Commander's Diaries

14 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting 7RAR and mine clearing team from NDP Bridget, 3 Troop supporting 7RAR and land clearing team, 4 Troop operating with Tango Force in AO Tulip.

 

15 May 1970.   

 

1200hrs.

2 Troop engaged slit trench and obtained secondary [explosion].

 

1427hrs:

2 Troop located mine markers, three M16 fuses and one M16 detonator.

 

16 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team from NDP Bridget; both Troops protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating with Tango Force in AO Tulip.

 

2200hrs:

1 Troop engaged lights with no known results following a morning sweep.

 

17 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team from NDP Bridget; both Troops protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating with Tango Force in AO Tulip.

 

1450hrs:

3 Troop supporting land clearing team located a cache: seven M16 mines less fuses.  Mines buried with top two inches below ground and at least one month old.)

 

1630hrs:

3 Troop located enemy staging camp.

 

18 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team from NDP Bridget; both protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating with Tango Force in AO Tulip.

 

0800hrs:

2 Troop detonated 20lb Chicom pressure mine.  Callsign 2Alpha light damage to LH front idler and roadwheels.  No casualties.  

 

19 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team; both protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating in AO Quarter mile on ambush operations.

 

1130hrs:

1 Troop swept area from which single shot originated, with no result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team; both protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR and land clearing team from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating in AO Quartermile supporting a blocking operation RSSZ.

 

21 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team from NDP Bridget; both protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating in AO Quartermile on blocking operations RSSZ.

 

? hrs:

2 Troop with land clearing team located bunkers.

 

1515hrs:

3 troop assaulted enemy bunker position with APC troop and infantry platoon.  On reaction task at the time, troop diverted when aircraft sighted enemy position.  Callsign 3Alpha penetrated by PRG-7(?).  Crew commander, Sergeant Chambers, head wound; driver, Trooper Gebhardt, scalp, back and leg wounds; gunner, Trooper Lynch, schock.  All medivac: Sgt Chambers to 1 Aust Fd Hosp, returned to unit two days later; Tpr Lynch to 8 Fd Amb, returned to unit following morning.  Tpr Gebhardt 24 Evac Hosp (US) and medevac'd to Australia.  vehicle penetrated through top of mantlet.  Of note, ammo resupply 12 mins from time request initiated by 3 Troop, until receipt at Troop.  Callsign 8Bravo invaluable in recovering 3Alpha from contact, 'dustoff', and later providing replacement driver. 

 

22 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team from NDP Bridget; both defensive tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating in AO Quartermile on blocking operations RSSZ.

 

23 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop supporting mine clearing team from NDP Bridget; both protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop operating in vicinity YS 2273 in ambush in supporting operations in RSSZ.

 

24 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop remained with mine clearing team at NDP Bridget; both on defensive/protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 Troop returns to Nui Dat.

 

25 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop remained with mine clearing team at NDP Bridget; both on defensive/protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe.

 

26 May 1970:

As above.

 

0030hrs:

Picquet sighted lights, but no action initiated.

 

27 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop remained with mine clearing team at NDP Bridget; both on defensive/protective tasks.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR from Horseshoe, 4 troop deployed from Nui Dat to support 2RAR.

 

1429hrs:

While moving to join 2RAR at [FSB] Nola, the birdgelayer with 4 Troop struck a mine.  No damage to vehicle or personnel.  Estimated 5-10lb charge.

 

28 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop remained with mine clearing team at NDP Bridget.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR and land clearing team from Horseshoe, 4 troop supporting 7RAR (sic) from [FSB] Nola.  1, 2, 3 Troops on protective tasks.

 

1400hrs:

1 Troop investigated previously reported bunkers (6 months)--in good condition.  No contact.

 

29 May 1970:

Sqn (-) remains Nui Dat. 1 Troop supporting road construction Route 2, 2 Troop remained with mine clearing team at NDP Bridget.  3 Troop supporting 7RAR and land clearing team from Horseshoe, 4 troop supporting 2RAR from [FSB] Nola. 

 

2130hrs:

4 Troop engaged lights with no known result.