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Nui Dat

Nui Dat was the principal base of the (1 ATF) during the , located in Phước Tuy Province, , and operational from May 1966 until the withdrawal of Australian forces in October 1971. The site, selected for its central position along Route 2 amid rubber plantations and low hills, allowed and troops to establish a secure perimeter in Viet Cong-dominated territory, with local villages relocated to facilitate construction of defenses, , and support . By 1969, Nui Dat had expanded to accommodate approximately 5,000 personnel, including , facilities like the Luscombe Bowl airfield, and logistical elements that enabled sustained combat operations across the province. Its early significance stemmed from a Viet Cong mortar attack on 17 August 1966, which prompted a patrol leading to the , where Delta Company, , repelled an estimated 2,000 enemy troops with minimal losses, demonstrating the effectiveness of Australian small-unit tactics and fire support in monsoon conditions. From this base, 1 ATF conducted operations that progressively cleared influence from Phước Tuy, fostering local security and infrastructure development until the force's redeployment amid escalating U.S. withdrawals.

Geography and Establishment

Location and Strategic Selection

Nui Dat was situated in Phuoc Tuy Province, , approximately 8 kilometers north of Bà Rịa and 30 kilometers northwest of on Provincial Route 2, within a rubber plantation surrounding a low hill known as Hill 72. The site occupied a central position in the province, bisecting it from north to south along the main highway. This placement positioned the base amid dense operational areas, enabling direct engagement with insurgent forces while maintaining accessibility to coastal logistics hubs. The selection of Nui Dat for the headquarters stemmed from Australian strategic priorities in 1966, following the allocation of Phuoc Tuy Province as the designated to establish an independent national commitment beyond U.S.-led commands. Military planners favored the location for its isolation from major population centers, which minimized civilian interference and risks of infiltration, yet its proximity to Viet Cong base regions—estimated at the heart of their provincial infrastructure—supported aggressive patrolling and pacification efforts characteristic of Australian counter-insurgency doctrine. The site's adjacency to Route 2 facilitated rapid reinforcement and supply lines from harbor, the primary Australian base, reducing vulnerability to overland while projecting into contested inland . Further rationale included the terrain's suitability for defensive perimeters, with the central hill providing elevated observation points and natural barriers against surprise attacks, though initial reconnaissance noted the area's and proximity to dispersed hamlets requiring relocation of approximately 400 local villagers to secure the perimeter. This choice reflected a deliberate intent to challenge dominance by occupying a symbolically and tactically provocative position on key mobility routes, aligning with broader allied aims to fragment insurgent control in rural provinces.

Construction and Initial Setup

The establishment of the Nui Dat base commenced in April 1966 with the arrival of the (5 RAR), which began initial site preparation by erecting tents, digging foxholes, and organizing basic defenses in the rubber plantation area. This early phase focused on transforming the isolated site, located approximately 30 kilometers inland from Vung Tau along Route 2, into a secure forward operating position for the (1 ATF). Operation Hardihood, conducted from 16 May to 8 June 1966, marked the primary security and preparation effort, involving joint forces from the U.S. (including the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 503rd Infantry), 1 RAR, and 5 RAR to clear enemy presence and establish a defensive perimeter. Troops swept areas north and east of the site up to 5,000 meters, destroying camps, bunkers, and rice caches totaling around 1,300 pounds, while conducting ambushes and relocating approximately 600 villagers from Long Phuoc and Long Tan to create a 4,000-meter civilian-free known as Line Alpha. Vegetation clearance extended 500 meters around the perimeter to deny enemy cover, with jungle, rubber trees, and forest systematically removed to facilitate line-of-sight defenses. By 24 May 1966, the core base footprint was occupied, with soldiers constructing fighting pits with overhead cover and laying an initial 12-kilometer fence augmented by mines and manned bunkers for 24-hour vigilance. Initial facilities remained rudimentary, relying on World War II-era tents and stretchers without permanent kitchens or amenities; the 6 RAR, arriving in June, inherited these spartan conditions shortly after the U.S. 173rd Airborne departed on 8 June and 1 ATF headquarters established on 5 June. These measures prioritized rapid operational readiness over comfort, enabling the base to support up to 5,000 personnel from , , and allied units while mitigating immediate threats from mortar and infiltration tactics.

Key Military Operations

Battle of Long Tan

The occurred on 18 1966, during the , when Delta Company of the (6 RAR), numbering approximately 108 and New Zealand personnel, engaged a much larger force of (VC) and (PAVN) troops in a rubber plantation near Long Tân, about 2 kilometers east of the Nui Dat base in Phước Tuy Province. This action followed a mortar bombardment of the (1 ATF) headquarters at Nui Dat on the night of 17 by elements of the VC D445 Provincial Battalion, which caused three Australian deaths and 19 wounded but inflicted limited material damage due to the attackers' inaccurate fire. In response, 1 ATF commander Mackay authorized aggressive patrolling to locate the enemy, leading Delta Company—commanded by Major David Smith—to advance into the Long Tan area after reports of VC movement from earlier skirmishes involving 12 Platoon. As Delta Company pushed through the plantation amid a downpour that reduced visibility to 30-50 meters, 11 encountered an around 4:00 pm, initiating intense close-quarters fighting against waves of VC and PAVN attackers estimated at 1,500 to 2,500 strong, including main force units like the 275th and 261st Regiments. The , armed primarily with M16 rifles, machine guns, and limited anti-personnel mines, formed a defensive position and relied heavily on accurate from 105mm and 155mm batteries at Nui Dat—specifically the New Zealand 161 Field Battery—which delivered over 3,000 shells in a "silent" overshoot technique to avoid , breaking up multiple enemy assaults. Ammunition resupply by armoured personnel carriers arrived under fire around 6:00 pm, sustaining the company as it repelled human-wave attacks until darkness fell, with the enemy withdrawing after sustaining heavy losses from and small-arms fire. Australian casualties totaled 18 killed (17 during the and one from wounds nine days later) and 24 wounded, representing the highest single-day loss for forces in the . Enemy losses were confirmed at 245 killed, based on bodies counted on the battlefield the following day, with three captured; higher estimates of 500 to over 1,000 total dead—accounting for those carried away or unrecovered—have been proposed but lack body-count verification and reflect broader challenges in Vietnam-era damage assessments. Relief forces from Nui Dat, including B and C Companies of 6 RAR supported by tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, secured the area on 19 , recovering weapons caches including 110 rifles, 17 machine guns, and recoilless rifles, indicating the enemy's intent for a larger disrupted by the engagement. The battle validated 1 ATF's aggressive "tooth-to-tail" patrolling doctrine from Nui Dat, denying the sanctuary in Phước Tuy Province and forcing their tactical withdrawal, though it highlighted vulnerabilities in base defense and the risks of operating in conditions without air support due to . It boosted Australian morale and public support for the war effort at home, while demonstrating the effectiveness of —infantry tenacity integrated with precise —against numerically superior guerrilla forces, influencing subsequent 1 ATF operations from the Nui Dat hub.

Subsequent Engagements and Patrols

Following the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) at Nui Dat maintained aggressive patrolling to dominate Phuoc Tuy Province and prevent Viet Cong regrouping. Patrolling formed the core of 1 ATF operations, with units conducting short-range platoon and company patrols lasting 2–7 days to search for enemy forces, establish ambushes, and clear routes, alongside longer-range reconnaissance by Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) troops to detect Viet Cong movements and supply lines. Perimeter patrols around the Nui Dat base provided immediate defense against infiltration, often involving infantry ambushes and artillery support to deter attacks. These activities resulted in frequent small-scale contacts, with Australian forces inflicting casualties through ambushes and fire support while sustaining minimal losses due to superior training and firepower. One early subsequent was Renmark (18–22 February 1967), launched by (5 RAR) from Nui Dat into a Viet Cong stronghold northwest of the base. The involved search-and-destroy sweeps, during which two armoured personnel carriers triggered mines on 22 February, killing seven Australians and wounding 26 others in a single incident. Despite the losses, the patrol disrupted enemy positions and yielded intelligence on Viet Cong activity near the base. from Nui Dat supported the effort, firing in response to enemy contacts. Larger engagements followed, including the Battle of Binh Ba (6–8 June 1969), where 5 RAR and 6 RAR elements from Nui Dat cleared the village of entrenched and forces during Operation Hammer. Australian troops, supported by tanks and aerial fire support, defeated an estimated company-sized enemy unit after intense house-to-house fighting, killing over 100 communists while suffering four dead and 10 wounded. The action demonstrated 1 ATF's ability to counter NVA incursions into Phuoc Tuy, forcing enemy withdrawal. By 1971, as withdrawal neared, operations like (19 September–3 October 1971) involved sweeps from Nui Dat against D445 Provincial Battalion near Nui Le rubber plantation. Infantry and armoured units engaged enemy bunkers with rocket-propelled grenades and , resulting in six killed and 30 wounded, but inflicting heavy enemy losses and capturing weapons caches. Such patrols and engagements, numbering over 4,500 combat actions overall for 1 ATF, progressively secured the province by disrupting logistics and main force units operating near Nui Dat.

Base Infrastructure and Operations

Facilities and Defenses

The Nui Dat base, established in May 1966 within a in Phuoc Tuy Province, featured initial defenses centered on individual and perimeter fortifications. Every constructed a personal fighting pit for immediate protection, supplemented by elevated bunkers manned continuously around the base's perimeter. A 12-kilometer fence encircled the area, reinforced with mines and belts, while a 500-meter vegetation-free zone was cleared to enhance visibility and fields of fire. To mitigate intelligence threats from nearby villages, forces conducted Operation Hardihood from 16 May to 8 June 1966, relocating residents from Long Phuoc and Long Tan to establish a 4,000-meter known as Line Alpha. This operation, involving the U.S. 503rd and units, cleared Viet Cong infrastructure and secured the immediate surroundings, preventing infiltration. Jungle, rubber trees, and forest were systematically removed along the perimeter to deny cover to potential attackers. Key facilities included Luscombe Airfield, constructed by 1 Field Squadron, , and opened on 5 December 1966 to support resupply and evacuation operations. Named after Captain Bryan Luscombe, a casualty, the airstrip facilitated fixed-wing and helicopter traffic adjacent to the Luscombe Bowl area. Over time, the base evolved from tent accommodations and basic setups into a self-contained by 1971, incorporating roads, street signage, a , and helicopter pads, though combat personnel primarily operated from temporary forward positions.

Logistics and Daily Administration

The logistics for the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) at Nui Dat were primarily coordinated through the 1 Australian Logistics Support Group (1ALSG), based at Vung Tau approximately 30 kilometers southeast, which received supplies via sea from and managed initial storage and distribution. Essential items including ammunition, equipment, rations, fuel, and medical supplies were transported inland via daily convoys along National Route 15 to Ba Ria and then Inter-Provincial Route 2 to Nui Dat, with each convoy typically comprising dozens of trucks protected by armored vehicles and infantry to counter ambushes. These runs faced challenges from deteriorating roads, narrow bridges (31 identified as vulnerabilities on Route 15), and monsoon-season flooding, necessitating ongoing engineer maintenance by units such as the 1st Field Squadron, , to ensure reliable access. At Nui Dat, incoming supplies were handled by embedded support elements, including ordnance depots for and storage, transport companies for internal distribution, and workshops under the 1ATF Light Aid Detachment for vehicle maintenance, supporting the base's operational tempo from its establishment in May 1966 through peak strength in the late 1960s. Medical logistics fell to units like 2 Field Ambulance, which maintained stocks for field treatment and evacuation, integrated with 1ALSG's broader . Water was sourced from local bores and purified on-site, while electricity relied on generators supplemented by limited grid connections, with fuel demands met through dedicated petroleum platoons. Daily administration at Nui Dat was centralized under Headquarters 1ATF, which oversaw personnel records, pay disbursement via an on-base bank, through a , and rotation schedules for the approximately 5,000 personnel by 1969, including battalions, , and troops. Administrative routines incorporated security protocols, such as 24-hour watches and fighting pit maintenance for all personnel, alongside recreational management—clubs, a screening films, a , and a stocked via convoys—to structure off-duty time and sustain amid counter-insurgency demands. and were enforced through units and chaplains, with internal publications like base newspapers fostering routine and morale without compromising operational secrecy.

Personnel and Conditions

Troop Composition

The (1 ATF), based at Nui Dat from April 1966 to late 1971, primarily consisted of personnel numbering approximately 4,500 upon initial deployment, with strength later expanding to around 6,300 as additional units rotated through. Core combat elements included two infantry s from the —initially the (5 RAR) and (6 RAR)—which later rotated to include other RAR battalions such as 7 RAR, with a third battalion added by 1968 for increased operational capacity. Supporting arms encompassed the 1st Field Regiment, (with 105 mm and 155 mm howitzers from batteries like 103 and 105 Field Batteries); an armoured squadron from the 1st Armoured Regiment equipped with tanks; a squadron operating M113 armoured personnel carriers for troop mobility; along with troops, signals units, aviation elements (such as RAAF No. 9 Squadron Iroquois helicopters), and logistic support from attached elements of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group. New Zealand forces were integrated into 1 ATF operations at Nui Dat, contributing around 200–300 personnel at peak integration, including 161 Battery, (a 105 mm attached to the Australian regiment for fire support) and infantry elements such as Victor Company from the 2nd Battalion, , which operated under Australian battalion command. New Zealand troops from 4 Troop also based intermittently at Nui Dat from 1968, conducting long-range reconnaissance patrols alongside Australian . United States attachments provided specialized support, notably A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 35th Regiment (six M109 155 mm self-propelled howitzers), which was permanently based at Nui Dat from July 1966 to augment firepower during key operations. Smaller U.S. advisory or liaison elements occasionally operated from the base, but the overall composition remained predominantly -led, with allied contributions focused on enhancing and reconnaissance capabilities rather than independent U.S. or commands. At peak occupancy, Nui Dat housed about 5,000 personnel across these nationalities, though many were deployed on patrols rather than static at the base.

Living Conditions and Morale

Troops arriving at Nui Dat in May 1966 initially lived in tents, often with holes and lacking proper poles, supplemented by stretchers and floorboards for sleeping. Each constructed a personal fighting pit for protection against attacks, while the perimeter featured a 12-kilometer fence laced with mines and elevated bunkers manned around the clock. Harsh environmental factors included pervasive during the , limited availability, and exposure to and humidity in the surrounding rubber plantations and . Ration supplies proved unreliable early on, with Australian combat packs scarce and U.S. alternatives deemed unsatisfactory by soldiers. Without initial cool storage, fresh rations spoiled rapidly, forcing reliance on repetitive meals—such as frankfurts and served baked, boiled, fried, grilled, or minced—for approximately five weeks in late July 1966, which strained nutritional intake and operational capacity as two-thirds of combat troops lacked full equipment resupplies. and shortages persisted until procurements arrived, exacerbating physical discomfort amid the . By late , infrastructure improvements transformed Nui Dat into a functional , incorporating , street signs, a , airfield, and helicopter pad, reducing some hardships for rear-echelon personnel. Daily routines for base-bound soldiers involved regimented schedules of maintenance duties, perimeter watches, and support tasks, interspersed with meals from communal kitchens once established. Combat units, however, spent limited time at the base during 12-month tours, prioritizing patrols over extended residency. Morale faced pressures from primitive conditions, supply failures, and intermittent Viet Cong rocket attacks, which heightened tension and fatigue. Yet, it remained relatively robust among the professional volunteer force, bolstered by strong unit cohesion, effective leadership, and tactical successes like the on 18 August 1966, where 108 and New Zealand troops repelled an estimated 2,500 , inflicting heavy enemy casualties and securing the base from immediate threat—reassessed as a strategic victory that enhanced confidence despite 18 Australian fatalities. Regular mail deliveries, limited recreation such as beer rations, and the prospect of rotation after one year further mitigated psychological strain.

Strategic Impact

Role in Phuoc Tuy Province

Nui Dat functioned as the central command and operational hub for the (1 ATF) in Phuoc Tuy Province, established in June 1966 following the task force's deployment to the region. Positioned in a rubber plantation approximately 8 kilometers north of the provincial capital Bà Rịa and astride Route 2, the base was deliberately sited in the heart of -dominated territory to maximize disruption of enemy control, secure vital lines of communication like National Highway 15, and enable independent Australian-led counter-insurgency efforts. This location, isolated from provincial authorities, allowed 1 ATF—peaking at around 5,000 personnel—to conduct aggressive patrolling, ambushes, and area clearances without reliance on larger U.S. forces, transforming Phuoc Tuy from a stronghold into a secured zone. The base's strategic placement facilitated control over Phuoc Tuy's coastal plain, which was critical for protecting access to Vung Tau harbor—South Vietnam's second-largest port after Saigon—and supporting provincial economic reconstruction amid ongoing insurgent threats. From Nui Dat, Australian units enforced security perimeters, resettled approximately 1,500 villagers from adjacent hamlets like Long Phước and Long Tân to deny intelligence and recruitment, and integrated military operations with civil aid to foster local governance stability. These measures, rooted in small-unit tactics suited to the province's terrain, progressively eroded infrastructure and manpower, with operations from the base credited for limiting enemy main force incursions by late 1966. By providing , support, and rapid reinforcement capabilities, Nui Dat underpinned 1 ATF's province-wide dominance, contributing to Phuoc Tuy's designation as a pacification success by , where allied forces held most key population centers and infrastructure against sustained guerrilla pressure. The base's role emphasized empirical control through direct engagement rather than broad sweeps, aligning with Australian doctrine that prioritized disrupting logistics over territorial conquest, though challenges like monsoon-season mobility persisted.

Disruption of Viet Cong Operations

The establishment of the Nui Dat base during Operation Hardihood (16 May to 8 June 1966) directly disrupted infrastructure and presence in the immediate vicinity by relocating approximately 1,000 villagers from hamlets such as Long Phuoc and Long Tan to secure zones, while destroying extensive tunnel networks, bunkers, and weapon caches that had supported local guerrilla activities. This clearance operation, conducted by elements of the (1 ATF) alongside U.S. forces, eliminated sanctuaries for the D445 Provincial Battalion and forced surviving insurgents to abandon the area, though sporadic probes persisted. One fighter was confirmed killed during these sweeps, with additional casualties likely from disrupted logistics and hidden positions. Positioned astride key infiltration and resupply routes from the northwest—near base areas like the May Tao Mountains—Nui Dat enabled 1 ATF to conduct aggressive small-unit patrols, ambushes, and reconnaissance-in-force operations that enemy movements into Phuoc Tuy Province. These activities closed northern access corridors and prevented of main force units, denying the Viet Cong freedom of maneuver and taxing their supply lines through constant harassment and denial tactics, including free-fire zones and defensive minefields around the perimeter. Major engagements launched from Nui Dat, such as the on 18 August 1966, inflicted severe attrition on assaulting and North Vietnamese forces, with 108 enemy confirmed killed and estimates up to 245 based on after-action assessments, compelling subsequent avoidance of direct confrontations in the province core. Later operations like Hammersley (1967) and Lavarack (1969) further severed supply chains, destroying caches and forcing elements to operate from peripheral jungle fringes rather than dominating rural hamlets or rubber plantations. This sustained denial strategy marginalized influence over Phuoc Tuy's population and economy, reducing their ability to coerce local support or stage offensives from within the province, though insurgents adapted by emphasizing and eventual re-infiltration after 1 ATF's 1971 withdrawal.

Withdrawal and Post-War Legacy

Demobilization and Handover

The withdrawal of the (1 ATF) from Nui Dat began in 1971, aligning with Australia's phased reduction of forces in as part of the U.S.-led strategy, which aimed to transfer security responsibilities to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). In early , the 1 ATF headquarters relocated from Nui Dat to Vung Tau, initiating the logistical drawdown of approximately 5,000 personnel and over 7,000 tonnes of equipment across multiple stages. The final combat elements departed on 7 November 1971, when the (4 RAR), which had arrived in May 1971, moved to Vung Tau, effectively concluding Australian operational control at the base after over five years of occupation since May 1966. This departure involved the systematic of troops via air and sea transport, with equipment either shipped back to or transferred as part of allied support, amid ongoing mortar attacks that underscored the base's vulnerability during the transition. Control of Nui Dat was formally handed over to ARVN forces shortly thereafter, with ceremonies marking the transfer of infrastructure including airstrips, barracks, and defensive positions, though accounts vary on the precise date—some indicating 16 October for initial administrative handover and others aligning with the 7 November troop exit. The ARVN subsequently occupied the site, utilizing remaining assets until the fall of in 1975, after which the base was largely dismantled. By December 1971, nearly all Australian forces had vacated Phuoc Tuy Province, with residual advisory elements withdrawn by early 1973.

Current Status and Commemoration

The Nui Dat site, following the Australian withdrawal on 13 November 1971, was transferred to South Vietnamese control before being abandoned after the 1975 communist victory. Today, it forms part of Bà Rịa city in , with former base infrastructure largely reclaimed by civilian development and agriculture, appearing as an ordinary Vietnamese village. Vestiges such as the Luscombe Bowl airfield remnants and low hills used for observation persist amid rubber plantations and local settlements, attracting historical tours that highlight the site's wartime footprint. Commemoration centers on memorials erected at or near the site, including the Royal Australian Regiment Memorial at Nui Dat, dedicated to RAR personnel who served and died in . The adjacent Long Tan Cross, marking the 1966 battle site 2 kilometers away, stands as a permitted foreign on Vietnamese soil, where visitors lay wreaths during annual observances. Australian veterans' groups and official delegations conduct and services, preserving the legacy through guided visits to base remnants like SAS Hill and artillery positions, underscoring the 1st Australian Task Force's five-year tenure.

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