45th anniversary of Long Tan

[Sailor Steve]

My Vietnam memories include wonderful moments like this.

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Didn't se ya in the Falklands

That's why I wrote ALMOST! There were no Australian units involved in the Falklands, although I remember reading somewhere that there were a small number of individual Australian servicemen on exchange with the SAS, RAF and RN who may have been in the vicinity.

Originally Posted by Oberon

I believe there were some Brits in Nam as well, although it's a murky area. I've heard rumours of SAS and Marine involvement, but it's a real murky bit, I think many of them were there unofficially and the official record was that they were no longer members of the SAS, or were on training with the Aussies.

Much the same There has and still is a long standing tradition of exchange programs across the services where individuals will spend time with each others units. They get integrated so would not show as distinct units in any records of the conflict.

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I know NZ did but can't honestly recall whether Australia did or not but without researching the subject I suspect they would have also.

The RAN did much heavier deployments into the Indian Ocean during 1982 that previous years. HMAS Perth was sent there for 5 months which for that ship was unusual. The usual deployment was around a month. HMAS Swan and Yarra were deployed into SEAsia for about 3 months in August 1982 which again was unusual as mot deployments were for only a month or two prior to that peroid.

There were quite a few HMAS involved in Vietnam as well right through the conflict.

[Highbury]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Embarrassed, I must admit I never knew Australia had combat forces in Viet Nam.

I am in this camp too. I knew of French involvement before the US but during what we know as the Vietnam War, I knew almost nothing of the involvement of other nations like Australia, and deeply embarrassing for me, Canada who apparently sent 40,000 troops between '59 - '75. You learn something new every day, and some days are more humbling then others.

It is great to hear that Aussies are getting a long deserved recognition.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by TarJak

That's why I wrote ALMOST! There were no Australian units involved in the Falklands, although I remember reading somewhere that there were a small number of individual Australian servicemen on exchange with the SAS, RAF and RN who may have been in the vicinity.

Much the same There has and still is a long standing tradition of exchange programs across the services where individuals will spend time with each others units. They get integrated so would not show as distinct units in any records of the conflict.


The RAN did much heavier deployments into the Indian Ocean during 1982 that previous years. HMAS Perth was sent there for 5 months which for that ship was unusual. The usual deployment was around a month. HMAS Swan and Yarra were deployed into SEAsia for about 3 months in August 1982 which again was unusual as mot deployments were for only a month or two prior to that peroid.

There were quite a few HMAS involved in Vietnam as well right through the conflict.

No sweat...you supported the motherland....much kudos to you mongrels

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Embarrassed, I must admit I never knew Australia had combat forces in Viet Nam.

Ayup. My destroyer worked with a combined task force led by the Aussie carrier HMAS Melbourne. An interesting side-note is that while we were in Houston I Tarjak and I had a nice chat, and it turns out his dad was in that task force at that time. Small world.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Ayup. My destroyer worked with a combined task force led by the Aussie carrier HMAS Melbourne.

Very interesting, did the Aussies fly any combat missions ashore?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Very interesting, did the Aussies fly any combat missions ashore?

That I don't know. But I do know that she was considered a 'hard luck' ship, and some of that tried to rub off on us.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

That I don't know. But I do know that she was considered a 'hard luck' ship, and some of that tried to rub off on us.

*does some research*

Looks like she did mostly ASW duties.

...

...you weren't the one who steamed a destroyer in to her were you?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

...you weren't the one who steamed a destroyer in to her were you?

No, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

[Oberon]

Now I just have a mental image of an Aussie carrier steaming around stalking destroyers.

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Now I just have a mental image of an Aussie carrier steaming around stalking destroyers.

Well Melbourne did run over two of them so that's not far from the truth.

HMAS Voyager in 1964






And the USS Frank E. Evans in 1969

[Oberon]

That'll buff out...

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

That'll buff out...

LMAO

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Very interesting, did the Aussies fly any combat missions ashore?

They did indeed(RAAF units) they had at least one Canberra Squadron that flew indirection missions in the South as well a several units that flew various versions of the Huey (UH-1) they even flew gunship versions of the UH-1D the US used versions of the UH-1B,C,E,and F all of which where basically the same as the B but with different engines the D model was larger and served only as a transport in the US the Aussies mounted rockets and mini guns on their D models I think because they did not have smaller B variants.

Also someone said Laos was on the side of the US not entirely correct Laos was under the control of the Patet Lao a communist government and the Royal Laos they fought a civil war from 1954-1975 and the communists won the Royal Lao hung on until 1975 but had lost most of the country by the mid 60's.The CIA worked with Hmong an ethnic group that the Patet Lao disliked some of them where able to come to the US after we left Vietnam in 1975 I have neighbors who are Hmong and their fathers fought against the Patet Lao and NVA.Air America was heavily involved in supplying the Hmong with supplies.

Cambodia was another bogus ally the ruler of the Cambodia pre 1970 allowed North Vietnam free reign in certain border regions so the CIA had him over thrown in 1970 it was too late by then and the Khmer Rouge took over in 1975.

The Philippines also had troops in Vietnam I dont think they where combat troops.

It is rumored that Brit SAS units where involved in Vietnam I find that doubtful there where plenty of skilled US Aussie and Kiwi SF units already there.Did the SAS send troopers in small numbers to go on operations with in country SF? Very likely.

Chinese and Soviet military advisers where also most certainly in Vietnam mainly to train the North in the use of advanced systems like SAMs and Radar.In fact during rolling thunder many SAM sites where placed off limits because they had Russians helping setting them up you can ask any Navy or Air Force pilot that flew up there during Thunder they will tell you.They had to wait until the sites where set up and the Russians gone.

[RickC Sniper]

I did know Australia had soldiers in Vietnam, but I did not know their veterans came home to the same "cold shoulder" by their own people\government that occurred over here in the USA.

Good to see this soldier finally get his proper recognition.