Commander's Diaries

16 February 1970:

Sqn (-) moved into AO Hammersley. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill. One troop remains op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) in AO Bayswater.   

 

2045hrs
Infantry in Composite Troop location contacted VC---one KI 

 

17 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains AO Hammersley. Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One troop remains op con 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) in AO Bayswater. 

 

18 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains AO Hammersley (sic).  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill and in support 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) in AO Bayswater.  1 Tp, 2 Tp, 3 Tp & SHQ actively supporting 8RAR ops in Long Hai area.

 

1100 - 1415hrs

Inf with 2 Tp, C Coy 8RAR contacted enemy bunker system.  2 Tp assaulted with inf.  APC from B Sqn 3 Cav destroyed and Cpl Gott, crew comd, 2B,WIA whilst dismounted and attempting recovery of burning APC.  During period of contact at least 9 x RPG fired at 2 Tp.  Light casualties sustained (2 crew members bruises and cuts), but no serious damage. 

 

1415hrs

Composite Tp contacted enemy of unknown size.  ZeroDelta penetrated over radiators.  No other damage and no casualties.    1530hrs.    Zero Bravo reacted from Nui Dat to assist in 2 Tp location.  During reaction Composite Tp also deployed to assist.

 

1820hrs

2 Tp and Composite Tp assaulted enemy position with primary aim recovering burning APC from which VC were attempting removal of weapons.  Zero Bravo co-ordinating with 4 Tp providing fire support if required.  4 Tp Zero Bravo arrived as assault commenced.  APC recovered and force put in NDP 300m from enemy position. (Zero Bravo, 2 Tp, 4 Tp, Composite Tp, 3 Tp B Sqn 3 Cav, C Coy 8RAR.)

 

19 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in AO HAMMERSLEY [sic].  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  Elements remain in support 6 RAR/NZ.  Zero Bravo Group moved clear of contact area during day to overnight position.

 

20 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in AO HAMMERSLEY [sic].  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  Elements remain in support 6 RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.  Composite Tp returned to Nui Dat and 2 Tp 4 Tp returned to FSB Isa. 

 

21 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in AO HAMMERSLEY [sic].  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  Elements remain in support 6 RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.

 

0545hrs:

Zero Bravo, 2 Tp, and 92Alpha deployed at first light to assault enemy position originally contacted on 18 February, with same Cav and Inf force. 

 

0815hrs:

1Charlie detonated anti-tank mine---estimated 20lb shaped charge.  Tank subsequently burnt out.  Two crewmen slightly wounded---shock and bruises only (Troopers Hams and Trooper Atkinson).  Tank supporting 8RAR in routine RIF operation

 

22 February 1970:

SHQ (-) remains AO Hammersley [sic].  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill and in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.

 

23 February 1970:

SHQ (-) remains AO Hammersley [sic].  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill and in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.  0820hrs.    4 Tp vehicle detonated M16 mine.  No casualties or damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24 February 1970:

SHQ (-) remains AO Hammersley [sic].  Elements remain Horseshoe Hill and in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.

 

25 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in AO Hammersley (sic).  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill and in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater. 

 

1145hrs

4 Tp detonated 20lb TNT Chicom anti-tank mine.  Track blown off but vehicle three ways within 2 hours.  One WIA evacuated with shock and bruising (Tpr Burgess).

 

26 February 1970:

Sqn (-) remains in AO Hammersley (sic).  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill.  One Tp remains op con 6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.

 

27-28 February 1970:

As above.

 

General:

1.    Mostly activity has been the close support of inf with assistance in RIF operations.  In particular, 8RAR received  
      considerable support.

 

2.    A feature of the month was the deployment of five tank troops to meet the inf requirement for support; and the close  
      support, during contact, of C Coy 8RAR during that Coy's contact in the Long Hai Hills on 18 Feb.

 

3.    Civic action has also received considerable attention and effort.  Toys, sweets and buns were provided for children in
       the Sqn's area of responsibility (2,200 children) for the Tet celebrations on 4/5 Feb.  Area centres around Duc Thanh,
       where the OC presented the gifts and received the thanks of the District Chief, Major Nho.  Also, a combined
       Squadron/Fwd Fel Tp effort built a dispensary at Vinh Thanh which was very favourably received.  Both the
       Vietnamese and 1ATF complemented the Sqn on their efforts.

 

1 March 1970:

Sqn (-) remains AO Hammersley.  Elements remain on Horseshoe Hill and in support     6RAR/NZ in AO Bayswater.  

 

1220hrs 

4 troop sighted 15 enemy.  Unable to obtain fire clearances, a sweep of the area eventually produced negative results.  4 Troop moving from Long Hais in support 8RAR to support 6RAR/NZ.  Documents captured in area

 

2 March 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat with elements on Horseshoe Hill.  Troop remains in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Kurrajong.

 

3 March 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat with elements on Horseshoe Hill.  Troop remains in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Kurrajong.  Troop in support 8RAR in AOs Ascot and Bendigo.

 

4 March 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat with elements on Horseshoe Hill.  Troop remains in support 6RAR/NZ in AO Kurrajong.  Troop in support 8RAR in AOs Ascot and Bendigo.  1450hrs.  2 Troop, supporting D Company 7RAR, located partially destroyed 1ATF ammunition dump.  To be destroyed later.

 

5 March 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat.  Elements remain in support 8RAR in AOs Ascot and Bendigo.