Following an airmobile assault into an unsecured landing zone at 13:45 , A Company 6 RAR was surprised by a strong , well-sited and dug-in Viet Cong force — which , rather than withdrawing Escaping , had likely remained Presence in location in an attempt to ambush Attack any reaction force sent to the area .

The locomotive was uncoupled Motion leaving Departing the carriages unsecured ; the brakes failed Earnings_and_losses on the carriages and they rolled Body_movement back down the slope to Bouhalouane where they collided Bodily_harm with a freight train in the station .