[Schone23666]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

Some of the weapons recovered from the field the next day included carriage mounted DShKs, RPGs, grenades, numerous types of rifles, and I think if memory serves, a light mortar. This is AFTER the NVA did their usual night time cleanup.

I know one of the men who was on the ground that day (became my Battalion Padre), as well as a number of other Vietnam vets. A brave/crazy RAAF Huey pilot flew out in the storm (nearly crashed a couple of times) to drop ammo through the trees. If it hadn't been for the noise on the ground, the lightning, and thunder they'd probably have been noticed by a lot more enemy and shot down. As it was that pilot helped save the men on the ground just as they were running out of ammo.

According to the Padre, the machineguns were firing so much after resupply you could see the bullets through the barrel. All but three of the guns seized up from the heat.

A relief force of another infantry company mounted in M113s arrived around dusk after loosing several vehicles in a flooded stream. None of the vehicles at that time had an intercom system so the TC communicated with the driver through strings attached to the drivers lapels - pull on the left string to go left, etc just like a set of reigns.

When the '13s arrived the NVA were thick on the ground. The TCs were in some cases fighting hand to hand (while mounted!) and often didn't even have time to clear stoppages in their machineguns (having to switch to the coax or F1 SMG when the coax went down, or die). The vehicles themselves were used as weapons, driving over and crushing the enemy.

A nod must be given to the New Zealand MFC attached to CHQ. He walked rounds from the 105s right onto the perimeter but not one Australian was hit. He attracted accusations after the battle (from those who weren't there) that some of the Australian casualties were from artillery, however this was disproven.

The artillerymen did a damn fine job too, rapidly exhausting the ready supply of rounds. Cooks, clerks, drivers, and everyone else available lent a hand haulling additional ammo up and unpacking it for the firing line. From memory, about a thousand rounds were fired from 6(?) guns during the battle.

Due to the weather, air support was impossible. Two American jets were loitering in the area at the time and available, but could not be used on the battlefield itself. They unloaded on an area a few miles away which was later found to have been a staging area for the NVA reserve force (not included in the 2-3,000 actually on the field).

It was later found the attacking force were intending to strike at the Australian base and were strong enough to seriously threaten the entire task force of a battalion plus artillery, APCs and supporting units.

After that battle and the ammo restrictions were lifted, some soldiers had to have their packs inspected before leaving the wire to ensure they weren't just full of ammo and actually had enough food to sustain them. It wasn't uncommon for an SLR armed rifleman to be carrying several hundred rounds and each section (nine men) carrying several thousand rounds of link for the M60.

Good lord, talk about a major clusterfuck and a miracle all in one.

Glad to see they carried away at least a few lessons from that.