Australia's Vietnam War

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Infantry · April 1967 – June 1968, May 1970 – May 1971

2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Helicopter missions
62
Contacts
320
Operations
31
Dead
30
Australian wounded
99
Enemy killed
204

View unit in Battle MapView missions in Battle MapAustralian War Memorial record

Year by year #

320 contacts are recorded for the unit and sub-units, from 11 June 1967 to 29 April 1971. It was the unit in contact in 316 of them, and took part in 4 led by other units.

Year Contacts
1967 78
1968 97
1970 82
1971 63

Unit actions #

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

Task Contacts Share
Patrol 108 34%
Ambush 84 27%
Security 83 26%
Bunker 21 7%
Artillery and mortar fire 7 2%
Artillery engagement 4 1%
Transport 2 1%
Mine incident 1 0%
Not recorded 6 2%

In another unit's contact in 4 contacts led by other units: 3 Cav Regt (3), 1 Div Int Unit (1).

Operations #

Air support #

No. 9 Squadron RAAF's unit history records 62 helicopter missions flown for 2 RAR, from 28 July 1967 to 10 August 1970. 8 casualties were evacuated, as the reports count them.

Mission Missions Share
Troop Lift 34 55%
Medevac 16 26%
Other 5 8%
Gunship 3 5%
Resupply 3 5%
Patrol Extraction 1 2%

The most significant:

  • 22 May 1970: medevac. 1 casualty evacuated. On the allied side: 1 wounded. W Company, 2 RAR/NZ made contact with an unknown number of enemy in a bunker system. Bushranger 73, flown by Flying Officer Main, and Bushranger 74, flown by Flight Lieutenant Budd, supported the company and covered US …
  • 29 May 1970: medevac. 2 casualties evacuated. On the allied side: 2 killed. Albatross 03, flown by Pilot Officer Mitchell, winched out the bodies of two Australians of C Company, 2 RAR/NZ who had been killed and took them to Vampire pad.
  • 29 May 1970: medevac. 1 casualty evacuated. On the allied side: 1 wounded. Albatross 03, flown by Pilot Officer Long, evacuated a wounded Australian of C Company, 2 RAR/NZ to Vampire pad.
  • 29 May 1970: medevac. 1 casualty evacuated. On the allied side: 1 wounded. Albatross 03, flown by Pilot Officer Long, evacuated a wounded New Zealander of W Company, 2 RAR/NZ to Vampire pad. The crewman gave the patient mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
  • 18 June 1970: medevac. 3 casualties evacuated. On the allied side: 1 killed, 2 wounded. It was a bad day for V Company, 2 RAR/NZ. After a contact with the enemy, Albatross 02, flown by Pilot Officer Long, evacuated two wounded, one by winch, and one killed; one of the wounded later died. US Dustoff 24 also …

View the missions in Battle Map

Notable contacts #

11 June 1967: Security, Operation Darwin #

First · 2 RAR in contact

A sentry of B Company, 2 RAR, saw an enemy soldier at the perimeter wire and threw a grenade. There were no enemy casualties.

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23 October 1967: Ambush, Operation TAOR #

Typical: ambush · 2 RAR in contact

Enemy: 4 killed, 6 wounded.

2 Platoon, A Company, 2 RAR, was in ambush on a track about a kilometre north of Long Tan, well inside the prohibited zone, when 16 Vietnamese came along it. The machine-gunner took a raised carrying pole for a weapon and opened fire, and the rest of the ambush joined in; the commander stopped the firing when he heard a woman's voice. They were all unarmed civilians: four were killed, six wounded and captured, and three more taken prisoner.

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30 November 1967: Patrol, Operation Forrest #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 2 killed, 8 wounded.

A 12-man patrol of 2 Platoon, A Company, 2 RAR, was hit by a command-detonated mine, and the enemy opened fire. The patrol returned fire and called in artillery. Two Australians were killed and eight wounded.

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26 January 1968: Bunker, Operation Coburg #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 2 killed, 1 wounded. Enemy: 2 killed, 6 wounded.

5 Platoon, B Company, 2 RAR, ran into 15 to 20 enemy in a camp and called in artillery and mortars in a heavy fight. One Australian was killed, one died of wounds and one was wounded; the enemy left two bodies, blood trails and drag marks.

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26 January 1968: Bunker, Operation Coburg #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 2 killed. Enemy: 2 killed, 4 wounded.

9 Platoon, C Company, 2 RAR, assaulted an enemy camp and had only just occupied its horseshoe-shaped defences when 20 or more enemy of the 274th Regiment and the Trang Bom district unit counter-attacked. The fight went on for three hours, the enemy attacking seven times with heavy machine-guns, and helicopter gunships, air strikes and artillery were called in. Two Australians were killed; two enemy were killed and more wounded, and the camp yielded weapons, packs and a large quantity of rice and food.

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27 January 1968: Bunker, Operation Coburg #

Typical: bunker · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 2 wounded. Enemy: 1 killed, 4 wounded.

Following up its bunker contact of the day before, C Company, 2 RAR, was fired on from a bunker, which it found and grenaded along with at least one more. It then came under fire from three sides and from snipers, with one platoon pinned down so that every movement drew fire, and two men were wounded. Artillery was fired, the wounded were evacuated, and the company was able to disengage; V Company, sent to help, arrived later over hard going. One enemy body and four blood trails were found, and two rifles and 700 pounds of food captured.

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31 January 1968: Bunker, Operation Coburg #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 5 wounded. Enemy: 4 killed, 2 wounded.

A platoon made contact at 15 metres on the edge of an enemy camp, taking three casualties, and called in artillery and mortars. B Company, 2 RAR, assaulted the camp that afternoon but was pinned down by a machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenades, with enemy appearing from one bunker as soon as another was cleared. V Company, gunships and an air strike were sent to help, and after the wounded were evacuated B Company pulled back 300 metres from a bunker system much larger than first thought. Five Australians were wounded and four enemy killed.

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1 February 1968: Patrol, Operation Coburg #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Enemy: 11 killed.

The battle for Trang Bom, during the Tet Offensive. D Company, 2 RAR, carried in armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, was sent with South Vietnamese forces to drive a Viet Cong force out of the village. Heavy rocket and automatic fire kept them out at first; helicopter gunships attacked, and the advance was slowed by the need to move civilians still in their homes to the market place. The enemy withdrew under cover of smoke from burning houses, came back that night, and was driven out again the next day with carrier and artillery support. Across the two days 19 enemy were recorded killed, most by artillery and carriers; no Australians were lost, but six civilians were killed by artillery.

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2 March 1968: Patrol, Operation Pinnaroo #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 1 killed, 13 wounded.

B Company, 2 RAR, took the Dinh Co hill in the north-west of the Long Hai Hills. An engineer set off a booby trap in the temple, killing himself and wounding 13 others. The company commander reported the area thick with mines and booby traps, and that the enemy were placing them at places Westerners were likely to visit.

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2 August 1970: Security, Operation Nathan #

Typical: security · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 2 killed, 3 wounded.

As 2 Platoon relieved 1 Platoon, A Company, 2 RAR, in a bunker system taken the day before, the commanding officer was showing his South Vietnamese counterpart round with a protection party when a booby-trapped 155 mm shell went off. Two Australians were killed and three wounded; both commanding officers were among the wounded and lost legs.

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8 August 1970: Patrol, Operation Cung Chung 2 #

Typical: patrol · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 8 wounded.

2 RAR's Anti-Tank Platoon set off a Chinese mine while examining an enemy camp. Seven Australians, a New Zealander and a South Vietnamese soldier were wounded.

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15 December 1970: Ambush, Operation Cung Chung 3 #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

Australian: 2 wounded. Enemy: 10 killed, 1 wounded.

6 Platoon, B Company, 2 RAR/NZ, was in ambush in a rubber plantation covering the house of a known Viet Cong food supplier. Ten unarmed people who saw the ambush and ran were not fired on. Later, after torches were flashed at the house and a lantern put out, the platoon heard people creeping towards it for 40 minutes, and sprang the ambush when there was whispering right in front of the machine-gun. The enemy threw a grenade and fought on from the flank until armoured personnel carriers were heard coming. Two Australians were wounded; ten Viet Cong were killed, and a prisoner later said fourteen had died.

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31 March 1971: Bunker, Operation Briar Patch #

Significant · 2 RAR in contact

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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29 April 1971: Transport #

Last · 2 RAR in contact

A 2 RAR/NZ vehicle travelling on Route 2 was fired on with two rounds from the west.

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Sub-units #

A Company #

95 contacts, 19 June 1967 to 22 April 1971; 25 operations. Australian: 9 killed, 26 wounded. Enemy: 55 killed, 31 wounded.

Actions: patrol 32%, ambush 29%, security 27%, bunker 6%, artillery and mortar fire 1%.

Most significant contacts:

  • 30 November 1967: patrol, Operation Forrest. Australian: 2 killed, 8 wounded.
  • 2 August 1970: security, Operation Nathan. Australian: 2 killed, 3 wounded.
  • 31 March 1971: bunker, Operation Briar Patch. Australian: 2 killed, 6 wounded. Enemy: 2 killed.

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B Company #

84 contacts, 11 June 1967 to 1 April 1971; 21 operations. Australian: 4 killed, 33 wounded. Enemy: 55 killed, 22 wounded.

Actions: patrol 39%, ambush 26%, security 20%, bunker 10%, artillery and mortar fire 5%.

Most significant contacts:

  • 31 January 1968: bunker, Operation Coburg. Australian: 5 wounded. Enemy: 4 killed.
  • 2 March 1968: patrol, Operation Pinnaroo. Australian: 1 killed, 13 wounded.
  • 15 December 1970: ambush, Operation Cung Chung 3. Australian: 2 wounded. Enemy: 10 killed.

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C Company #

64 contacts, 29 June 1967 to 24 April 1971; 16 operations. Australian: 8 killed, 16 wounded. Enemy: 46 killed, 19 wounded.

Actions: patrol 33%, ambush 28%, security 22%, bunker 11%, artillery and mortar fire 2%.

Most significant contacts:

  • 26 January 1968: bunker, Operation Coburg. Australian: 2 killed. Enemy: 2 killed.
  • 27 January 1968: bunker, Operation Coburg. Australian: 2 wounded. Enemy: 1 killed.
  • 29 May 1970: patrol, Operation Capricorn. Australian: 2 killed, 3 wounded.

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D Company #

32 contacts, 13 July 1967 to 12 February 1968; 8 operations. Australian: 4 killed, 16 wounded. Enemy: 32 killed, 11 wounded.

Actions: patrol 37%, security 37%, ambush 27%.

Most significant contacts:

View D Company in Battle Map

Support Company #

23 contacts, 6 February 1968 to 17 April 1971; 6 operations. Australian: 8 wounded. Enemy: 13 killed, 3 wounded.

Actions: security 45%, ambush 27%, patrol 27%.

Most significant contacts:

View Support Company in Battle Map

Roll of honour #

The unit's 30 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.

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.

  • Looking west from Hoa Long road to Baria over half grown rice paddies Looking west from Hoa Long road to Baria over half grown rice paddies 6 May 1970
  • Company Sign Company Sign Ern arshall, 1 July 1967
  • 1 ATF Power plant before fire 1 ATF Power plant before fire 1 March 1970
  • 1 ATF Diesel Power Plant fir circa 1970. Plant completely destroyed by fire 1 ATF Diesel Power Plant fir circa 1970. Plant completely destroyed by fire 1 July 1970
  • Remains of Power Plant after the fire. Remains of Power Plant after the fire. 1 June 1970
  • New Power Plant Building after the fire that destroyed the former one. 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. 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 Australian Psychology Operations Unit (! Psyops Unit) printing room with psyops staff. Playboy centerfolds behind then on the wall. 1 September 1970
  • FSB Garth FSB Garth Ern Marshall Unknown
  • Hoa Long Village well Hoa Long Village well Ern Marshall Tony Templeton
  • Hoa Long Map Hoa Long Map Ern Marshall rasurvey
  • POW Compound Nui Dat POW Compound Nui Dat Ern Marshall, Allen Burkhill

Sources #

  • Tours and arm: the Australian War Memorial's record of the unit.
  • Contacts: the Battle Map's records of 320 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.