ScuttleButt - USS Southern Cross

Marine Cadet Christopher Anderton
WHY
The Viet Cong (or The National Front for the
Liberation of South Vietnam) was attempting to
capture the Australian base, as it was practically
in control of the surrounding providence. There
is much controversy over why the battle really
happened. While the Australians of the D
Company which encountered the VC force say
that it was an accidental encounter that most
probably saved the base, the Vietnamese
soldiers that were in the Battle of Long Tan
view it as an ambush on a large Australian force.
HOW
also used the Reverse Slope defensive
manoeuvre to effectively nullify the VC’s heavy
weaponry.
Since the numbers have been officially recorded
as being 108 Australian soldiers and 1,500-2,650
“Charlies” (Viet Cong) the Australian victory
was a great accomplishment. However,
controversy also surrounds the numbers of each
force, and there will almost definitely be no
eventual resolution to this matter.
This is a resolution taken directly from
http://www.convictcreations.com/history/longtan.htm
The Battle of Long Tan is used even today to
train Australian Officers in the effectiveness of
combining and coordinating infantry, artillery,
armour and military aviation. It was these
components, along with the environmental
conditions (ie pouring rain and terrible mud) that
contributed towards the victory. The D company
"D company was composed of 108 men of
which 18 were killed and 24 were
wounded. After the VC retreat, a search
of the jungle discovered 245 VC bodies.
Questioning of prisoners ascertained that
the offensive force comprised the Viet
Cong 275 regiment and the D445
Battalion. A total force of 2500 men."
Extract from the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
To Delta Company 6 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment
By virtue of the authority invested in me as the President of the
United States and as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
the United States, I have today awarded the Presidential Unit Citation
(Army) for extraordinary heroism to D Company, Sixth Battalion,
The Royal Australian Regiment, The Australian Army
D Company distinguished itself by extraordinary heroism while
engaged in military operations against an opposing armed force in
Vietnam on August 18,1966
.....
The conspicuous courage, intrepidity and indomitable courage of D
Company were to the highest tradition of military valour and reflect
great credit upon D Company and the Australian Army.
Lyndon B Johnson
The White House May 28, 1968
ScuttleButt July, 2007 13