Between 1965 and 1972, HMAS Sydney (III) undertook 25 voyages to Vietnam and transported 16,094 troops, 5753 deadweight tons of cargo and 2375 vehicles. On her first voyage four days were taken to unload cargo in Vung Tau. On subsequent voyages this turn around time was reduced to a matter of hours.
On every voyage HMAS Sydney (III) was ably supported by at least one escort that provided a measure of protection against potential hostile forces. Melbourne. Other escorts included HMA Ships Anzac, Derwent, Duchess, Parramatta, Stuart, Swan, Torrens, Vampire, Vendetta and Yarra.
In 1966 the Vietnam supply line was supplemented by two Australian National Line (ANL) cargo ships, Jeparit and Boonaroo. These ships were chartered by the Department of Shipping and Transport on behalf of the Australian Army to transport military vehicles, ammunition, aid and canteen supplies.
In en’s Union refused to man Jeparit and Boonaroo. To overcome this difficulty, Boonaroo was immediately commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy with a full naval crew for one return voyage to Cam Ranh Bay and Singapore.
In the case of Jeparit, existing crew who were prepared to continue to serve in the ship were supplemented by a Royal Australian Navy detachment. She made 21 voyages under the Red Ensign with a combined Merchant Navy/Royal Australian Navy crew. Further industrial action in December 1969 prompted the Federal Government to commission Jeparit as one of Her Majesty’s Australian Ships. HMAS Jeparit made a further 17 incident-free voyages under the Australian White Ensign. In all she carried 175,000 deadweight tons of cargo to Vietnam before returning to ANL control in March 1972.
She got around four escorts inside 1965 and you may 1966, along with occasionally the latest flagship HMAS
The fresh ubiquitous Bell UH-step one Iroquois helicopter continues to be arguably many instantaneously recognisable symbol of the Vietnam Combat. Photo of one’s ‘chopper war’ ability conspicuously from inside the guides, videos and you will documentaries – in reality, a granite-etched image of an enthusiastic Iroquois https://orhidi.com/en/s/models/de-hh/hamburg wearing down soldiers variations the latest centrepiece out of Australia’s Federal Vietnam Memorial situated on Anzac Procession within the Canberra.
Not very the most popular even in the event is the role that was played from the employees of your own RAN’s Fleet Air Arm (FAA), into the a battle one depended greatly for the tactical sky direction from combat soldiers, supplies and devices in what was basically ultimately named air-cellular procedures.
This is why book relationship amongst the Went and you can the united states Army, the device was theoretically designated ‘EMU’, getting Fresh Army Tool
Anywhere between 1967 and 1971 the Royal Australian Navy Chopper Airline Vietnam (RANHFV), is fully provided into the Us Military 135th Assault Chopper Team (AHC) flying Iroquois helicopters in new electric and you can weapon motorboat settings. This was fitted, because the brand new emu is an indigenous Australian bird, but really amusing at the same time because of the EMU’s inability so you’re able to travel. The device afterwards customized its own book badge and you can then followed the fresh new unofficial slogan “Get the soft job done”, that was in order to personify its ideas in order to sky-cellular businesses. In keeping with Australian Naval lifestyle many of the aviators plus grew beards to recognize by themselves since sailors when you look at the a mainly army environment.
The brand new 135th AHC was first created at Vung Tau and you may composed a couple of troop lift platoons, each which have eleven UH-1Ds, a gun watercraft platoon with 7 UH-1Cs, a servicing platoon that have one UH-1D and you can a headquarters platoon. Half a dozen of one’s gun ships have been armed with mini weapons, rockets and servers guns. The remaining a couple of were fitting towards XM-5 40mm grenade launcher system, rockets and server firearms.
The newest role out-of 135th AHC was to give tactical air direction regarding treat troops, offers and you may devices into the air-cellular operations. Which included augmentation from military medical features, search and conserve therefore the provision out-of a demand and you can manage routes possibilities.