OFFICIAL HISTORY OF AUST SE CONFLICT
2 primary works
Book 2
"To Long Tan" is the second volume of the "Official History" of Australia's involvement in Southeast Asian conflicts from 1948-1975 and the first of two volumes on Australian ground operations in Vietnam. It explains the development of strategy and defence policies since World War II, the rationale for the deployment of forces to Vietnam in the context of international events, and the distinctive experience of those forces until the Battle of Long Tan in August 1966. It throws new light on Long Tan itself and depicts the Australian experience in Vietnam. Ian McNeill addresses the conflict between the Allies as different methods of operating were employed, and details the great changes to the army these new directions created.
Book 8
This eighth volume in the "Official History" series tells the story of the Australian Army in Vietnam in the most tumultuous period of the Vietnam War. The book shows how the Australian Task Force coped with the difficulties and dangers of operating with two infantry battalions and limited resources against an elusive and aggressive enemy. It describes the construction of the controversial barrier minefield and the consequences and failure of this project. It also covers the pivotal Tet Offensive and the Australian response which culminated in the fierce actions around Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral as Australian soldiers fought their most sustained and intensive battles of the Vietnam War. Included is a new interpretation of the failures in planning and execution of operations on the eve of the major battles around Fire Support Base Coral which almost resulted in disaster for the Australian force. Authors Ian McNeill and Ashley Ekins have had unrestricted access to official government records, including highly classified defence files.
They have supplemented this material with extensive interviews with participants, personal papers and correspondence, discussions with former Viet Cong and communist Vietnamese histories. Their work is marked by unflinching critical analysis and candour about the successes and failures of the Australian Army experience in Vietnam and covers the Australian involvement in Vietnam at virtually every level, from the senior commanders and planners to the experiences of infantrymen on patrol and in contact with the enemy.
They have supplemented this material with extensive interviews with participants, personal papers and correspondence, discussions with former Viet Cong and communist Vietnamese histories. Their work is marked by unflinching critical analysis and candour about the successes and failures of the Australian Army experience in Vietnam and covers the Australian involvement in Vietnam at virtually every level, from the senior commanders and planners to the experiences of infantrymen on patrol and in contact with the enemy.