External
Vietnam
Clearance Divers

Last amended: 13 June 2013

The following table provides information on units allotted for duty in connection with the Vietnam conflict.

 

Army

Navy

Air Force

 

Army

 

Unit

From

To

Headquarter Units

 

 

AATTV

31 Jul 62

19 Dec 72

AAAGV

6 Mar 72

23 Dec 72

Aust Embassy Guard Pl (from AAAGV/ personnel)

18 Dec 72

1 Jul 73

HQ AAFV redesignated as

HQ AFV (Army Component)

25 May 65

3 May 66

2 May 66

15 Mar 72

HQ 145 Sig Sqn

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

709 Sig Tp

25 May 65

20 Nov 67

527 Sig Tp

14 Sep 65

5 Jul 67

581 Sig Tp

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

552 Sig Tp

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

506 Sig Tp (less Det)

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

520 Sig Tp (less Det)

1 Apr 66

1 Mar 67

Det 547 Sig Tp

1 Apr 66

1 Mar 67

547 Sig Tp (less Det) (op Tp (Type A))

2 Mar 67

23 Dec 71

HQ 110 Sig Sqn

2 Mar 67

20 Nov 67

110 Sig Sqn

21 Nov 67

12 Mar 72

704 Sig Tp (less Det)

2 Mar 67

20 Nov 67

557 Sig Tp (less Det)

2 Mar 67

20 Nov 67

561 Sig Tp

2 Mar 67

20 Nov 67

532 Sig Tp

2 Mar 67

20 Nov 67

503 Sig Tp

2 Mar 67

20 Nov 67

Fd Op Research Sect

29 Nov 65

6 Mar 72

HQ AFV Cash Office

1 Feb 67

2 Mar 72

1 Aust CA Unit

2 Mar 67

25 Nov 71

Det 198 Wks Sect

9 Jan 67

1 Mar 67

198 Wks Sect

2 Mar 67

23 Dec 72

Det 11 MC Gp

1 Apr 66

12 Mar 72

HQ 1 TF

1 Apr 66

12 Mar 72

1 APC Tp

14 Sep 65

31 Mar 66

1 APC Sqn (less Det)

1 Apr 66

15 Jan 67

A Sqn 1 Armd Regt

23 Dec 69

16 Dec 70

A Sqn 1 Armd Regt LAD

23 Dec 69

16 Dec 70

A Sqn 3 Cav Regt

16 Jan 67

12 May 69

A Sqn 3 Cav Regt

7 Jan 71

12 Mar 72

A Sqn 3 Cav Regt LAD

7 Jan 71

12 Mar 72

B Sqn 1 Armd Regt

11 Feb 69

22 Dec 69

B Sqn 3 Cav Regt

13 May 69

6 Jan 71

B Sqn 3 Cav Regt LAD

13 May 69

6 Jan 71

C Sqn 1 Armd Regt

29 Jan 68

10 Feb 69

C Sqn 1 Armd Regt

17 Dec 70

30 Sep71

C Sqn 1 Armd Regt LAD

17 Dec 70

30 Sep 71

104 Fd Bty

5 May 71

20 Dec 71

105 Fd Bty

14 Sep 65

31 Mar66

1 Fd Regt (less one Bty)

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

1 Fd Regt (Restd)

25 Feb 69

10 May70

4 Fd Regt (less one Bty)

2 Mar 67

28 May 68

4 Fd Regt

24 Feb 70

18 Mar 71

12 Fd Regt (less one Bty)

29 Jan 68

11 Mar 69

12 Fd Regt

27 Jan 71

20 Dec 71

Det 131 Div Loc Bty

1 Apr 66

19 Aug 71

3 Fd Tp

14 Sep 65

31 Mar 66

1 Fd Sqn (less one Tp)

1 Apr 66

30 Nov 67

1 Fd Sqn (Restd)

1 Dec 67

18 Nov 71

21 Engr Sp Tp

1 Apr 66

9 Dec 71

Det 1 Topo Svy Tp

1 Apr 66

1 Mar 67

A Sect 1 Topo Svy Tp

2 Mar 67

7 Oct 71

103 Sig Sqn

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

104 Sig Sqn (TF)

2 Mar 67

15 Dec 71

Det 152 Sig Sqn (SAS)

31 Aug 66

15 Oct 71

1 RAR

25 May 65

19 Jan 68

14 Jun 66

28 Feb 69

2 RAR

2 Mar 67

28 Apr 70

18 Jun 68

4 Jun 71

3 RAR

12 Dec 67

12 Feb 71

5 Dec 68

19 Oct 71

4 RAR

29 Jan 68

1 May 71

30 May 69

12 Mar 72

5 RAR

1 Apr 66

28 Jan 69

5 Jul67

5 Mar 70

6 RAR

1 Apr 66

7 May 69

5 Jul 67

28 May 70

7 RAR

2 Mar 67

10 Feb 70

26 Apr 68

10 Mar 71

8 RAR

18 Nov 69

12 Nov 70

9 RAR

5 Nov 68

5 Dec 69

1 SAS Sqn (less one Tp)

2 Mar 67

3 Feb 70

18 Feb 68

18 Feb 71

2 SAS Sqn (less one Tp)

29 Jan 68

18 Feb 71

4 Mar 69

15 Oct 71

3 SAS Sqn (less one Tp)

1 Apr 66

3 Feb 69

5 Jul 67

20 Feb 70

Det 1 Div Int Unit

1 Apr 66

11 Nov 71

1 Tpt Pl

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

2 Tpt Pl

21 Apr 67

12 Nov 70

Det 1 Fwd Del Tp

29 Jan 68

21 Jul 71

Det 1 OFP

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

Det 6 OFP

2 Mar 67

31 Jan 68

1 OFP

1 Feb 68

12 Feb 72

106 Fd Wksp Stores Sect

15 Nov 68

25 Sep 71

Det 131 Div Loc Bty Wksp

1 Apr 66

15 Aug 71

1 Fd Sqn Wksp

1 Apr 66

30 Oct 71

106 Fd Wksp (Type A)

15 Nov 68

7 Oct 71

1 TF HQ LAD

1 Apr 66

19 Oct 71

Det 1 APC Sqn LAD

1 Apr 66

15 Jan 67

Det A Sqn 3 Cav Regt LAD

16 Jan 67

12 May 69

Bty Sect 4 Fd Regt LAD redesignated as 105 Fd Bty Sect 12 Fd Regt LAD

14 Sep 65

31 Mar 66

1 Fd Regt LAD

1 Apr 66

25 Feb 69

5 Jul 67

10 May 70

4 Fd Regt LAD

2 Mar 67

24 Feb 70

28 May 68

18 Mar 71

12 Fd Regt LAD

29 Jan 68

27 Jan 71

11 Mar 69

20 Dec 71

Det 1 Div Cash Office

1 Apr 66

31 Jan 67

1 Det AFV Cash Office

1 Feb 67

27 Feb 72

Sect 1 Div Pro Coy redesignated as

Pro Sect 1 Pro Coy

1 Apr 66

31 Jan 67

AFV Pro Unit

1 Feb 67

12 Mar 72

1 Aust Rft Unit

1 Apr 66

29 Sep 71

 

 

 

Logistic Support Units

 

 

Aust Log Sp Coy

25 May 65

31 Mar 66

HQ 1 Aust Log Sp Gp

1 Apr 66

16 Oct 71

Det 55 Adv Engr Stores Sqn

1 Apr 66

16 Feb 68

Det 55 Engr Wksp and Pk Sqn

17 Feb 68

14 Jun 71

55 Engr Wksp and Pk Sqn

15 Jun 71

12 Mar 72

17 Const Sqn (less one Tp)

1 Apr 66

1 Mar 67

17 Const Sqn

2 Mar 67

12 Feb 72

Det 30 Terminal Sqn

9 Jan 67

12 Mar 72

161 Recce Flt

14 Sep 65

31 Mar 66

161 (Indep) Recce Flt

1 Apr 66

8 Mar 72

Det 8 Pet Pl

9 Jan 67

26 Aug 68

8 Pet Pl RAASC

27 Aug 68

12 Feb 72

HQ 26 Coy RAASC

8 Jan 68

31 Oct 69

HQ 26 Tpt Coy RAASC

1 Nov 69

30 Jun 71

HQ 1 Coy RAASC

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

21 Sup Pl RAASC

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

87 Tpt Pl

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

Det 52 Sup Pl

18 Dec 67

5 May 71

3 Small Ship Tp (AV 1355 Vernon Sturdee)

11 Apr 66

23 Jan 67

25 Jun 67

14 Dec 67

1 Small Ship Tp (AV 1356 Clive Steele)

26 Jun 66

3 Dec 66

17 Jan 67

29 Jan 68

21 Jul 69

11 Jul 70

2 Mar 71

23 Nov 66

9 Jan 67

16 Mar 67

27 Apr 69

2 Mar 70

3 Sep 70

12 Mar 71

2 Small Ship Tp (AV 1353 Harry Chauvel)

23 Oct 67

21 May 70

21 Mar 68

6 Jun 70

4 Small Ship Tp (AV 1354 Brudenell White)

22 Sep 70

24 Oct 70

Det 32 Small Ship Sqn (AS 3051 John Monash)

5 May 66

29 Jul 66

3 Dec 67

17 Feb 68

16 Dec 68

20 Feb 69

25 Oct 69

27 Jul 71

14 May 66

20 Sep 66

31 Jan 68

31 Mar 68

26 Dec 68

4 Mar 69

7 Dec 69

14 Oct 71

Det 32 Small Ship Sqn (AV 1356 Clive Steele)

23 Feb 71

20 Mar 71

Det 32 Small Ship Sqn (AV 1353 Harry Chauvel)

11 Nov 70

15 Dec 70

HQ 5 Coy RAASC

2 Mar 67

12 Mar 72

86 Tpt Pl RAASC

9 Jan 67

12 Mar 72

85 Tpt Pl (Tipper) RAASC

2 Mar 67

16 Sep 71

25 Sup Pl RAASC

2 Mar 67

12 Mar 72

Det 176 AD Coy

1 Apr 66

31 May 67

176 AD Coy

1Apr 67

18 Nov 71

1 Aust Fd Hosp

13 Nov 67

14 Dec 71

8 Fd Amb

2 Mar 67

12 Mar 72

2 Fd Amb (less one Coy)

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

33 Dental Unit (less Det)

1 Apr 66

1 Mar 67

Det 1 Fd Med and Dental Unit

20 Nov 67

6 Mar 68

Det 1 Fd Med and Dent Eqpt Dep

7 Mar 68

25 Nov 71

33 Dental Unit

2 Mar 67

12 Mar 72

Det 1 Fd Hygiene Coy

5 Dec 67

12 Mar 72

HQ 2 Comp Ord Depot (Type A)

1 Apr 66

15 Nov 67

2 Adv Ord Dep

16 Nov 67

12 Mar 72

both the above units included the following sub-units:

a.  13 Ord Sup Con Pl

b.  16 Ord Veh Pl

c.  14 Ord Stores Pl

d.  18 Ord Dep Ldy Sect

e.  15 Ord Ammo Pl

f.  19 Ord Sup Con Pl

g.  20 Ord Stores Pl

 

 

 

1 Indep Armd Sqn Wksp

29 Jan 68

2 Feb 68

1 Armd Sqn Wksp (absorbed by 106 Fd Wksp - details above)

3 Feb 68

14 Nov 68

17 Const Sqn Wksp

1 Apr 66

25 Nov 71

Det 1 Div St Wksp - redesignated as:

1 Apr 66

31 Oct 69

5 Coy RAASC Wksp

1 Nov 69

25 Nov 71

101 Fd Wksp (Type A)

1 Apr 66

5 Jul 67

102 Fd Wksp (Type A)

2 Mar 67

12 Mar 72

2 Det AFV Cash Office

1 Feb 67

27 Feb 72

Det 1 Div Post Unit - absorbed by:

1 Apr 66

8 Nov 67

Det 1 Comm Z Postal Unit

19 Oct 66

28 Feb 72

Det 5 ASCO Unit - redesignated as:

1 Apr 66

26 Feb 68

HQ 2 AFCU

27 Feb 68

12 Mar 72

Det 2 Aust Fd Canteen Unit - redesignated as 1 Pl 2 AFCU

27 Feb 68

12 Mar 72

67 GL Sect

1 Apr 66

2 Dec 71

1 Aust Rest and Con Centre - redesignated as:

11 Feb 66

7 Dec 67

AFV Amenities and Welfare Unit

8 Dec 67

12 Mar 72

1 Psy Ops Unit

13 Apr 70

25 Nov 71


 

Navy

Ships and units allotted for duty in Vietnam

 

Ship

From

To

HMAS Brisbane

20 Mar 69

16 Mar 71

13 Oct 69

11 Oct 71

HMAS Perth

2 Sep 67

19 Sep 68

14 Sep 70

10 Apr 68

12 Apr 69

8 Apr 71

HMAS Hobart

7 Mar 67

22 Mar 68

16 Mar 70

27 Sep 67

11 Oct 68

9 Oct 70

HMAS Vendetta

15 Sep 69

11 Apr 70

Clearance Diving Team 3*

 

 

Contingent 1

5 Feb 67

29 Aug 67

Contingent 2

12 Aug 67

11 Mar 68

Contingent 3

11 Feb 68

3 Sep 68

Contingent 4

12 Aug 68

4 Mar 69

Contingent 5

10 Feb 69

21 Aug 69

Contingent 6

12 Aug 69

10 Mar 70

Contingent 7

10 Mar 70

29 Oct 70

Contingent 8

14 Oct 70

5 May 71

RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) (a detachment of No 723 Squadron)*

 

 

Contingent 1

15 Oct 67

17 Oct 68

Contingent 2

9 Sep 68

11 Sep 69

Contingent 3

9 Sep 69

10 Sep 70

Contingent 4

9 Sep 70

16 Jun 71

RAN Element of No 9 (Helicopter) Squadron, RAAF

From date of departure from Australia to date of arrival in Australia.

 
   

 

Notes:

  • *These are the dates applicable to the main body of the contingent.  Individual periods of service will be entered on the Record of Service.

 

Ships and units allotted for duty in Vietnam - support or logistic roles

 

Ship

Last Port Of Call

 

Date

In Port

Vietnam

First Port Of Call

Date

HMAS Anzac

Sydney

20 May 68

1 Jun 68

Darwin

7 Jun 68

HMAS Boonaroo

Cairns

13 Mar 67

28 Mar-2 Apr 67

Darwin

13 Apr  67

HMAS Derwent

Manila

Singapore

Singapore

26 May 66

10 Feb 69

4 Nov 71

6-8 Jun 66

15 Feb 69

6-7 Nov 71

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

13 Jun 66

18 Feb 69

8 Nov 71

HMAS Duchess

Sydney

Manus Island

Singapore

Sydney

Singapore

Singapore

27 May 65

20 Sept 65

18 Nov 68

16 Nov 69

3 Apr 71

17 May 71

8-11 Jun 65

28-30 Sep 65

20 Nov 68

28 Nov 69

5 Apr 71

22-23 May 71

Fremantle

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Singapore

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

26 Jun 65

3 Oct 65

25 Nov 68

29 Nov 69

8 Apr 71

1 Jun 71

MV Jeparit (RAN personnel  only)

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Newcastle

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

 

11 Mar 67

28 Apr 67

9 Jun 67

27 Jul 67

13 Sept 67

30 Oct 67

18 Dec 67

9 Feb 68

23 Mar 68

10 May 68

21 Jun 68

6 Aug 68

22 Sept 68

4 Nov 68

28 Dec 68

14 Mar 69

24 Apr 69

4 Jun 69

16 Jul 69

7 Sept 69

22 Oct 69

 

27 Mar-4 Apr 67

12-16 May  67

24 Jun-2 Jul 67

11-18 Aug 67

27 Sep-5 Oct 67

13-22 Nov 67

2-11 Jan 68

24-27 Feb 68

6-15 Apr 68

24-29 May 68

5-11 Jul 68

21-27 Aug 68

7-12 Oct 68

19-25 Nov 68

12-19 Jan 69

29 Mar-3 Apr 69

8-12 May 69

19-23 Jun 69

30 Jul-6 Aug 69

24-29 Sep 69

9-13 Nov 69

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Newcastle

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

21 Apr 67

2 Jun 67

19 Jul 67

4 Sept 67

22 Oct 67

9 Dec 67

26 Jan 68

14 Mar 68

1 May  68

15 Jun 68

28 Jul 68

13 Sept 68

29 Oct 68

17 Dec 68

5 Feb 69

19 Apr  69

29 May 69

10 Jul 69

25 Aug 69

13 Oct 69

29 Nov 69

HMAS Jeparit

Sydney

Darwin

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

19 Dec 69

16 Feb 70

26 Mar 70

16 May 70

6 Jul 70

18 Aug 70

4-10 Jan 70

25 Feb-3 Mar 70

13-18 Apr 70

8-13 Jun 70

22-27 Jul 70

4-7 Sep 70

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

26 Jan 70

21 Mar 70

6 May 70

28 Jun 70

12 Aug 70

23 Sept 70

 

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Townsville

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

 

1 Oct 70

15 Nov 70

4 Jan 71

16 Feb 71

2 Apr 71

13 May 71

7 Jul 71

20 Aug 71

11 Oct 71

25 Nov 71

10 Jan 72

21-25 Oct 70

3-8 Dec 70

21-24 Jan 71

8-12 Mar 71

19-22 Apr 71

30 May-2 Jun 71

21-25 Jul 71

8-15 Sep 71

29 Oct-3 Nov 71

13-18 Dec 71

3-6 Feb 72

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Townsville

Sydney

Townsville

Brisbane

Sydney

 

8 Nov 70

23 Dec 70

8 Feb 71

26 Mar 71

7 May 71

26 Jun 71

8 Aug 71

30 Sept 71

14 Nov 71

31 Dec 71

11 Mar 72

HMAS Melbourne  (1)

Subic Bay

Singapore

Manila

 

31 May 65

25 Apr 66

25 May 66

7-8 Jun 65

3-4 May 66

6 Jun 66

Sydney

Hong Kong

Penang

22 Jun 65

6 May 66

9 Jun 66

HMAS Parramatta

Tawau

Singapore

Bangkok

 

25 May 65

5 Apr 68

15 May 71

8-11 Jun 65

9 Apr 68

22 May 71

Singapore

Singapore

Subic Bay

14 Jun 65

17 Apr 68

24 May 71

 

HMAS Queenborough

Hong Kong

 

27 Jan 63

29 Jan-4 Feb 63

Singapore

6 Feb 63

HMAS Quiberon

Hong Kong

27 Jan 63

29 Jan-4 Feb 63

Singapore

6 Feb 63

HMAS Quickmatch*

 

 

See note at bottom of tables

 

 

HMAS Stuart

Sydney

Singapore

 

16 May 67

25 Jan 68

30 May 67

3 Feb 68

Darwin

Singapore

8 Jun 67

5 Feb 68

HMAS Swan

Singapore

Singapore

 

4 Oct 71

6 Dec 71

6-7 Oct 71

8-9 Dec 71

Manila

Subic Bay

14 Oct 71

11 Dec 71

HMAS Sydney

 

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Singapore

Sydney

Fremantle

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Fremantle

Fremantle

Townsville

Brisbane

Sydney

Fremantle

27 May 65

14 Sept 65

22 Apr 66

25 May 66

8 Apr 67

28 Apr 67

19 May 67

20 Dec 67

17 Jan 68

27 Mar 68

21 May 68

13 Nov 68

8 Feb 69

8 May 69

17 Nov 69

16 Feb 70

21 Oct 70

8-11 Jun 65

28-30 Sep 65

4-6 May 66

6-8 Jun 66

20 Apr 67

30 Apr 67

30 May 67

27 Dec 67

3 Feb 68

9 Apr 68

1 Jun 68

20 Nov 68

15 Feb 69

19 May 69

28 Nov 69

27 Feb 70

31 Oct-1 Nov 70

Fremantle

Sydney

Sydney

Hong Kong

Singapore

Sydney

Brisbane

Fremantle

Sydney

Sydney

Brisbane

Fremantle

Townsville

Brisbane

Fremantle

Fremantle

Brisbane

26 Jun 65

20 Oct 65

18 May 66

11 Jun 66

22 Apr 67

12 May 67

14 Jun 67

3 Jan 68

16 Feb 68

26 Apr 68

13 Jun 68

28 Nov 68

25 Feb 69

30 May 69

5 Dec 69

5 Mar 70

12 Nov 70

 

Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide

Townsville

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

Sydney

15 Feb 71

26 Mar 71

13 May 71

20 Sept 71

26 Oct 71

24 Nov 71

14 Feb 72

1 Nov 72

25 Feb 71

5 Apr 71

22-23 May 71

6-7 Oct 71

6-7 Nov 71

8-9 Dec 71

28-29 Feb 72

23-24 Nov 72

Fremantle

Hong Kong

Townsville

Port Adelaide

Sydney

Townsville

Townsville

Hong Kong

4 Mar 71

8 Apr 71

1 Jun 71

16 Oct 71

18 Nov 71

17 Dec 71

9 Mar 72

30 Nov 72

 

Unit

From

To

Helicopter Flights Embarked in HMAS Sydney

 

 

725 Squadron

 

 

20.04.67

30.04.67

30.05.67

20.04.67

30.04.67

30.05.67

817 Squadron

27.12.67

03.02.68

09.04.68

01.06.68

20.11.68

27.12.67

03.02.68

09.04.68

01.06.68

20.11.68

 

Ship

Last Port Of Call

 

Date

In Port

Vietnam

First Port Of Call

Date

HMAS Torrens

Manila

 

16 Feb 72

28-29 Feb 72

Hong Kong

3 Mar 72

HMAS Vampire  (2)*

 

Subic Bay

Manus Island

Manus Island

Singapore

Singapore

Pulau Air

 

 

31 May 65

27 Apr 66

13 Apr 67

28 Apr 67

14 May 69

21 Nov 72

See note at bottom of table

7-8 Jun 65

4-6 May 66

20 Apr 67

30 Apr 67

19 May 69

23-24 Nov 72

 

Sydney

Hong Kong

Singapore

Singapore

Manila

Pulau Tioman

 

22 Jun 65

9 May 66

22 Apr 67

5 May 67

25 May 69

26 Nov 72

HMAS Vendetta (3)

Manus Island

Sydney

Manila

 

20 Sept 65

25 May 66

28 Oct 70

28-30 Sep 65

6-8 Jun 66

31 Oct-1 Nov 70

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Colombo

3 Oct 65

11 Jun 66

9 Nov 70

HMAS Yarra (2)

Singapore

Manila

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

 

25 Apr 66

26 May 66

22 Dec 67

22 Feb 70

22 Feb 71

4-6 May 66

6 Jun 66

27 Dec 67

27 Feb 70

25 Feb 71

Hong Kong

Penang

Singapore

Singapore

Hong Kong

9 May 66

9 Jun 66

1 Jan 68

1 Mar 70

1 Mar 71

RAN Band

 

 

26 May-5 Jun 70

 

 

*HMA Ships Vampire and Quickmatch visited Saigon during the period 25 – 29 January 1962.  This service is covered under section 6E of the VEA and is operational but NOT qualifying service.

 

Notes:

(1) The aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne with HMA Ships Vampire and Yarra escorted HMAS Sydney to Vietnam. HMAS Sydney docked in Vung Tau harbour. The other ships did not enter harbour but were well within the Vietnam operational area before being detached for other duty.

(2) HMAS Vendetta did one tour of duty in Vietnam between October 1969 to March 1970 and on three occasions in 1965, 1966 and late 1970 escorted HMAS Sydney to and from Vietnam.

(3) RAN CLearance Divers Team 1 (CDT1) during SEATO Exercise SEA SPIRIT, Vietnam.

Policy Advice:

  • There is no evidence that CDT1 was allotted for duty in Vietnam during the period 29 May to 7 June 1969. 
  • There is evidence that contingent 5 of CDT3 was allotted for duty in Vietnam during this period.

This policy advice was provided to DVA by the Nature of Service (NOS) Directorate, Department of Defence, and reflects information available to the NOS Directorate from the RAN Sea Power Centre; 'Reports of Proceedings' for CDT1 for the period from the Australian War Memorial; and the United States Navy History and Heritage Command website that contains the monthly reports of the US Commander of Naval Forces in Vietnam at the time.

 The 'Reports of Proceedings' were compiled on a monthly basis by the Commanding Officer of CDT1 and record the activities undertaken by the team each month. 

The 'Reports of Proceedings' reveal that CDT1 embarked on USS CATSKILL for the period 29 May to 7 June 1969 for a mine countermeasure phase of the SEATO Exercise SEA SPIRIT.

USS CATSKILL was on passage from Manila Bay (Philippines) to Sattahip in Thailand and on the night of 31 May 69 closed with the coast of Vietnam for a rendezvous with the USS Peacock.  There was no CDT operational activity involved in this manoeuvre.

The mine countermeasure phase of the exercise was conducted over 3-4 June 1969 in the vicinity of Sattahip and involved the clearance of part of 'Channel E-F' leading into the Sattahip Area of Operations.

There is no evidence that the mine countermeasure phase of the exercise was connected to the conduct of the Vietnam War. In a covering letter on the Report of Proceedings for June 1969 to the Secretary of the Navy, the Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Fleet advised that.....'CDT1 gained considerable experience from the SE Asian visit and acquitted themselves well'. 

Australian Defence Force members who enter a declared operational area for the sole purpose of participation in an exercise, including participation in SEATO exercises in the vicinity of Vietnam, are not eligible for allotment for duty to the operation in respect of which the operational area has been declared.

Further, the Sea Power Centre advise that CDT 3 (not CDT 1) was normally activated for the purpose of overseas active service and at the end of that service it was deactivated.  

(4) Midshipmen undergoing training during the Vietnam War

Policy Advice:

Where documentation is available to support the applicant's assertion, then a Midshipman undergoing training on an allotted vessel in an operational area during the Vietnam War, may be considered to be a member of that ship's company for the purposes of Repatriation benefits, notwithstanding that their service records may reflect a posting to a different unit.

 

(5) Table of Royal Australian Navy vessels in Vietnamese estuarine waters during the Vietnam War.

This Table lists all RAN vessels in Vietnamese estuarine waters during the Vietnamese War. It provides the date/s of arrival and departure from Vietnamese waters for each ship, and the time-period/s when the potable water supply may be expected to include water distilled from Vietnamese estuarine waters.

 

SHIP

Arrival in Vietnamese estuarine waters

Departure from Vietnamese estuarine waters

Time period when distilled water was in potable water tanks

Period when no distilled water in potable water tanks

HMAS Anzac (II)

01/06/1968

01/06/1968*

From and including 01/06/1968 to and including 01/06/1970

Before 01/06/1968

and

After 01/06/1970

　　　　　

HMAS Brisbane (II)

01/04/1969

09/04/1969

From and including 01/04/1969

to and including 16/08/1973

Before 01/04/1969

and

After 16/08/1973

16/04/1969

17/05/1969

16/04/1971

19/04/1971

15/05/1971

15/05/1971

17/05/1971

17/05/1971

19/05/1971

19/05/1971

23/05/1971

23/05/1971

28/05/1971

28/05/1971

31/05/1971

31/05/1971

12/06/1971

12/06/1971

25/06/1971

25/06/1971

16/08/1971

16/08/1971

　　　　　

HMAS Derwent

 

　

06/06/1966

08/06/1966

From and including 06/06/1966 to and including 08/06/1968

and

From and including 15/02/1969 to and including 15/02/1971

and

From and including 06/11/1971 to and including 06/11/1973

Before 06/06/1966

and

From 09/06/1968 to 14/02/1969

and

From 16/02/1971 to 05/11/1971

and

After 06/11/1973

15/02/1969

15/02/1969*

06/11/1971

06/11/1971*

　　　　　

HMAS Duchess

08/06/1965

11/06/1965

From and including 08/06/1965 and to and including 30/09/1967

and

From and including 20/11/1968 to and including 23/05/1973

Before 08/06/1965

and

From 01/10/1967 to 19/11/1968

and

After 23/05/1973

28/09/1965

30/09/1965

20/11/1968

20/11/1968*

28/11/1969

28/11/1969*

05/04/1971

05/04/1971*

22/05/1971

23/05/1971

　　　　　

HMAS Hobart (II)

15/04/1967

15/04/1967

From and including 15/04/1967 to and including 17/09/1972

Before 15/04/1967

and

After 17/09/1972

26/05/1968

26/05/1968

28/07/1968

28/07/1968

15/08/1968

15/08/1968

17/08/1968

17/08/1968

19/08/1968

19/08/1968

23/08/1968

23/08/1968

25/08/1968

25/08/1968

27/08/1968

27/08/1968

29/08/1968

29/08/1968

25/04/1970

27/04/1970

15/06/1970

16/06/1970

20/08/1970

22/08/1970

26/08/1970

26/08/1970

28/08/1970

29/08/1970

14/09/1970

14/09/1970

17/09/1970

17/09/1970

　　　　　

HMAS Parramatta (III)

 

　

08/06/1965

11/06/1965

From and including 08/06/1965 to and including 11/06/1967

And

From and including 09/04/1968 to and including 09/04/1970

and

From and including 22/05/1971 to and including 22/05/1973

Before 08/06/1965

and

From 12/06/1967 to 08/04/1968

and

From 10/04/1970 to 21/05/1971

and

After 22/05/1973

09/04/1968

09/04/1968*

22 /05/1971

22/05/1971*

　　　　　

HMAS Perth (II)

19/11/1968

19/11/1968

From and including 19/11/1968 to and including 16/01/1973

Before 19/11/1968

and

After 16/01/1973

25/11/1968

25/11/1968

12/12/1968

14/12/1968

21/12/1968

21/12/1968

23/12/1968

23/12/1968

25/12/1968

25/12/1968

09/01/1969

16/01/1969

03/03/1969

05/03/1969

03/10/1970

04/10/1970

04/11/1970

05/11/1970

07/11/1970

08/11/1970

16/11/1970

16/11/1970

18/11/1970

18/11/1970

21/12/1970

21/12/1970

16/01/1971

16/01/1971

　　　　　

HMAS Queenborough

31/01/1963

04/02/1963

From and including 31/01/1963 to and including 04/02/1965

Before 31/01/1963

and

After 04/02/1965

　　　　　

HMAS Quiberon

31/01/1963

04/02/1963

From and including 31/01/1963 to and including 04/02/1965

Before 31/01/1963

and

After 04/02/1965

　　　　　

HMAS Stuart (II)

30/05/1967

30/05/1967*

From and including 30/05/1967 to and including 03/02/1970

Before 30/05/1967

and

After 03/02/1970

03/02/1968

03/02/1968*

　　　　　

HMAS Sydney (III)

08/06/1965

11/06/1965

From and including 08/06/1965 to and including 24/11/1974

Before 08/06/1965

and

After 24/11/1974

28/09/1965

30/09/1965

04/05/1966

06/05/1966

06/06/1966

08/06/1966

20/04/1967

20/04/1967*

30/04/1967

30/04/1967*

30/05/1967

30/05/1967*

27/12/1967

27/12/1967*

03/02/1968

03/02/1967*

09/04/1968

09/04/1968*

01/06/1968

01/06/1968*

20/11/1968

20/11/1968*

15/02/1969

15/02/1969*

19/05/1969

19/05/1969*

28/11/1969

28/11/1969*

27/02/1970

27/02/1970*

31/10/1970

01/11/1970

25/02/1971

25/02/1971*

05/04/1971

05/04/1971*

22/05/1971

23/05/1971

06/10/1971

07/10/1971

07/11/1971

07/11/1971

08/12/1971

09/12/1971

28/02/1972

29/02/1972

23/11/1972

24/11/1972

 

　

　　　　

HMAS Swan (III)

06/10/1971

07/10/1971

From and including 06/10/1971 to and including 09/12/1973

Before 06/10/1971

and

After 09/12/1973

08/12/1971

09/12/1971

　　　　　

HMAS Torrens (II)

29/02/1972

29/02/1972

From and including 29/02/1972 to and including 28/02/1974

Before 29/02/1972

and

After 01/03/1974

　　　　　

HMAS Vampire (II)

04/05/1966

06/05/1966

From and including 04/05/1966 to and including

30/04/1969

and

From and including 19/05/1969 to and including 19/05/1971

and

From and including 23/11/1972 to and including 24/11/1974

Before 04/05/1966 and

From 01/05/1969 to 18/05/1969

and

From 20/05/1971 to 22/11/1972

and

After 24/11/1974

20/04/1967

20/04/1967*

30/04/1967

30/04/1967*

19/05/1969

19/05/1969*

23/11/1972

24/11/1972

　　　　　

HMAS Vendetta (II)

28/09/1965

30/09/1965

From and including 28/09/1965 to and including 08/06/1968

And

From and including 02/10/1969to and including

01/11/1972

Before 28/09/1965

and

From 09/06/1968 to 01/10/1969

and

After 01/11/1972

06/06/1966

08/06/1966

02/10/1969

06/10/1969

12/10/1969

19/10/1969

23/11/1969

24/11/1969

31/10/1970

01/11/1970

　　　　　

HMAS Yarra (III)

04/05/1966

06/05/1966

From and including 04/05/1966

to and including

27/12/1969
and

From and including 27/02/1970 to and including

25/02/1973

Before 04/05/1966

and

From 28/12/1969 to 26/02/1970

and

After 25/02/1973

27/12/1967

27/12/1967*

27/02/1970

27/02/1970

25/02/1971

25/02/1971

　　　　　

Source: Royal Australian Navy advice to DVA provided 20 October 2015

** No end date or other explanatory information provided by Department of Defence – assume ship departed on the same day as it arrived

Air Force

 

Air Force units

 

Unit

From

To

RAAF Tpt Flt Vietnam (RTFV) became:

30 Jul 64

1 Jun 66

No 35 Squadron

1 Jun 66

26 Feb 72

RAAF Element HQAFV

13 Jun 66

26 Feb 72

Known as RAAFHQAFV, and included Movement Control Office Vietnam and Air Movement Section Tan San Nhut

Headquarters RAAF Contingent, Vung Tau (included RAAF Element Advanced Tactical Operations Centre (ATOC) Nui Dat)

27 Jun 67

29 Feb 72

No 2 Squadron, Phan Rang

19 Apr 67

9 Jun 71

No 9 Squadron, Vung Tau

12 Jun 66

24 Dec 71

Base Support Flight, Vung Tau (includes Air Movements Sect, Vung Tau) became

14 May 66

18 Sep 68

No 1 Operational Support Unit, Vung Tau

19 Sep 68

7 Mar 72

No 5 Airfield Construction Squadron (5ACS)

Detachment B

25 Jan 67

17 Feb 68

RAAF Element, 161 Recce Flt (Army) - renamed

10 Sep 65

31 Mar 66

161 (Indep) Recce Flt

1 Apr 66

6 Nov 68

   

 

Individual Members Allotted for Operational Service

Additional to RAAF units assigned to 'special duty' in Vietnam, aircrews of Nos 36 and 37 Squadrons, ex RAAF Richmond, NSW, flew continual air transport tasks of supply support and medical evacuation missions.  Also involved in Vietnam was the Dakota Flight of No 2 Squadron, Butterworth.

This was renamed Transport Support Flight, Butterworth, on 1 Mar 67.  Dakota aircraft of the latter Flights carried out ambassadorial flights and supply tasks into Vietnam and aircrew, flight crew and ground staff could qualify for 'special service' if certified as having participated in operations in Vietnam.  This will be indicated on each member's Record of Service.

 

Aircrew of the Australian Air Force Detachment, Sangley Point

Aircrew of the Australian Air Force Detachment, Sangley Point are allotted.

The Repatriation Commission made a decision in September 2011 to concede entry into the Vietnam operational area for aircrew members of RAAF Detachment Sangley Point who served in Operation Trimdon.    

More ?

 

Policy Library

1.4.1/Service in Vietnam

 

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