The 3RAR in South Vietnam - First Tour 1967/1968

Dec 67

12 — 3RAR Advance Party flew from Adelaide to Saigon.

16 — 3RAR Main Body departed Outer Harbour Port Adelaide on HMAS Sydney.

27 — 3RAR Rear Party departed Adelaide by air.

27 — 3RAR Main Body disembarked at Vung Tau and moved to Nui Dat

28 — 3RAR Rear Party arrived at Vung Tau and moved to Nui Dat.

Jan 68

6 — 3RAR Op Balaklava

9-11 — 3RAR Op Bordertown.

29 — C Coy, 3RAR moved to FSPB Harrison, Bien Hoa Province (Op Coburg) .

31 — Enemy Lunar New Year (Tet) Offensive commenced with widespread attacks on major cities and installations in South Vietnam.

Feb 68

1 — Task Force Base mortared. Viet Cong battalion (D445) in occupation of Phuoc Le (Baria) .

l-2 — A Coy, 3RAR in action at Baria with 3 Troop A Squadron 3 Cavalry Regiment.

3-6 — D Coy, 3RAR in action in Long Dien with 2/52 ARVN Rangers.

5 — B Coy, 3RAR in contact in Hoa Long.

7-9 — B Coy, 3RAR in action in Baria and Long Dien.

10 — 3RAR relieved 7RAR in Bien Hoa province (Op Coburg)

18 — Mortar and ground attack on FSPB Andersen.

28 — Mortar attack on FSPB Andersen.

Mar 68

1 — 3RAR returned to Nui Dat from Op Coburg.

3 — Commemorative service for 3RAR and supporting arms members killed in action in Long Dien and during Op Coburg.

8 — 3RAR, less D Coy, commenced Op Pinnaroo.

17 — D Coy, 3RAR joined Op Pinnaroo.

Apr 68

9 — Main Body 1RAR arrived in South Vietnam. Main Body 7RAR departed for Australia.

12 — D Coy, 3RAR returned from Op Pinnaroo.

15 — Op Pinnaroo completed.

21 — 3RAR commenced Op Toan Thang (Phase 1)

May 68

3 — 3RAR returned to base from Op Toan Thang (Phase 1)

10 — 3RAR continued Op Toan Thang (Phase 1) relieving 2RAR at FSPB Andersen

13 — 3RAR occupied blocking position 20 miles north-north- east of Saigon. Mortar and ground attack on FSPB Coral.

16 — Enemy regimental mortar and ground attacks on FSPB Coral.

24 — 3RAR moved to FSPB Balmoral.

26 — Mortar attack on FSPB Coral. Mortar and battalion ground attacks on FSPB Balmoral.

28 — Regimental mortar and ground attacks on FSPB Balmoral by 165 Regiment 7th North Vietnamese Army Division.

Jun 68

1 — Main Body 4RAR arrived in Vung Tau on HMAS Sydney. Main Body 2RAR departed for Australia.

5 — 3RAR returned to base from Op Toan Thang (Phase 1).

14 — D Coy, 3RAR cordon and search in Long Dien.

25-30 — B Coy, 3RAR participated in Op Ulladulla with C Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment.

Jul 68

3 — 3RAR relieved 1RAR in AO Birdsville Op Toan Thang (Phase 2).

18 — 3RAR redeployed into AO Yass to commence Op Merino.

24 — 3RAR returned to base from Op Merino.

29 — C Coy, 3RAR cordon and search north-east Hoa Long.

Aug 68

2-13 — 3RAR Op Platypus.

22 — Outskirts of Saigon rocketed. 1RAR and tanks in contact with Viet Cong occupying Long Dien.

23 — 3RAR Op Magnetic, Long Son Island.

28 — 3RAR Op Diamantina (until 5 Sep)

Sep 68

6 — B and D Companies relieved 1RAR companies in defensive tasks in the vicinity of Baria and Long Dien (Op Nowra).

10 — A Coy, 3RAR relieved C Coy 1RAR on land-clearing Ops in AO Warburton.

15 — B Coy, 3RAR returned from Baria Stadium defence task.

19-25 — C Coy, 3RAR Route 2 security Op Ngai Giao area.

24 — D Coy, 3RAR returned from Long Dien.

28 — 3RAR tactical HQ, B and D Companies inserted into FSPB Cedar to commence Op Windsor.

29 — C Coy, 3RAR flown in to join Op Windsor.

Oct 68

2 — A Coy, 3RAR returned from land-clearing Ops AO Warburton.

6 — A Coy, 3RAR flown in to join Op Windsor.

12 — Op Windsor concluded, 3RAR redeployed into AO Garran to com­mence Op Capital.

21 — A, B and D Companies returned from Op Capital.

22 — 3RAR HQ and C Coy returned from Op Capital. 161 Fd Bty redeployed to FSPB Wilton.

25 — C Coy, 3RAR commenced Op Harvest.

27 — 3RAR HQ group and D Coy joined Op Harvest.

29 — 3RAR Advance Recce Party returned by air to Australia.

30 — A Coy, 3RAR deployed into AO Rapier on Op Diamond Pin.

Nov 68

2 — 3RAR HQ, C and D Companies returned from Op Harvest. A Coy, 3RAR returned from Op Diamond Pin.

5 — 9RAR Advance Party (150) arrived at Nui Dat. 3RAR Advance Party (146) returned to Australia by air.

19 — 9RAR Rear Party (40) arrived at Nui Dat. 3RAR Rear Party (40) returned to Australia by air.

20 — 9RAR Main body arrived at Nui Dat ex HMAS Sydney. 3RAR Main Body (417) de­parted on HMAS Sydney for Australia.

Dec 68

2 — 3RAR Main Body disembarked Outer Harbour Port Adelaide, South Australia