Changes

==Body count==

==Body count==

Both sides tried to evacuate the injured in the darkness, although several wounded Australians spent a long and terrifying night on the battlefield while the female VC medical platoon (''Mrs Phuong's Medical Evacuation Unit'') moved around them. The morning light revealed the full extent of the horror. 50-245 Viet Cong bodies were found in the battle area and it was thought that many more were removed in the night. 18 Australians were killed at Long Tan and 24 wounded – over one third of the initial force engaged. 188 enemy killed and wounded is the figure formally declared by the CO and 6 RAR in his initial report on 19 August.<ref>"Enemy casualties [were] 188 and 3 Viet Cong captured". (See 6th RAR War Diary, available online)</ref> The platoon under Second Lieutenant Eric Andrews reported a body count of about fifty killed on 20 August.<ref>"50 enemy bodies buried in [D] company location." (6th RAR War Diary, available online)</ref>   

Both sides tried to evacuate the injured in the darkness, although several wounded Australians spent a long and terrifying night on the battlefield while the female and children members of the VC medical platoon (''Mrs Phuong's Medical Evacuation Unit'') moved around them. The morning light revealed the full extent of the horror. Around 50-245 Viet Cong bodies were found in the battle area and it was thought that many more were removed in the night. Eighteen Australians were killed at Long Tan and 24 wounded – over one third of the initial force engaged. In all, 188 enemy killed and wounded were reported by the CO of 6 RAR in his initial report on 19 August.<ref>"Enemy casualties [were] 188 and 3 Viet Cong captured". (See 6th RAR War Diary, available online)</ref>The platoon under 2nd Lieutenant Eric Andrews reported a body count of about fifty killed on 20 August.<ref>"50 enemy bodies buried in [D] company location." (6th RAR War Diary, available online)</ref>   

The official Australian Army history ''To Long Tan'', by the Australian military historian Ian McNeill, lists the number of Vietnamese killed in action as 245 and three enemy captured. However, new research shows that Australian claims about 245 enemy soldiers killed in the battle may be highly inflated.<ref>''"The VC divisional planners estimated that four to six labourers would be needed for every wounded soldier requiring evacuation. A 30 percent casualty rate at Long Tan would mean a force of 1,200 would take 360 casualties. Using an 80:20 split for the casualties, 288 would be wounded and 72 killed. To get the seriously wounded and dead off the field, a labour force of something like 800 would be needed. If the casualty figures were increased to 245 dead, the wounded would be 980. Under the 30 per cent rule that would mean an attacking force of just over 4,000, plus a clearance labour force of 3,500. These are unimaginable numbers ..."'' (Vietnam: The Complete Story Of The Australian War,  Bruce Davies,  Gary McKay,  Allen & Unwin, 2013)</ref>

The official Australian Army history ''To Long Tan'', by the Australian military historian Ian McNeill, lists the number of Vietnamese killed in action as 245 and three enemy captured. However, new research shows that Australian claims about 245 enemy soldiers killed in the battle may be highly inflated.<ref>''"The VC divisional planners estimated that four to six labourers would be needed for every wounded soldier requiring evacuation. A 30 percent casualty rate at Long Tan would mean a force of 1,200 would take 360 casualties. Using an 80:20 split for the casualties, 288 would be wounded and 72 killed. To get the seriously wounded and dead off the field, a labour force of something like 800 would be needed. If the casualty figures were increased to 245 dead, the wounded would be 980. Under the 30 per cent rule that would mean an attacking force of just over 4,000, plus a clearance labour force of 3,500. These are unimaginable numbers ..."'' (Vietnam: The Complete Story Of The Australian War,  Bruce Davies,  Gary McKay,  Allen & Unwin, 2013)</ref>