A DUTY DONE
Clearing the Task Force TAOR to the West After the Battle of Long Tan, 1ATF concentrated on clearing the TAOR of enemy bases and improving the defences at the Nui Dat Base. One area that needed to be cleared was to the west of Nui Dat including the hills of Nui Dinh and Nui Thi Vai. The first operation to action this was Operation Vaucluse, conducted by 6RAR in the Nui Dinh Hills from 8 to 24 September 1966. On 8 September a US Air Mobile Company flew the battalion to a Landing Zone secured by 5RAR as its extraction Pickup Zone from Operation Toledo (23 August – 8 September). On 9 September, following a predawn B 52 bombing strike (the first of many in 1ATF’s area of operations), the Battalion commenced a phased operation into the hills, concentrating in a Battalion Harbour on 10 September. There were only a few contacts made with the enemy including one on 14 September by 2 Platoon (Sgt FX Alcorta) (1); the Platoon came across a VC squad and led from the front by the Platoon Commander, assaulted the enemy killing three. On 17 September B Company (Maj NE Ford) discovered a large permanent installation (200 x 200 metres square) (2). The camp, of some 20 huts with defensive weapon pits and tunnels, had been occupied by the Chau Duc District Unit that had left on 14 September. For his courage and leadership in the 14 September contact, Sgt FX Alcorta was awarded a Mentioned In Despatches
Troops from C Company 6RAR patrolling in thick country on the Nui Dinh Hills. AWM FOR/66/0796/VN
In October 1966, the US commenced its build up of forces with a brigade of the 4 th US Infantry Division arriving in Vung Tau for movement to Bear Cat. 1 ATF was responsible for the security of Route 15, the main route between Vung Tau and Saigon, as it passed through Phuoc Tuy Province. The task of clearing the Nui Ong Trinh and Nui Thi Vai hills was given to 5RAR reinforced by a company of 6RAR. Thus began a series of operations: Canberra (6-10 October) to clear the Nui Thi Vai; Robin (11-16 October) to picket Route 15; and, Queanbeyan (17-26 October) to continue the clearance of the Nui Thi Vai. 30