The Battle of Binh Ba

This mini doco was made by Memorial staffer Ray McJannett for display in the Australian War Memorial's 'Conflicts 1945 to today' galleries. The footage was shot by Christopher Bellis (b. 1948) working as a photographer for the Australian Army Directorate of Public Relations (DPR). Bellis had been a press photographer in Adelaide before joining the DPR and working in Vietnam between May 1969 and May 1970. Bellis had an eye for a newsworthy subject. Some of his early photographs showing graphic images of the aftermath of battle and the reactions of Vietnamese villagers were considered highly controversial by DPR. In this footage there is a great sense of proximity to the action as Bellis followed alongside the soldiers in actual combat with the enemy forces.

The Battle of Binh Ba was fought in early June 1969 in central Phuoc Tuy Province in a village located 5 kilometres north of the Australian headquarters at Nui Dat. Early in the morning of 6 June an Australian tank and an armoured vehicle had been fired on by a rocket-propelled grenade from a house as they passed through the village of Binh Ba. The village was occupied by a strong combined force of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regulars.

An Australian force of infantry and armour moved in after awaiting approval from the local district chief to enter the village. Extensive efforts were made to clear the village of civilians. Fierce close-quarter fighting ensued, with tanks providing suport with their formidable firepower. The enemy soldiers kept undercover, firing from doorways and windows, then jumping into underground bunkers the villagers had built to protect themselves from attack. By the end of the second day most of the enemy were either dead or had withdrawn. Casualities on the enemy side were heavy - over 100 dead - while one Australian was killed. The town was severely damaged during the battle. Immediately after the battle, Australians were sent to distribute food and aid and to begin work on rebuilding. Regrettably, some civilians were killed during the fighting.

The Battle of Binh Ba was one of the major engagements fought by Australians in Vietnam, and one of the few big battles to be fought in an urban setting - something the Australians generally tried to avoid.

F08332 (Sourced from Memorial archival films F04343 and F04342)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Vietnam
• War
• Australian
• Army
• Infantry
• Military
• Battle

[MusicMadMaurice]

@ 2:15 there is a shot of an APC commander in his 2-gun turret. Can anyone confirm the weapon he has next to him? It looks like an AK47.

[AustWarMemorial]

@MusicMadMaurice

The weapon on the deck of the cupola of the AFV is a Russian AK 47 or more likely its Chinese equivalent - CHICOM Type 56. I hope this helps.

[usavn999]

Autralian soilder was the best fighter in vietnam war.

[scalemetal]

I was just surprised to see my dad in this footage! I heard of this battle but never really knew what went on, As he never really talked about it, well... I never really asked?

Thanks for posting this footage

[paulusvux]

A devastating war in Binh Ba, while Australia has more troops than fire.

[baberaider18]

@usavn999 that is quite true. my dad was in the arvn and the astralians fought like hell

[marcusp540]

130 enemy dead and 8 captured for the loss of 1 brave digger. I remember years ago seeing an interview with a top NVA General who said, when asked why he thought the communists won the war, replied "we were always prepared to loose 1 more soldier; the Americans weren't "

[Stumperx]

@romanlegions, Out of a section of 10 men, the corporal had an M16, the rifle group had SLR's, the gun group had the M60. They also would have a shotgun. This was standard for regular army. They were not mechanized infantry, just regular army infantry. The APC's were their own group that supported the infantry during operations.

[romanlegions]

Just wondering, the issuing of the M16s over the SL1 are decided by what basis? Were they special assault troops? Mechanized infantry or just a first-come-first-serve basis?

[FairladyS130]

Great action footage, Centurion FTW.

[PrivateJoker17]

At 1:56 the soldier is holding what appears to be an M-16A1 with an M203 grenade launcher attatchment. I thought the XM148 was the grenade launcher attatchment of that time and even if it is an XM148 which it doesn't appear to be that would be a rarity among regular infantry in itself.

[bookeater]

My dad was a field enginieer and was in country around this time.I think he would have shat if he saw the guy at 2:45 pulling what could have been a booby trap.