2016 25c Coin 'Anzac to Afghanistan' - BATTLE OF LONG TAN

2016 25c Coin 'Anzac to Afghanistan' - BATTLE OF LONG TAN

On the afternoon of August 18, 1966, in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, South Vietnam, a battle between Australian troops and the Viet Cong raged for four hours. In heavy monsoonal rain the Australians fought in defensive positions and called in artillery to prevent the enemy from overwhelming them. At 7pm a relief force arrived and as evening fell, the enemy withdrew. Eighteen Australians had been killed and 24 wounded.

In the early hours of August 17, 1966, the Australian base at Nui Dat was hit by mortar and rifle fire. Company-sized patrols located the firing positions and at midday the following day, D Company 6RAR began searching for the enemy in the Long Tan area. After brief contact, the Australians advanced into a rubber plantation and it was here that a fierce battle ensued. The larger enemy forces tried several times to overrun the positions but the Australian soldiers held their ground. Close artillery support was used to break up these attacks and ammunition was flown in to D Company as they ran short. At 7pm a relief column of armoured personnel carriers with infantry arrived. This force broke up another enemy attack and as night fell, the enemy withdrew.