The Battle of Babang (12 July 1965) was the fourth and last in a series of successful ambushes conducted between in May and July 1965 by Australian troops from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), this time at Babang in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation. The ambushes were conducted under the wider British-Commonwealth Operation Claret, being cross-border operations mounted from bases in Sarawak up to 10,000 yards (9,100 m) into Indonesian territory with aim of disrupting the movement and resupply of Indonesian forces and to keep them off balance.[1]
On 12 July 1965 7 Platoon C Company under Lieutenant Robert Guest—again accompanied by the Company Commander, Major Ivor Hodgkinson, the battalion Intelligence Officer and a fire control party—was occupying an ambush position along a well-used track in the vicinity of the Indonesian base at Babang, on the border. At about midday a force of about 30 Indonesians approached along the track and was subsequently ambushed. The Indonesian platoon counter-attacked and the Australians withdrew under the cover of defensive artillery fire. At least 13 Indonesians were killed and five wounded, while the Australians suffered no losses.[2]
Like the other successful Claret missions conducted by 3 RAR earlier at Sungei Koemba and Kindau, the ambush at Babang inflicted significant casualties on Indonesian forces and allowed it to dominate the border area. This provided early warning of Indonesian incursions into Sarawak as well as contributing to the wider success of the British-Commonwealth forces in slowly asserting control on the war.[3] Of note, generally units on their first tour in Borneo were not allowed to undertake such audacious operations, and as such those conducted by 3 RAR in their first and only tour may not have been representative of those by more experienced Gurkha and British battalions.[4]
Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001) [1998]. The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN978-1-86508-634-7.
Horner, David; Bou, Jean, eds. (2008) [1990]. Duty First: A History of the Royal Australian Regiment (Second ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. ISBN978-1-74175-374-5.
Van der Bijl, Nick (2007). Confrontation, The War with Indonesia 1962—1966. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military Press. ISBN978-1-84415-595-8.
battle, babang, battle, bambangpart, indonesia, malaysia, confrontationdate12, july, 1965locationbabang, kalimantan, indonesian, borneo, resultaustralian, victorybelligerents, australia, indonesiacommanders, leadersivor, hodgkinson, robert, guestunknownstrengt. Battle of BambangPart of the Indonesia Malaysia ConfrontationDate12 July 1965LocationBabang Kalimantan Indonesian Borneo ResultAustralian victoryBelligerents Australia IndonesiaCommanders and leadersIvor Hodgkinson Robert GuestUnknownStrength40 men30 menCasualties and losses2 Wounded13 killed 5 wounded The Battle of Babang 12 July 1965 was the fourth and last in a series of successful ambushes conducted between in May and July 1965 by Australian troops from 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment 3 RAR this time at Babang in Kalimantan Indonesian Borneo during the Indonesia Malaysia Confrontation The ambushes were conducted under the wider British Commonwealth Operation Claret being cross border operations mounted from bases in Sarawak up to 10 000 yards 9 100 m into Indonesian territory with aim of disrupting the movement and resupply of Indonesian forces and to keep them off balance 1 On 12 July 1965 7 Platoon C Company under Lieutenant Robert Guest again accompanied by the Company Commander Major Ivor Hodgkinson the battalion Intelligence Officer and a fire control party was occupying an ambush position along a well used track in the vicinity of the Indonesian base at Babang on the border At about midday a force of about 30 Indonesians approached along the track and was subsequently ambushed The Indonesian platoon counter attacked and the Australians withdrew under the cover of defensive artillery fire At least 13 Indonesians were killed and five wounded while the Australians suffered no losses 2 Like the other successful Claret missions conducted by 3 RAR earlier at Sungei Koemba and Kindau the ambush at Babang inflicted significant casualties on Indonesian forces and allowed it to dominate the border area This provided early warning of Indonesian incursions into Sarawak as well as contributing to the wider success of the British Commonwealth forces in slowly asserting control on the war 3 Of note generally units on their first tour in Borneo were not allowed to undertake such audacious operations and as such those conducted by 3 RAR in their first and only tour may not have been representative of those by more experienced Gurkha and British battalions 4 Notes edit Coulthard Clark 2001 p 274 Coulthard Clark 2001 pp 276 277 Horner amp Bou 2008 p 141 Van der Bijl 2007 p 144 References editCoulthard Clark Chris 2001 1998 The Encyclopaedia of Australia s Battles Second ed Crows Nest Allen amp Unwin ISBN 978 1 86508 634 7 Horner David Bou Jean eds 2008 1990 Duty First A History of the Royal Australian Regiment Second ed Crows Nest Allen amp Unwin ISBN 978 1 74175 374 5 Van der Bijl Nick 2007 Confrontation The War with Indonesia 1962 1966 Barnsley Pen amp Sword Military Press ISBN 978 1 84415 595 8 nbsp This article about the military of Australia is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Babang amp oldid 1189057052, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
