7. Coral and Balmoral Base FSB Coral and FSB Balmoral were established to intercept & disrupt enemy forces withdrawing from Saigon & Bien Hoa-Long Binh base complex.
9. The Attacks on Coral Base Coral Base was situated approximately 7 km north of the town Tan Uyen. FSB Coral had been occupied for a day before it was attacked on 13 May 1968. At 3:30am, artillery and mortar barrages hit FSB Coral. Since it had not been fully established, the defensive capabilities were nowhere near maximum. The battalion of Vietnamese troops stormed in from the jungle and caused panic in the base. No support of any kind was available.
10. The Attacks on Coral Base In the charge, the Vietnamese troops overran the surprised troops of the 1RAR in the mortar position. They also captured the 6th 105mm howitzer of the 102 Field Battery, 12th Field Regiment. All hope seemed lost and the troops seemed doomed. However, the troops stationed at FSB Coral luckily received air support at this time. Helicopters, bombers and other aircraft bombed the forest, routing the Vietnamese troops.
11. The Attacks on Coral Base It took 4 hours (6:30am) to repel the enemy. When the 6th gun pit was recovered, the gun was discovered untouched. The mortar position was strewn with dead 1RAR troops. In the Australian ranks, there were 11 dead and 28 wounded. 55 Vietnamese bodies were found. The howitzer is on display today.
13. The Attacks on Coral Base After the first attack on FSB Coral, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, A squadron’s APC’s and 2 American Artillery Men were sent in to reinforce the base. At 2:30am 16 May, the base was attacked again. A three battalion-strong North Vietnamese force charged from the forest wave after wave. They managed to partially overrun A squadron’s position, but the attack was repelled in 4 hours thanks to napalm air support.
14. The Attacks on Coral Base There were 5 dead Australians after this attack. 19 more soldiers were wounded. There were 34 dead Vietnamese bodies found, but there were many blood trails and drag marks. This indicates that many bodies were dragged away, so a definite death count could not be taken. Both the American Artillery Men were wounded in this battle.
16. The Attacks on Coral Base On the 22 May, the base took another short but intense artillery and mortar barrage. Some North Vietnamese troops charged from the jungle, but were dispersed by 1RAR’s return mortar fire. There were also barrages on the 26th and 28th of May, but no attacks followed. After patrols were dispatched, 3 Australian soldiers were killed but the NVA base was discovered. A tank convoy destroyed it.
17. The Attacks on Balmoral Base The North Vietnamese launched their second major assault against Balmoral at 2.30 am on 28 May 1968. It appeared at first that they were trying to hit 3RAR’s A Company, on Balmoral’s southern side, but this was a feint. As firing died down in this vicinity, a large North Vietnamese force attacked towards D Company on the far side of the base.
18. The Attacks on Balmoral Base Although bush and scrub came right up to Balmoral’s flanks, to the Australians’ surprise the enemy attacked over the same open ground that they had come across two nights earlier. They came under a merciless fire. Their own weapons seemed to be aimed high as much of their fire ripped through the trees, inflicting minimal damage on D Company. Some North Vietnamese troops sought refuge in the deep craters left after a B52 strike on the area days before. Safe from Australian fire in their temporary refuge, they were unable to advance any further. Nor could they retreat and as the battle died down they were trapped. Covering mortar fire gave them a chance to run across the open ground to safety, but most were shot down.
19. The ending After the 28th of may there were no more major assaults on Coral or Balmoral. The Australians withdrew from Coral and Balmoral, the last of them leaving on 6th July.
20. The battles around the bases had cost 25 Australian and at least 300 Vietnamese lives
21. End of Presentation Sources: -Australian War Memorial Powerpoint Presentation by: CDT Du, William 3PLT CDT Wan, Elbert 3PLT Presented by: CDT Sinn, Joshua 3PLT CDT Du, William 3PLT
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