 Operation Ballarat was subsequently planned to assess the extent of the Viet Cong 's efforts to re @-@ establish their supply lines and to repair bunkers and camps in the eastern Hat Dich that had been destroyed by previous operations . The concept of operations envisioned 7 RAR , under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Eric Smith , creating a series of company patrol bases , from which platoon fighting patrols would gather intelligence on Viet Cong activities . An ambush plan would then be developed . The twelve @-@ day battalion search and destroy operation subsequently commenced on 4 August 1967 , within AO Lion , 9 kilometres ( 5 @.@ 6 mi ) north @-@ west of Nui Dat . In an attempt to achieve surprise the rifle companies moved into their respective areas of operation by foot , rather than by helicopter , carrying five days rations and supplies to reduce the need for resupply and the likelihood of detection by the Viet Cong . With stealth considered key to the operation it was intended that any bunkers and camps located during the patrol phase of the operation would not be destroyed until after the ambush phase . Regardless , the Australians expected only to encounter rear guard elements . 
