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The '''Battle of Long Tần''' was fought in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tần, about 4 km north-east of Vung Tau, South Vietnam on August 18–19, 1966. The actual fighting lasted a few hours and came to symbolise Australia’s 10-year involvement in the Vietnam War.

The '''Battle of Long Tần''' was fought in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tần, about 4 km north-east of Vung Tau, South Vietnam on August 18–19, 1966. The actual fighting lasted a few hours and came to symbolise Australia’s 10-year involvement in the Vietnam War.

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

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.

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.

The wounded (from 1 Field Regiment) were all taken to the underground shelter and were treated by military surgeon John Taske.

The wounded (from 1 Field Regiment) were all taken to the underground shelter and were treated by military surgeon John Taske.

The mortar attack was widely viewed in 103 Battery as a preliminary operation to induce a response form the Australians. By that measure, Norris was arguably the first man mortally wounded in the Battle of Long Tan.

The mortar attack was widely viewed in 1 Field Regiment as a preliminary operation to induce a response form the Australians. By that measure, the wounded 103 Battery gunners were arguably the first casualties in the Battle of Long Tan.

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.

B (Bravo) Company 6 RAR was sent out early on the morning of the 18th to find the VC heavy weapons. Delta Company (to which was attached three [[New Zealand Army]] personnel) relieved Bravo Company at midday. The commander of Bravo Company, [[Major]] [[Noel Ford]], briefed the Delta Company commander, Major Harry Smith, and Bravo Company returned to base. After discussing the situation with the 6th RAR battalion commander, [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Colin Townsend]], Delta Company moved to the east towards the limit of their covering artillery range.

The battle is often used in Australian officer training as an example of the importance of combining and coordinating infantry, artillery, armour and military aviation.

The battle is often used in Australian officer training as an example of the importance of combining and coordinating infantry, artillery, armour and military aviation.