04 The Australian Order of Battle for Vietnam War
Description
This article is from the Vietnam FAQ, by Brian Ross, John R. Tegtmeier, Edwin E. Moise, Frank Vaughan, John Tegtmeier with numerous contributions by others.
04 The Australian Order of Battle for Vietnam War
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian Forces which Served in South Vietnam 1962-1972
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY
HMAS Brisbane - 2 Tours
20th March 1969 -13th Oct. 1969
March 1971-15th Oct. 1971
As with other Australian destroyers, HMAS Brisbane provided
Naval Gunfire Support (NGFS) along the South Vietnamese coast. Her
second deployment was the last combat tour of an RAN destroyer.
HMAS Perth - 3 Tours
2nd September 1967 - 10th April 1968
14th September 1968 - 20th April 1969
14th September 1970 - 8th April 1971
On 18th October 1967, during her first deployment, Perth was
hit by an
artillery shell which penetrated one deck. In her six-month
deployment
HMAS Perth came under fire four times and was the only
Australian ship
hit by enemy fire.
HMAS Hobart - 3 Tours
7th March 1967 - 27th September l967
22nd March 1968 -11th October 1968
6th March 1970 -17th October 1970
Between 1967 and 1971, Australian destroyers were attached to the
United States Seventh fleet for six-month tours of duty. HMAS Hobart
was the first Australian destroyer deployed. During her second
deployment to Vietnam, Hobart was accidentally attacked by US
aircraft. The ship was damaged and two Australians were killed.
During her second deployment Hobart was under fire on three occasions.
The deployment was mainly involved in NGFS in support of a joint
Australian/ARVN sweep between the Long Hai hills and the coastline.
HMAS Vendetta
15th September 1969 -11th April 1970
HMAS Vendetta was the only Australian-built warship to serve in
Vietnam and was the first Australian Daring Class destroyer to see
active service. During her one deployment, Vendetta steamed 39,558
miles and fired more than 13,000 shells.
Clearance Diving Team 3
6th February 1967 11th April 1971
In early 1967 a team of one officer and five sailors known as
Clearance Diving Team 3 formed for service in Vietnam. The team was
assigned to Vung Tau Harbour defence between February 1967 and August
1970, and was then stationed at Da Nang until April 1971 when the unit
was withdrawn from Vietnam. Eight contingents saw service in Vietnam.
RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam
16th October 1967 - 14th June 1971
On 16th October 1967 eight RAN helicopter pilots and support staff
joined the US Army 135th Assault Helicopter Company in Vietnam. The
RAN contingents served with the Americans till 1971. The RAN pilots
flew their last mission on 8 June 1971 and the experiment of a mixed
Australian Navy and American Army helicopter unit had been successful.
RAN Detachment 9 Squadron RAAF
June 1966 - May 1969
The RAN Detachment of 9 Squadron RAAF comprised eight Fleet Air Arm
pilots operating in direct support of the 1st Australian Task Force.
Australian Force Logistic Support
All three Australian services provided logistic support to Australian
forces in Vietnam.
HMAS Sydney .
May 1965 -11th March 1972
The troop transport HMAS Sydney was the first RAN ship to
have
operational service in Vietnam. She completed 22 voyages in
7 years.
HMAS Jeparit.
9th June 1966 -15th March 1972
Formerly the Australian National Line cargo ship - MV Jeparit. She
completed 43 voyages to Vietnam carrying military supplies and civil
aid cargoes. She was commissioned into the RAN on the 11th December
l969 and paid off on 15th March 1972.
HMAS Boonaroo.
May 1966
Formerly the Australian National Line cargo ship - MV Boonaroo, was
commissioned into the RAN 1st March 1967 and paid off 8th May l 967.
She completed 2 voyages to Vietnam.
RAN Medical Officers
Thirteen RAN RANR and RANVR served in Vietnam. Some served on the
Australian destroyers and others with the 1st Australian Field
Hospital and with the US Army and Naval Hospitals.
RAN Chaplains
Fleet Chaplains attended to the spiritual needs of RAN, and allied
servicemen in Vietnam.
Continue to:
My Books
