 O 'Donnell attempted to probe the Viet Cong flank , and after locating it on the high ground he committed 1 Platoon — under Second Lieutenant Rod Smith — to conduct a right flanking attack . Beginning at 11 : 30 the Australian assault soon ran into another Viet Cong platoon conducting a similar manoeuvre , and they became involved in an intense battle at close quarters with each side blocking the manoeuvre of the other . A heavy monsoon rain began , drenching the men as they faced each other at a range of just 30 metres ( 33 yd ) , with seven Viet Cong machine @-@ guns facing six Australian machine @-@ guns at the height of the battle as the two Viet Cong platoons clashed with two Australian platoons . The Australians suffered heavily , losing two section commanders killed and a dozen men wounded in the first few minutes . The fighting continued for another two hours as both forces traded shots , with neither the Australians nor the Viet Cong able to achieve a decisive advantage . 
