The Viet Cong had achieved dominion in the
province and decided to inflict a politically unacceptable defeat on
the Australians. Their plan was to lure the Australians from their base by
firing recoilless rifle and mortar shells into it. They theorised that the
Australians would sweep the area around the base in an attempt to stop the
attacks, and the Viet Cong would ambush the sweeping forces.