09 Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
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.
09 Australian Army Training Team Vietnam
Australia's initial commitment to supporting the American stance
in Vietnam consisted of the deployment of a team of military advisers.
On 26th July, 1962, the Minister for Defence announced Australia's
intention to send 30 instructors to the Republic of Vietnam, 4 going
to the Military Aid Council Vietnam (MACV) Headquarters in Saigon, 22
to regional locations in the Hue area and 4 to Duc My.(1) This team
would be headed by Colonel F.P. Serong, previously the Commanding
Officer at the Jungle Training Centre, Canungra, Queensland and would
fall under the command of the Australian Army Forces, Far Eastern
Landing Forces Headquarters in Singapore.(2) The AATTV arrived in the
Republic of Viet Nam in August, 1962.
AATTV advisers served with ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)
units, including infantry, artillery and armoured divisions,
independent regiments in the I Corps area (the northern province of
RVN),regional and provincial headquarters, the Viet Nam Police Field
Force, US Special Forces, Montegnard Special Forces and CIA
operations.(3) with the escalation of Australian forces in Vietnam in
1966, Australian advisers also served with 1 Australian Task Force
(1ATF) at Nui Dat.
The primary role of the AATTV was to train ARVN and other forces
in the use of weapons, jungle warfare, tactics and strategy. In
addition, especially after the Australian government allowed them to
serve in battalion and smaller size formations, they took liaison
roles, calling for airstrikes and arranging logistical support and
medevac facilities.(4) They usually operated as individuals or in
small groups of two or three. After 1963, the AATTV came wider the
operational control of MACV HQ in Saigon.
It was intended that the AATTV would represent Australia's
commitment to the American operations in Vietnam, and as such, would
not have a significant military impact, however, the success of
Australian advisers, not the least Captain Peterson's training of the
Montegnard Special Forces in Dar Lac Province, became quickly known
throughout Vietnam. Peterson established Armed Propaganda and
Intelligence Teams (APIT)from amongst Montnegard tribesmen in Ban Me
Thout, designed to disseminate propaganda, collect information and
establish a network of informers, disrupt Viet Cong infiltration and
supply routes, conduct small scale raids, ambushes and similar minor
operations and to conduct long range patrols into Viet Cong 'safe
areas', rescuing captured Monteg nards and liberating equipment and
ammunition.(5) Building on these gains, Peterson established a
'People's Army' just prior to his departure, which at that stage had
effectively regained control over much of southern Dar Lac. Despite
the inadequacies of the ARVN forces in protecting pacified areas, and
the racial problems between Montegnards and ARVN personnel, Peterson
had succeeded in regaining the upper hand in the Ban Me Thout region.
AATTV techniques and method of operations were significantly
different to many of those employed by their American allies.
Experience in the jungles of Malaya and Borneo and limitations on the
number of and facilities available to personnel had combined to
produce very different tactics. Whilst American instructors expounded
the virtues of the rapid deployment of large numbers of troops,
massive fire power and decisive battles, Australians concentrated on
individual marksmanship, the independence of platoons from battalion
HQs, small scale patrols and ambushes. These differences frequently
bought Australian advisers into conflict with their American
superiors. The Australian policy of 'economy of effort' was directly
opposed to the American idea of 'concentration of force'.(6)
The AATTV served with distinction in Vietnam. During AATTV's tour
of duty, members were awarded two Victoria Crosses, several Military
Crosses and several Military Medals.(7) It was the first Australian
force to arrive and the last to leave. After the initial deployment of
30 instructors, it was increased in size by 30 in May 64, by 23 in
June 64 and then by 17 in January 65, bringing it to a total strength
of 100. It was restricted from further increases by the introduction
of a National Service Act ( 1965) in Australia which required large
numbers of instructors. The last instructors were withdrawn from Phuoc
Tuy Province in December 1972.
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