Commander's Diaries

19 January 1970:

A Sqn (-) continued Op MATILDA.  Grouping remains unchanged.  Force conducted recce and ambush ops to north of Ham Tan in conjunction with RF/PF forces from Ham Tan.  One troop remains LCT long Green.  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.  One Troop deployed to Long Hai mountain area to support RF operation.

 

20 January 1970:

A Sqn (-) continued Op MATILDA.  Force conducted recce ops vicinity YS9392.  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill. One troop remain Horseshoe Hill following cancellation of Long Hai op (RF/PF).

 

21 January 1970:

A Sqn (-) continues Op MATILDA.  Force conducted recce ops vic YS8801.  One troop remains LCT Long Green.  One troop shelled Long Hai mountains.  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.

 

1400hrs

6 Pl B Coy 6RAR/NZ and 3 Tp B Sqn 3 Cav Regt on Op MATILDA were contacted by three VC.  Result: one VC KIA (BC); one SKS rifle, pack, webbing, CIA.

 

22 January 1970:

A Sqn (-) continues Op MATILDA.  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.

 

23-25 January 1970:

As above.

 

26 January 1970:

A Sqn (-) continued Op MATILDA returning to Nui Dat.  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.

 

27 January 1970:

A Sqn remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.

 

28 January 1970:

As above.

 

29 January 1970:

A Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  One troop returned to Horseshoe Hill from vic YS 5253.  One troop deployed to vic YS 4868 with RRF.

 

30 January 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. Elements remain Horseshoe Hill.  One troop deployed to vic YS 4273 with RRF.  One troop deployed to 6RAR/NZ at FSB Peggy.

 

31 January 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. One troop Horseshoe Hill.  One troop 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).

 

2-4 February 1970:

As above.

 

5 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC). 

               

0948hrs

4 Troop tank struck anti-tank mine (10-15lbs Chicom TNT) with offset switch.  Minor track guard damage and no personnel injuries.

 

6 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).

 

7- 9 February 1970:

As above.

 

10 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).  One troop (2 Troop) deploys to vicinity YS4553 op con C Company 8RAR for quarry security.  (Engineers developing quarry for CA road construction Route 44.) 

 

1035hrs.  

4 Troop detonated M16 mine.  No damage or casualties.

                                   

1042hrs.   

Other sub-units in area, inf and Cav, also struck mines.                                         

 

1500hrs

4 Troop detonated M16 mine.  No damage or casualties.  

 

11 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop op con 6RAR/NZ. (ANZAC).  One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security.  1510hrs.  4 troop moved from Horseshoe in reaction role to support infantry platoon in bunker complex.  Troop reacted within one hour, being delayed slightly to collect mini-team.  Tanks assaulted position with inf; evacuated inf casualties and found LZ for casevac aircraft.  During assault one tank bellied on trees.  No casualties or damage to tanks.  Tanks remained with inf for security during night (8 pl C Coy 8RAR).

 

12 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security.  3 Troop operates along Route 2 with A Company 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) ARNV Group.  1300hrs.  2 Troop located two fire pits which had been dug and used possibly as late as the 11/12 Feb.

 

13 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security.  One troop operates along Route 2 with A Company 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) and ARNV Group (3 Troop). 

 

14 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop remains op con to 8RAR for quarry security (2 Troop).  3 Troop op con 2 with A Company 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) and ARNV [for] operation along Route 2.  2015hrs.  2 troop engaged two sampans ---one destroyed.

 

15 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop remains op con C Coy 8RAR for quarry security.  One troop ceases ops along Route 2 with A Coy 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC).

 

1900hrs:

2 Troop deployed from NDP to assist infantry platoon engaged in ambush with VC.  Contact was so heavy that it was decided to leave 2 Troop with the platoon and deploy a composite troop--92Alpha, ZeroDelta, Zero Echo to assist with quarry security.  Redeployment completed by 2400hrs.  Deployment decided as Coy HQ also received small arms fire after 2 Troop had left area.