Ranging from 1965 and you can 1972 areas of the new Ran undertook persisted functional provider in the Vietnam. Brand new RAN’s primary sum consisted of destroyers, Fleet Air Arm group connected with a good All of us (US) Military violence chopper company and also the Regal Australian Heavens Force’s (RAAF’s) No. 9 Squadron, a clearance Diving Team, and you can a good logistic service force composed of transport and you will escort boats. Almost every other Ran professionals supported ashore inside the medical communities otherwise did team obligations in the Australian Embassy into the Saigon or perhaps the Australian Task Push Headquarters inside the Nui Dat. The Ran Fleet Band along with complete a preliminary trip of Vietnam entertaining soldiers while in the symptoms of people and you may recreation (RR).
The Vietnam Battle was not a significantly naval dispute but for new 13,five hundred members of the fresh new Went who watched active solution it had been positively a high tempo environment. The new RAN’s share, even in the event small in comparison to that of the united states Navy (USN), try diverse and you may starred an important part in the Australian Forces total union.
Early goodwill check outs
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 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 fresh Navy performed some working opportunities within ocean, ashore as well as in the air
Clearly one of the littlest, and you can unrivalled, Australian units so you’re able to serve within the Vietnam was Australian Approval Dive Party Three (CDT3). They certainly were an elite group regarding forty two officers and guys; divers trained in the newest unsafe company away from explosive ordnance disposal, which founded an enviable reputation of bravery and you may invention after a while of war from the spirit of the diver’s motto “Joined and Undaunted”.
Brand new Ran formally founded a clearance Dive department inside the 1951, and you will a mobile Approval Dive Party when you look at the 1956. Within the s was accredited for the Questionnaire – CDT1 and CDT2. Quickly after that CDT1 deployed for exercises during the South east China, including one week for the Vietnam performing functions with the Western equivalents. This new Ruling Manager of CDT1 try of take a look at you to an effective Ran diving people would make a rewarding share towards the Australian effort into the Vietnam and you will better if CDT1 feel deployed to own a good three to six month several months. The newest Ran recognized the forming of CDT3 within the later 1966 because the one section of more substantial naval share to your battle in 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 see this site 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.
