TANKS THROUGH JUNGLE; TROOPS SEARCH; CAPTURED RICE LOADED ON TRUCK.




Initials PK/VS/CR/OS



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Background: THE ONSET OF THE MONSOON SEASON HAS REDUCED AIR AND GROUND ACTIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM BUT DURING ONE DRIVE BY TROOPS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT A LARGE RICE STORE WAS DISCOVERED IN A JUNGLE HIDING PLACE. THE TROOPS, OF THE FOURTH BATTALION, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT, SUPPORTED BY TANKS, FOUND THE RICE STORE DURING A SEARCH FOR VIET CONG CAMP SITES.

THE CACHE WAS REPORTED TO BE THE LARGEST YET FOUND BY THE AUSTRALIANS IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

SUPPORTED BY THE TANKS AND ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS, THE TROOPS THOROUGHLY SEARCHED THE AREA FOR MORE CAMPS OR CACHES.

DURING THE OPERATION, MORE THAN 43 TONS (43,680 KILOGRAMS) OF BAGGED RICE WAS RECOVERED. THIS WAS LOADED ON TO ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS AND TAKEN TO A FORWARD BASE. THERE IT WAS LOADED ONTO TRUCKS FOR RETURN TO THE MILITARY CENTRE AT NUI DAT.

SOME OF THE RICE WAS GIVEN TO SOUTH VIETNAMESE ARMY UNITS AND THE REMAINDER HELD FOR DISTRIBUTION TO NEEDY FAMILIES, AND ORPHANAGES IN PHUOC TUY PROVINCE.