Contact gone wrong – 3RAR

Robert HallAustralian Army, News, VC, Vietnam War

By Bob Hall During the Vietnam War, major units such as infantry battalions regularly compiled ‘lessons learned’ documents critically assessing their operations, noting problems that had arisen and suggesting solutions. These ‘lessons’ documents were widely distributed throughout the Army and provide insights into the tactical successes and failures of the campaign. In April 1971, Lieutenant Colonel Peter Scott, CO 3RAR … Read More

33 PAVN Regiment morale and the ‘red rats of Phuoc Tuy’

Robert HallArticles, Australian Army2 Comments

By Ernie Chamberlain (This article was first published as Ernie Chamberlain Research Note 25/2018) On 10 September 1969, the 199th US Light Infantry Brigade killed a number of VC in an engagement at YT557333 in southern Long Khánh Province – including the second-in-command of the 1st Battalion 33rd PAVN Regiment named Bùi Đức Nhật. They recovered a 33rd Regiment ‘News … Read More

The Battle of Coral (Sở Hội) 13 May 1968 – the 141st NVA Regiment Account

Robert HallArticles, Australian Army, Uncategorised1 Comment

By Ernie Chamberlain The 141st North Vietnamese Regiment History (1997) [1] relates that: On 12 May, we discovered a battalion of Royal Australian troops had deployed to South Sở Hội (six kilometres north of Tân Uyên), and the Regiment was ordered to launch a night attack. The night was dark, and the regimental commander – Doãn Khiết, together with the … Read More