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The action occurred when D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), part of the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF), encountered the Viet Cong (VC) 275 Regiment and elements of the D445 Local Forces Battalion. D Company was supported by other Australian units, as well as New Zealand and United States personnel.

The action occurred when D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), part of the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF), encountered the Viet Cong (VC) 275 Regiment and elements of the D445 Local Forces Battalion. D Company was supported by other Australian units, as well as New Zealand and United States personnel.

For several weeks prior to the battle, Australian field intelligence had tracked a radio transmitter moving south but were unsure about what unit it belonged to. Aggressive patrolling failed to find this unit.

For several weeks prior to the battle, Captain Trevor Richards' 547 Signal Troop, had tracked a radio transmitter moving south but were unsure about what unit it belonged to. Aggressive patrolling failed to find this unit.

On the night of 17–18 August, the [[Viet Cong 275th Regiment]] fired over 100 mortar rounds into the 103 Battery area and 22 Australian soldiers were wounded, one later dying from his wounds. B Company 6 RAR was sent out early on the morning of the 18th to find the VC heavy weapons. D Company (to which was attached three [[New Zealand Army]] personnel) relieved B Company at midday. The commander of B Company, [[Major]] [[Noel Ford]], briefed the D Company commander, Major Harry Smith, and B Company returned to base. After discussing the situation with the 6 RAR battalion commander, [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Colin Townsend]], D Company moved to the east towards the limit of their covering artillery range.

On the night of 17–18 August, the [[Viet Cong 275th Regiment]] fired over 100 mortar rounds into the 103 Battery area and 22 Australian soldiers were wounded, one later dying from his wounds. B Company 6 RAR was sent out early on the morning of the 18th to find the VC heavy weapons. D Company (to which was attached three [[New Zealand Army]] personnel) relieved B Company at midday. The commander of B Company, [[Major]] [[Noel Ford]], briefed the D Company commander, Major Harry Smith, and B Company returned to base. After discussing the situation with the 6 RAR battalion commander, [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Colin Townsend]], D Company moved to the east towards the limit of their covering artillery range.

1ATF arrived in Vietnam in May 1966 and was based at the Nui Dat base, in Phuoc Tuy Province. (As of 2005, Nui Dat and Long Tan are both in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.) 6 RAR was composed mainly of conscripts. The Australians faced formidable enemy forces, which were operating on home soil:{{cquote|Within Phouc Tuy and the neighbouring provinces of Bien Hoa, Long Khanh and Binh Tuy, the principle [sic] main force formation… was the 5th NLF Division, which usually had its headquarters in the Mây Tào Mountains. It consisted of 274th Regiment and the 275th Regiment plus supporting units. North Vietnamese regulars were used to boost and reinforce this South Vietnamese Viet Cong formation…<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060207035903/http://www.5rar.asn.au/tactics.htm THE ENEMY AND HIS TACTICS]</ref>}}

1ATF arrived in Vietnam in May 1966 and was based at the Nui Dat base, in Phuoc Tuy Province. (As of 2005, Nui Dat and Long Tan are both in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.) 6 RAR was composed mainly of conscripts. The Australians faced formidable enemy forces, which were operating on home soil:{{cquote|Within Phouc Tuy and the neighbouring provinces of Bien Hoa, Long Khanh and Binh Tuy, the principle [sic] main force formation… was the 5th NLF Division, which usually had its headquarters in the Mây Tào Mountains. It consisted of 274th Regiment and the 275th Regiment plus supporting units. North Vietnamese regulars were used to boost and reinforce this South Vietnamese Viet Cong formation…<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060207035903/http://www.5rar.asn.au/tactics.htm THE ENEMY AND HIS TACTICS]</ref>}}

Members of D Company found new VC tracks and spread out into a wide formation, to maximise the chances of contact. Two platoons led the way, with company headquarters behind them and a third platoon in the rear.

Members of D Company found new VC tracks and spread out into a wide formation, to maximise the chances of contact. Two platoons led the way, with company headquarters behind them and a third platoon in the rear.

 

Against overwhelming odds, all but 17 of 108 Australians survived wave after wave of attack until a relief force in the form of a company arrived in armoured personnel carriers (one soldier died later from his wounds, while 24 were wounded)

In the ensuing battle. all but 17 of 108 Australians survived the Vietnamese human wave attacks, until a relief force in the form of a reinforced company arrived in armoured personnel carriers. One soldier died later from his wounds, while 24 were wounded.

Several light mortar rounds were fired towards the company position landing to the east, most likely the same mortars that had fired at the base on the night of 16 August, causing several casualties. The accompanying [[Forward Observation Officer]] (FO), New Zealand Army Captain [[Morrie Stanley]], organized counter battery fire, neutralizing them, as the mortars were not fired again. This diversion separated the main company slightly from 11 Platoon, putting the main body behind a slight rise.

Several light mortar rounds were fired towards the company position landing to the east, most likely the same mortars that had fired at the base on the night of 16 August, causing several casualties. The accompanying [[Forward Observation Officer]] (FO), New Zealand Army Captain [[Morrie Stanley]], organized counter battery fire, neutralizing them, as the mortars were not fired again. This diversion separated the main company slightly from 11 Platoon, putting the main body behind a slight rise.