Anywhere between 1965 and you can 1972 parts of this new Ran undertook continued operational services from inside the Vietnam. New RAN’s no. 1 sum contains destroyers, Fleet Heavens Sleeve group connected to a beneficial Us (US) Military assault chopper company in addition to Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) Zero. nine Squadron, an approval Plunge Party, and you will a great logistic service force consisting of transportation and you will escort boats. Other Went teams offered ashore from inside the scientific teams or did group obligations during the Australian Embassy in how much are hookers in Switzerland the Saigon and/or Australian Activity Force Headquarters in the Nui Dat. New Went Fleet Band plus done a short journey out of Vietnam funny troops during the episodes out of other individuals and you may athletics (RR).
The fresh Vietnam War was not a markedly naval argument but also for the latest 13,500 people in the newest Ran exactly who spotted energetic service it was surely a premier tempo environment. The fresh RAN’s sum, whether or not brief in comparison with that of the usa Navy (USN), is actually diverse and you can starred a significant part on the Australian Forces overall union.
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 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 new Navy did a variety of functional employment at the ocean, ashore plus the air
Clearly among littlest, and you will matchless, Australian units so you’re able to serve inside the Vietnam was Australian Clearance Diving Class Three (CDT3). They were a top-notch of forty-two officials and guys; scuba divers trained in the fresh harmful organization away from explosive ordnance discretion, just who dependent an alluring reputation of courage and you will invention with time away from combat from the spirit of your own diver’s slogan “Joined and you may Undaunted”.
The latest Went formally mainly based an approval Dive branch during the 1951, and you may a mobile Clearance Plunge Team into the 1956. In the s was accredited into the Sydney – CDT1 and you may CDT2. Quickly afterwards CDT1 deployed to own practise within the South east Asia, together with one week during the Vietnam conducting surgery along with their American alternatives. The Commanding Officer away from CDT1 is of the consider one a beneficial Went dive people tends to make a rewarding contribution on Australian energy inside Vietnam and you can better if CDT1 feel implemented getting an effective 3 to 6 week period. The latest Went accepted the forming of CDT3 for the later 1966 due to the fact one to part of more substantial naval contribution into war in 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.