Hat Dich jangi - Battle of Hat Dich

Hat Dich jangi
Qismi Vetnam urushi
9 RARdan bo'lgan avstraliyalik askar, 1969 yil yanvar oyida "Gudvud" operatsiyasi paytida Vetnam Kongosi bunkeriga qarab.
Sana 1968 yil 3 dekabr - 1969 yil 19 fevral Manzil Hat Dich Yashirin hudud, yaqin Hắc Dịch, Janubiy Vetnam Natija Ittifoqchilar g'alaba talab qilmoqda
Urushayotganlar
Avstraliya  Yangi Zelandiya  Janubiy Vetnam  Qo'shma Shtatlar  Tailand	Vietnam Kong  Shimoliy Vetnam
Qo'mondonlar va rahbarlar
Sendi Pirson (Faqat ANZAC)	Noma'lum
Jalb qilingan birliklar
1-chi Aust ishchi guruhi 1 RAR 4 RAR / NZ (ANZAC) 9 RAR 2-havo kuchlari guruhi 1 Dengizchilar brigadasi ARVN 52 Regt 4/12-chi batalyon 3/11 ACR Tailand Qirollik armiyasining ekspeditsiya bo'limi	HQ MR 7 274 Regt D440 milliard D445 milliard Thu Duc Polk
Kuch
~ 10000 erkak	Noma'lum
Yo'qotishlar va yo'qotishlar
Avstraliya: 21 kishi o'ldirilgan 91 kishi yaralangan Janubiy Vetnam: 31 kishi o'ldirilgan 81 kishi yaralangan Yangi Zelandiya: 1 kishi o'ldirilgan BIZ: 7 kishi yaralangan	Avstraliya / Janubiy Vetnam da'vosi: 245 kishi o'ldirilgan 39 kishi o'ldirilgan bo'lishi mumkin 45 kishi yaralangan 17 asir olingan

The Hat Dich jangi (1968 yil 3-dekabr - 1969-yil 19-fevral) ittifoqdosh kontingent o'rtasida bo'lib o'tgan bir qator harbiy harakatlar, shu jumladan 1-avstraliyalik tezkor guruh (1 ATF) va Vetnam xalq armiyasi (PAVN) va Vietnam Kong Davomida (VC) Vetnam urushi. Kod nomi ostida Goodwood operatsiyasi, ikkitasi batalyonlar ularning bazasidan uzoqda joylashgan 1 ATF dan Phuoc Tuy viloyati, shubhali PAVN / VC bazalariga qarshi operatsiya Hat Dich G'arbiy Phuk Tuyda, janubi-sharqda Bien-Xoa va janubi-g'arbiy Long Khanh Deb nomlanuvchi yirik ittifoqdosh tozalashning bir qismi sifatida viloyatlar Toan Thang II operatsiyasi. Avstraliyaliklar va Yangi Zelandiyaliklar Xat-Dich bo'ylab doimiy patrul ishlarini olib bordilar. Rung Sat maxsus zonasi, qatorini egallaydi yong'inga qarshi tayanchlar operatsiyalar kengayganligi sababli. Shu bilan birga, Amerika, Janubiy Vetnam va Tailand kuchlari ham avstraliyaliklarni bevosita qo'llab-quvvatlash uchun harakat qilishdi bo'linish - hajmli harakat.

1969 yil 6 fevralda .dan ikkita qo'shimcha batalon Thu Duc VC Regiment Hat Dich hududiga kirgani va 4 RAR / NZ (ANZAC) keyinchalik qo'llab-quvvatlash uchun tanklar va zirhli transportyorlar bilan qayta joylashtirildi va natijada operatsiya eng og'ir aloqalariga olib keldi. Janglar 78 kun davom etdi va urush paytida avstraliyaliklar va yangi zelandiyaliklar tomonidan amalga oshirilgan provinsiyalar orasida eng uzoq davom etgan janglardan biri bo'ldi. Garchi bir nechta yirik harakatlar bo'lmagan bo'lsa-da, janglar PAVN / VC talofatlariga olib keldi va ularni Xat-Dichdagi doimiy bazalarini tark etishga majbur qildi, shuningdek, yaqinlashib kelayotgan hujumga tayyorgarlikni buzdi. Tet. Operatsiyadan so'ng darhol ANZAClar Bien-Xoadagi AQSh va Janubiy Vetnamning asosiy bazalariga yaqinlashishni to'xtatish uchun qayta joylashtirildi, Long Binh va Saygon kutish bilan 1969 yil Tet tajovuzkor, davomida Federal operatsiya.

Fon

1968 yil Vetnamdagi urushda burilish davri bo'ldi. 45000 dan ortiq odamni yo'qotish - qarshi Vetnam Respublikasi armiyasi (ARVN) va ittifoqdosh 6000 kishining yo'qotilishi - bu Tet Offensive PAVN va Viet Kong uchun taktik falokat bo'lgan.^[1][2] Nima bo'lishidan qat'iy nazar, Tetdan oldin amerikalik qo'mondonlar va siyosatchilar urushda g'alaba qozonish haqida ishonchli tarzda gaplashishgan Umumiy Uilyam Vestmoreland ning strategiyasi eskirish PAVN / VC askarlari va uskunalarini almashtirishdan ko'ra tezroq yo'qotadigan darajaga yetgan edi.^[1] Shunga qaramay, janglarning ko'lami va hujum boshlangan kutilmagan hodisalar va zo'ravonlik jamoatchilikni dahshatga solib, yaqinda g'alaba qozonish haqidagi bunday bashoratlarga zid edi. Harbiy va siyosiy rahbariyatga ishonch pasayib ketdi, shuningdek Amerikadagi urushni jamoatchilik qo'llab-quvvatladi. Oxir oqibat, Tet PAVN / VC uchun reklama va ommaviy axborot vositalarining g'alabasi bo'ldi va Xanoy muhim siyosiy g'alaba bilan paydo bo'ldi.^[3][4]

Hujum Avstraliya jamoatchiligining fikriga xuddi shunday ta'sir ko'rsatdi va hukumatda AQShning Janubi-Sharqiy Osiyoda harbiy jihatdan ishtirok etishga qaror qilganligi to'g'risida tobora ortib borayotgan noaniqlikni keltirib chiqardi.^[5] Dastlabki shok holatida Bosh vazir Jon Gorton kutilmaganda Avstraliyaning Vetnamdagi harbiy majburiyatini hozirgi 8000 kishilik darajasidan oshirmasligini e'lon qildi.^[6] Ammo urush tinimsiz davom etdi va 1968 yil may va iyun oylari orasida 1 ATF yana joylashtirildi Phuoc Tuy yana bir yaqinlashib kelayotgan hujum haqida razvedka xabarlariga javoban. Keyinchalik avstraliyaliklar Saygondan shimoli-sharqda joylashgan Toan Thang I operatsiyasi 26 kun davomida bir qator muhim harakatlarga qarshi kurash olib borgan PAVN / VC aloqa liniyalarini taqiqlash. Coral-Balmoral jangi.^[7]

1968 yil 10-iyunda general Kreyton Abrams Uestmorelandni Vetnamdagi AQSh va Erkin Jahon harbiy kuchlari qo'mondoni etib tayinladi va qo'mondonning o'zgarishi urush tushunchasi ham, uning o'tkazilishi ham o'zgarishiga olib keldi.^[8] Abrams ittifoqdoshlarning asosiy sa'y-harakatlari avvalgi kabi PAVN / VC asosiy kuchlarini qidirish va yo'q qilishga urinishdan ko'ra, aholi punktlarini himoya qilishga o'tishga yo'naltirdi.^[9] Xuddi shu tarzda, urushni ta'qib qilish siyosati ostida tobora ko'proq Janubiy Vetnamga topshirilishi kerak edi Vetnamlashtirish, amerikaliklar PAVN / VC bloklarini muvozanatdan saqlashni maqsad qilib oldilar, ular Janubiy Vetnam o'zlari urush olib borguncha, ularni etkazib berish va kuchaytirishga xalaqit berishlari mumkin emas. Avstraliyaliklar uchun ittifoqchilar strategiyasining o'zgarishi "ga qaytish" ni oldindan belgilab qo'ydi tinchlantirish Phuoc Tuy viloyati.^[10] O'tgan o'n sakkiz oy davomida viloyat tashqarisidagi operatsiyalar qimmatga tushdi va urush paytida o'lgan 228 avstraliyalik va 1200 jarohat olganlarning deyarli uchdan ikki qismi 1967 yil yanvaridan buyon o'ldirilgan.^{[9][Izoh 1]}

Iyul oyidan boshlab 1 ATF shimoliy chegara hududlari va ularning g'arbiy qismida bir qator qidiruv-qidiruv ishlarini yakunladi Mas'uliyatning taktik sohasi Phuoc Tuy viloyatida (TAOR).^[11][12] Nui Thi Vaydan va Nui Dinh Phuoc Tuy g'arbidagi tepaliklar, qalin o'rmon shimolga Bian Xa va Long Xan provinsiyalarining tutashgan joyiga, Hat Dich nomi bilan mashhur bo'lgan. Kabi May Tao tog'lari shimoliy-sharqda va Long Xay janubdagi tepaliklar, tog'lar va o'rmonlarning bu joylari VC tomonidan ko'p yillar davomida tayanch zonalari sifatida keng foydalanilgan.^[13] Hat Dich VC tomonidan Saygonga, shuningdek, Long Binh-Bien Hoa majmuasidagi muhim Janubiy Vetnam va AQSh bazalari joylashganligi sababli ishlatilgan.^[14] VK shimoliy-sharqda joylashgan May Tào tog'laridagi o'zlarining asosiy hududlarini g'arbiy qismida kam sonli, ammo ko'p o'simliklarga ega bo'lgan Xat Dich hududi bilan bog'lash uchun shimoliy chegara hududlarini, shu jumladan Thua Tich va Courtenay rezina plantatsiyasini ishlatgan.^[11][12] Vaqt o'tishi bilan, Avstraliyaning ushbu sohalardagi operatsiyalari, odatda, VC Main Force va vaqti-vaqti bilan PAVN birliklari kabi turli xil guruhlar bilan aloqalarga olib keldi va oxir-oqibat ularning tranzit va o'quv lagerlari, shuningdek, bir qator bunker tizimlari va logistika omborlari vayron bo'lishiga olib keldi. inshootlar.^[15]

Prelude

1968 yil oxiriga kelib PAVN / VC kuchlarining sezilarli darajada to'planishi sodir bo'ldi III korpus taktik zonasi, 70 ta asosiy va mahalliy kuchlar batalyonlari to'rttaga ko'paytirildi bo'linmalar muqaddas joylardan orqaga qaytish Kambodja.^[16] Shu bilan birga, PAVN Saygonning sharqiy va shimoli-sharqiy qismidagi operatsiyalarni muvofiqlashtirish uchun yangi 7-harbiy shtab bo'linmasini tashkil etdi.^[17] Ushbu rivojlanish, Hat Dichdagi keng ko'lamli harbiy harakatlar bilan bir qatorda, Janubiy Vetnam va ularning ittifoqchilariga yaqinda hujum qilish ehtimolini ko'rsatdi, ehtimol Bien Hoa, Long Binh, Bearcat bazasi yoki hatto Saygon.^[18] AQSh qo'mondoni Vetnamning II Field Force (IIFFV) keyinchalik 1 ta ATFni amalga oshirdi - keyinchalik buyrug'i bilan Brigadir Sendi Pirson Phuoc Tuy, Bien Hoa va Long Xán viloyatlari bo'ylab Toan Thang II operatsiyasi sifatida tanilgan yirik ittifoq safari doirasida Xat-Dichdagi operatsiyalar.^[19] Bunday hujumni buzish va 15-marshrutni taqiqlanishiga yo'l qo'ymaslik uchun avstraliyaliklarga PAVN / VC elementlarini topish va yo'q qilish vazifasi yuklangan bo'lar edi.^[20] Bunga erishish uchun Pirson tanklar, otliqlar va artilleriya tomonidan qo'llab-quvvatlanadigan o'zining uchta avstraliyalik batalyonlarini ham ishga olishni rejalashtirgan "Gudvud" operatsiyasini ishlab chiqdi. Janubiy Vetnamning bir qator piyoda qo'shinlari va dengiz batalyonlari qatori uning qo'mondonligiga bir nechta Amerika piyoda va artilleriya bo'linmalari ham joylashtirildi. Hammasi bo'lib ittifoqchi kuchlar bo'linma kattaligiga yaqinlashdi va ularning tarkibiga 10 000 ga yaqin odam kirdi.^[21]

1968 yil dekabr oyining boshlarida birinchi avstraliyalik birliklar yangilariga kiritildi operatsiyalar maydoni (AO) - Sayonning sharqida, Bien-Xoa va uning o'rtasida joylashgan AO Taunsvil deb nomlangan Nui Dat, Janubi-sharqda 30 kilometr (19 milya). Dastlab kuch bir piyoda batalyonidan iborat edi—1-batalyon, Avstraliya qirollik polki (1 RAR), podpolkovnik Filipp Bennett qo'mondonligi va qurol-yarog ', shu jumladan Centurion tanklari dan C otryad, 1-zirhli polk, M113 Zirhli transport vositalari (BTR) Bir otryad, 3-otliq polki, 105 mm M2A2 гаubitsalari ning batareyalaridan Avstraliya qirollik artilleriyasining 12-dala polki va 155 mm M109 o'ziyurar artilleriya dan Batareya, AQSh 2/35 artilleriya polki va C Batareya, AQSh 2/40 artilleriya polki, shuningdek, dan muhandislar 1 dala otryadi.^[18] Keyinchalik, AO kengaytirilganidan keyin ikkinchi batalyon - dastlab qo'shma Yangi Zelandiya va Avstraliya 4 RAR / NZ (ANZAC) va keyinroq 9 RAR - joylashtirilishi kerak.^{[18][Izoh 2]} Operatsiya davomida piyoda batalyonlarini aylantirish rejalashtirilgan edi, 1 ta ATF har doim Gudvud operatsiyasida ikkita batalonni saqlab turishni niyat qilgan.^[18] Operatsiyalar kontseptsiyasi AO Taunsvillni bir qator batalonli TAORlarga ajratdi. Bosh qarorgoh 1 ATF joylashtirilishi kerak edi olovni qo'llab-quvvatlash bazasi (FSB) Julian, Tien Thein qishlog'ining shimolida, Bien Xòa viloyatidagi QL 14 yo'nalishida, 1 RAR esa Nui Datdan FSB Dayk-ga joylashtirilgan. Keyinchalik avstraliyaliklar a. O'tkazishni rejalashtirishgan amaldagi razvedka, tanklar va BTRlar tomonidan qo'llab-quvvatlanadigan piyoda batalyonlari tomonidan qo'riqlash va pistirma bilan, operatsiyalar kengayib borishi bilan bir qator yong'inni qo'llab-quvvatlovchi bazalarni egallaydigan dala artilleriya batareyalaridan o't o'chirish.^[18] Bir qator SAS qo'shinlarning harakatlari to'g'risida ma'lumot berish uchun patrullarni havo va BTR orqali kiritish rejalashtirilgan edi.^[18] The Tailand Qirollik armiyasining ekspeditsiya bo'limi shimoliy g'arbiy qismida AO Banglane-da ishlaydi, ammo 4-batalyon, 12-piyoda polki (ajratilgan AQSh 199-chi engil piyoda brigadasi ) va ikkita qo'shin 3-batalyon, 11-zirhli otliq polki (3/11 ACR), shuningdek ARVN 2-desant brigada chiqqunga qadar 1 ta ATFni to'g'ridan-to'g'ri qo'llab-quvvatlaydi.^[23]

AO Townsville-da aniqlangan PAVN va VC birliklari 274-polk, PAVN 74 artilleriya polki, D67 muhandis batalyoni, Thu Duc Polk, D1, D2 va D6 Sapper razvedka batalyonlari va D440 va D445 Viloyat mobil batalyonlari; barchasi Bosh shtab 7-harbiy mintaqaning umumiy qo'mondonligi ostida.^[24] Avstraliyaliklar uchun 3-batalyon, 274-polk alohida qiziqish uyg'otdi, bu razvedka ma'lumotlariga ko'ra, yaqinda ko'p sonli Shimoliy Vetnam o'rnini egallagan. Batalon tarkibida 250 dan 300 gacha odam borligi va ular yaxshi jihozlanganligi taxmin qilingan. Hat Dichda joylashgan batalyon ko'plab xandaq tizimlari, bunkerlar va tunnellar bilan to'ldirilgan bir qator doimiy tayanch lagerlarini egallab olgan deb ishonilgan.^[18]

Jang

AO Taunsvildagi dastlabki operatsiyalar, 1968 yil 3–10 dekabr

Operatsiya 3-dekabr kuni bosh shtab-kvartirasi bilan ATF Julia FSBga o'tishda davom etdi.^[25] Keyin 1 RAR G'arbiy Xat-Dichdagi sharqdan 6 kilometr (3,7 milya) sharqda FSB-ga joylashib, B eskadroni, 3-otliq polkdan BTRlarda harakatlanib, C Squadron, 1 zirhli polk va batalyon tanklari bilan harakatlanmoqda. to'g'ridan-to'g'ri qo'llab-quvvatlash batareya, 102-chi maydon batareyasi. Keyinchalik qo'shilish muvaffaqiyatli yakunlandi, soat 11:00 ga qadar pozitsiya ta'minlandi.^[23] Dastlab ehtiyotkorlik bilan bir kompaniya AO Wondai-da tank otryadining 2 ta qo'shini bilan harakat qildi, B va C kompaniyalari esa ularga ergashdilar. Shunga qaramay, ularning pozitsiyasiga qarshi hech qanday tahdid aniqlanmagan holda, avstraliyaliklar razvedka bo'yicha operatsiyalarni boshlashdi, D kompaniyasi ham tayinlangan hududga ko'chib o'tdi va FSB Dykening xavfsizligi va mudofaasini qo'llab-quvvatlash kompaniyasiga topshirdi. VK faoliyatining alomatlari tez orada aniqlangan bo'lsa-da, yangi o'ldirilgan kiyik, shu jumladan - birinchi kunida aloqalar bo'lmagan.^[26] Shu bilan birga, tailandliklar AO Banglane-da operatsiyalarni boshladilar va A Battery-dan Amerika artilleriyasi, AQShning 2/35 artilleriya polki va C akkumulyatori, AQShning 2/40 artilleriya polkining avtoulovlari Tailandning Tien shahrining chekkasida joylashgan FSB kashtanini egallash uchun harakat qilishdi. Bien-Xoa provinsiyasining janubiy sektorida ular 1 ta ATFni bevosita qo'llab-quvvatlash uchun ishlashadi.^[23][27]

Ertasi kuni, 4 dekabr kuni soat 08:30 da C 1 RAR kompaniyasi VC ning uchta kichik guruhiga duch keldi va a vzvod Hujum bilvosita yong'in ostida amalga oshirildi va natijasi kam edi. Shu bilan birga, soat 10:00 dan boshlab "B" kompaniyasi tomonidan bombardimon qilingan bunker tizimiga duch keldi, avstraliyaliklar oldinga siljishni davom ettirganda boshqa kichik aloqalar rivojlanib, ular davomida guruch omborini topdilar.^[28] 13:47 da 9 Platoon C Company qisqa vaqt ichida qatnashdi va ushbu hududni yanada razvedka qilish paytida avstraliyaliklar VC lagerini joylashtirdilar. Keyinchalik ular havo hujumiga chaqirib, chekinishdi napalm bunkerlarni yo'q qilish. Kechqurun yaqinlashganda C kompaniyasi hududga qaytib keldi va ertasi kungacha hududni qidirib topolmadi. 5-dekabr soat 07:40 da avstraliyaliklar tanklar bilan qarorgohga hujum qilib, asosiy qurol-yarog 'bilan bir nechta bunkerlarni yo'q qildilar, piyoda askarlar esa chuqurlarni granatalashdi. VK yana bir bor qochib ketganligi aniqlandi, avvalgi tushdan keyin aloqada bo'lgan bitta o'lik jasad qoldirildi. Lager a uchun etarli deb taxmin qilingan kompaniya -kuchli kuch va oldingi kun juda g'arbga qulab tushgan havo hujumiga tegmaganligi aniqlandi.^[29] Lagerni yo'q qilish uchun piyoda askarlarning kichik kuchlari va tanklarini qoldirib, C Company davom etdi va yana soat 11: 05da uchta VC tomonidan yaqin masofada qatnashdi. Shunga qaramay, avstraliyaliklar keyinchalik kamida beshta bunkerdan o'q uzishdi. Bennett B kompaniyasiga shimol tomon to'siq qo'yishni buyurdi, tank qo'shinlari esa kompaniya hujumini o'tkazishga tayyorlanayotgan C kompaniyasini qo'llab-quvvatlash uchun yuqoriga ko'tarildi. Soat 15: 00da lagerga hujum qilingan va u yana tark qilinganligi aniqlangan. Ko'p sonli bunkerlarni joylashtirganiga qaramay, avstraliyaliklar VKni ta'qib qilishni davom ettirdilar, ammo ularning oldinga o'tishiga Centurionlardan birining mexanik buzilishi xalaqit berdi; keyinchalik transport vositasi FSB Deykga qaytarib berildi.^[30]

Ayni paytda AQShning 4/12-chi piyodalari AO Kilcoyda jiddiy aloqaga kirishgan va chekinish o'rniga yordam so'ragan. Shunga qaramay, 1 ta ATF hech qanday mol-mulk bilan ta'minlay olmaganligi sababli, Bennett 1 ta RAR Assault Pioneer Platoon-dan ikkita alangalanuvchi guruhni ajratib qo'ydi, ular keyinchalik aminlangan vzvodni chiqarib olishga yordam berish uchun ishlatilgan.^[31] 6-10 dekabr kunlari RAR AO Wondai-ni tozalashni davom ettirdi, ko'plab o'q-dorilar omborlari va yangi qazilgan qabrlarni topdi, ammo avstraliyaliklar va VK o'rtasida ozgina aloqa mavjud emas edi.^[32] Ishonchim komilki, avstraliyalik dastlabki patrullarga javoban VC aloqadan qochishga urinib ko'rdi va shimolga 1 ATF dan uzoqlashdi. Shunga qaramay, Centurion tanklari va otliqlar tomonidan qo'llab-quvvatlanadigan 1 RAR tomonidan agressiv ravishda patrullik qilish avstraliyaliklar va VC guruhlari o'rtasida vzvod kuchiga qadar bo'lgan bir qator aloqalarni keltirib chiqardi, chunki ular chiqib ketish kuchlarini kuzatib borishdi.^[18] Keyinchalik, vaqtincha guruhlar tomonidan qo'riqlanadigan keng bunker tizimlarining kashf etilishi, shuningdek, muhim guruch va qurol-yarog 'saqlanadigan joylarning joylashishi Hat Dichda katta PAVN / VC kuchi mavjudligini va ushbu hududda keng qamrovli ta'minot tizimining ishlashini tasdiqladi. .^[18] Shu vaqt ichida ARVN 2-desant brigadasi AO-Mozda Fliyo-Julia shahridan shimoliy-sharqda 20 km (12 milya) harakat qildi, 3/11 ACR esa sharqda AO Sherman va AO Kilcoyda AQShning 4/12 piyoda askarlari tomonidan ish olib bordi. g'arb, barchasi minimal aloqa bilan.^[27]

Kengayayotgan operatsiyalar, 1968 yil 11–18 dekabr

Biroq avstraliyaliklar keng ko'lamli kommunistik ta'minot va sahnalashtirish zonasida edilar va 11 dekabr kuni Pirson ushbu imkoniyatdan foydalanish uchun AO Taunsvillni kengaytirdi.^[33] Podpolkovnik Li Grevillning buyrug'i bilan keyinchalik PAVN / VC kuchlarining shimolga qarab harakatlanishiga yo'l qo'ymaslik uchun 4 RAR / NZ Nui Datdan qilingan.^[18] Yangi batalyonning operatsiya zonasi - AO Kilcoy - Long Xon viloyatida, Tay Thien shimolida, 15-marshrutda, uning g'arbiy chegarasi Song Thi Avi va manqurtlari bo'ylab joylashgan. Rung Sat maxsus zonasi. Keyinchalik RAR / NZ to'g'ridan-to'g'ri qo'llab-quvvatlovchi batareyasi bilan olovni qo'llab-quvvatlovchi bazani o'rnatdi 104-chi maydon batareyasi, FSB Sandpiper-ni egallaydi.^[20] Shu bilan birga, 1 RAR vertolyotda FSB Diggers Rest-ga ko'chib o'tdi, keyin u B kompaniyasi tomonidan ta'minlandi. Avtoulovlar tomonidan kun bo'yi patrullik kichik aloqa bilan davom etdi, tunnellarni o'zaro bog'laydigan muhim bunker tizimi joylashgan edi.^[34] AO Sherman AQSh-da 3/11 ACR operatsiyalarni tugatdi va Shenandoah va Shilo shaharlarida janubi-g'arbiy qismida operatsiyalarni boshladi, AO Kilcoyda 4/12 piyoda qo'shinlari shimoliy-sharqda AO Montereygacha kengaytirildi.^[35]

AQSh kuchlari juda og'ir majburiyatlarga ega edilar Tay Ninx Kambodja chegarasi yaqinidagi maydon va natijada 4 RAR / NZ operatsiyaning birinchi bosqichida II FFV uchun zaxira bataloni sifatida belgilangan edi va qisqa vaqt ichida III CTZning istalgan joyiga joylashtirilishi kerak edi. Nima bo'lishidan qat'iy nazar, D Company APC tomonidan joylashtirilgan va 15-marshrutdan sharqqa 1 km (0,62 milya) FSB Sandpiper-ni xavfsiz holatga keltirgan, batalonning qolgan qismi esa yo'l bilan tarqatilgan.^[20] Ushbu davrda 4 RAR / NZ shunchaki uchta avstraliyalik miltiq ishlab chiqaradigan kompaniyalarga qisqartirildi, shu sababli Yangi Zelandiya kompaniyalaridan biri ot nayzasida, tanishish davrini, ikkinchisi esa Nui Dat-da tezkor kuchlarning reaktsiyasi sifatida qoldi.^[36] 4 RAR / NZ keyinchalik FSB Sandpiper-da batalyonning mudofaa pozitsiyasini egallab oldi va miltiq kompaniyalari tashkil etilgandan so'ng patrul va pistirma dasturini boshladi. Qisqa vaqt ichida qayta joylashtirilishi kerak bo'lgan talab avstraliyaliklarning Sandpiperdan bir soatdan ko'proq vaqt davomida ishlashiga to'sqinlik qildi, ammo bu cheklov ularning 15-marshrut bo'ylab to'siqlarning oldini olish samaradorligini chekladi.^[36] Nima bo'lishidan qat'iy nazar, operatsiya davomida doimiy aloqalar saqlanib turdi, shu bilan birga operatsiyalar maydoni doimiy ravishda o'zgartirildi va PAVN / VC sifatida qurilgan qo'shimcha yong'inni qo'llab-quvvatlash bazalari 1 ATFni chetlab o'tishga urinib, Hat Dich va boshqa joylarda kuchlarni to'ldirish qobiliyatini saqlab qolish uchun kurashdilar. ayni paytda avstraliyaliklarga qarshi turish uchun kuchlarni birlashtirish.^[18] 4 ta RAR / NZ BTR-larga o'rnatilgan kompaniyalar bilan patrullik qilish 15-marshrutning g'arbiy qismida ishlagan va bir qator muvaffaqiyatli pistirmalarni amalga oshirgan.^[37] Shu bilan birga, 1 RAR AO Wondai-da, AO Taunsvillni tashkil etgan TAORlarning eng faollari davom etdi.^[18]

12-dekabr kuni C RAR kompaniyasi - mayor Brayan Xonner boshchiligida - kichik to'qnashuvda bunker tizimida kichik VC kuchini jalb qildi. M72 raketalar. Ayni paytda, soat 12:00 dan keyin B kompaniyasining patrul xizmati daryodan o'tib oltita PAVNni jalb qildi. Otishma natijasida ikki avstraliyalik engil jarohat oldi. O'sha kuni tushdan keyin B kompaniyasi yana bir bunker tizimini topgandan keyin yana aloqada bo'lib, majmuani bilvosita olov bilan yo'q qilish uchun chiqib ketdi. Biroq, artilleriya bunker tizimini jalb qilgan bo'lsa ham, keyingi aloqalar juda kam natija bilan davom etdi.^[38] Soat 17:00 ga qadar B kompaniyasi yana bir bor ilgarilab ketdi va etakchi vzvod jalb qilindi - ehtimol VC patrul tomonidan bunker tizimini ilgari yopiq qoldirgan bo'lishi mumkin - va ikki tomon taxminan 10 daqiqa davomida o'zaro o't ochishdi. Ushbu aloqa paytida 12 ta vzvod, D kompaniyasi pistirmani o'rnatayotganda, ular avtomatik qurol bilan ishg'ol qilishgan va RPG-2 raketa qo'zg'atuvchi granatalar, bu keyingi kungacha jasadini tiklash mumkin bo'lmagan avstraliyalikni o'ldirdi. Jang paytida kamida bitta VC urib tushirildi, garchi boshqa qurbonlarni aniqlash mumkin emas edi. Ertasi kuni ertalab B kompaniyasi bunkerlar oldiga qaytib, ularni tashlandiq holda topdi.^[39]

Keyinchalik, 13-dekabr kuni C Company patrullik dasturini davom ettirdi, soat 10:00 da 7 Platonning etakchi qismi VC tomonidan boshqa bunker tizimida o'qqa tutildi. Honner 9 ta vzvodga tezkor hujum qilishni buyurdi, natijada ikkita VC halok bo'ldi, qurol va guruch asirga olindi. To'rt avstraliyalik yaralangan. Yaqin atrofdagi boshqa bunkerlar ham joylashgan edi, ammo ular ishsiz deb topilgan va keyinchalik havo hujumi bilan vayron qilinganligi uchun shar bilan belgilangan edi.^[39] Kontaktlar tushdan keyin ozgina natija bermay davom etdi, avstraliyaliklar ko'plab tayyorlangan pozitsiyalar va bunker tizimlarini ochishda davom etishdi.^[39] Shu bilan birga, 3/11-chi ACR elementi o'zlarining operatsiyalar hududida havotirga tushdi, to'rt kishi halok bo'ldi va sakkiz kishi yarador bo'ldi.^[40] Soat 15:00 da 8 ta vzvod S kompaniyasining qolgan qismi uchun qo'nish zonasini xavfsiz holatga keltirayotgan edi, ular janubdan shovqinlarni eshitdilar; keyinchalik patrul bunker tizimida beshta VC bilan to'qnashdi, chunki u erga artilleriya chaqirildi. Soat 17:00 da 7 ta vzvod qurollangan 14 ta VCga murojaat qildi AK-47 tozalash maydonchasida avtomatlar, ulardan birini o'ldirishgan, boshqalari esa bunker tizimiga o'tib, avstraliyaliklarni qurol va 60 mm li minomyotlar bilan jalb qilishgan. Avstraliyalik vzvodning hujumi VCni bunkerlardan chiqarib yubordi va ular janubi-g'arbiy tomon 200 metr (220 yd) orqaga chekinish kuchini kuzatib borganlaridan keyin ular hududni xavfsiz holatga keltirdilar.^[40]

9-dekabr kuni ertalab soat 08:40 da Platon C Company RAR 1 RAR ikkita Vietnam Kongni bunker tizimiga jalb qildi va ikkalasini ham o'ldirdi.^[40] Kompaniya qo'riqlashni davom ettirdi va o'sha kuni tushdan keyin soat 16: 05da 8 ta vzvot yana ikkita VC bilan bog'lanib, birini o'ldirdi va ishdan chiqqan lagerni ochdi.^[41] Razvedka hisobotlari 3 km (1,9 milya) g'arbda VC kontsentratsiyasining sezilarli ekanligini ko'rsatdi Tam Phuoc va bunga javoban B Company 4 RAR / NZ va 1 ATF mudofaa va bandlik vzvodi APC tomonidan hududga ko'chib o'tdilar.^[42] 17:00 da 5 Platon, B Company va Avstraliyaning otliq qismining bir qismi VC partiyasiga murojaat qilishdi, natijada qochib ketgan birini o'ldirdi va boshqasini yaraladi. Keyinchalik VC AQSh elementlari bilan batalonning AO dan g'arbga qarab harakatlanishi kuzatildi 3/17 havo otliq polki keyinchalik joylashtirilgan.^[43] Ertasi kuni C Company 1 RAR AO Wondai-da avstraliyalik patrullar tomonidan kutilmagan holatga tushib qolgan VC partiyalari borligini aniqlaganidan keyin qidirishni va pistirmani davom ettirdi. Soat 10:30 atrofida to'rtta VC 8 ta vzvodga yaqinlashdi va qurol-yarog 'bilan shug'ullanishdi; uchta avstraliyalikni yengil yarador etgan RPG-lar bilan o'q otish, avstraliyaliklar to'rtinchisini topolmay uch VC o'ldirilgan.^[41] O'sha kuni tushdan keyin D kompaniyasi ham ishsiz bunker tizimini kashf etdi, A va B kompaniyalarining har biri kichik aloqada bo'lgan, 4 ta vzvit soat 16:00 atrofida bitta VCni o'ldirgan.^[44] Keyinchalik, 17:20 da, 6 ta Platon B kompaniyasi beshta VC bilan 30 metr masofada (33 yd) pistirma joyiga joylashganda, vzvod komandirini qattiq yaraladi; ikkita VC ham urilgan. VK, keyinchalik vzvod serjanti avstraliyalik vzvod qo'mondonligini o'z zimmasiga olgan paytda orqaga qaytdi va keyingi supurish paytida bitta jasad topildi.^[45] Ayni paytda, AO Kilcoy 9 Platoon C Company 4 RAR / NZ lagerda uchta VC joylashgan. Keyin bo'lim lagerga 15 metrdan (16 yd) o't ochib, hujum qildi, bir VC o'ldirildi va qochgan qolgan ikkitasi yaralandi; a PPSh-41 pulemyot, an SKS avtomat va an M1 karbini keyinchalik qo'lga olindi.^[43]

Dekabr oyining birinchi yarmida hech qanday katta harakatlar bo'lmagan bo'lsa-da, 1 ta ATF operatsiyalari zonasida 40 ta aloqa paydo bo'ldi, natijada 22 VC o'ldirildi, ikki kishi yaralandi va yana ikki kishi o'ldirildi, shuningdek 20 ta qurol qo'lga olindi 66 minalar, 153 granata, 17 ta minomyot, 26 ta RPG-2 raketasi, 50 kilogramm (110 funt) portlovchi moddalar va 26380 ta otish qurollari. O'lganlarning aksariyati VC Asosiy kuchlari askarlari, ba'zilari esa PAVN edi, ammo ularning birligi aniqlanmagan. Shu bilan birga, tailandliklar Binh Son kauchuk plantatsiyasida sakkizta aloqa haqida xabar berishdi.^[46] 16 dekabrda 1 RAR vzvodi patrullik qilishni va pistirmani davom ettirdi, keyingi ikki kun ichida avstraliyaliklar va VK bir qator tezkor aloqalarga qarshi kurash olib bordilar, natijada kamida ikkita VK o'ldirildi.^[47] AO Kilcoy 4 RAR / NZ-da ham patrulni davom ettirishdi, 5 ta Platon B kompaniyasining qo'riqchisi vzvod tushlik paytida to'xtaganidan keyin uni ta'qib qilgan bitta VCni o'ldirdi.^[43] Keyinchalik 17 dekabr kuni kechqurun ATF razvedkasi Ph thechoa o'rmonida 500 kishilik VC kuchlari katta bo'lishi mumkinligi haqida xabar bergan edi, noma'lum artilleriya bo'linmasi tark etgandan keyin Long Thanh va Binh Songa minomyot bilan hujum qilishga tayyorlanayotgan edi. Tailand AO.^[47]

Biroq, o'sha tunda Avstraliya AOda faollik kam bo'lgan, shu bilan birga 18 dekabr soat 03:15 da ARVN forpostiga hujum qilingan, natijada Bearcatdan AQSh reaksiya kuchlari kelguniga qadar ikkita VC halok bo'lgan va uchta janubiy vetnamlik yaralangan.^[47] Ertasi kuni ham 1 RAR, ham 4 RAR / NZ kichik aloqada operatsiyalarni davom ettirdilar; to'rtta kichik bunkerlardan iborat lager 1 ta Platon A kompaniyasi 1 RAR tomonidan joylashgan bo'lib, soat 09: 20da 3 ta vzvod 16-da 2 ta vzvod bilan aloqa paytida o'ldirilgan bo'lishi mumkin bo'lgan ikki kishining jasadlarini topdi. O'sha kuni 1 vzvod Suoi Cau Moining janubiy qirg'og'ida joylashgan yana 11 ta bunkerni topdi va ertasi kuni ular yo'q qilindi.^[48] Ayni paytda, 12 Platoon D Company 4 RAR / NZ 16:21 da ikkita VC bilan shug'ullanib, birini o'ldirgan va AK-47 ni qo'lga olgan.^[43] O'sha kuni kechqurun soat 19:00 atrofida 1 RARni to'g'ridan-to'g'ri qo'llab-quvvatlovchi vertolyot Avstraliya AO-da qizil va oq chiroqlarni kuzatdi va ular 102-chi Field Batareyasi bilan ishladilar.^[48]

1968 yil dekabr oyining oxirlarida jang qilish

Ertasi kuni, 19-dekabr kuni, 1-RAR tankga qarshi vzvodining avstraliyalik patrul xizmati jang maydonini tintuv qildi va hech qanday ahamiyatli narsa topilmagani haqida xabar berdi. Avstraliyalik vzvodlar navbatchilik qilishni davom ettirishdi va soat 08:49 da 9 Platoon C Company oltita VC guruhini 50 metr (55 yd) da daryoni kesib o'tayotganda, ikkitasini o'ldirdi va uchinchisini yaraladi.^[48] Kunning ikkinchi yarmidan keyin Platon A kompaniyasi yo'lga parallel ravishda ustun bo'ylab harakatlanayotganda, ular aniqlanmagan bunker tizimidagi VC kuchi tomonidan pistirmada edi. Old va orqa avstraliyalik qismlar qurol-yarog 'bilan mashg'ul bo'lgan, markaziy qism esa ikkitadan nishonga olingan M18 Claymore konlari; og'ir talofatlar avstraliyaliklar bir kishining halok bo'lishiga va 10 kishining yaralanishiga olib keldi. Bunga javoban A kompaniyasining qolgan qismi tezda vzvodni qo'llab-quvvatlashga o'tdi, artilleriya esa bunkerlarni o'qqa tutdi. Jabrlanganlarni evakuatsiya qilish soat 15: 20da tugallandi, shundan so'ng avstraliyaliklar lagerga hujum qildilar, faqat VC orqaga qaytganligini aniqladilar.^[49] Yorug'lik ishdan chiqa boshlagach, 8 Platoon C Company skrabda shovqinlarni eshitdi va yaqin atrofdagi lagerda 10 VC guruhni kuzatdi. 17:45 da avstraliyaliklar ko'chib o'tdilar, bittasini o'ldirdilar va qolganlarni chekinishga majbur qildilar.^[50]

Shu bilan birga, Kilcoy AO 4-da RAR / NZ faqat kichik aloqalarni davom ettirdi. 10 Platoon D Company 19-dekabr kuni yo'l kesishmasida blokirovka holatida joylashtirilgan va 13:38 da avstraliyaliklar pozitsiyasiga yaqinlashganidan keyin besh nafar VC guruhini jalb qilgan. Qo'riqchi u bilan o'q uzdi M60 pulemyoti 40 metrda (44 yd) bir kishining o'ldirilishi va yana ikkitasining yaralanishi mumkin. Tirik qolgan VC erga tushib, qaytadan o'q uzdi va ikki avstraliyalikni yarador qilib, muvaffaqiyatli chiqib ketdi.^[51] 2 SAS Squadron shuningdek, AO Sternumda razvedka patrullarini davom ettirdi va soat 10:30 da to'qnashuv paytida bitta VCni o'ldirdi. Xuddi shu kuni ARVN 11-havo batalyonining AO Moose, B va D kompaniyalarida soat 13: 00da katta VC kuchlari ham qatnashdi, ularning hisob-kitoblariga ko'ra AK-47 bilan qurollangan kamida ikkita vzvod va RPK engil pulemyotlar. Janglar so'nggi yorug'likka qadar davom etdi va oltita o'ldirilgan va oltita yaradorni o'z ichiga olgan ARVNning katta yo'qotishlariga olib keldi. VC-da jabrlanganlar noma'lum edi.^[52]

20 dekabr kuni ertalab A RAR kompaniyasi VC jarrohlik punkti va dispanserini topdi va ko'plab guruch, tuz va hujjatlarni qo'lga kiritdi. Soat 09:20 da 9 Platoon C Company janub tomon yo'lda harakatlanayotgan ettita VC ni pistirmaga solib, ulardan uchtasini o'ldirdi va AK-47 ni qo'lga oldi. VKdan faqat bittasi qurollangan, qolgan ikkitasida oziq-ovqat va tamaki bilan to'ldirilgan paketlar bo'lgan. O'n daqiqadan so'ng 8 ta vzvod 9 ta vzvoddan uzoqroq yo'lda ketayotgan ikkita VCni pistirmaga solib, birini o'ldirdi va AK-47 ni qo'lga oldi. Harakatlanib, avstraliyalik vzvod yana soat 10: 50da aloqada bo'ldi, qo'rg'oshin bo'limlari VK askarini bunkerda o'ldirdi va keshni ochdi.^[50] Keyinchalik kompaniya yana bir yirik, egasiz bunker majmuasini va ko'plab oziq-ovqat, tibbiy buyumlar, portlovchi moddalar va o'q-dorilarni topdi. Avvalgi bunker tizimlarida bo'lgani kabi, avstraliyaliklar ularni portlovchi moddalar bilan yo'q qilishga kirishdilar, A Company 1 RAR oldingi uch kun ichida 93 ta bunkerni yo'q qildi. Kechqurun 1-da, vzvod tungi pistirma joyini o'rnatayotganda, 17:55 da tezkor aloqada bo'lgan.^[49] Xuddi shu kuni 4 RAR / NZ AO-da, tadqiqot guruhini himoya qiladigan kompozitsion vzvod beshta VC guruhini natija bermay jalb qildi, "Wer Company for the horseshoe" muvaffaqiyatli pistirmada bo'lib, ikkita VCni o'ldirdi va uchinchisini yaraladi.^[53]

21-dekabr soat 03:00 da ARVN 2-desant brigadasi elementlari egallab olgan AO Moose-dagi Redhat 3 FSB doimiy ravishda ikkita VC kompaniyasi tomonidan minomyotdan o'qqa tutildi va quruq hujumga uchradi. Otishma soat 04:00 da to'xtadi va hujum nihoyat soat 05:40 da qaytarildi, VV janubga va janubi-sharqqa chekinishga urinish paytida ARVN kuzatib bordi. 5 Havodan batalyon chekinayotgan kuchlar bilan aloqani saqlab turdi, 11 Havodan batalyon shimoliy-sharqdan to'siq holatiga o'tdi. ARVN artilleriya va vertolyot qurollari tomonidan qo'llab-quvvatlanib, jangchilar nihoyat soat 06: 15da to'xtaguniga qadar o'z hujumchilariga katta talofatlar etkazishdi. ARVN yo'qotishlariga ikki kishi halok bo'lgan va 12 kishi yaralangan va bitta amerikalik maslahatchi yaralangan. VC qurbonlari 29 kishi o'ldirilgan va ikki kishi yaralangan, ko'p sonli qurol-yarog 'ham Janubiy Vetnamliklar tomonidan qaytarib olingan.^[54] Keyinchalik hujum qiluvchi kuch VC 274-polkning ikkita kompaniyasi ekanligi aniqlandi.^[55] Shu bilan birga, AO Wondai-da B, C va D kompaniyalari 1 RAR 21-dekabrda pistirmani davom ettirishni rejalashtirgan, A kompaniyasi esa Suoi Cau Moi orqali Binh Son kauchuk plantatsiyasi atrofida to'siq pozitsiyalarini o'rnatgan. Soat 10: 30da Kompaniya daryodan ehtiyotkorlik bilan o'tishdan oldin tibbiy buyumlar omborini topdi. Shimoliy qirg'oqda ular yaqinda ishlatilgan 15 ta bunker va beshta VC qabrlarini topdilar, ulardan to'rttasi 13-dekabr kuni 8 Platoon C Company bilan aloqada o'ldirilgan deb taxmin qilingan. Yangi pistirma pozitsiyasiga o'tishda 6 Platoon B kompaniyasi shuningdek, keng qamrovli bunker tizimini kashf etdi va kompaniya ertasi kuni uni yo'q qilish uchun joyida qoldi. Shuningdek, kompaniya yana 30 ta bunkerni yo'q qilgani haqida xabar berdi.^[55]

Ertasi kuni, 1-dekabr, 22-dekabr kuni RAR pistirma va patrulni davom ettirdi, A va B kompaniyalari oldingi kun joylashgan bunkerlarni yo'q qilishni davom ettirdilar, C va D kompaniyalari esa pistirmalarini saqlab qolishdi. Kichkina bunker tizimi kun davomida joylashgan edi, ammo boshqa aloqa yo'q edi.^[56] 18:00 da avstraliyaliklar 274-polkning kuchaytirilgan VC batalyoniga hujum qilishdan oldin, ARVN 1/43 polkining shirkati kuchli minomyot bilan o'qqa tutilayotgani haqida o'z operatsiyalari doirasidan tashqarida og'ir janglar bo'lganligi haqida xabar olishdi. ARVN tomonidan qo'llab-quvvatlandi AC-47 Dahshatli qurolli qurollar, vertolyotlar engil yong'in guruhlari, tezkor havo va AQSh va Tailand artilleriyasi va ARVN 1/48-polk elementlari tomonidan mustahkamlangan. Shu bilan birga, soat 22: 00da VC kompaniyasi janubdan jangni kuchaytirish uchun harakatlanayotgani kuzatildi, soat 00:30 ga qadar VC nihoyat aloqa uzilib qoldi.^[57] Kechqurun boshqa Janubiy Vetnam bo'linmalariga ham hujum uyushtirildi, janglar natijasida jami 50 VC halok bo'ldi, Janubiy Vetnamda esa 13 kishi halok bo'ldi va 50 kishi yarador bo'ldi.^[56] O'sha kuni kechqurun 3-otliq polkning 2 ta qo'shinlari, bir otryadining elementlari 15-marshrutdan g'arbga, shimoliy-sharqdan 2,5 km (1,6 milya) yo'lda pistirma joyini egallab olishdi. Phu My Phuoc Tuy viloyatida. Soat 23:58 da pistirma uyushtirildi, oltita VC o'ldirildi va boshqasi qo'lga olindi, 13 ta mol arabasi ham yo'q qilindi.^[58]

Ertasi kuni 23-dekabr soat 12:00 da AO Kilcoy, 8 Platon, C Company 4 RAR / NZ APC-larga o'rnatilgan bo'lib, ular VC-ni ko'rishlariga munosabat bildirishdi. Vzvod ikkiga bo'linib, bir yarim vzvod serjanti ostida piyoda oldinga siljib, zich skrab bilan parallel ravishda ochiq guruch paddyidan o'tdi. O'simliklar sinishi bilan patrul birdaniga kelganida, u to'satdan gilmor tipidagi qo'mondonlik bilan portlatib, vzvodning besh a'zosini yarador qildi. Bunga javoban vzvodning qolgan yarmi jang maydonini oldinga siljitdi, ammo VK qochib qutulishga muvaffaq bo'ldi. sampan yaqin daryoning bir tarmog'idan pastga. Jarohatlangan avstraliyaliklardan biri keyinchalik jarohatlardan vafot etdi, qurbonlarni evakuatsiya qilishni rejalashtirishga qadar.^[53] Rojdestvoda sulh 18:00 da boshlangan, ammo VC Barbara FSBdagi ARVN 2-desant brigadasi elementlariga minomyotlardan va otishma qurollaridan hujum qilganidan keyin buzilgan. Australian and South Vietnamese artillery and helicopter light fire teams were subsequently called-in to provide support.^[59]

On Christmas Day a special dinner was prepared by the 4 RAR/NZ cooks and trucked to the battalion at FSB Sandpiper in AO Kilcoy.^[53] Likewise with 1 RAR still deployed in AO Wondai, a Christmas lunch was prepared and flown to the rifle companies,^[60] while the Australians at FSB Julia also enjoyed a traditional Christmas Day lunch, with the other ranks served by the officers and sergeants.^[61] Although the allied units continued to observe the cease-fire there were a number of minor violations initiated by PAVN/VC units.^[62] Soon after lunch an RPG round destroyed an American jeep on Route 15, and a number of Australian tanks and APCs, along with the Task Force Headquarters Defence and Employment Platoon reacted. The Australians engaged the area with machine-gun fire and the infantry swept the area, uncovering numerous tracks but little else.^[61] Later, in AO Wondai 10 Platoon 1RAR was fired on by two VC at 14:07, and they subsequently captured an AK-47. Meanwhile, over the evening of 25/26 December South Vietnamese forces at FSB Barbara in AO Moose came under small arms and mortar fire, suffering a number of wounded.^[60][63] In AO Wondai on 26 December A, B, and C Companies 1 RAR were to redeploy to new ambush locations, while D Company moved north to ambush Route 320 following a further extension of the area of operations. At 09:55, while moving to a new position 8 Platoon, C Company engaged seven VC carrying packs filled with food, clothes and detonators, killing two and capturing an AK-47.^[64]

On 27 December, after being released as III CTZ reserve, 4 RAR/NZ was deployed further north to the border between Long Khanh and Bien Hoa Province. Flying-in to AO Warragul to more effectively prevent the interdiction of Route 15, the battalion established FSB Wattle, a position which had been used by the Australians previously during Operation Hawkesbury in September.^[65] This move proved unsuccessful however, with the PAVN/VC nowhere to be found.^[37] That morning in AO Wondai, 1 Platoon A Company 1 RAR was watching the northern bank of Suoi Cau Moi and at 07:45 they contacted three VC as they attempted to cross the creek, killing one.^[66] Thirty minutes later 7 Platoon, C Company had been engaged by two VC while moving into a new ambush location. In response the Australians swept the area, and were subsequently contacted by 10 to 15 VC in a bunker system with small arms, RPG-2s and a claymore mine, resulting in one killed and five wounded, including the platoon commander, Lieutenant Bob Convery. More than 1,000 metres (1,100 yd) away, Honner moved quickly to bring the remainder of C Company to the aid of the platoon in contact. Meanwhile, 7 Platoon had pulled back from the bunkers moving their casualties to a position where they could be winched up through the canopy for Dustoff. The casualty evacuation was complete by 11:00, while Convery had continued to co-ordinate fire support for his platoon despite his wounds. By the time C Company arrived the battle was over, however following preparation by artillery the Australians assaulted the camp, only to find that the VC had withdrawn; it was destroyed the next day.^[66] That afternoon Australian cavalry from 1 Troop occupied an ambush site 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south-west of FSB Julia, near one of the tributaries of the Rung Sat. At 17:20 the ambush was sprung, killing one VC and capturing a quantity of rice after sinking a sampan.^[61]

Between 28–30 December only minor contact occurred in AO Warragul, with C Company 4 RAR/NZ fing six separate bunker systems—many of which were fully developed with overhead protection and communication trenches—confirming the intelligence view that the area was likely the base and training are for a number VC main force units.^[67] Elsewhere, after handing over the defences on the Horseshoe to V Company, W Company flew north on 31 December to join the battalion.^[68] Meanwhile, 1 RAR continued operations in AO Wondai with minor contact.^[69]

Action continues, 1–20 January 1969

On 1 January 1969 Pearson moved 9 RAR from Nui Dat to relieve 1 RAR in the Long Thanh district of Bien Hoa Province. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alan Morrison, the battalion subsequently took over operations in AO Wondai.^[37][70] Tomonidan qo'llab-quvvatlanadi 161-akkumulyator, Yangi Zelandiya qirollik artilleriyasi they occupied FSB Diggers Rest. The battalion then mounted a series of company sweeps through the area while watching for large-scale movement of PAVN/VC forces.^[71] For the Australians, Operation Goodwood then became a 'cat and mouse' game, with 1 ATF manoeuvring in the hope of engaging the VC to destroy their bases and restricting their movement. The PAVN/VC struggled to maintain their resupply system, and in response to this pressure they opted to disperse in an attempt to bypass the Australians, only consolidating to fight when an opportunity to arose to inflict a setback on the allies.^[37] Meanwhile, a number of SAS patrols were inserted by air and road on 6 January 1969 to gather information on PAVN/VC troop movements.^[18] Further patrols were deployed to the southern Bien Hoa-Firestone Trail area in mid-January, while additional SAS patrols were inserted on 29 January in an attempt to ascertain PAVN/VC troop movements.^[18][72]

On 2 January 1 RAR was immediately redeployed on Operation Tiger Balm to conduct a cordon-and-search of Xom My Xuan and Phước Hoà, along Highway 15. This operation was designed to support Goodwood, as it was believed that the PAVN/VC infrastructure had moved into the villages along the highway after being forced out of the jungle during 1 ATFs operations there. The search was completed by 12:00 on 4 January and the operation concluded have only achieved modest results for the Australians.^[73] During this period South Vietnamese forces had continued to operate in AO Moose with minimal contact. Yet at 16:40 on 7 January B Company, 5 Airborne Battalion was engaged by a VC squad resulting in five South Vietnamese being wounded, two of whom later died of their wounds. The VC had then withdrawn and their casualties could not be determined.^[74] Meanwhile, 4 RAR/NZ began a sweep in their allocated area just inside the Phuoc Tuy border in AO Warrigul, settling into a routine of movement by day and harbouring at night while covered by the guns of the 104th Battery at FSB Wattle.^[68] Ambushing on tracks continued to prove successful. On 1 January 4 Platoon B Company ambushed a track, killing one VC, while later 7 Platoon C Company found a cache of twenty 82 mm mortar rounds, twenty 57 mm recoilless rifle rounds and 40 grenades. On 3 January 9 Platoon C Company was forced to spring an ambush during set up, killing two VC soldiers and capturing their packs. Because of the frequency that the VC were continuing to use the tracks in the AO the ambush remained in location.^[67] Less than an hour later, while in a company defensive position, the 6 Platoon B Company sentry contacted three VC soldiers moving outside the perimeter, killing one before withdrawing back the defensive position under the covering fire of the section machine-gun. The two surviving VC then fled back along the track away from 6 Platoon, only to be killed by 5 Platoon who was also ambushing the track.^[75]

Throughout January patrols from 9 RAR had fought small groups of VC daily, and on occasions encountered groups of platoon and sometimes company-sized. Numerous bunker complexes and camps were also uncovered.^[37] Although most contacts were minor, at times these encounters led to prolonged fighting. At 12:20 on 5 January 4 Platoon, B Company engaged five VC and in the ensuing action two were killed while one Australian died of wounds. At the same time D Company contacted a VC base camp, losing five men wounded.^[76] The following day 5 Platoon, B Company was engaged at 12:00 and suffered one killed and five wounded, while the Assault Pioneer Platoon later uncovered a sizeable cache of ammunition.^[77] On 10 January, A Company struck a large bunker system and was engaged with heavy machine-guns which pinned down an Australian platoon. During the company action that ensued the remaining to Australian platoons conducted a flanking assault with süngüler fixed under the cover of mortars and artillery. Two Australians were killed and the battle continued for three-and-a-half hours until last light. Another assault the following morning by A Company supported by tanks found the camp abandoned by the VC.^[78] Meanwhile, in AO Warrigul 4 RAR/NZ continued to find a number of small camps and bunker systems. During the morning D Company had had a number of fleeting contacts while setting up ambush locations and had also located a battalion-sized bunker system. However at 16:30 11 Platoon D Company engaged up to 10 VC in a bunker system, and in the ensuing clash the Australians killed two before withdrawing under the cover of artillery due to the weight of defensive fire. An air strike was subsequently used to destroy the camp, probably killing three more VC. A sweep of the area by the Australians at first light the next day found no weapons or any other material.^[79] Late on the evening of 11 January a New Zealand soldier from 3 Platoon, W Company was accidentally killed by friendly fire after firing broke out in response to noises heard on the company perimeter; an incident which clearly illustrated the difficulties and dangers of operating in the jungle at night.^[68] Two days 4 RAR/NZ was relieved by 1 RAR, and returned to Nui Dat.^[68]

In AO Wondai on 13 January 8 Platoon C Company 9 RAR engaged two VC at 09:15, killing one and capturing an AK-47 and a pack. Soon after B Company discovered an unoccupied camp and captured a quantity of equipment including a 60 mm mortar and base plate, rifles and ammunition. Several hours later A Company located a disused camp and a bunker system, uncovering grenades and explosives. Eight bodies were also discovered, and they were believed to have been killed during the contact three days before.^[80] Meanwhile, even with 1 RAR nearing the end of its tour of duty it was committed to Operation Goodwood once more, and was tasked with ambushing lines of communication and conducting reconnaissance-in-force operations if required.^[81] On 13 January Bennett moved to establish FSB Margaret 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of Tam Phuoc in Bien Hoa Province, located in AO Kilcoy immediately west of AO Wondai.^[82] That morning at 07:30 C Company commenced the fly-in, securing the fire support base while Support Company and the 102nd Field Battery departed Nui Dat by road. B Company subsequently flew-in to FSB Chestnut to secure the area for the road convoy until it was called forward to FSB Margaret, and was followed by A and D Companies which were air-lifted by helicopter.^[81] The Australians then commenced an operation to search part of the Rung Sat, locating a number of small camps among the mangroves and swamps. At last light 6 Platoon B Company 1 RAR engaged three VC, and the next morning one body and an AK-47 were discovered.^[83] In AO Moose, the ARVN 2nd Brigade had concluded operations on 15 January and was relieved in place by a Brigade of the South Vietnamese Dengiz bo'limi, with the 1st Marine Battalion occupying FSB Kathleen and 5th Marine Battalion occupying FSB Barbara.^[84]

Later, in AO Wondai on the afternoon of 16 January 40 VC were sighted in a camp and were engaged with artillery. C Company 9 RAR, under the command of Major Laurie Lewis, was rapidly redeployed by helicopter just prior to last light. The company moved on foot to its objective, and set up a night ambush. At 23:20 the ambush was initiated by 8 Platoon, when approximately 15 PAVN soldiers carrying torches entered the engagement area; five were killed in the action. At first light C Company entered and searched the now abandoned camp, 300 metres (330 yd) from the ambush site, and aside from a number of dead killed previously by artillery nothing of note was discovered.^[85] In contrast, 1 RAR had continued to operate with only minor contact in AO Kilcoy, ambushing a number of waterways.^[86] However, on the evening of 16 January at 20:50 9 Platoon C Company fired on a sampan, engaging the vessel at 50 metres (55 yd) with an M60 machine-gun, small arms and grenades, killing two VC. The Australians then used flares to illuminate any swimmers but nothing further was observed.^[87] Later at 11:43 on 18 January in AO Kilcoy a section of Australian APCs from A Squadron Headquarters was deployed to resupply D Company 1 RAR when an APC hit a large road-mine 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of Thai Thien on Route 15, killing the crew commander and wounding two others, and destroying the vehicle. Later as Goodwood continued the VC mined roads and tracks extensively, hampering the operations of the Australian cavalry and causing further damage to vehicles and injuries to personnel.^[88] At dusk an ambush from 6 Platoon B Company had engaged two VC, and although one soldier was seen to fall no casualties were found during the sweep. At 06:15 the following morning an ambush by 4 Platoon B Company contacted a group of five VC, killing one and wounding a second.^[89] Around 07:00 B Company 1 RAR observed a large force of 70 VC moving from north-west to south-east, wearing greens and carrying large packs. They were subsequently engaged by artillery, while A Company moved into blocking positions by APC to the south-west and B Company commenced a sweep to the east. Much of the artillery fire had been inaccurate however, and the sweeps were completed without incident. At 12:00 D Company was inserted by air to the west, and also swept the area without incident.^[90]

In a series of incidents on the morning of 19 January, all four of 9 RAR's rifle companies, as well as the battalion's Support Company, were in contact at the same time during heavy fighting. So frenetic was the action that the 161st Battery RNZA were only just able to change their supporting fires from one target to another, while the 9 RAR Mortar Platoon was also used to hit multiple dispersed targets with their indirect fires.^[91] Three Australians were subsequently killed and five wounded, all from 2 Platoon A Company, after RPGs were fired into the company position. The same day an Australian soldier was accidentally killed during a patrol by the 9 RAR Anti-Tank Platoon. On 20 January, another Australian was killed during an action against a VC bunker.^[92] These actions were having some effect however, and reports suggested that a VC regiment was attempting to move north through AO Wondai, but were being delayed by successful patrolling by 9 RAR. Consequently, 9 RAR continued its blocking operation.^[91] Intelligence received in mid-January highlighted the success of these operations, with the VC 274th Regiment believed to be encountering serious morale problems, due in part, to a lack of food.^[93]

Meanwhile, after watching a well used track for a number of days 2 Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment together with an SAS patrol, established an ambush 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of FSB Chestnut in Bien Hoa Province on 19 January. At 17:16 the ambush was sprung against a large force, resulting in three killed and two wounded. The survivors were able to successfully withdraw however, and they waited until after dark to counter-attack the Australians. The SAS were subsequently forced to withdraw as the APCs provided covering fire while another three VC were probably killed in the fighting.^[94] The same evening 3 Troop mounted a successful ambush close to FSB Chestnut, killing one VC and wounding another three.^[94] These ambushes were two of a number conducted by the Australian cavalry throughout the operation, and they used a new, more aggressive technique with considerable success. Indeed, during this period 10 successful ambushes were mounted in the Hat Dich area using the new tactics devised by the squadron's Intelligence Officer after working with the US Army during previous operations.^[95] Three weeks later three graves were discovered 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of FSB Chestnut and it was believed that they had also been killed during the 2 Troop ambush mounted on 19 January.^[95] Later, on 20 January 1 Troop was deployed on a reconnaissance-in-force operation approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of FSB Julia in Bien Hoa Province. At 09:44 one of the APCs detonated an anti-tank mine, wounding five Australians.^[58] The same day the South Vietnamese A Marine Brigade and 1st Marine Battalion departed AO Moose. Headquarters ARVN 52nd Regiment relieved them, augmented by the ARVN 3/52nd Regiment and the 5th Marine Battalion which remained attached in direct support. Operations continued with little contact however.^[96]

Operations in late-January 1969

1 RAR redeployed on 21 January, with A Company moving west back to Route 15 to ambush the area and C Company moving back into AO Wondai by APC to sweep a key ridgeline. B and D Companies continued to search and ambush in AO Kilcoy, while Thai units completed a reconnaissance-in-force south from the Binh Son area. That afternoon A Company relieved D Company, which continued on towards FSB Julia to establish ambush positions in the vicinity of Thai Thien. C Company had completed its sweep without incident.^[90] That evening 12 VC moving from east to west entered the killing ground of an ambush mounted by 10 Platoon D Company. The ambush was sprung at 21:10 with claymore mines and small arms at a range of less the 2 metres (6.6 ft), hitting two of them. A sweep at first light the following morning found one dead, an AK-47 and marks where another wounded soldier had been dragged towards the village.^[97] At 09:15 the following day D Company searched an area where air strikes had revealed what were believed to be tunnels and a camp, and they uncovered a number of bunker systems. 12 Platoon subsequently engaged two VC, wounding one and capturing him; he was administered morphine before he died of his wounds. A subsequent search of the area uncovered another bunker system. Meanwhile, that afternoon C Company had completed its search without incident and returned to AO Kilcoy. That evening 11 Platoon D Company was contacted at 19:15 while moving into a night ambush, killing one VC soldier.^[97]

A Company 1 RAR completed its redeployment by APC at 10:10 on 23 January, while C Company moved to FSB Margaret. That evening at 20:50 10 Platoon D Company ambushed a group of VC, killing two.^[98] On 24 January C Company 1 RAR conducted a reconnaissance-in-force against a suspected logistic transfer point, while a combat engineer team was detached to the battalion, along with a troop of APCs and a troop of tanks. That morning at 09:25 a number of bunkers were located by 8 Platoon, while forty-four 50-kilogram (110 lb) bags of rice and two bags of salt were found by the Assault Pioneer Platoon. A Company had found three fresh graves during the day, which were believed to have been killed during recent SAS operations in the area, while a number of small camps and a quantity of weapons, clothing and rice were also uncovered. Meanwhile, B Company was redeployed to block VC movement through Phu My. That afternoon a patrol from 7 Platoon B Company had clashed with ten to fifteen VC at 17:41, killing one at close range. At the same time 3 Platoon A Company was also in contact, wounding one Viet Cong soldier. Later at 18:57 11 Platoon D Company fired on two VC who returned fire, wounding one Australian.^[98] B Company operations east of Phu My continued on 25 January, with an ambush by 6 Platoon firing on a number of oxcarts at 05:45; later it was discovered that a local villager had been wounded after ignoring the curfew. 1 RAR continued operations over the coming days with only minor contact which resulted in several VC being wounded and a number of rice caches located by the Australians before they moved to secure pick-up zones on the afternoon of 26 January to prepare for extraction the following day.^[99]

On 27 January 4 RAR/NZ was deployed to the Hat Dich to replace 1 RAR which had returned to Nui Dat that day, following a few weeks respite during which the New Zealand W Company had carried out a three-day operation with an ARVN unit in the Long Green.^[68] B Company moved by APC to the old FSB Dyke position and secured it for the fly-in of Battalion Headquarters and D Company. W Company rejoined the battalion the following day, deploying by APC east of Phuoc Tuy border in response to information from SAS patrols of significant VC movement in this area.^[100] Operating in AO Riversdale to the west of FSB Julia in an area close to that which they had in mid-December—now extended further east—the rifle companies then swept an area of jungle 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north-east of Thai Thien on Route 15.^[101] On 29 January W Company clashed heavy with a company-sized force. During stand-to that evening the New Zealanders had heard the sounds of movement through the bamboo and a short but fierce engagement ensued with W Company being hit by heavy machine-gun fire and RPGs from three directions, wounding three men. W Company successfully resisted the assault however, firing their M60 machine-guns and more than 15 claymore mines, while artillery fire was called-in to break up the attack. Blood trails and drag marks found the following morning indicated that as many as five VC had been killed.^[68] SAS patrols had been operating in the area prior to the arrival of W Company and it is probable that previous contacts during the day had led the VC to believe that they had located a five-man reconnaissance patrol rather than a New Zealand rifle company.^[102] The same day 9 RAR' AO was extended westward, with FSB Jenny established to cover the operations of B, C and D Company south of Route 15 following indications of an imminent attack against Long Thanh. Meanwhile, A Company returned to Nui Dat to refit. The expected attack never eventuated however, and these operations proved uneventful, with the battalion redeploying to its original AO two days later.^[92]

4 RAR/NZ had begun to meet strong resistance within its AO. On 30 January all four rifle companies clashed with small two to five-man groups of VC within the space of a few hours, killing five and uncovering another camp as well as quantities of ammunition, medical supplies and rice.^[102] Meanwhile, after an uneventful period at the Horseshoe, the New Zealand V kompaniyasi joined 4RAR/NZ following its relief-in-place by C Company.^[68] After landing V Company commenced moving towards it patrol area and soon found itself in an entrenched camp, locating a number of caches. An ambush was then established on tracks approaching the bunker system by 3 Platoon, who killed three VC over the following two days.^[101] The next day, 31 January D Company contacted one VC soldier at 09:15 without result and the Australians subsequently attempted to follow-up. An hour later 10 Platoon was ambushed with claymore mines, RPGs and small arms by five to 10 VC soldiers located in a bunker system, killing two Australians and wounding two more. The Australians resisted strongly however, and the platoon's fire eventually forced the VC to break contact and withdraw west. During the opening burst of fire Private Malcolm Gibson, an acting section commander, had been knocked unconscious and after recovering he crawled forward under heavy fire to man the machine-gun, providing covering fire to his section despite having the pack shot off his back. He then regrouped his men and provided effective fire support for the remainder the platoon. For his leadership and courage he was later awarded the "Hurmatli xulq-atvor" medali.^[102]

Renewed fighting, 1–16 February 1969

On 1 February in AO Moose the South Vietnamese 5th Marine Battalion suffered two killed and six wounded following the detonation of an anti-personnel mine.^[103] Later that evening Australian cavalry from 3 Troop ambushed the edge of the waterway to the southwest of FSB Julia. The ambush was sprung at 02:08, and resulted in two VC killed and one sampan sunk.^[104] During the mid-afternoon in AO Riverdale, 3 Platoon V Company engaged a number of VC, killing one and capturing an M16 avtomati, while after last light 5 Platoon B Company sprung a night ambush, killing one and wounding another and capturing an AK-47, an SKS and a number of M16 magazine.^[105] That afternoon 11 Platoon D Company had also found a camp and eight graves; however there was no further contact between the Australians and VC in AO Riverdale for the next five days,^[105] although on 4 February W Company found a VC camp containing 60 bunkers which was subsequently searched and then destroyed by the New Zealanders.^[68] Meanwhile, in AO Wondai B Company 9 RAR subsequently conducted a number of successful ambushes and on 4 February 5 Platoon ambushed a VC party of eight men at first light, killing six of them.^[92]

In AO Riverdale on 6 January, B Company 4 RAR/NZ had patrolled into the D Company AO, and soon after 4 Platoon engaged two VC, killing both and capturing two AK-47s and two packs. Soon after 5 Platoon uncovered five fresh graves which were likely the result of a previous action.^[106] Two additional battalions from the Thu Duc Regiment were reported to have entered the Hat Dich area. Pearson subsequently redeployed 4 RAR/NZ the following day, and with tanks and APCs in support the battalion moved by helicopter into AO Tiki to the north-west along Route 15, where it would become engaged in the heaviest contacts of Operation Goodwood.^[107] Greville subsequently establish FSB Janice in the rice fields at the northern end of the Rung Sat.^[108] A number of successful ambushes were conducted by the Australian and New Zealand infantry over the coming days, while patrolling by day resulted in the discovery of a number of large weapons caches.^[91] Indeed, although tactically questionable, the VC had continued to use many of the same routes and tracks throughout the operation despite suffering heavy casualties during these ambushes.^[109] Overnight Australian cavalry from 3 Troop had been deployed in a night ambush 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of Phu My, adjacent to Route 15 on the edge of the Rung Sat. A motorised junk and a sampan were subsequently sunk and three VC killed by the Australians.^[110]

On 8 February, D Company 9 RAR was engaged in the north-east of their AO with RPGs and small arms by a platoon-size force in a bunker system. Heavy fighting ensured with the action lasting five hours as the Australians called in mortar and artillery fire, and were also supported by air strikes and helicopter light fire teams. The lead Australian platoon—12 Platoon—had suffered one wounded during the initial contact, and a further five were wounded as the sweep continued. Due to the heavy fire the evacuation of the wounded was delayed, and the Dustoff helicopter was forced to depart without the casualties, one of whom subsequently died of his wounds.^[92] A number of VC snipers in trees had also engaged the Australians, in conjunction with the troops in the bunkers and the area was subsequently bombarded by the Australians with artillery, helicopter light fire teams and air strikes before 12 Platoon was able to break contact. Five VC were believed to have been killed.^[111] Later during the subsequent follow-up over the next two days, the Australians found an extensive complex of four bunker systems with a total of over 60 mutually supporting bunkers.^[92] At last light in AO Tiki, 3 Platoon V Company 4 RAR/NZ observed around 35 VC moving west out of the area of operations and they were engaged by artillery and helicopter light fire teams. The VC responded with small arms, firing on the helicopters before withdrawing under the cover of darkness after suffering a number of casualties. The following day the New Zealanders conducted a sweep of the area and recovered one body.^[108] Meanwhile, the ARVN 52nd Regiment concluded operations in AO Moose and commenced operations in AO Warragul.^[111]

The following day, 9 February, contacts continued between the New Zealanders and the VC. At 14:38 a section patrol from 2 Platoon W Company 4 RAR/NZ clashing with five VC at 10 metres (33 ft) while conducting a reconnaissance of a track, killing two and capturing an AK-47 and a pistol. A follow-up sweep by 2 Platoon located a small camp and five packs. Further fleeting contacts occurred during the afternoon and early evening, before V Company sighted 10 VC at 19:50 from their night position and subsequently engaged them with artillery. At first light the next morning the New Zealanders were contacted while checking the area of the previous night's engagement and one VC was killed. That evening V Company again observed 14 VC moving through their area of operations and they again directed artillery onto them. The VC subsequently withdrew carrying two bodies, while a sweep early the next morning resulted in the New Zealanders capturing a pack containing four pistols and three AK-47 magazines. Later four dead VC were found and were believed to have been the result of the previous contact with V Company on the 10th, while B Company nearby also found a dead body in the area engaged by the New Zealanders.^[108]

Later, during a search in AO Wondai on the afternoon of 14 February, C Company 9 RAR contacted a strong VC force in a large bunker system. Despite being supported by a helicopter light fire team and artillery the Australians were unable to advance, and they subsequently broke contact to allow the use of medium artillery after having lost one killed and four wounded. The following day A Company was deployed with tanks to assist a further assault by C Company in the bunker system, which was again found to have been abandoned by the VC after having suffered a number of casualties. Meanwhile, a series of minor contacts occurred as VC forces began returning to the area.^[92] In AO Tiki, D Company 4 RAR/NZ mounted a series of ambushes on the creeks which flowed into the Rung Sat. The VC had been using these watercourses extensively for logistic resupply and to gain access to the villages in the area. On 15 February 10 Platoon D Company had deployed to southern end of the battalion AO to mount a night ambush on a high bank on a sharp bend in the Suoi Cau river. The infantry were reinforced by 90 mm M67 avtomat qurollari (RCLs) from the Tracker Platoon, which were placed on the flanks. At 21:03 six sampans carrying around 15 VC entered the engagement area moving from west to east and the ambush was initiated by splintex rounds from the RCLs as well as M60 machine-guns and small arms. At least two sampans were sunk and six VC killed before they were able to withdraw to the southern bank and engage the Australians with small arms and RPGs. At first light the next morning the Australians swept the area, wading through the shallow river at low tide, subsequently locating another damaged sampan, an AK-47, an RPG-2 and two RPG rounds.^[112]

On 16 February, just prior to a ceasefire for the Tet New Year festival, the Australian command had received information from an agent about the location of large weapon caches in the north of AO Tiki, and a large VC force was also expected to be in position. B and W Companies 4 RAR/NZ, each accompanied by a tracker team and a Centurion tank troop from B Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment were subsequently tasked to patrol to the area by separate routes. Hamrohligida Hoi Chanh, B Company—under the command of Major Bill Reynolds—crossed an open area during the early afternoon and moved into some dense vegetation, patrolling up to an occupied VC position unaware. Bunkerlarda yaxshi yashiringan himoyachilar qo'mondonlik tomonidan portlatilgan yo'naltirilgan minani muvaffaqiyatli boshlashdi va otishma qurollari va o'q otib, bir avstraliyalikni o'ldirishdi va beshtasini yaralashdi.^[91][113] Bunga javoban avstraliyalik tanklar - ikkinchi leytenant Brayan Sallivan boshchiligida - piyoda askarlarni qo'llab-quvvatlash uchun oldinga siljishdi va ta'minlash jangida ikkitasi shikastlandi, shu jumladan minoraga kirib RPG tomonidan urib tushirilgan va og'ir jarohatlar etkazgan. ekipaj. Shunga qaramay, Reynolds boshchiligida B kompaniyasi dastlabki hujumdan so'ng muvozanatni tiklash uchun kurash olib bordi va qattiq zarbadan foydalangan holda 20 ta asosiy qurol-yarog 'bilan bunkerlarni bo'sh turgan tirik qolgan tanklar olovi ostida chiqib ketishga muvaffaq bo'ldi. o'simtani echib tashlagan piyodalarga qarshi turlar. Avstraliyaliklar jabrlanganlarni nosilkada yuk ko'tarish ostida oldinga siljigan yuk ko'taruvchilar xavfsiz holatga qaytarishdi va shikastlangan tank ham muvaffaqiyatli tiklandi.^[114]

Ayni paytda, 4 RAR / NZ polk xodimi, kapitan Deyv Lyuis a komandirlik qilgan edi Bell H-13 Sioux yorug'lik kuzatuvchi vertolyotlar 161-razvedka parvozi va jabrlanganlarni davolashda yordam berish uchun uchib ketishdi. Ammo uning harakatlariga qaramay, eng og'ir jarohat olgan askarlardan biri jarohatiga berilib ketdi. Shikastlanganlarning qolgan qismi vertolyot bilan Avstraliyaning Field Hospital-ga ko'chirildi Vung Tau.^[115] Keyinchalik avstraliyaliklar artilleriya otashini chaqirishdi va u bunker tizimiga o'rnatildi, 104-chi Field Battery-ning 105 mm qurollari qo'shni AO-dagi 102-Field Batareyasi va Amerikaning 155 mm o'ziyurar qurollari tomonidan ko'paytirildi. Bir qator havo hujumlari ham pozitsiyaga qaratilgan, Reynolds esa VC kuchlarini yo'q qilish uchun hujumni rejalashtirgan.^[115] Asta-sekin B kompaniyasi ustunlikni qo'lga kiritdi va o'z pozitsiyasiga hujum qilishga shaylandi, og'ir o'q otar qurolni qaytarib, tanklar yaqin masofadan bunkerlarni jalb qilishni davom ettirdi. Aloqa kunning ikkinchi yarmigacha davom etdi, ammo Tetda sulh kuchga kirishi bilan Amerikaning yong'inni qo'llab-quvvatlashi 17:00 da mavjud bo'lmay qoladi, shundan so'ng 24 soatlik sulh boshlanadi. Giovilning boshqa bir vertolyotida aylanib yurish norozilik bildirdi va Pirson uni qo'llab-quvvatlagan bo'lsa-da, amerikaliklar VK tomonidan boshlangan aloqaga qaramay, hujumni qo'llab-quvvatlashdan bosh tortdilar. Agar xohlasa, Reynolds hujumni davom ettirishi mumkin edi, ammo u faqat o'q otishga qodir ikkita tank va Avstraliya dala artilleriyasining cheklangan yong'in yordamiga ega bo'lar edi, batalyon minomyotlari esa masofadan tashqarida edi va shunga qaramay ular etarli emas edi.^[116]

Mustahkamlangan pozitsiyaga muvaffaqiyatli hujum qilish uchun zarur bo'lgan o'rta artilleriya va havo hujumlarining etishmasligi tufayli B kompaniyasi xavfsiz masofaga chekinib, pozitsiyani kuzatuv va olov ostida ushlab turdi.^[117] Keyingi kunga hujumni ta'qib qilish jadvali ham Amerika artilleriyasining mavjud emasligi sababli bekor qilindi.^[91] Kechasi VCning katta kuchlari orqaga chekinayotgani kuzatildi, 30 kishilik bir kishining partiyasi yashirin Centurion yaqinidan o'tib ketdi; hafsalasi pir bo'lgan avstraliyaliklar sulhga rioya qilishdi va olovni ushlab turishdi. Ertasi kuni, 17-yanvar kuni, hudud endi o'simliksiz qolgan holda, bunker tizimiga etkazilgan vayronagarchilik aniq edi va bu pozitsiyani avstraliyalik tanklar va artilleriya qattiq urgani aniq edi. Ko'p sonli qurbonlar alomatlari bo'lganiga qaramay, ko'plab qon izlari va ba'zi bir shikastlangan qurollar bilan avstraliyaliklar faqat uch nafar o'likni topdilar, VC yana bir bor tunda jang maydonini o'lik va yaradorlardan tozaladi.^[117] Keyinchalik razvedka ushbu pozitsiyani 274-polkning shtab-kvartirasi va uning batalonlaridan biri egallagan deb taxmin qildi va avstraliyaliklar VC batalyoni zulmat ostida nafaqaga chiqmasdan oldin shtabning orqaga qaytishiga imkon berish uchun kechiktirilgan harakatlarga qarshi kurashgan deb hisoblashdi. . Shu bilan birga avstraliyaliklar tomonidan ushbu hududni sinchkovlik bilan qidirib topishning iloji bo'lmadi va "B" kompaniyasiga qayta joylashishga tayyorgarlik ko'rish uchun o'z patrul hududiga qaytishga buyruq berildi.^[118] Jang Gudvud operatsiyasining eng muhim harakatlaridan biri bo'lgan va ushbu harakat davomida uning rahbarligi uchun Reynolds mukofotlangan Harbiy xoch. Kapital Ueyn Braun - "B" kompaniyasining tibbiy yordamchisi - ushbu mukofot bilan taqdirlandi Harbiy medal Sallivan va Bret ikkalasi ham edi Yuborishlarda eslatib o'tilgan.^[119]

Gudvud operatsiyasi 1969 yil 17-19 fevral kunlari yakunlanadi

Tet sulhining tugashi bilan 17-yanvar kuni shom tushganidan so'ng, katta kuch Janubiy FSB tomon daryoning orqasidan orqaga chekinmasdan oldin, 4 RAR / NZ g'arbiy chegarasida daryo bo'ylab Janubiy Vetnam postiga hujum qildi. 18-fevral soat 01:45 da D kompaniyasining qo'riqchisi shovqin va simni tashqarisida janubga qarab harakatlanishini aniqladi. Kompaniyaning kuchiga qadar taxmin qilingan VC a orqali aniq kuzatilgan Yulduzli yorug'lik ko'lami va shovqin-suron bilan harakatlanayotgan edilar, ehtimol ular yong'inni qo'llab-quvvatlash bazasiga yaqinligini bilishmagan. Ayni paytda, minomyot yong'in boshqaruvchisi (MFC) qo'riqchi pozitsiyasiga o'tdi va VC kuchi daryoni kesib o'tishni boshlagach, ular avstraliyaliklar tomonidan atigi 200 metr (220 yd) masofada 100 dan ortiq minomyot bilan o'q uzdilar. taglik plitasi joylashgan joydan. Dastlabki bombardimon VK o'rtasida chalkashliklarni keltirib chiqardi va ular hech qanday qochish choralarini ko'rmadilar, aksincha daryodan o'tishni davom ettirishdi. Keyin yana bir necha tur ular orasiga kelib, ko'plab qurbonlarga olib keldi va tirik qolganlarni chekinishga majbur qildi. Avvalgi aloqalar singari, VC yana bir bor o'zlarining jabrlanganlarini jang maydonidan olib tashlash va avstraliyaliklar tomonidan birinchi nurda yuborilgan patrullarni tozalash bo'yicha mahoratini yana bir bor namoyish etdi, garchi ko'plab qon izlari va tortishish izlari VKning og'ir azob chekkanligini ko'rsatdi. . Ko'p sonli tashlangan qurol-yarog ', asbob-uskunalar va o'q-dorilar avstraliyaliklar tomonidan qo'lga olindi, shu qatorda etti AK-47, to'rtta RPG-2, L1A1 o'z-o'zidan yuklanadigan miltiq, to'pponcha, 12,7 mm og'irlikdagi pulemyot va qurol-yarog 'teshiklari.^[120]

Shu bilan birga, 9 RAR o'z blokirovka operatsiyalarini davom ettirgan edi, ammo 16 fevralda Tet paytida kutilgan hujumlarga qarshi Federal Binoni va Bien-Xoadagi Amerika bazalarini himoya qilish uchun AO Belconnenga ko'chirildi. Keyinchalik, yaqinlashib kelayotgan kommunistik hujumga javoban Pirson Grevilni Long Binh va Bien Hoani himoya qilishga yordam berish uchun 4 RAR / NZ shimolga o'tishga tayyor bo'lishini ham ogohlantirdi.^[91] Avstraliyaliklar VC-ning asosiy qo'riqxonasining yuragiga kirib borganlaridan keyin, VC chekinishga majbur bo'lgandan keyin bu hududda juda ko'p sonli keshlarni qoldirgan bo'lishi mumkin edi, ammo vaqt 4 RAR / NZ ga to'liq qidiruv o'tkazishga imkon bermadi hududning.^[121] Shunga qaramay, operatsiya V Company 4 RAR / NZ tomonidan olib borilayotgan bo'lsa ham, keyingi ikki kun ichida AO Riverdale shahrida bir qator muvaffaqiyatli aloqalar mavjud bo'lib, 18 va 19 fevral kunlari sodir bo'lgan ikkita alohida hodisada kamida ikkita VC halok bo'ldi.^[122]

Natijada

78 kundan keyin Goodwood operatsiyasi 1969 yil 19 fevralda yakunlandi.^[107] FSB Julia yopildi va HQ 1 ATF bo'lajak operatsiyalarga tayyorgarlik ko'rish uchun Kerri FSBga ko'chib o'tdi.^[123] Avstraliyaliklar orasida 21 kishi o'lgan va 91 kishi yaralangan, Yangi Zelandiyada 1 kishi halok bo'lgan va 6 kishi yaralangan;^[124] Janubiy Vetnamda 31 kishi halok bo'ldi va 81 kishi yaralandi, AQSh 7 kishi yaralangan.^[125][126] 274 ta alohida aloqalar davomida Shimoliy Vetnam va Vetnam Kongo yo'qotishlari kamida 245 o'ldirilgan, 39 o'ldirilgan, 45 yaralangan va 17 asir olingan.^[127] 2000 ga yaqin bunkerlar ochilib, ko'plari yo'q qilindi, 280 dan ortiq raketa qo'zg'atuvchi qurollar, piyodalarga qarshi 70 ta minalar, 490 granata va 450 funt portlovchi moddalar qo'lga olindi.^[128] Amaliyot davomida aloqalarning asosiy qismi avstraliyaliklar tomonidan boshlangan, aksincha, harakatlarning uchdan ikki qismidan ko'prog'i Vetnam tomonidan boshlangan Amerika tendentsiyasining teskarisi.^[129] Garchi bir nechta yirik harakatlar mavjud bo'lsa-da, operatsiya avstraliyaliklar tomonidan muvaffaqiyatli deb topildi va undan keyin 1 ta ATF operatsiyalari sohasida VC faolligi sezilarli darajada kamaydi, chunki VC Hat Dichdagi doimiy bazalarini tark etishga majbur bo'ldi va ularning kelgusi tayyorgarliklarini buzdi. tajovuzkor operatsiyalar.^[91][107] "Gudvud" operatsiyasi avstraliyaliklar tomonidan urush paytida o'rnatilgan eng uzoq muddatli operatsiyalardan biri bo'lib, shuningdek, uchinchi mamlakat kuchlari bilan chegarada jang qilingan avstraliyalik ko'p batalyonli so'nggi operatsiya edi.^[130] 1969 yildan boshlab ko'pgina operatsiyalar vzvod va rota tarkibida bo'lib, ular Phuoc Tuy bilan cheklangan.^[130] Bu avstraliyaliklar uchun juda faol davr edi va Avstraliya qirollik polki, 3-otliq polk va 1-zirhli polk keyinchalik mukofotlandi jang sharafi "Hat Dich", urush paytida avstraliyalik qismlarga taqdim etilgan beshtadan biri.^[131][132]

4 RAR / NZ va 9 RAR ham Tet paytida Federal operatsiya ostida yana bir kommunistik hujumni kutib olish uchun darhol qayta joylashtirilgan bo'lsa-da, avstraliyaliklar uchun ozgina muhlat bor edi.^[133][134] 1969 yil fevral oyi oxiridagi ushbu operatsiyada Nui Datadagi bazasini ta'minlash uchun zarur bo'lgan 1 ta ATF - kamroq batalon va boshqa elementlar ko'rildi - yana Phuoc Tuy viloyati tashqarisida Long Binh, Bien Hoa va poytaxt Saygonning asosiy bazalarini xavfsiz holatga keltirish uchun harakat qildi. yaqinlashib kelayotgan hujum. Ammo, avvalgi ikki qismdan farqli o'laroq,Koburg operatsiyasi 1968 yil yanvar va fevral oylarida va 1968 yil may oyida Avstraliyaning pozitsiyalariga keng ko'lamli hujumlar uyushtirgan Thoan Thang operatsiyasi, Operatsion Federal unchalik intensiv bo'lmagan va pistirma va patrul bilan cheklangan, avstraliyalik yong'inni qo'llab-quvvatlovchi bazalardan hech biri hujumga duchor bo'lmagan. .^[135][136] 1 RAR keyinchalik Avstraliyadan qutulgandan keyin qaytib keldi 5 RAR - podpolkovnik Polin Kanning buyrug'i bilan - 15 fevralda.^[91] 1969 yil 28 fevralda Sidneyga etib kelgan 1 RAR uyni shahar bo'ylab yurish bilan kutib oldi. Ekskursiya paytida - bu Vetnamdagi ikkinchi - batalyon kamida 276 VC ni o'ldirgan va ko'plab bunkerlarni, lagerlarni va keshlarni yo'q qilgan va Coral-Balmoral jangida katta ishtirok etgan. Ammo 1 RARning o'z talofati katta bo'lgan, ammo 31 kishi halok bo'lgan va 165 kishi yaralangan.^[91]

The 1969 yil Tet tajovuzkor 23-fevral kuni erta soatlarda AQSh va ARVN qurilmalari va tuman poytaxtlariga qarshi PAVN / VC hujumlari bilan boshlandi. 1968 yildagi Tet Offensive-ning shafqatsizligi yo'qligi sababli, tez orada g'azab pasayib ketdi. 1 ta ATF ishlaydigan III CTZda besh kun ichida 175 marta yong'in sodir bo'ldi va atigi 15 marta yerga hujum qilindi, PAVN / VC esa 1800 dan ortiq odam o'ldirildi va 320 kishi asirga olindi.^[137] Darhaqiqat, avstraliyaliklar uchun hujum avvalgi yildagiga nisbatan faqat kichik tartibsizliklar seriyasidir; Ehtimol, Coral va Balmoral-dagi avvalgi maullatdan keyin ruhiy tushkunlik VC kuchga ega bo'lgan Janubiy Vetnam va AQShning yirik inshootlariga hujum qilishdan bosh tortdi.^[138] Nima bo'lishidan qat'iy nazar, 1969 yilning birinchi yarmida Nui Datdan 1 ta ATFning asosiy qismi ishlaganligi sababli, VK yana Phuoc Tuy provintsiyasining aholi yashaydigan markaziy va janubiy hududlarida, shu jumladan Dat Do va Long Dienda va Dat Do va qirg'oq. Hozirgi kunda ushbu hududlarda ARVN kuchlari faoliyat yuritgan bo'lsa-da, VC partizan guruhlari erkinlik bilan harakat qilishdi, ayniqsa tunda. Natijada, 1969 yil o'rtalarida Avstraliyaning operatsiyalari Dat Vo va Long-Xay tepaliklari atrofiga e'tibor qaratishga majbur bo'ldi, chunki ular VC-ning mahalliy aholiga kirishini cheklashga urinishdi.^[139] Keyinchalik, 1969 yil 6–7 iyun kunlari avstraliyaliklar PAVN / VC kuchlari bilan uyma-uy yurib, qizg'in kurash olib borishdi. Binx Ba jangi.^[140]

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Qo'shimcha o'qish

Koordinatalar: 10 ° 39′0 ″ N 107 ° 9′0 ″ E / 10.65000 ° N 107.15000 ° E / 10.65000; 107.15000