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

Dec 67

123RAR Advance Party flew from Adelaide to Saigon.

163RAR Main Body departed Outer Harbour Port Adelaide on HMAS Sydney.

273RAR Rear Party departed Adelaide by air.

273RAR Main Body disembarked at Vung Tau and moved to Nui Dat

283RAR Rear Party arrived at Vung Tau and moved to Nui Dat.

 

Jan 68

63RAR Op Balaklava

9-113RAR Op Bordertown.

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

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

 

Feb 68

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

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

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

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

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

103RAR relieved 7RAR in Bien Hoa province (Op Coburg)

18Mortar and ground attack on FSPB Andersen.

28Mortar attack on FSPB Andersen.

 

Mar 68

13RAR returned to Nui Dat from Op Coburg.

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

83RAR, less D Coy, commenced Op Pinnaroo.

17D Coy, 3RAR joined Op Pinnaroo.

 

Apr 68

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

12D Coy, 3RAR returned from Op Pinnaroo.

15Op Pinnaroo completed.

213RAR commenced Op Toan Thang (Phase 1)

 

May 68

33RAR returned to base from Op Toan Thang (Phase 1)

103RAR continued Op Toan Thang (Phase 1) relieving 2RAR at FSPB Andersen

133RAR occupied blocking position 20 miles north-north- east of Saigon. Mortar and ground attack on FSPB Coral.

16Enemy regimental mortar and ground attacks on FSPB Coral.

243RAR moved to FSPB Balmoral.

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

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

 

Jun 68

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

53RAR returned to base from Op Toan Thang (Phase 1).

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

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

 

Jul 68

33RAR relieved 1RAR in AO Birdsville Op Toan Thang (Phase 2).

183RAR redeployed into AO Yass to commence Op Merino.

243RAR returned to base from Op Merino.

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

 

Aug 68

2-133RAR Op Platypus.

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

233RAR Op Magnetic, Long Son Island.

283RAR Op Diamantina (until 5 Sep)

 

Sep 68

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

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

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

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

24D Coy, 3RAR returned from Long Dien.

283RAR tactical HQ, B and D Companies inserted into FSPB Cedar to commence Op Windsor.

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

 

Oct 68

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

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

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

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

223RAR HQ and C Coy returned from Op Capital. 161 Fd Bty redeployed to FSPB Wilton.

25C Coy, 3RAR commenced Op Harvest.

273RAR HQ group and D Coy joined Op Harvest.

293RAR Advance Recce Party returned by air to Australia.

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

 

Nov 68

23RAR HQ, C and D Companies returned from Op Harvest. A Coy, 3RAR returned from Op Diamond Pin.

59RAR Advance Party (150) arrived at Nui Dat. 3RAR Advance Party (146) returned to Australia by air.

199RAR Rear Party (40) arrived at Nui Dat. 3RAR Rear Party (40) returned to Australia by air.

209RAR Main body arrived at Nui Dat ex HMAS Sydney. 3RAR Main Body (417) de­parted on HMAS Sydney for Australia.

 

Dec 68

23RAR Main Body disembarked Outer Harbour Port Adelaide, South Australia