1967 battle that was fought during the Vietnam War between Australian troops and the Viet Cong
A close-quarters encounter battle in Vietnam where Australian artillery proved decisive against a large Viet Cong force in dense jungle.
Key Facts
- Date
- 6 August 1967
- Operation
- Operation Ballarat
- Australian unit
- A Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
- Viet Cong unit
- Reinforced company, 3rd Battalion, 274th Regiment
- Location
- Eastern Hát Dịch area, Phước Tuy province
- Outcome
- Viet Cong withdrew after suffering heavy casualties
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During Operation Ballarat, an Australian search and destroy mission in the Hát Dịch area, A Company, 7 RAR conducted a covert insertion that surprised Viet Cong sentries. The following day, the company patrolled forward without knowledge of a large Viet Cong main force unit operating in the same area, setting the conditions for an unplanned confrontation.
On 6 August 1967, A Company, 7 RAR clashed with a reinforced company from the Viet Cong 3rd Battalion, 274th Regiment in dense jungle during heavy monsoon rain. The encounter battle was fought at close quarters between two roughly equal forces for several hours, with both sides suffering heavy casualties as neither could gain a decisive advantage.
Australian artillery fire ultimately proved decisive, forcing the Viet Cong to withdraw from the battlefield. The Viet Cong suffered crippling losses and were observed dragging many of their dead away as they retreated, marking the engagement as an Australian tactical success despite the heavy cost to both sides.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent