Royal Ranger Regiment - Rangers in Combat

Rangers in Combat

6th Rangers-Ambush at Klian Intan

On 27 August 1970, in a successful ambush of communist terrorists near Tanah Hitam, Klian Intan in Perak, 5 Communist Terrorists (CTs) including a branch committee member were killed, and several weapons were captured by members of 6 Bn Ranger Regiment. Mejar Ismail bin Salleh, commading officer of Charlie Company and Leftenan Muda David Fu Chee Ming who was the platoon commander of 8 Platoon were awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani on 2 June 1971.

Based on information gathered by the Special Branch, that 60 Communist terrorists would be infiltrating Tanah Hitam moving on to Grik, Charlie Company with a complement of 3 officers and 94 other ranks were tasked to lay an ambush along the infiltration route. Charlie Company was split into 3 groups, with Company Hq and 9 Platoon forming the centre blocking force, 7 Platoon to the right and 8 Platoon to the left. The groups were given 2 days to prepare their ambush positions and lay booby traps and Claymore mines.

On 20 August, 1 Section consisting of 8 personnel heard the rustling of branches and bamboo being snapped by footfalls. 1 section immediately stood to in their bunkers. Renjer Abu bin Mat saw an armed CT on the trail, 35 meters from their bunker, a lead scout of a larger group. Renjer Abu bin Mat and Renjer Abu Samah Hj. Ibrahim who were manning the Section’s support GPMG, along with Lans Koperal Abdullah bin Nawi held their fire and continued their wait. Moments later, another CT appeared on the trail, and joined by another 2 CTs.

At 3:45 pm, Lans Koperal Abdullah detonated his Claymore mine while the GPMG crew opened fire, joined by the LMG manned by Lans Koperal Karim bin Sidek manning the left bunker. At 4:20 pm, the CTs ceased fire, even though movement could still be heard in the trail. 1 Section opened fire to suppress the CT’s movements. With nightfall, the CTs made an attempt to retrieve their fallen comrades. Mejar Ismail called for close in artillery support on the trail, walking the artillery rounds close to 1 Section’s position. The CTs withdrew before morning, leaving behind their dead. Searches the following morning revealed 5 dead CTs.

Other accounts of rangers in combat are as follows:

* Operation Ngayau

* Contact with 10th Regiment CPM

* Ambush on the road Gubir / Nong Gajah

* Bagging 5 CT's at the Korbu Forest Reserve in Perak

* Operations Selamat Sawadee 1

* Operation Jelaku, Sadong, Sarawak

* Firefight at Sebatu Road, Bau, Sarawak

* Attack On Enemy Camp

* Assault At Muara Tebas

* An Ambush in Sungei Katibas

* Operation Indera

* Operation Indera IV

* Ngelaban (Fighting in Iban ) Platoon in Combat

* A Firefight At Tanjung Kunyit

* Operation Seladang

* Fighting the TNI

* Firefight at Tanah Hitam