OPERATIONS REDWING - CAPITAL

On  20 July the Fire Support Base was moved further into the area, some 4,000 metres from Route 15.  On 22 July V Company located what appeared to be a sizeable number of enemy in a bunkered camp.  Two platoons were committed but returned to the company base as light faded.   The next day V Company again returned to the camp and came under heavy fire.  The company then withdrew to allow for air strikes, but darkness prevented a return to the scene.  That night the first battalion attack since the Korean War was planned. The attack was preceded by a further air strike and heavy bombardment by two batteries of 105mm and one battery of 155mm guns.   Because of long delays in getting the assault companies to the Start Line through the thick undergrowth, the bombardment was prolonged considerably.  W Company was left assault company with B Company on the right and C Company, 1RAR, in reserve. (C Company 1 RAR just happened to be passing by in-route to Nui Dat.) The attack went in but the defended position had been vacated.  (Just as well as the OC W Company, the CSM and a signaller were the first to step from the jungle into the completely flattened enemy position.)  The scene was one of complete devastation - not a tree or leaf was to be seen on the surface, but many of the bunkers were still intact.  The enemy had flown.   

 The operation ended on 25 July and all companies returned to Nui Dat by air after 33 days continuous operations.  From 25 to 31 July W Company remained in Nui Dat preparing for Operation Lyrebird 

Initially W Company deployed along Route 15 in APCs with Engineers of 17 Construction Squadron, a Land Clearing Team, and a section of Mortars.  Two Fire Support Bases were used during the operation - Hague and Hokonui.  These were within range of the guns in Nui Dat. Generally, the APCs and one platoon provided protection for the engineers, a platoon patrolled well out from the cut, and the third platoon rested and protected the Fire Support Base. The enemy reacted quite vigorously to the operation so elements of B Company later joined W Company to provide greater flexibility in the active patrol programme. On 4 August, the enemy fired automatic weapons and rockets at sentries on the perimeter of Hague and badly damaged two bulldozers. (One bulldozer was buried to extinguish the fire!)  Two members of the Company were injured. On 12 August a platoon on patrol made contact with five Viet Cong who quickly withdrew.  On the follow up an enemy camp was located which contained a large quantity of ammunition and supplies hidden deep in a tunnel system.  During the search of the camp two enemy walked in, one was killed and the other escaped.  Although many signs of the enemy presence were picked up and trails followed, it was not until 29 August that an estimated ten enemy were sighted and engaged with artillery and mortar fire with unknown results.  Also on the 29th an enemy hutted camp of fourteen huts and cookhouse was located and destroyed.    

The operation lasted five weeks and in that time a trail through the jungle some 200 metres wide and 13,500 metres long was cleared,  This was an excellent result considering the heavy rain reduced the area to deep mud and stinking slush.  One night, while at Fire Support Base Hokonui, the Command Post had to be vacated as it turned into a swimming pool!  W Company returned to Nui Dat on 4 September to prepare for Operation Innamincka.

As the result of intelligence indicating a likely consignment of rockets being moved from east to west,  W Company was unexpectedly uplifted by helicopter (and V Company from the Fire Support Base by APCs) and moved north into the Don Dien de Courtenay rubber plantation early on the 14th.  Soon after dispersing from the LZ a platoon had a clash with an unknown sized group of enemy deployed along a stream bed.  A member of the platoon, Pte BJ Petersen, was killed by a sniper  in a concealed hole in the ground during a search of the area. Later that day there was another clash with two enemy and another with three the following day.    

While V Company moved into blocking positions on the western edge of the rubber, W company began a detailed search of the area of the stream bed,  Gradually a complex system of tunnels was revealed containing tons of supplies for the Viet Cong, including medical supplies and ample new US Army torches to equip both V and W Companies!  Leaving the find to the engineers to destroy, both V and W Companies were uplifted by helicopter to re-join the rest of the battalion who had moved to a new AO. The new AO was Canowindra and all companies had productive contacts. While approaching the W Company LZ ,Viet Cong were sighted on the jungle edge but it was decided to land. A fire-fight developed immediately with a group of about eight enemy and at least two were killed.  On the follow up, blood trails were lost as the light failed.  That night, a lone enemy approached Company headquarters but quickly withdrew into the darkness before a shot was fired.   

 V Company killed ten enemy in two days, while C Company killed four Viet Cong withdrawing from a camp being attacked by B Company.  C Company later attacked a camp of 150 bunkers killing at least two Viet Cong.  A large amount of equipment, including two 122mm rockets and detailed maps of all major installations throughout South Vietnam, were captured.  Documents indicated that the battalion was in the area of the headquarters of 84 Rocket Regiment. W Company continued patrolling with no further contacts but located many fortified areas which had been recently vacated.   A platoon even reported finding some elephant tracks which led to much speculation on the mode of transport being used by the Viet Cong!    

All companies returned to Nui Dat by air on 24 September well satisfied with the results of the operation.