The
1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) was a
brigade-sized formation which commanded
Australian and
New Zealand Army units deployed to
South Vietnam between 1966 and 1972. 1 ATF was based in a rubber plantation at
Nui Dat, north of Ba Ria in
Phuoc Tuy Province and consisted of two and later three infantry battalions, with armour, aviation, engineers and artillery support. At the
Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, units of 1 ATF defeated a Viet Cong force of at least regimental strength. While the task force was primarily responsible for securing Phuoc Tuy Province, its units, and the Task Force Headquarters itself, occasionally deployed outside its
Tactical Area of Responsibility including during
Operation Coburg and the
Battle of Coral–Balmoral in 1968. Other significant actions included
Hat Dich in late-December 1968 and early 1969,
Binh Ba in June 1969, and
Long Khanh in June 1971. 1 ATF was withdrawn in late 1971.