| Place | Asia: Vietnam, Bien Hoa Province, Fire Support Base Coral |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | P01769.009 |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Colour, Landscape |
| Physical description | Colour, Landscape |
| Maker |
Ayson, Greg |
| Place made | Vietnam: Bien Hoa Province |
| Date made | 13 May 1968 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: AWM Licensed copyright |
Fire Support Base Coral, Bien Hoa Province, Vietnam. 13 May 1968. Members of 102 Field Battery, ...
Description
Fire Support Base Coral, Bien Hoa Province, Vietnam. 13 May 1968. Members of 102 Field Battery, 12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), with the Battery's No. 6 gun, a 105mm M2A2 howitzer, on the morning after the first series of attacks on Fire Support Base (FSB) Coral by troops of the North Vietnamese Army's (NVA) 7th Division. This position was temporarily overrun by the NVA on the night of 12/13 May 1968 and the 105mm howitzer was seriously damaged by a satchel charge and was withdrawn for repair. The soldiers are, left to right: unknown; unknown; Gunnner (Gnr) J. E. Schwarze; Gnr Walker; Sergeant Max Franklin, commander of No. 6 gun; Lieutenant (Lt) Matt Cleland, commander of the Battery Section comprising No's. 4, 5 and 6 guns. All but Lt Cleland are members of the No. 6 gun crew. In the foreground, a bund or earthen rampart topped by sandbags protects the gun from enemy fire.