Operation Hump

Operation Hump
Part of the Vietnam War
US paratroopers under heavy fire during Operation Hump.
Date 5–8 November 1965 Location South Vietnam, Bien Hoa Result United States/Australian victory, Vietcong retreats.
Belligerents
United States Australia New Zealand	Vietcong
Commanders and leaders
BGen Ellis W. Williamson	Unknown
Units involved
173rd Airborne Brigade 1 RAR 161 Bty RNZA	Q762 Main Force Regiment and D800 Main Force Battalion
Strength
Total Force around 400	around 1200
Casualties and losses
49 US killed many more wounded 2 Australian MIA (remains located and repatriated to Australia 5 June 2007)	Unknown (US est: 403 killed)

Operation Hump was a search and destroy operation initiated on 8 November 1965 by the 173rd Airborne Brigade, in an area about 17.5 miles (28.2 km) north of Bien Hoa. The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment deployed south of the Dong Nai River while the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, conducted a helicopter assault on an LZ northwest of the Dong Nai and Song Be Rivers. The objective was to drive out Vietcong fighters who had taken position in several key hills. Little contact was made through 7 November, when B and C Companies settled into a night defensive position southeast of Hill 65, in triple-canopy jungled hill.

At about 06:00 on 8 November C Company began a move northwest toward Hill 65, while B Company moved northeast toward Hill 78. Shortly before 08:00, C Company was engaged by a sizeable enemy force well dug in to the southern face of Hill 65, armed with machine guns and shotguns. At 08:45, B Company was directed to wheel in place and proceed toward Hill 65 with the intention of relieving C Company, often relying on fixed bayonets to repel daring close range attacks by small bands of masked Vietcong fighters.

B Company reached the foot of Hill 65 at about 09:30 and moved up the hill. It became obvious that there was a large enemy force in place on the hill, C Company was suffering heavy casualties, and by chance, B Company was forcing the enemy's right flank.

Under pressure from B Company's flanking attack the enemy force—most of Vietcong regiment—moved to the northwest, whereupon the B Company commander called in air and incendiary artillery fire on the retreating rebels. The shells scorched the foliage and caught many rebel fighters ablaze, exploding their ammunition and grenades they carried. B Company halted in place in an effort to locate and consolidate with C Company's platoons and managed to establish a coherent defensive line running around the hilltop from southeast to northwest, but with little cover on the southern side.

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