"One Bullet Only" — The Ammo Restriction That Made US Troops Think Aussies Were Crazy

Описание: #VietnamWar #AustralianArmy #MilitaryTactics

At dawn, an American patrol discovered a baffling scene: 43 dead North Vietnamese soldiers arranged in a semi-circle, with only 17 empty brass casings on the ground. The Americans radioed headquarters, thinking the heat had gotten to them. It hadn't. They had just stumbled upon the lethal efficiency of the Australian "One Bullet" policy.

This documentary explores the radical doctrinal difference between the US military's "Firepower Wins Wars" approach and the Australian Army's "Aimed Fire Only" rule. While American units expended 1,000 rounds to kill 1.4 enemies, the Australians—using tactics honed in the Malayan Emergency—achieved kill ratios of up to 5.2 using a fraction of the ammunition.

Discover how the "One Trigger Pull" discipline turned Australian patrols into the most feared hunters in Phuoc Tuy Province, and why a patrol leader would physically confiscate a soldier's weapon if he fired twice at the same target.

🔥 In this video:

The Math of Death: Analyzing the shocking disparity between US (1.4 kills per 1,000 rounds) and Australian (5.2 kills per 1,000 rounds) efficiency.

"Aimed Fire Only": The strict doctrine that forbade suppressive fire and forced soldiers to get within breathing distance of the enemy before pulling the trigger.

The Long Hai Ambush: The incredible story of Corporal Anderson’s patrol, which routed an enemy force eight times its size in 38 seconds using only 23 bullets.

200 Meters Per Hour: Why Australian patrols moved at a snail's pace to conduct "Close Target Reconnaissance" while Americans moved fast to dominate terrain.

The "Ghost" Tactics: How a 6-man patrol neutralized a battalion-sized supply cache without firing a single shot by calling in artillery from a hidden position.

Sources:
Breen, B. (1988) First to Fight: Australian Diggers in Vietnam, Allen & Unwin.
Ham, P. (2007) Vietnam: The Australian War, HarperCollins.
Palazzo, A. (2006) Australian Military Operations in Vietnam, Army History Unit.
Burstall, T. (1993) The Soldier's Story: The Battle at Xa Long Tan, University of Queensland Press.
Department of the Army (1970) A Distant Challenge: The US Infantryman in Vietnam, US Government Printing Office.

Disclaimer: This video is a historical documentary intended for educational purposes regarding military history, tactical doctrine, and the Vietnam War.

#AustralianArmy #VietnamWar #InfantryTactics #L1A1 #MilitaryHistory #FireDiscipline #History #PhuocTuy #OneBullet