Vietnam Task: The 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, 1966-67 PDF
Preview Vietnam Task: The 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, 1966-67
VIETNAM TASK THE 5TH BATTALION THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT, 1966–67 VIETNAM TASK THE 5TH BATTALION THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT, 1966–67 ROBERT J. O’NEILL Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 2600, Australia Email: [email protected] Available to download for free at press.anu.edu.au ISBN (print): 9781760465377 ISBN (online): 9781760465384 WorldCat (print): 1344217245 WorldCat (online): 1344217262 DOI: 10.22459/VT.2022 This title is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) licence. The full licence terms are available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover photograph: Two Fifth Battalion soldiers on patrol, Ptes. G. Cassidy and B. Everard (Army Public Relations). First edition © 1968 Robert J. O’Neill Second Edition © 1995 5 RAR Association This Edition © 2022 5 RAR Association Contents Plates vii Diagrams xi Symbols Used in Diagrams xiii Foreword xvii Introduction 1 1. The Problem 5 2. Holsworthy to Vietnam 19 3. The Clearance of Nui Dat 29 4. An Experiment in Night Movement 53 5. The Reclamation of Binh Ba 69 6. A Frustrated Effort 89 7. Assistance for Duc Thanh 103 8. Clearing a Mountain 117 9. Securing Route 15 139 10. Return to Nui Thi Vai 145 11. The Western Approaches 167 12. An Isolated Outpost 179 13. A Re-evaluation of Strategy 191 14. Against the Village Cadres 205 15. In the Long Hai Hills 223 16. Interdiction in the East—the Horseshoe and the Fence 239 17. The Final Balance 253 Appendix A 261 Fifth Battalion Roll of Honour Vietnam 1966–67 Appendix B 263 Citation accompanying the award of the Distinguished Service Order to Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Warr Citation accompanying the award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant M. G. J. Deak Citation accompanying the award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant J. D. McAloney Citation accompanying the award of the Military Cross to Second Lieutenant D. C. Rainer Citation accompanying the award of the Military Medal to Private C. J. Cogswell Citation accompanying the award of the Military Medal to Private P. Fraser Citation accompanying the award of a Mention-in-Despatches (Posthumously) to Corporal N. J. Womal Appendix C 271 5 RAR Nominal Roll, 1966–67 About the Author 287 Other Publications by the Author Index 291 Plates The Prime Minister, Mr Harold Holt, and Second Lieutenant Roe, a member of our advance party, at Bien Hoa, 25 April 1966 (see Chapter 2). 33 A bridge on Route 15 between Ba Ria and Vung Tau destroyed before our arrival by the Viet Cong. 34 Brigadier Jackson and General Westmoreland on board HMAS Sydney to welcome C Company to Vung Tau, 2 May 1966 (see Chapter 2). 34 Colonel Warr (centre) planning helicopter requirements with Lieutenant Brinnon of the 68th US Army Aviation Company (left) and Major Hannigan, operations officer, First Australian Task Force (right) at Vung Tau, May 1966 (see Chapter 2). 49 Major Carroll (right) and Corporal Western, his radio operator, at the battalion helicopter rehearsal before Operation Hardihood, May 1966 (see Chapter 2). 49 During the first hours of Operation Hardihood on 24 May 1966 (see Chapter 3): Lieutenant Hartley (centre) with his radio operator and the ubiquitous Le Van Yen, a fluent French speaking herbalist. 50 Private Allen (left) and Corporal Cleary with Viet Cong panji spikes encountered on Operation Hardihood (see Chapter 3). 50 Staff Sergeant Mick Seats, assistant to Captain White, giving treatment to a sick baby. Medical aid was given to the villagers several times each week. 83 Unloading the guns of 105 Field Battery at Tennis on Operation Sydney, 6 July 1966. They were carried inside APCs (shown in the rear) so that the Viet Cong would not know our strength (see Chapter 4). 84 Pte. Jerry Bruin of B Company distributing captured Viet Cong rice to the villagers from whom the Viet Cong had taken it in the first place. 84 vii VIETNAM TASK Operation Sydney at Duc My, 20 July 1966. In the foreground is the Viet Cong prisoner whose capture is described in Chapter 4. He had just been resuscitated by Captain White (kneeling) and his capture had been controlled by Second Lieutenant Rainer MC, shown standing, centre. 101 A service in the village church at Binh Ba conducted by Father Joseph, village priest, and Father Williams, battalion padre; attended by members of C Company under Second Lieutenant Neesham (left). 102 The five Ngai Giao villagers of military age who had no identity cards being guarded by members of D Company under Sergeant Witheridge (standing right), Operation Crowsnest, 3 October 1966 (see Chapter 7). 102 Pte Shoebridge and L/Cpl Bryan supporting Pte Riik after a booby trap explosion had wounded several members of C Company on Nui Thi Vai on 8 October 1966, during Operation Canberra (see Chapter 8). 133 Members of C Company after clearing a helicopter pad on the slopes of Nui Thi Vai to evacuate the men wounded by booby traps on 8 October. Major Miller is standing bottom centre without hat. 133 Second Lieutenant Deak MC, Reconnaissance Platoon commander, at Phuoc Hoa during Operation Hayman in November 1966 (see Chapter 11). The platoon soon established friendly relations with the people. 134 B Company after dismounting from APCs in the Binh Ba rubber plantation before patrolling an area crossed by tracks used by the Viet Cong. Pte. Barney Gee is the forward scout. 134 The officers of the Fifth Battalion in January 1967. 153 Four members of the Intelligence Section by the model of An Nhut which they prepared in early February 1967 before Operation Beaumaris (see Chapter 14). From left: Pte. Colin Ross, Pte. Noel Clare, L/Cpl. Colin Bruce, Cpl. Bob Williams. 154 Second Lieutenant Bob Askew, a helicopter pilot of 161 Recce Flight, who performed outstanding feats of flying in support of our operations. 154 Major Maizey—a historic photograph of the second-in-command. 154 One of the eight inch guns of the 1st/83rd US Artillery Regiment stationed at Nui Dat. These guns possess extraordinary precision over long ranges (see Chapter 15). 183 viii PLATES An APC of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, controlling ox cart traffic along Route 2 near Nui Dat. The APCs supported most of our operations. 183 Commencing the planning after the An Nhut reconnaissance, 12 February 1967 (see Chapter 14): from left, Colonel Warr, Major Carroll and the author. 184 The battalion lifting off from Luscombe Field, Nui Dat, late in the afternoon of 18 February 1967 to launch Operation Renmark (see Chapter 15). This was the only operation for which we carried steel helmets. The risk of Viet Cong mortar bombardment of Battalion Headquarters was appreciable. 184 Members of D Company beginning the defences at the Horseshoe, March 1967 (see Chapter 16). A Sioux helicopter of 161 Recce Flight is hovering below the rim of the crater. 201 Pte. Wales of D Company looking south from the crest of the Horseshoe over Dat Do towards the Long Hai hills on the horizon. 201 Building the fence around Dat Do, March 1967 (see Chapter 16). 202 Sergeant Chinh, our senior Vietnamese interpreter, at Binh Ba (see Chapter 14). 202 The handover. Colonel Warr presenting Colonel Smith, CO 7 RAR, with the ‘tiger pig’, 26 April 1967 (see Chapter 17). 202 Intelligence officer Captain Bob O’Neill briefing soldiers in 5 RAR’s open-air theatre, ‘The Mayfair’. 288 ix
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