Commander's Diaries

28 December 1969:

A Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  One troop returned to 1ATF Base from YS4351.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  One troop with elements of Cav and the D&E Platoon deployed on recce and ambush ops in the Duc Thanh AO.

Late Entry.

 

29 December 1969:

A Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  One troop with elements of Cav and the D&E Platoon continued recce and ambush ops in the Duc Thanh AO.  Infantry elements checked an intelligence report of an enemy company in vicinity of YS5275, without results.  One troop will deploy on 30 December into Long green op con to 17 Const Sqn for land clearing team protection.

 

29 December 1969:

At 1840hrs

A tank from 3 Troop struck a mine and was severely damaged. Tank burst into flames and burnt for several hours.  There were no casualties amongst the crew. 

3 Troop had been sent to investigate a report of two platoons of VC in vicinity of YS446798 when the mine incident occurred.

 

30 December 1969:  

A Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  One troop with elements of Cav and infantry continues recce and ambush ops in the Duc Thanh AO.  On e troop op con to the land clearing team in the Long Green.

 

31 December 1969:

A Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  One troop with elements of Cav and infantry continues recce and ambush ops in the Duc Thanh AO.  One  troop op con to the land clearing team in the Long Green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains at Nui Dat.  One troop op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  One troop with elements of Cav and inf continue security ops in Duc Thanh AO.  One troop remains on land clearing protection in Long Green.

 

2 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains at Nui Dat.  One troop op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  One troop with elements of Cav and inf continue security ops in Duc Thanh AO.  One troop remains on land clearing protection in Long Green.  One tank from SHQ stationed on Horseshoe Hill.

 

3 January 1970:

As above

 

4 January 1970:

As Above. 

 

At 1445hrs, 2 Troop, A Sqn was engaged by an unknown number of enemy who fired 12 RPG 7s.  Fire was returned and the enemy fired RPGs again and withdrew.  There were no friendly casualties and no located enemy casualties despite fire returned by the tanks.  One tank was slightly damaged.   

 

5 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains at Nui Dat.  One troop op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  SHQ plus elements of Cav and inf continue recce and ambush ops in Duc Thanh AO.  One troop remains on land clearing protection in Long Green.  One tank remains on Horseshoe Hill.

 

At 1400hrs, Tango Force found eight 44gal drums of rice which exceeded the allowable amount to be held by householders.  Six drums have been confiscated and are being delivered to the District Chief at Duc Thanh.

 

6 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains at Nui Dat.  One troop op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  SHQ plus elements of Cav and inf continue recce and ambush ops in Duc Thanh AO.  One troop remains op con to land clearing protection in Long Green.  One tank remains on Horseshoe Hill.

 

7 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains at Nui Dat.  One troop op con to 8RAR in AO Ashgrove.  Tango Force completed recce and ambush ops in Duc Thanh AO and returned to Nui Dat.  One troop remains op con to land clearing protection in the Long Green.  One tank on Horseshoe Hill.

 

0815hrs:

Tango Force and Anti-Tank Platoon of 8RAR located a camp consisting of 8 bunkers, a kitchen and a toilet, probably capable of housing an enemy platoon and last used 2 months ago.

 

8 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains in 1ATF Base carrying out extensive maintenance and repair programme. One troop returned to Nui Dat from AO Ashgrove.  One troop remains op con to land clearing protection in the Long Green.  One tank on Horseshoe Hill.

 

9 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains in Nui Dat carrying out extensive maintenance programme.  One troop remains on land clearing protection in the Long Green.  One troop returned to 1 ATF Base from AO Rosslyn. One tank remains on Horseshoe Hill

 

10 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains 1ATF Base carrying out extensive maintenance programme.  One troop remains on land clearing protection in the Long Green.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.

 

11 January 1970:

As above.

 

12 January 1970:

As above.  Orders for Op MATILDA issued at O Group.

 

13 January 1970:

SHQ (-) remains 1ATF Base. One troop remains on land clearing protection in the Long Green.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.

 

14 January 1970:

As above.

 

15 January 1970:

A Sqn with inf and Cav elements under command [commence] armoured sweep towards Ham Tan (Op MATILDA).  One troop remains on land clearing protection in the Long Green.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.

 

16 January 1970:

SHQ (-) with Inf and Cav elements continue armoured sweep towards Ham Tan (Op MATILDA).  One troop remains on land clearing protection in the Long Green.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.

 

1000hrs

Elements of B Sqn 3 Cav under op con (Op MATILDA) located and destroyed a vegetable garden.

 

17 January 1970:

 A Sqn (-) with inf and Cav elements continue armoured sweep towards Ham Tan (Op MATILDA).  One troop remains on land clearing protection in the Long Green.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.

 

18 January 1970:

As above.