| Operation Coburg |
| 12 - 24 February 1968 |
Operation Coburg was a Task Force operation involving two battalions north east and east
of the Long Binh-Bien Hoa complex (near Saigon). W Company was initially placed under
operational control of 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment for reconnaissance in force
operations. The preceding week had seen the commencement of the 1968 Tet Offensive
and the task force were deployed across enemy exfiltration routes from the Bien Hoa areas
which had been under heavy attack during Tet.
During this operation the Company had three contacts, the most significant on 15 February
was with 12 to 15 Viet Cong. Two Viet Cong were killed, one wounded, and a weapon and
pack recovered, with no friendly casualties. However, a day earlier, a member of the
Company
returning from patrol was wounded by friendly fire as he approached the company base
through thick undergrowth.
On 24 February, while on the move to secure a new Fire Support Base for 3 RAR, orders
were
received to return to a known Landing Zone (LZ) to be uplifted by helicopter for return to
Nui Dat to prepare for another operation with the ANZAC Battalion. This was perhaps
fortunate as the Fire Support Base, the Company was on its way to secure, came under
heavy attack a few nights later and the perimeter was breached with heavy friendly
casualties.
of the Long Binh-Bien Hoa complex (near Saigon). W Company was initially placed under
operational control of 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment for reconnaissance in force
operations. The preceding week had seen the commencement of the 1968 Tet Offensive
and the task force were deployed across enemy exfiltration routes from the Bien Hoa areas
which had been under heavy attack during Tet.
During this operation the Company had three contacts, the most significant on 15 February
was with 12 to 15 Viet Cong. Two Viet Cong were killed, one wounded, and a weapon and
pack recovered, with no friendly casualties. However, a day earlier, a member of the
Company
returning from patrol was wounded by friendly fire as he approached the company base
through thick undergrowth.
On 24 February, while on the move to secure a new Fire Support Base for 3 RAR, orders
were
received to return to a known Landing Zone (LZ) to be uplifted by helicopter for return to
Nui Dat to prepare for another operation with the ANZAC Battalion. This was perhaps
fortunate as the Fire Support Base, the Company was on its way to secure, came under
heavy attack a few nights later and the perimeter was breached with heavy friendly
casualties.
