Journal Entry - 19 September 1971

We had 14 & a wakey to go.  We were nicely settled into our ambush positions and feeling very comfortable and relaxed. We had done this before and it was nice and relaxing and the VC & NVA would dodge everything, and we would just laze around which was better than scrub bashing all day.

Meanwhile Intelligence reports had alerted 4RAR/NZ to the presence of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops in northern Phuoc Tuy.  4 RAR/NZ commenced Operation Ivanhoe, a reconnaissance in force against any North Vietnamese or Viet Cong forces who may be in the north of Phuoc Tuy Province.

D Company, 3RAR was attached to 4RAR/NZ for the operation.  Other units committed to the operation were:
• 1st Troop, A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment;
• 4th Troop, C Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment;
• 2 Troop, 104th Field Battery;
• elements of 104th Signal Squadron; and
• 161st (Independent) Recce Squadron

There were no centurion tanks available, as they had been withdrawn from Vietnam earlier.  This left the infantry to bash around the bush, without armour support.

During the morning of 19 September 1971, there was an accidental clash between 10 & 11 Platoons, Delta Coy, 4RAR/NZ.  Max Rhodes (10 Platoon) was mistaken for a VC soldier by 11 Platoon and was shot.

2796378 RHODES Maxwell L, 22, of Sydney NSW, was a qualified metallurgist when called up on January 27, 1971.  He was a rifleman private in 10 Platoon D Company of 4RAR/NZ when he died from a gunshot wound in an accidental clash between 10 and 11 platoon in Phuoc Tuy on September 19, 1971.


During the night of 19 September 1971, North Vietnamese Army forces fired rockets and mortars at a South Vietnamese Regional Force outpost at Cam My on Route 2.  

Australian M113 armoured personnel carriers were sent to investigate and to relieve the outpost.  En route they were ambushed. They came under attack from rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire from what was considered to be large force.