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
The real story: First battle of Coral
By Ian F. Ahearn Background – Operation Toan Thang Operation Toan Thang (Complete Victory) was launched on 8 April 1968. It was a combined operation deploying 70,000 US, Vietnamese, Australian, New Zealand and Thai troops with the initial aim of destroying enemy forces in the III Corps area. Australian participation in the combined operation commenced on 21 April 1968 with the … Read More
The Battle of Coral (Sở Hội) 13 May 1968 – the 141st NVA Regiment Account
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
The Tet Offensive in Ba Ria, Viet Nam 1968
Luke Johnston is the son of Pte David Johnston, 2 Pl A Coy, 3 RAR. Read his analysis along with his father’s recollections, of the Tet Offensive.
Baria, Tet ’68: Province Senior Advisor Report – February 1968
By Bob Hall Each month the Province Senior Advisor (PSA) in each of the Republic of Vietnam’s 44 provinces submitted a detailed report up the chain of command. These reports assessed the political and psychological, security and economic situation in their province. They provided a qualitative evaluation of the previous month’s developments and so, form a useful complement to the … Read More
More About Tet ’68 in Baria
A CORDS survey was conducted in Baria on 15 February 1968 and the interviewers sought people’s views about the events in Baria over the Tet holiday.