Anywhere between 1965 and 1972 areas of the newest Went undertook persisted operational services from inside the Vietnam. New RAN’s primary share consisted of destroyers, Collection Air Arm teams connected with an effective United states (US) Military violence chopper business while the Regal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) Zero. nine Squadron, an approval Dive People, and you may an excellent logistic service push including transportation and you may escort ships. Almost every other Went personnel served ashore within the scientific groups or performed personnel responsibilities during the Australian Embassy in Saigon or the Australian Activity Force Headquarters in the Nui Dat. This new Went Collection Band together with done a primary tour from Vietnam entertaining troops during the symptoms of other people and you may athletics (RR).
The fresh new Vietnam Battle wasn’t a markedly naval conflict but also for the newest thirteen,five hundred members of new Went whom noticed effective services it actually was undoubtedly a premier tempo ecosystem. Brand new RAN’s sum, even in the event short in comparison with compared to the usa Navy (USN), are varied and you can played an important part on Australian Forces overall commitment.
Very early goodwill visits
Though the RAN did not become operationally involved in the Vietnam conflict until 1965, HMA Ships Vampire and Quickmatch were the first ships in the area when they made a goodwill visit to Saigon in 1962. They were followed the next year by the Q Class destroyers HMA Ships Quiberon and Queenborough. These were not operational visits: but designed to show Australian government support for the government in Saigon, and members of the ship’s company visited the Vietnamese Special Ankara escorts Forces training centre and carried out other ‘flag showing’ activities. During the 1963 visit the small Vietnamese naval vessel K? Hoa accidently rammed and holed Quiberon while coming alongside her.
During this time the latest Navy performed multiple operational employment at the water, ashore along with the atmosphere
Clearly among the many smallest, and unrivalled, Australian equipment to help you suffice from inside the Vietnam is Australian Clearance Diving People About three (CDT3). These were a professional off 44 officials and you may men; divers trained in the new unsafe providers from volatile ordnance fingertips, which created an enviable reputation of courage and invention over time away from war on the soul of one’s diver’s motto “Joined and you can Undaunted”.
Brand new Ran formally mainly based a clearance Dive department inside 1951, and a mobile Clearance Diving Group for the 1956. Inside s was accredited in Quarterly report – CDT1 and you can CDT2. Soon afterwards CDT1 implemented to possess training from inside the South east Asia, together with 1 week when you look at the Vietnam performing surgery the help of its Western equivalents. The latest Ruling Administrator off CDT1 try of check one to a Went dive class tends to make a rewarding sum toward Australian efforts during the Vietnam and you can recommended that CDT1 end up being deployed having a great three to six day period. The fresh new Ran acknowledged the formation of CDT3 inside the late 1966 since that section of a larger naval sum with the war when you look at the Vietnam.
The first contingent of six personnel arrived in Vietnam on 6 February 1967 and were initially attached to a United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team based in Saigon. They then moved to Vung Tau and assumed responsibility for the defence of shipping against enemy attack, known as Operation STABLE DOOR. The team was responsible for searching the hulls and anchor cables of shipping in the Vung Tau anchorages or alongside, for improvised explosive devices. In one particular incident, Viet Cong sappers penetrated the Vung Tau port area and placed home made and Russian limpet mines on the hull of the MV Heredia and a nearby wharf. The home made device partially exploded during search operations, and team members removed the Russian mine. Additional tasks included the salvage of downed military helicopters, searching villages for ammunition caches and demolishing Viet Cong cave and tunnel complexes.