The VC D440 Battalion, also known as the ''Viet Cong D440 Provincial Mobile Battalion'', was a Local Force

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

of the

Viet Cong The Viet Cong (VC) was an epithet and umbrella term to refer to the communist-driven armed movement and united front organization in South Vietnam. It was formally organized as and led by the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, and ...

(VC) during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...

. The battalion operated in the Phước Tuy and

Long Khánh Long Khánh is a city of Đồng Nai Province in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It covers an area of 194 km² and had a population of 151,467 in 2019. Long Khánh city's predecessor was Long Khánh town A town is a type of a huma ...

provinces usually along Route 2. It was formed in 1968 under the command of Comrade Hai Tinh and consisted mainly of

North Vietnamese Army The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), officially the Vietnam People's Army (VPA; , , ), also recognized as the Vietnamese Army (), the People's Army () or colloquially the Troops ( ), is the national Military, military force of the Vietnam, S ...

(NVA) personnel.McNeill and Ekins 2003, p. 48. From 1966 to 1971 Phuoc Tuy Province was the area of South Vietnam that was assigned to

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

and

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

forces to defend against Communist incursions and provide support to South Vietnamese government, as part of the

1st Australian Task Force The 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) was a brigade-sized formation which commanded Australian Army, 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 ...

(1 ATF). The battalion's first major encounter with the Australians and New Zealanders was during ''Operation Lavarack'' launched by 1 ATF in May 1969, and concluding 30 June 1969.'Battle of Binh Ba' URL: https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/binh-ba (Australian War Memorial) During Operation Lavarack the battalion along with other

People's Army of Vietnam The People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN), officially the Vietnam People's Army (VPA; , , ), also recognized as the Vietnamese Army (), the People's Army () or colloquially the Troops ( ), is the national Military, military force of the Vietnam, S ...

(PAVN) and VC guerrilla elements participated in the battle of Binh Ba but were expelled by 1 ATF forces. The village of Binh Ba was completely destroyed during the battle.Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 291.Odgers 1999, p. 349. As a result of the failure at Binh Ba all PAVN forces including D440 Battalion were temporarily forced out of Phuoc Tuy, retreating to Long Khánh Province. Overall the unit generally performed poorly against Australian and New Zealand forces however, and it was eventually disbanded in August 1970 with most of its personnel transferred to the locally manned D445 Battalion.

Notes

References

* * * {{Refend Military units and formations of the Viet Cong Military units and formations established in 1968 Military units and formations disestablished in 1970