1st Australian Task Force

Year by year #

569 contacts are recorded for the unit and sub-units, from 7 June 1966 to 23 October 1971. It was the unit in contact in 512 of them, and took part in 57 led by other units.

Unit actions #

In the contacts it led, by the task the report records:

In another unit's contact in 30 contacts led by other units: 3 Cav Regt (14), 1 Armd Regt (5), 6 RAR (3), 1 RAR (2), 161 Field Battery, RNZA (New Zealand) (1), 4 RAR (1), 5 RAR (1), ARVN (1), US Artillery (1), V Company, 2 RAR (New Zealand) (1).

Fire support in 27 contacts led by other units: 3 Cav Regt (6), 3 RAR (5), 5 RAR (5), 2 RAR (3), 6 RAR (3), 1 RAR (1), 4 RAR (1), 8 RAR (1), 9 RAR (1), LFT (1).

Operations #

Air support #

No. 9 Squadron RAAF's unit history records 32 helicopter missions flown for 1 ATF, from 23 July 1966 to 9 April 1970. 3 casualties were evacuated, as the reports count them; helicopters were fired on from the ground on 1 mission, and hit on 1.

The most significant:

• 11 June 1968: ground fire. Fired on from the ground, and hit. While approaching the Red Catcher helipad at Bien Hoa with the commander of 1ATF on board, a helicopter captained by Flight Lieutenant Dirou came under fire. One round came in through the open doors and went out through …
• 4 February 1969: medevac. 3 casualties evacuated. Enemy: 1 killed. At 10 am Flying Officer Davies, on an SAS task, saw a green three-ton truck heading west, half loaded and carrying four people, and reported it to 1ATF. Returning at 10.30 am he found it stopped and unloaded with two …

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Notable contacts #

7 June 1966: Contact, Operation Hardihood #

First · 1 ATF in contact

1 ATF's artillery fired on enemy mortar positions at Phuoc Long, a fortified Viet Cong village where the positions were well dug in and linked by tunnels. The Viet Cong had fired about 20 rounds.

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4 February 1968: Contact, Operation Coburg #

Significant · 1 ATF in contact

Enemy: 18 killed.

Australian and US artillery fired on an enemy mortar position. The next morning more than 18 bodies were found, nine of which were credited to 1 ATF's artillery.

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26 May 1968: Security, Operation Toan Thang 1 #

Significant · Fire support for 1 RAR

Australian: 1 killed.

To draw attention from the attack on Balmoral, the enemy fired on Fire Support Base Coral for 30 minutes with about 60 mortar bombs and 20 recoilless-rifle rounds. One Australian was killed and two wounded; enemy casualties were not known.

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26 May 1968: Bunker, Operation Toan Thang 1 #

Significant · In 1 RAR's contact

Enemy: 17 killed.

Tanks of C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment, and D Company, 1 RAR, attacked a bunker system near Fire Support Base Coral that had been found the day before. The infantry protected the tanks while they cleared the jungle with canister rounds and blew up or crushed the bunkers; the infantry also used flamethrowers, and rocket-propelled grenades had no effect on the tanks. By dusk 14 to 18 bunkers had been destroyed without Australian loss, and at least seven enemy killed, with more buried in their bunkers.

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28 May 1968: Security, Operation Toan Thang 1 #

Significant · Fire support for 3 RAR

Australian: 1 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 55 killed, 10 wounded.

The North Vietnamese renewed their attack on Fire Support Base Balmoral with a heavy mortar and rocket bombardment and a ground attack by two battalions of the 165th Regiment. The attack broke up on the wire under artillery and helicopter gunship fire. One Australian was killed and six to eight wounded; about 47 to 55 enemy were killed and six captured.

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10 January 1969: Bunker, Operation Goodwood #

Significant · Fire support for 9 RAR

Australian: 1 killed, 6 wounded. Enemy: 10 killed.

3 Platoon, A Company, 9 RAR, sweeping an area, came under fire from a large bunker system with heavy and light machine-guns, rocket-propelled grenades and Claymores. The fight drew in 2 Platoon and lasted three and a half hours, until contact was broken at dusk with the help of artillery, mortars and helicopter gunships. One Australian was killed and six wounded; ten enemy were killed.

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20 January 1969: Contact #

Typical: artillery engagement · 1 ATF in contact

Enemy: 3 killed.

5 Platoon, B Company, 9 RAR, found 26 new, recently used bunkers. Three bodies of men killed by artillery were found buried in the area.

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9 July 1969: Security #

Typical: security · 1 ATF in contact

Enemy: 14 killed.

About 40 to 50 enemy attacked local forces at Thai Thien, and 1 ATF's artillery fired in support. Fourteen Viet Cong were killed, and weapons and parts of an 82 mm mortar were captured.

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21 February 1970: Arty/Mor #

Typical: artillery and mortar fire · 1 ATF in contact

Enemy: 2 killed.

An observation post of 8 RAR's Anti-Tank Platoon saw two sampans, and an 81 mm mortar fired on one approaching the position. Only debris was found.

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14 April 1970: Patrol, Operation U/K #

Typical: patrol · 1 ATF in contact

Australian: 3 wounded.

Men of D and E Platoon were hit by a command-detonated device of unknown type while moving along a civilian track. A sweep found nothing. Three Australians were wounded.

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31 March 1971: Bunker, Operation Briar Patch #

Significant · Fire support for 2 RAR

Australian: 2 killed, 6 wounded. Enemy: 2 killed, 6 wounded.

1 Platoon, A Company, 2 RAR/NZ, following a freshly used track, fired on five enemy ten metres ahead, and was soon attacked on three sides with machine-guns, mortars, rockets, grenades and satchel charges by the headquarters and a company of the D445 Battalion. Gunships had trouble telling friend from foe, and a spotter aircraft, a medical helicopter and two gunships were hit by ground fire. After two hours, with ammunition low, the platoon fought its way out, abandoning its packs and the wounded's weapons, and 3 RAR's assault pioneers drove off the enemy's pursuit. Nine Australians were wounded, two of whom died, one of them an RAAF crewman. The enemy recovered a machine-gun, rifles, 30 Claymores and explosives from the battlefield.

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7 June 1971: Bunker, Operation Overlord #

Significant · Fire support for 3 RAR

Australian: 3 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 5 killed.

5 Platoon, B Company, 3 RAR, found a bunker system held by the 3rd Battalion of the 33rd North Vietnamese Regiment, and after a night of artillery and mortar fire went in at dawn. It was met by rifle and heavy machine-gun fire from bunkers 15 metres away and pinned down for most of the day under repeated attacks by helicopter gunships and Cobras; the forward observer was killed, and a helicopter bringing ammunition was shot down, two of its crew dying. In the afternoon tanks of C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment, D Company and carriers of A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, attacked the system and secured it. Three Australians were killed, two of them RAAF, and twelve wounded. The company commander reported that a marker balloon worked where smoke could not rise through the high canopy, and that several machine-guns failed.

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12 June 1971: Patrol, Operation Overlord #

Significant · Fire support for 3 Cav Regt

Australian: 8 killed, 2 wounded.

Three armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, carrying men of D and E Platoon, were patrolling a track when the leading driver stopped at an illumination canister he suspected was part of a mine. The enemy, of the 274th Regiment, opened fire, and a rocket-propelled grenade hit a pile of Claymore mines on the back of the last carrier, which exploded, killing its crew and five of D and E Platoon. Eight Australians were killed in all, and two wounded.

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23 October 1971: Transport #

Last · 1 ATF in contact

A vehicle from Duc Thanh carrying three members of the Australian Army Training Team was fired on. There were no casualties and no damage.

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Sub-units #

1 Australian Reinforcement Unit #

59 contacts, 24 December 1966 to 6 October 1971; 8 operations. Australian: 3 killed, 17 wounded. Enemy: 9 killed, 14 wounded.

Actions: patrol 32%, ambush 23%, security 18%, mine incident 5%, artillery and mortar fire 4%.

Most significant contacts:

• 10 April 1969: ambush. Australian: 1 wounded. Enemy: 2 killed.
• 4 September 1969: security, Operation Nepabunna. Australian: 4 wounded. Enemy: 1 killed.
• 17 April 1971: patrol, Operation U/K. Australian: 2 killed.

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1 ATF Artillery #

305 contacts, 8 June 1966 to 27 September 1971; 37 operations. Australian: 9 killed, 52 wounded. Enemy: 134 killed, 37 wounded.

Actions: artillery engagement 63%, artillery and mortar fire 29%, patrol 3%, security 2%, air support 0%.

Most significant contacts:

• 4 February 1968: artillery engagement, Operation Coburg. Enemy: 18 killed.
• 28 May 1968: security, Operation Toan Thang 1. Australian: 1 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 55 killed.
• 7 June 1971: bunker, Operation Overlord. Australian: 3 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 5 killed.

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1 ATF Mortars #

96 contacts, 24 June 1966 to 7 September 1971; 29 operations. Australian: 1 killed, 14 wounded. Enemy: 38 killed, 15 wounded.

Actions: artillery and mortar fire 63%, artillery engagement 29%, security 4%, bunker 1%, patrol 1%.

Most significant contacts:

• 26 May 1968: bunker, Operation Toan Thang 1. Enemy: 17 killed.
• 10 January 1969: bunker, Operation Goodwood. Australian: 1 killed, 6 wounded. Enemy: 10 killed.
• 3 May 1970: ambush, Operation Nudgee. Australian: 6 wounded. Enemy: 2 killed.

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D & E Platoon #

34 contacts, 12 June 1966 to 12 June 1971; 10 operations. Australian: 10 killed, 18 wounded. Enemy: 47 killed, 32 wounded.

Actions: ambush 30%, patrol 20%, security 20%.

Most significant contacts:

• 29 May 1969: ambush. Enemy: 11 killed.
• 17 January 1971: patrol. Australian: 1 killed, 7 wounded.
• 12 June 1971: patrol, Operation Overlord. Australian: 8 killed, 2 wounded.

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Land Clearing Team #

47 contacts, 28 August 1967 to 19 July 1971; 5 operations. Australian: 11 wounded.

Actions: mine incident 51%, security 40%, land clearance 5%, mine clearance 2%, patrol 2%.

Most significant contacts:

• 2 August 1969: security, Operation Mundingburra. Australian: 1 wounded.
• 7 August 1969: mine incident. Australian: 2 wounded.
• 11 August 1969: security. Australian: 2 wounded.

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Roll of honour #

The unit's 17 dead on the honour roll: those on a tour with the unit when they died, and reinforcements killed in the unit's contacts. Each opens their entry on the honour roll.

• Arthur Ruduss
  Private
  12 June 1966
• Ian Robert Brown
  Corporal
  21 June 1966
• Malcolm Austin Henderson
  Warrant-Officer Class 2
  16 December 1967
• Ronald Seiler
  (Temporary) Warrant-Officer Class 2
  16 December 1967
• Douglas Brian Plain
  Private
  1 March 1968
• Keith Ivan Dewar
  Lance-Corporal
  24 June 1969
• Alan Douglas Jellie
  2nd Lieutenant
  3 December 1969
• Barry Creig Donald
  Captain
  3 December 1969
• Thomas Arthur Evans
  Private
  25 December 1969
• John Francis Gillespie
  Lance-Corporal
  17 April 1971
• Thomas Douglas Blackhurst
  (Temporary) Corporal
  17 April 1971
• Donald Cameron Hill
  Private
  12 June 1971
• Kenneth James Boardman
  Corporal
  12 June 1971
• Michael Towler
  Private
  12 June 1971
• Peter Tebb
  Private
  12 June 1971
• Roger William Driscoll
  Private
  12 June 1971
• Trevor James Attwood
  Private
  12 June 1971

Photographs #

From the site's collection: pictures linked to the unit's contacts, and others taken near them at the time. Each opens on the Battle Map.

• 312601 Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Leonard (Len) Ellcombe of Heidelberg, Vic, standing on an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), blazes away with an M60 machine gun … https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/BEL/69/0353/VN/, 30 May 1969
• 2Tp and 2nd D&E platoon ambushed by D 440 battalion AWM, 30 May 1969
• VC Bravery Certificate taken off dead enemy one of 6 Dennis Manski, 29 May 1969
• C Company 8 RAR assaulting into an enemy bunker system in the foothills of the Long Hais (Minh Dam Secret Zone) shortly after a B52 strike had hit the system. Rod Simpson, 22 February 1970
• Nui Dat looking from North West to south east over Luscombe Field 1 February 1968
• 1 ATF Power plant before fire 1 March 1970
• 1 ATF Diesel Power Plant fir circa 1970. Plant completely destroyed by fire 1 July 1970
• Remains of Power Plant after the fire. 1 June 1970
• New Power Plant Building after the fire that destroyed the former one. 30 June 1970
• Engineers laying the new Power lines that burnt down during the fire that destroyed the Power Plant. 28 June 1970
• 1 Australian Psychology Operations Unit (! Psyops Unit) printing room with psyops staff. Playboy centerfolds behind then on the wall. 1 September 1970
• 1 Australian Psychological Operations Unit (1 Psyops Unit) after they had won the 1 ATF HQ Volley Ball championship. 1 June 1971
• Company Sign Ern arshall, 1 July 1967
• Repairing road east of Hoa Long village 6 May 1970
• Outline of Line Alpha. This was the line that patrols could work in so they had artillery and mortar fire to support them. This was completed while Nui Dat … 1 August 1966

Sources #

• Tours and arm: the Australian War Memorial's record of the unit.
• Contacts: the Battle Map's records of 569 contacts, each report citing the archival source (most often the commanders' diaries, AWM95).
• The dead: the honour roll, with tours of duty from the nominal roll.
• Helicopter missions: No. 9 Squadron RAAF's unit history sheets (National Archives of Australia, A9186, 736), read into the Battle Map's records, with each report's summary written by an AI model (Claude).
• Summaries of the reports: written by an AI model (Claude) from the reports, and reviewed.