HISTORY

104th FIELD BATTERY
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY
VIETNAM 1968 - 1969 & 1971

104 Field Battery has the distinction of being the only field battery of 12 Field Regiment to have served two tours of duty in South Vietnam. 104 also has the distinction  of being the last field battery to depart South Vietnam.

The 104^th Medium Battery, equipped with 5.5” BL Guns was formed during 1965. During 1967 the 5.5” Guns were replaced with 105mm M2A2 Howitzers and as a consequence 104 became a designated Field Battery.

Training for deployment to SVN began in earnest from that time. In May 1968 104 deployed to SVN as part of 12 Field Regiment. 104 was the Direct Fire Support Battery for 4RAR/NZ . An extract from Mission in Vietnam, a history of 4RAR/NZ tour of Vietnam Jun 1968-May 1969 says: “104 Field Battery provided splendidly accurate and sustained support throughout the tour. The battery became such a close-knit part of the Anzac battalion team the artillerymen were invited to contribute as full members in the production of this book”.

While giving that support the battery established a reputation for rapid and accurate artillery fire and at the same time developed an extremely close bond with the battalion – a relationship much closer and deeper than would be normally expected between units from different corps.

The battery excelled when they could work in conditions they and the infantry understood.

104 Field Battery returned to Australia in May 69 and was stationed at Holsworthy before moving to Townsville.

1970 and early 1971 was devoted to training for a 2^nd tour of South Vietnam.

The battery was fortunate to have a nucleus of experienced soldiers who had already completed a tour with 104 previously. The battery was fully aware of the very high standards that had been established by 104 during 1968-1969.

104 redeployed to SVN in May 1971, once again the DS battery for 4RAR/NZ.

During this tour the infantrymen of 4RAR/NZ came to have such confidence in the 104^th Field Battery that the Task Force Standing Order, stating that the 1^st round of a Fire Mission had to be directed 1000m in front of the leading elements, was waived for the first time. And, as a mark of affection, the infantrymen of 4RAR/NZ began to
refer to the battery as “104 Company”

104 provided the Fire Support for the TF withdrawal from Nui Dat to Vung Tau in November 1971,thus completing their designated role with 4RAR/NZ.

Members from both tours of Vietnam established their own proud legacy whether it being the “Germs” from 1968-69 or the “Professionals” from 1971.

104 Field Battery was accorded a Civic Reception in Townsville on their return to Australia in December 1971.

THE BATTLE OF NUI LE

Gary McKay's “Delta Four” and Jerry Taylor's “Last Out”, books written about 4RAR’s experiences in South Vietnam from 1971 to 1972, describe an action in South Vietnam in September 1971 in which Delta Company 4RAR found itself in a bit of a pickle.

B Coy was already in the middle of a fire fight some 5 kilometres away but the battle of Nui Le started for D Company at 0815 hours on 21 September 1971. The whole Australian Task Force and probably half of the US Air Force were either directly or indirectly involved in support of the company.

D Coy in 14 hours of fighting from the time of contact had advanced, attacked a large battalion sized bunker system and had withdrawn. Now night time,  the company discovered that it had established a night defensive position in between the Headquarters of 33 Regiment, North Vietnamese Army and 2nd Battalion, 33 Regiment, North Vietnamese Army.

85 Australians against more than 600 enemy dug in, in fortified bunkers! Most would think that the odds were fair but D Company had suffered five dead and nine wounded during the day and it was feared that the company might be annihilated should the enemy press a determined assault that night. The enemy maintained accurate small arms fire on the company during the night while D Company waited and prepared for the attack which could have had catastrophic results but which fortunately, never came. Perhaps the enemy did not like the odds!

Throughout the next day there were numerous sightings from the air of enemy foot tracks heading North but little sightings of actual enemy. Was the enemy merely clearing their wounded or had they broken contact? No one knew.

At 1739 hours, Victor Company, the Kiwis, married up with Delta Company. The Task Force breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what still might happen, the Australians of Delta Company 4RAR and the New Zealanders of Victor Company 4RAR would be facing it together.

The next day, 23 September, dawned quietly for the battle weary Delta Company and the apprehensive Victor Company. Delta Company secured the start line for an assault into the enemy bunker system by Victor Company.

Victor Company began the assault at 1105 hours moving in very short bounds in torrential rainfall through bomb and artillery craters and fallen timber and it wasn't until 1725 hours that they reached the bunkers where they found the bodies of three Australians from 11 Platoon who had been killed in the previous bunker assault by D Company.

Members of D Company moved forward with litters to bring their three young warriors away. Major Jerry Taylor insisted that D Coy would bring back their own, as it should.

V Company had cleared a rough track back to the helicopter winch point and secured it by placing riflemen at intervals along the track. As the three litters passed, the New Zealanders in succession, stood, faced inwards, stood to attention in succession and shouldered arms. It was an eloquent and moving gesture: the tribute of warriors to fallen comrades.

There are two ways to win a war. The first is to take away the enemies capability to fight and the other is to take away his will to fight. D Company at the battle of Nui Le along with B Company who were also involved  in contacts with the enemy nearby, did both. When D coy attacked the 33rd Regiment of the NVA on 21 September 1971, they inflicted very heavy casualties on the 33rd Regiment including the battalion commander of the 3rd battalion who was killed by Australian artillery.

To describe the individual efforts of the soldiers of D Company during the battle would be akin to writing up individual citations for gallantry for all. 

It would take too long here to describe the battle in detail but mention must be made of the support given by 104 Battery RAA who fired some 2074 rounds in support and the RAAF who flew 16 Bushranger missions, nine dustoffs and five opdems. 
 
This was the first time that the enemy having received a very bloody nose, had refused to fight Australians.

The battle caused the 33rd Regiment of the NVA to flee from the battle ground, to flee from Phouc Tuy Province and to abandon their aim of destroying the Task Force base at Nui Dat.

4RAR, it’s supporting arms and services and in particular D Company had taken away both the enemies capability to fight and their willingness to fight. The 33rd Regiment having been soundly defeated at the battle of Nui Le never entered Phouc Tuy Province again. The battle of Nui Le was the first great battle fought by 4RAR and the last battle fought by Australians in South Viet Nam.