Ranging from 1965 and 1972 components of the latest Went undertook persisted functional provider in the Vietnam. The RAN’s number one sum consisted of destroyers, Fleet Air Case group linked to an excellent Us (US) Army violence helicopter company and Regal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) No. nine Squadron, an approval Dive Party, and an excellent logistic service push composed of transportation and you can escort vessels. Almost every other Went employees offered ashore inside scientific teams otherwise did team duties from the Australian Embassy within the Saigon and/or Australian Task Push Head office into the Nui Dat. The brand new Went Collection Ring including done a primary journey off Vietnam entertaining soldiers during attacks out-of people and you may sport (RR).

The new Vietnam War was not a significantly naval dispute but for the fresh thirteen,five-hundred people in the Ran who spotted effective service it actually was definitely a high tempo environment. The new RAN’s share, even if quick when compared to that the us Navy (USN), try varied and you can starred a significant part regarding the Australian Pushes complete connection.

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 period the fresh Navy did a variety of operational employment from the sea, ashore and in air

Clearly one of several tiniest, and you can matchless, Australian products so you can suffice for the Vietnam was Australian Approval Diving Team Around three (CDT3). They certainly were a professional out of forty-two officials and you will guys; scuba divers competed in the brand new dangerous team off volatile ordnance convenience, whom centered an enviable reputation for courage and you will development in the long run regarding combat on the heart of your own diver’s motto “United and you will Undaunted”.

Brand new Ran formally founded a clearance Plunge department in 1951, and a cellular Clearance Diving People in the 1956. When you look at the s was in fact commissioned in Quarterly report – CDT1 and you may CDT2. Shortly afterwards CDT1 implemented getting exercises in South east Asia, including 7 days inside Vietnam conducting procedures and their Western competitors. Brand new Ruling Administrator of CDT1 are of the evaluate you to an excellent Went plunge class tends to make a worthwhile sum to the Australian work during the Vietnam and best if CDT1 become implemented to own an effective three to six day period. The Ran accepted the synthesis of CDT3 into the later 1966 because that part of a larger naval share towards the combat 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. fbb escort Bodrum 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.