 The Australians crossed the Taeryong at 11 : 30 and began preparations to assault Chinese positions on the ridgeline 1 kilometre ( 0 @.@ 62 mi ) east of the road to Pakchon and 2 kilometres ( 1 @.@ 2 mi ) north of Maenjung @-@ dong . In support were four P @-@ 51 Mustang fighter @-@ bombers from No. 77 Squadron RAAF which attacked the Chinese with rockets and machine @-@ gun fire , one of only a few occasions during the war when Australian aircraft operated in support of 3 RAR . There were three main crests on the ridge running south @-@ east , the first being nearest the road , the second just to its rear , and the third further back still , with the Chinese occupying the first two . Although the Argylls had occupied the ridgeline briefly during the morning , they had been pushed off by the Chinese . Mortar fire fell on 3 RAR while it was forming up ; however , using the road as a start line the battalion attack began at 14 : 00 , with A Company on the left flank and B Company on the right , each with two platoons forward and one back in reserve , each in extended line with bayonets fixed . A Company was commanded by Captain Bill Chitts , while B Company was led by Captain D 'arcy Laughlin , after Major George Thirlwell had broken his leg in a vehicle accident two days before . The Mortar Platoon was sited with Battalion Headquarters alongside the road , with two sections of Vickers medium machine @-@ guns and two 17 pounder anti @-@ tank guns from the Anti @-@ Tank Platoon . The Assault Pioneer Platoon provided local defence , while the mortars laid down a continuous barrage in an attempt to counter the Chinese mortar fire in conjunction with the machine @-@ guns and tanks which began to engage the hilltop . 
