Strike Force

In October 1966, allied control of Route 15 allows 5 RAR to mount a large sweep into the Núi Thị Vải Mountains. Jackman and his comrades search caves, tracks and concealed bases while mines, booby traps and scattered enemy groups slow the advance. The battalion hopes to destroy the infrastructure that sustains Viet Cong operations in Phước Tuy, but the mountains offer the defenders concealment and prepared escape routes.

The novel emphasises the labour behind a battalion operation: navigation, perimeter security, engineering work and the difficulty of bringing a mobile guerrilla force to battle. Its historical interest lies in the Australian use of deliberate, infantry-led sweeps rather than simply presenting the campaign as a succession of spectacular engagements.