Operation Bribie, also known as the Battle of Ap My An, was fought during the Vietnam War in Phuoc Tuy province between Australian forces from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and two companies of Viet Cong from D445 Battalion, likely reinforced by North Vietnamese regulars. During the night of 16 February the Viet Cong attacked a South Vietnamese Regional Force compound at Lang Phuoc Hai, before withdrawing the following morning after heavy fighting with South Vietnamese forces. Two hours later, a Viet Cong company was reported to have formed a tight perimeter in the rainforest 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Lang Phuoc Hai, near the abandoned hamlet of Ap My An. In response, the Australians deployed a quick reaction force. Anticipating that the Viet Cong would attempt to withdraw, as they had during previous encounters, forces from the 1st Australian Task Force were inserted to block the likely withdrawal route in the hope of intercepting and destroying them.
Australian soldiers from 6 RAR being picked up by helicopter during Operation Bribie, 17 February 1967.
5 Platoon, B Company 6 RAR prior to Operation Bribie. Half the platoon became casualties during the fighting.
Armament of an AC-47 Spooky gunship, similar to that used during Operation Bribie.
Australian Centurion tanks at Vung Tau in South Vietnam during 1968
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a mechanised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Brisbane, Queensland, on 6 June 1965 and has since then served in a number of overseas deployments and conflicts including South Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. During the Vietnam War, the battalion earned a US Presidential Unit Citation from the United States when members from 'D' Company participated in the Battle of Long Tan on 18–19 August 1966. The battalion is currently based at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane and forms part of the 7th Brigade.
Five national servicemen assigned to 6 RAR photographed shortly before they and the battalion were deployed to South Vietnam in 1966
Part of the site of the Battle of Long Tan in 2005
Soldiers from 'B' Company during an exercise in South Korea in 2016