| Operation Cooktown Orchid |
| 1 - 23 April 1968 |
Cooktown Orchid was a series of concurrent company group operations conducted generally
in the area of the Long Hai mountains and surrounding the Horseshoe. Initially, on 6 April, W
Company participated in Cooktown Orchid IV with C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment. This
was a mounted reconnaissance in force in the Long Green area. Only one contact was made
with a small enemy party but 14 Viet Cong camps were destroyed and a quantity of
equipment captured by the time the operation concluded on 9 April.
On 10 April the Company commenced Operation Cooktown Orchid V. The aim of this
operation was to destroy the mines in the minefield between the Horseshoe and the sea,
using a Centurion Tank towing a heavy platform. A Troop of the Armoured Squadron,
elements of the Cavalry Squadron and an Engineer Combat Team were placed under
command of W Company.
During the occupation of a night harbour on 10 April three members of W Company were
wounded by a mine or booby trap. Clearing the mines commenced on 11 April but was
terminated later in the day because of extensive damage to the tanks. While closing the gaps
in the minefield on 12 April a mine, only recently laid by the Viet Cong, was detonated and
killed two members of the Company and wounded five others. The armoured group dispersed
on 13 April and W Company participated in a cordon and search of a village on 14 April (13
suspect Viet Cong were detained), and then returned to Nui Dat late on that day to conduct
local patrols.
On 18 April W Company relieved C Company on Operation Cooktown Orchid I - land clearing
with bulldozers in the jungle area along the northern slopes of the Long Hai mountains. The
platoons provided protection for the engineers and conducted active patrolling either side of
the cut. A number of new and old camps were destroyed and a large quantity of small arms
ammunition and other equipment was recovered. On the 22 April W Company was relieved
by the Task Force Reinforcement Unit, and returned to Nui Dat.
in the area of the Long Hai mountains and surrounding the Horseshoe. Initially, on 6 April, W
Company participated in Cooktown Orchid IV with C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment. This
was a mounted reconnaissance in force in the Long Green area. Only one contact was made
with a small enemy party but 14 Viet Cong camps were destroyed and a quantity of
equipment captured by the time the operation concluded on 9 April.
On 10 April the Company commenced Operation Cooktown Orchid V. The aim of this
operation was to destroy the mines in the minefield between the Horseshoe and the sea,
using a Centurion Tank towing a heavy platform. A Troop of the Armoured Squadron,
elements of the Cavalry Squadron and an Engineer Combat Team were placed under
command of W Company.
During the occupation of a night harbour on 10 April three members of W Company were
wounded by a mine or booby trap. Clearing the mines commenced on 11 April but was
terminated later in the day because of extensive damage to the tanks. While closing the gaps
in the minefield on 12 April a mine, only recently laid by the Viet Cong, was detonated and
killed two members of the Company and wounded five others. The armoured group dispersed
on 13 April and W Company participated in a cordon and search of a village on 14 April (13
suspect Viet Cong were detained), and then returned to Nui Dat late on that day to conduct
local patrols.
On 18 April W Company relieved C Company on Operation Cooktown Orchid I - land clearing
with bulldozers in the jungle area along the northern slopes of the Long Hai mountains. The
platoons provided protection for the engineers and conducted active patrolling either side of
the cut. A number of new and old camps were destroyed and a large quantity of small arms
ammunition and other equipment was recovered. On the 22 April W Company was relieved
by the Task Force Reinforcement Unit, and returned to Nui Dat.
