{"html":"\u003cdiv class=\"timeline-details-description \"\u003e\n  \u003ch4 class=\"js-timeline-anchor timeline-anchor\"\u003eOperation Ivanhoe / Battle of Niu Le\u003c/h4\u003e\n  \u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan class=\"tiny-mce-heading-color\"\u003eOperation Ivanhoe and the Battle of Nui Le - South Vietnam 1971\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h4\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe last Australian Operation of its Vietnam War, prior to their withdrawal from Vietnam in December 1971, Operation Ivanhoe took place between 18 September-2 October 1971, from the Australian base in Phuoc Tuy Province in South Vietnam, and included a major action at Nui Le.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIntelligence reports had alerted 4RAR/NZ to the presence of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops in northern Phuoc Tuy. The battalion engaged the enemy and became involved in heavy fighting. Although it sustained comparatively high casualties during these engagements, 4RAR/NZ was successful in hindering NVA attempts to move further south.  The Operation was conducted in the knowledge that sensitivity in Australia to casualties this late in their deployment, would be high.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTask Force Elements Involved\u003c/strong\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe 4th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment/New Zealand Battalion (4RAR/NZ – the ANZAC Battalion) led the operation.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSupported by:\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOne Company of the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) detached under command\u003cbr\u003eA Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment (M113 APC)\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers\u003cbr\u003e12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAir support was provided by:\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eNo. 9 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) - UH 'Iroquois' helicopters\u003cbr\u003e161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight \u003cbr\u003eUnited States Air Force and Army aircraft.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike previous operations there were no tanks in support because they had been extracted for return to Australia, earlier.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Australians were ranged against the battle-hardened 33rd North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Regiment who were trying to establish themselves in Phuoc Tuy province. NVA units had been detected south-east of the Courtenay rubber plantation on the border between the neighbouring Long Khanh province fromwhencethe enemy had come.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOpening engagements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e4RAR/NZ's D Company had come straight off another operation and concurrently with resupply, they  received orders for Ivanhoe and began their battle procedure and deployment. They began  searching for sign of 2 NVA battalions thought to bein relatively close proximity. About 30 minutes into the patrol, the lead section of one platoon ran up against the rear section of another.  In the gloom of the thick jungle, they didn't recognise one another. In the ensuing confusion and exchange of fire, a 'friendly fire' incident occurred resulting in one KIA and one WIA.  Not a good start.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSporadic but intensifying contacts ensued over the following days.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAn APC section was ambushed at Courtenay Plantation just inside the Long Kanh Provincial boundary, driving into a well sited and executed ambush by 20 or so NVA, armed with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG).  Fortunatley, they missed the lead APC, and they carried out their counter ambush drill by turning and driving into the attackers raking the area with their heavy .50 cal machine guns.  One Australian soldier was wounded and one NVA soldier KIA.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eWhen B Coy 6RAR deployed to the vicinity of the ambush, as a reaction force,  they fortuitously dismounted sooner than originally intended due to vegetation density, and avoided driving into another ambush set by 3/33 NVA Battalion for exactly that purpose.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eMeanwhile the infantry elements were encountering lots of 'sign' of enemy foot traffic.  A contact occurred between 11 Platoon B Coy (2LT G.J. McKay) with an enemy Platoon, killing an enemy scout.  The well trained enemy returned heavy fore and extracted in good order.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eNext day (21 Sep) 11 (McKay) and 12 Pl (2LT GD Spinkston) followed up  track system.  12Pl halted and a recce group had gone forward when they bumped a bunker system and took fire.  A MG gunner (PTE J Duff) was killed and several wounded including the Platoon Commander (Spinkston). Another soldier (PTE C J Kemp tried to retrieve Duff's body but was ordered to withdraw.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Company Commander (MAJ JH Taylor) then attemtped to consolidate the company around a winch point from which to extract casualties, secured by 10Platoon (2LT KM Byrne).  11 Platoon (McKay) was engaged while trying to get to the rendezvous.  Air observation revealed large numbers of enemy moving in the area and a lot of close air support descended on the area.  The volume of ground fire directed at the aircraft revealed a serious enemy force was present.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Main Event\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eMore to follow\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Battle of Nui Le\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCompiled by Steve Larkins Sep 2025 from the following sources\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eFairhead, LTCOL F. 'A Duty Done - History of the Royal Australian Regiment in the Vietnam War' ISBN 978-0-9924704-1-8'\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) (2023 ), Operation Ivanhoe and the Battle of Nui Le 1971, DVA Anzac Portal, accessed 29 September 2025, https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/vietnam-war-1962-1975/events/combat/battle-of-nui-le-1971\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}