5:15am tried to get between C and A Coys.
A counterattack reclaimed the A Coy position. Daylight showed 5 kia & 19 wia in 1RAR with 34 enemy bodies buried.
16 of 22

18. N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
16 MAY and beyond
Ben Cat
Tan Uyen
BIEN HOA
Ba Ria
Nui Dat
Bear Cat 15 23 1 20
Saigon River
Dong
PHUOC
TUY
BIEN HOA
LONG
KHANH
BINH DUONG
GIA DINH
20 Km N
Mangrove Swamp
Vung Tau
South China Sea
Long
Binh
Xuan Loc 2
SAIGON
Binh My
THANH 16 13
Nai
River
“BlackHorse”
PROVINCE BORDERS
Following the failure of their second series of attacks, the enemy left FSB Coral alone.
On 18 May, the CO, 1ATF, Brig Hughes, went on R&R, command passing to his 2ic, Colonel Dunstan.
In view of the changed conditions at Coral, Dunstan’s first action was to call the tanks up from Nui Dat to AO Surfers.
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The logistics of the move were huge – they would leave Nui Dat on 22 May by road via Xuan Loc (“Blackhorse”) and arrive at Coral on the afternoon of 23rd – a road trip of 120 Km. The 24th would have to be reserved for servicing and any repairs and maintenance.
It was a big move, both tactically and administratively. There was much opposition to the use of tanks in Vietnam, but there were also many supporters.
17 of 22

19. BINH DUONG N N BIEN HOA THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY
MEANWHILE, AT COOGEE
Approx 100m N
HQ/
3RAR
D/3RAR
A/3RAR
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
10Pl/D
11Pl/D
12Pl/D
Wire
APnr/3RAR
Mor/3RAR
Atk/3RAR
Admin
Three
APCs
HQ 2/A/3Cav
and 3 APCs
Thick
Forest
Clear
Grassland
(with many B52 craters)
Tan Uyen
Dong
BIEN HOA
BINH DUONG
Binh My 16
Nai
River
AO NEWPORT
AO BONDI
AO MANLY
FSB Coogee
FSB Coral
PROVINCE BORDER 1a
Approx 5 Km N
3RAR with support from 161 Bty at Coral, patrolled and learned the land. A few contacts, but generally quiet after the large US battle a week before.
With the lack of enemy in the area, the COMAFV, Maj Gen McDonald, suggested to Dunstan that perhaps 3RAR should cross the road to the north and return 161 Bty to Coral. The enemy was evident north of the road, not south of it.
FSB Balmoral
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On 24 May…
B/3RAR on APCs & D/3RAR on foot moved into AO Newport and secured an area about 4500m N of Coral, to become known as FSB Balmoral
Choppers flew the 161 guns back to Coral and the rest of 3RAR flew in to the clearing after massive fire suppression by US air. The NVA were very aware of the arrival of 3RAR
Technically, Balmoral
was not an “FSB”
since it did not contain
a Fire Support Unit.
It was a “Battalion
Defended Locality”.
By the night of the 24th, Balmoral was a Battalion defended position with artillery support from Coral.
18 of 22

20. The fly-in of 3RAR to the Balmoral defended location site.
B & D/3RAR with the APCs secured the Balmoral site on 24 May, with the rest of the Battalion flying in to the cleared area to the north of the position. (Note B52 crater R foreground)
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18a of 22

21. The 11 Pl/D/3RAR front line.
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The 11 Pl/D/3RAR front line.
From the 11 Pl MG pit looking North West, from where came the enemy assaults of the morning of 26 May.
The enemy reached the B52 crater and used it as a fire position for small arms and RPGs.
18b of 22

22. N N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
NIGHT 25/26 MAY
25 MAY
Approx 100m N
HQ/
3RAR
D/3RAR
A/3RAR
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
10Pl/D
11Pl/D
12Pl/D
Day
Positions
Night
Wire
APnr/3RAR
Mor/3RAR
Atk/3RAR
Admin
Three
APCs
HQ 2/A/3Cav
and 3 APCs
Thick
Forest
Clear
Grassland
(with many B52 craters)
thick
Approx 100m N
HQ/
3RAR
D/3RAR
A/3RAR
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
10Pl/D
11Pl/D
12Pl/D
Wire
APnr/3RAR
Mor/3RAR
Atk/3RAR
Admin
Three
APCs
HQ 2/A/3Cav
and 3 APCs
Thick
Forest
Clear
Grassland
(with many B52 craters)
MAIN
ATTACK
4 tanks (2 Tp, C Sqn) moved from Coral to Balmoral protected by two Platoons from B/1RAR.
About half way there, they ran into an enemy bunker system.
At 3:45am, Balmoral was shelled, followed immediately by a major assault from the North East. The enemy was more than a Battalion strong, each assault line being about Coy in strength.
The Infantry became entrapped in the contact. The tanks moved forward and, firing canister, cleared the jungle, destroyed several bunkers and allowed the Infantry to withdraw. In the process, the tanks killed many enemy in and near the bunkers.
A diversion was mounted from the South East on the A/3RAR wire which was breached by bangalores but not exploited.
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT
The main attack failed to breach the D/3RAR wire and was repulsed by SA fire with artillery and air support. The tanks, which were not dug in, were not able to offer the decisive support they offered later, when dug in against NVA RPGs. The enemy withdrew at about 5:00am.
Having extracted the Infantry, the column bypassed the bunkers and moved on, calling in arty & airstrikes on the target. They arrived at Balmoral mid-afternoon and the Infantry was choppered back to Coral as the tanks were put into position..
3RAR had suffered 3 kia and 13 wia. At daylight, 6 enemy bodies were buried and huge drag marks attested to many casualties being cleared from the battlefield.
All the activity in the area had given away Balmoral’s security. Enemy recce parties were quick to arrive outside the perimeter. And they were looking for a fight
DIVERSION
ATTACK
19 of 22

23. N THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION WAS PREPARED BY DAVE SABBEN
26 MAY
ATTACK
from NW
ATTACK
from NE
D/1RAR plus 4 tanks left Coral at 6:00am to clear the bunker complex hit on the 25th. A 3-hour combined Infantry/tank attack caused the enemy to desert the complex.
Grassland
(with many B52 craters)
Wire
Thick
Forest
Thick
Forest
27 and night 27/28 May
After more recce on the 27th, the enemy launched another series of attacks on Balmoral starting 2:30am on the 28th. A two-pronged multi-Battalion attack from both North West and North East, both hitting D/3RAR, were again supported by a feint on A/3RAR from the South East. Coral was also fired upon to disrupt their supporting fire.
this time, the dug-in tanks were critically effective and all attacks were beaten off.
10Pl/D
11Pl/D
12Pl/D
Night
Positions
D/3RAR
Night
Positions
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT
Day
Positions
Mor/3RAR
Day
Positions
HQ/
3RAR
3RAR
Admin
C/3RAR
B/3RAR
Wire
Wire
APnr/3RAR
HQ 2/A/3Cav
and 3 APCs
Three
APCs
Three
APCs
Atk/3RAR
3RAR lost 1 kia and 8 wia but found 42 bodies, many weapons and again, huge drag marks. Many of the NVA kia’s were estimated to be just 16 or 17 years old – a sign of the desperation of the North. N
A/3RAR
Clear
Forest
Wire
Approx 100m
DIVERSION
ATTACK
20 of 22

24. BINH DUONG N BIEN HOA LEST WE FORGET THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
OUTCOMES
30 May
Tan Uyen
Dong
BIEN HOA
BINH DUONG 16
Nai
River
PROVINCE BORDER 1a
Approx 5 Km N
The ANZACs had lost 25 kia and 109 wia. The enemy had lost 238 NVA and 38 VC by bodycount, with hundreds more dragged away. Hundreds of weapons had been captured.
Tanks again made the decisive difference when C/1RAR endured a heavy contact 3000m East of Coral. Two tanks and 4 APCs were sent to support. They drove into the contact, rescued the Coy and closed the contact. C/1RAR lost 1 kia and 7 wia with 24 enemy kia being buried.
AO NEWPORT
Binh My
FSB Balmoral
US and ARVN Operations had accounted for 7645 kia, for a loss of 578 kia and 3719 wia.
The Media ignored the ratios.
It adopted the Hanoi mantra – “Ratios don’t count. The only thing that is important is the numbers you lose”.
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT
Actions like this proved the tanks’ worth, but this was “their finest hour”. Few if any similar actions were experienced in the remainder of the Vietnam War.
AO BONDI
FSB Coogee
FSB Coral
The battles at Coral and Balmoral had been glimpses
of conventional war.
One Company at Long Tan
had experienced this in one afternoon – 1RAR, 3RAR and supporting Arms experienced
it for four harrowing attacks
over two critical weeks.
And in each case,
the ANZACs had prevailed.
Action around Coral & Balmoral reduced in frequency and scale as the operations continued.
AO MANLY
On 5 June…
…Balmoral was abandoned.
On 6 June, Coral was abandoned and AO Surfers reverted to a US area of responsibility.
The Australian forces returned
to Phuoc Tuy province.
LEST WE FORGET
21 of 22

25. DECISIVE BATTLES INDO-CHINA WARS
THE
DECISIVE BATTLES
OF THE
INDO-CHINA WARS
presented by
DAVE SABBEN MG
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT
05b – Coral/Balmoral
Questions?
22 of 22

26. THE FINE PRINT THE “COMMERCIAL”
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THIS SLIDE
THE FINE PRINT
This Powerpoint show is copyright to Dave Sabben but is freely available for any non-profit use. It may be downloaded free from Dave’s website:
It was prepared for presentation to those who join his Decisive Battlefields and Long Tan Trek Tours of Viet Nam (see green panel for the “commercial”) as introductions for the various battles.
Because the shows are live presentations, much more is in the narrative than is included in the text on the slides.
The shows are intended to be introductions and overviews –
not detailed expositions or analyses. Views and conclusions
are the author’s and are not offered as the only possible
or even as fully comprehensive views.
Where possible, permissions have been obtained to use maps or photos but some have been used without specific permission. Copyright holders who want their material either not used or credited, please contact Dave Sabben at
Anyone wishing to make an anonymous donation towards the cost and time of putting this show together is invited to make a donation of any amount to (Australian) Westpac bank account BSB# , Account# (branch = 360 Collins St, Melbourne), or (Australian) CBA bank account BSB# , Account# (branch = Hampton, Victoria), either account in the name of David Sabben.
If passing this slide show to others,
please don’t remove this slide .
THE “COMMERCIAL”
As at 2011, Dave Sabben leads one tour per year (second half of October) to visit some of the areas of Australian/ANZAC operations of The highlight of these tours is to walk the Long Tan battlefield with Dave (a platoon Commander in that battle). The walk takes about 4 hours – about the time of the battle – so the group goes to all the key locations of the battle and hears about what happened pretty much in “real time”.
For further enquiry into these tours, please visit:
and select VN%20Long%20Tan%20Trek%20Tours.html or
VN%20Decisive%20Battlefields%20Tours.html
An optional extension to the Long Tan Trek Tour takes in the main US battles of northern South Viet Nam including Da Nang, Hue, the DMZ (including Khe Sanh) and the A Shau Valley (Hamburger Hill), then visits both Hanoi (‘Hanoi Hilton’, War Museum) and the Dien Bien Phu valley (both Viet Minh and French positions).
As well as the once –a-year-in-October tours, Dave can arrange a similar tour at any time of year for a group of 20 or more. Dates, durations, standards of accommodation, inclusions etc will be all your call. Please contact Dave (with numbers and preferences) at
Note that these are “battlefield-oriented” tours – they do NOT go to all the popular tourist sites. “Tourist” tours can be added before or after.
If passing this slide show to others,
please don’t remove this slide .
THIS SLIDE AND PRESENTATION
WAS PREPARED BY
DAVE SABBEN
WHO RETAINS COPYRIGHT ©
ON CREATIVE CONTENT