greatest tank battles vietnam armoured attack

Soldiers at Fire Support Base Coral unloading supplies from a hovering Iroquois helicopter, May 1968. These actions made up Australia’s most costly and protracted battle of the Vietnam War.

Between 12 May and 6 June 1968, 25 Australian lives were lost, with many more wounded. Patrols continued in the area until the Australians withdrew on 6 June. FSB Balmoral was attacked twice by the enemy. On 24 May, some Australian soldiers moved about 4.5 km north of FSB Coral to set up FSB Balmoral. FSB Coral became a strong defensive position. Nine Australian soldiers were killed and 28 wounded. Australian artillerymen, mortarmen and machine gunners in the direct line of the enemy’s attack came under intense fire. The enemy was watching and attacked FSB Coral in the early morning of 13 May. Helicopters were delivering soldiers and equipment to the site throughout the day. The soldiers at FSB Coral would intercept and disrupt enemy forces approaching or withdrawing from Saigon.

It was an area the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong used to launch attacks on Saigon. On, Australian and New Zealand forces set up Fire Support Base (FSB) Coral, about 7 km north of Tan Uyen.

Greatest tank battles vietnam armoured attack