Battle of Long Tan: What Happened on 18 August 1966: Few engagements in Australian and New Zealand military history carry the enduring significance of the Battle of Long Tan.
Fought on the stormy afternoon of long tan 18 august 1966 inside a rubber plantation in former Phuoc Tuy Province (now Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Southern Vietnam), this fierce three-hour clash pitted 105 Australian infantrymen of d company 6rar long tan and a three-man New Zealand artillery forward observation party against an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops.
In this detailed historical guide, we examine the prelude to the battle of long tan 1966, trace the timeline of events as the monsoon storm broke, explore how the battlefield looks today compared to 1966, and share practical tips for visiting the Long Tan Cross Memorial.
Table of Contents
Key Facts: Battle of Long Tan (18 August 1966)
- Date & Time: Afternoon and evening of 18 August 1966 (main engagement roughly 3:40 PM to 7:10 PM)
- Location: Long Tan Rubber Plantation, Long Tan Commune, Dat Do District, former Phuoc Tuy Province (modern-day Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province), Vietnam
- Allied Forces: D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR – 105 men) plus a 3-man 161st Battery Royal New Zealand Artillery forward observation team; supported by Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. artillery at Nui Dat, RAAF No. 9 Squadron helicopters, and A Company, 6 RAR riding M113A1 APCs from 3 Troop, 1 APC Squadron
- Vietnamese Forces: Viet Cong D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion and 275 Regiment, 5th Division (People’s Army of Vietnam)
- Reported Casualties (Australian Records): 18 Australians killed (17 from D Company and 1 APC crewman) and 24 wounded; 245 Viet Cong dead counted on the battlefield the following morning
- Reported Casualties (Vietnamese Accounts): Vietnamese historical sources report approximately 500 Allied casualties and 50 to 150 Vietnamese troops killed or wounded
Prelude to the Battle of Long Tan 1966
In mid-1966, the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) established its main operational headquarters at Nui Dat Base to secure Phuoc Tuy Province and disrupt communist supply routes linking rural villages like the Long Phuoc Tunnels with coastal bases.
At 2:43 AM on the night of 16–17 August 1966, Nui Dat Base came under heavy mortar and recoilless rifle fire from positions east of the perimeter, wounding 24 Australian soldiers and damaging vehicles and tents. At dawn, B Company, 6 RAR was dispatched east toward Long Tan to locate the mortar firing positions and track the withdrawing force. Around midday on long tan 18 august 1966, d company 6rar long tan—commanded by Major Harry Smith—marched out from Nui Dat to relieve B Company and continue the search through the rubber plantation.
Timeline: What Happened on Long Tan 18 August 1966
3:10 PM – Advancing Through the Edge of the Rubber Plantation
At approximately 3:10 PM on long tan 18 august 1966, soldiers of d company 6rar long tan moved along a dirt track on the edge of the Long Tan rubber plantation, scanning the tree lines for the force responsible for the mortar attack on Nui Dat earlier that day. To their right lay Nui Dat Base, situated beneath the distant slopes of the Nui Dinh mountains.
3:40 PM – First Contact & The Monsoon Downpour
Shortly after 3:40 PM, D Company’s leading 11 Platoon encountered a squad of enemy soldiers moving along a plantation track and opened fire. Within minutes, 11 Platoon came under intense automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), and mortar fire from a vastly larger force advancing through the rubber trees. Almost simultaneously, a torrential tropical monsoon storm broke over the battlefield, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters and turning the red clay earth into thick mud.
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Outnumbered Ten to One & Artillery Lifeline
As 10 Platoon moved forward on the left flank to assist 11 Platoon, Major Harry Smith realized D Company was facing a regiment-sized force attempting to encircle and overrun his platoons. Pulling 10 and 11 Platoons back into a tight defensive perimeter alongside 12 Platoon and Company Headquarters, d company 6rar long tan held off repeated ground assaults for over three hours.
Crucial to their survival was continuous, pinpoint artillery support called in by New Zealand forward observer Captain Morrie Stanley—firing over 3,000 rounds from Australian 105mm guns, New Zealand 161st Battery howitzers, and supporting U.S. 155mm batteries at Nui Dat Base, often landing within 50 meters of the Australian perimeter.
6:00 PM – RAAF Ammunition Resupply & APC Relief Column
With ammunition running critically low in the blinding rain, two UH-1B Iroquois helicopters of No. 9 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew at treetop height through the storm at 6:00 PM to drop boxes of ammunition and blankets directly onto D Company’s position. Meanwhile, back at Nui Dat Base, A Company, 6 RAR mounted ten M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) of 3 Troop, 1 APC Squadron and charged east through flooded creeks and rubber rows, arriving just before dusk around 7:00 PM to break the final enemy assault and end the battle of long tan 1966.
Long Tan Battlefield – Then and Now
Standing on the edge of the former plantation today offers a powerful visual connection to the events of long tan 18 august 1966. Comparing historical reconstructions of D Company, 6 RAR advancing at 3:10 PM on 18 August 1966 with modern photographs of the exact same location—such as field documentation captured on 22 July 2026—shows how the landscape has evolved over six decades.
Although paved rural roads have replaced red dirt tracks, power lines run along the roadside, and local farmland now occupies sections of the former rubber estate, the defining topographical features remain clearly recognizable. Looking across the open fields toward the tree line and the distant silhouette of the Nui Dinh mountains beneath Nui Dat helps visitors understand the exact lines of sight, distances, and terrain that shaped the Battle of Long Tan.
Visiting the Long Tan Battlefield & Cross Memorial Today
Today, the centerpiece of the battlefield is the Long Tan Cross Memorial—a white replica of the original concrete cross erected secretly by 6 RAR soldiers on 18 August 1969 to honor their fallen comrades. Visitors can walk quietly beneath the rubber trees, read the commemorative plaque, and pay their respects.
If you are planning to visit Long Tan and Nui Dat in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, explore our historical tours and planning guides:
- Full-Day Battlefield Excursion from Saigon: Book our private Long Tan Nui Dat BattleField Tour (see also how to get to Long Tan from Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam War Tours from Ho Chi Minh City: Best Battle Sites).
- Cruise Ship & Coastal Departures: Traveling from the port or beach? Check out our Long Tan Nui Dat Tour from Phu My Port and Long Tan Tour from Vung Tau.
- Veteran & Commemorative Pilgrimages: Plan a custom return with our Australian Veterans Tour Vietnam, or travel for ANZAC Day (25 April) and Long Tan Day (18 August).
- Complete Destination Guide: Read our full Long Tan Nui Dat Travel Guide for weather tips, passport check-in rules, and local etiquette.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Battle of Long Tan
What happened during the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966?
On the afternoon of 18 August 1966, 105 Australian soldiers of D Company, 6 RAR and a 3-man New Zealand artillery forward observation team encountered an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops inside a rubber plantation near Long Tan. Fighting in a torrential monsoon storm for over three hours, D Company held off repeated assaults with heavy artillery support from Nui Dat, an RAAF helicopter ammunition drop, and an M113A1 APC relief column at dusk.
How many soldiers were killed in the Battle of Long Tan 1966?
According to Australian military records, 18 Australians were killed (17 from D Company, 6 RAR and 1 from 1 APC Squadron) and 24 were wounded, while 245 Viet Cong dead were counted on the battlefield the next day. Vietnamese historical accounts report approximately 500 Allied casualties and 50 to 150 Vietnamese troops killed or wounded.
Why did D Company 6RAR Long Tan enter the rubber plantation on 18 August 1966?
Following a nighttime mortar and recoilless rifle attack on Nui Dat Base on 16–17 August 1966, D Company, 6 RAR was sent out around midday on 18 August 1966 to relieve B Company and track the enemy force responsible for shelling the base.
Can you still see the Battle of Long Tan site today?
Yes. While paved roads and local farmland have replaced parts of the former rubber plantation, the surrounding terrain—including the view toward Nui Dat and the Nui Dinh mountains—remains recognizable, and visitors can pay their respects at the Long Tan Cross Memorial standing on the battleground.
Do I need a passport to visit the Battle of Long Tan site?
Yes. All foreign visitors must present their original passport (or a clear printed copy/photo of the passport ID page) for routine security registration at the Long Tan Cross Memorial gate.
