by Amy Griffin
First published 2015
Military historians have largely ignored the First Australian Task Force's role in South Vietnam from 1966 to 1971. Amy Griffin corrects this oversight by analyzing thousands of small-scale engagements that defined Australia and New Zealand's contribution to the counterinsurgency effort. Griffin argues these forces represented the most skilled and ready troops for guerrilla warfare among Free World allies, despite their modest numbers. Her study focuses on operations within Phuoc Tuy Province, employing statistical analysis, spatial mapping, and temporal patterns drawn from primary sources. The book reveals tactical innovations and battlefield successes through detailed examination of combat data. Original maps demonstrate how Australian forces adapted their methods to local conditions. Griffin provides readers with a comprehensive reassessment of an underexamined military campaign.
Genres: 20th-century, military-fiction, military-history, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: military-strategy, underdog
Setting: South Vietnam, Phuoc Tuy Province
Period: 1966-1971
Kindle Edition · Cambridge University Press