1st ARMOURED REGIMENT ASSOCIATION INC
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RADETZKY, Regimental Quick March
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Commander's Diaries
B Squadron
11 February 1969 - 23 December 1969
13 May 1969:
Ops in AO Tahbilk (2Tp) and AO Aldgate (3 Tp) continue. At 0930hrs a tank hit a mine which caused moderate damage to the tank. Aust casualties were 1 KIA and 1 WIA (evacuated). 1 Tp redeployed to YT 174110 op con to 5RAR.
14 May 1969:
2 and 3 Tp continue ops as above. I Tp continues ops in AO Kangaroo. At 1040hrs, infantry elements with [Tango] Force contacted four VC. Results: three KIA (BC), one pistol and one M1 carbine captured.
15 may 1969:
At 1100hrs SHQ (-) and elements located an extensive new bunker system which was destroyed. 3 Tp moved from FSB Thrust to the area of Dat Do to support a 9RAR cordon. 4 Tp deployed from Nui Dat at 0940hrs as part of a ready reaction force to assist sector elements re-establish control in Dat Do. 1 Tp continued ops in AO Kangaroo.
16 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) remained 1ATF base. SHQ (-), 2 Tp, plus elements of Sp Tp 3 Cav continued RIF operations in AO Tahbilk. At 161145H SHQ (-) and elements sighted and engaged two VC who withdrew north. Results: two bicycles captured. 1 Tp continued operations in AO Kangaroo. 3 TP and 4Tp continued to support 9RAR in the cordon of Dat Do.
18 May 1969:
SHQ, 1 Tp, 2 Tp as above. 3 Tp continued operations in AO Aldgate. 4 Tp deployed with 1ATF ready reaction force south of 1ATF AO.
19 May 1969:
SHQ, 1 Tp, 2 Tp as above. At 191000H, SHQ (-) and supporting elements located eight 105mm shells and two 82mm mortar bombs. These were destroyed. At 192030H at Binh Ba village, SHQ (-) plus supporting elements formed a screen while sector elements swept the village for VC. 4 Tp continued to support 9RAR in AO Aldgate. Ready reaction TP was deployed with reaction force at 191600H.
20 May 1969:
SHQ, 1 Tp, 2 Tp, 3 Tp as above. 4 TP (Ready Reaction) returned to 1ATF Base at 200520H, then conducted in-theatre training with 6RAR.
21 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) remained in 1ATF base. SHQ (-) and 2 Tp continued operations in AP Tahbilk. 1 Tp continued operations in AO Kangaroo. 3 Tp continued to support 9RAR in AO Aldgate.
22 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) continued Phase 2 operations in AO Tahbilk. Other elements remained in support of 5RAR and 9RAR in AOs Illawarra and Aldgate respectively. Det B Sqn 1 Armd Regt with Cav/Inf elements conducts Phase 2 operations in AO Tahbilk. At 221135H callsign 21 Charlie detonated a pressure mine (approx 50lbs Chicom TNT). No casualties, moderate damage to tank.
23 May 1969:
Phase 2 operations and support to 5RAR and 9RAR continued as above. At 230900H a tank from B Sqn 1 Armd Regt was engaged with RPG fire. One shot fell short and the other went wild. The tanks returned fire and withdrew. Artillery was called in on the suspected firing position.
24 May 1969:
Phase 2 operations and 5RAR and 9RAR support as above.
25 May 1969:
As above.
26 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) continued Phase 2 operations in AO Tahbilk. Other elements remained in support of 5RAR and 9RAR in AOs Illawarra and Aldgate.
27 May 1969:
As above. At 271805H D&E Platoon, 2 Tp B Sqn 1 Armd, Spt Section B Sqn 3 Cav, contacted 20 enemy confirmed as NVA resulting in one enemy KIA (BC), six heavy blood trails, two AK 47 captured. Follow up located two RPGs, four packs with one containing women's' apparel.
28 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) continued Phase 2 operations in AO Tahbilk. Other elements remained in support of 5RAR and 9RAR in AOs Illawarra and Aldgate. Det B Sqn 1 Armd Regt with Cav/inf elements secured FSB Virginia for initial deployment 6RAR on Operation LAVARACK.
29 May 1969:
No change in task or locations
30 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) remained 1ATF base. SHQ (-), 2 Tp secured FSB Virginia in preparation for Operation LAVARACK in support of 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC). Other elements remained in support of 5RAR and 9RAR in AOs Illawarra and Aldgate.
31 May 1969:
B Sqn (-) secured FSB Virginia for the deployment of 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) into AO Lavarack and then returned to 1ATF base. Other elements remained in support of 5RAR and 9RAR in AOs Illawarra and Aldgate.
1 June 1969:
1 Tp returned to 1ATF base with 5RAR. Elements remain op con 6RAR in AO Vincent and 9RAR in AO Aldgate.
2 June 1969:
Elements remain op con 6RAR in AO Vincent and 9RAR in AO Aldgate.
3-5 June 1969:
As above
6 June 1969:
Elements remain op con 6RAR in AO Vincent and 9RAR in AO Aldgate. At approx 4 Tp ceased op con to 6RAR and became op con to 5RAR for an operation in Binh Ba. 1 Tp was also deployed from the 1 ATF base Ready Reaction Force to take part in this operation. At 0720H a Centurion (2Zero Delta) was struck and penetrated by an RPG 7. Fire was returned and enemy casualties suspected. One Aust was WIA and evacuated from Duc Thanh Post.
Commencing at approx 1100H until 1830H, B and D companies 5RAR, 1 and 2 Tp B Sqn 1 Armd Regt, elements of B Sqn 3 Cav Regt and Duc Thanh RF/PF were engaged with an estimated [enemy] company plus, in the village of Binh Ba. Results approx 27 enemy KIA (BC), two enemy PW. Friendly losses, two Centurion MBT's moderately damaged, but remained in battle, one Aust KIA, eight Aust WIA (evacuated). Total B Sqn 1 Armd Regt casualties for this action was six WIA (evacuated).
Tp Ldr callsign 21 dodged RPG 2 which cut his back in passing. All casualties caused by RPG 7 strikes on the tanks. Many enemy casualties were caused by heavy tank fire and assault. Frontal sweep was conducted with tanks leading. At the following times 1525H, 1653H, 1930H, 2030H, 1ATF base received approx 15 rockets of unknown calibre. No casualties and no damage.
7 June 1969:
Elements remained op con to 5RAR on AO Anvil and 9RAR in AO Aldgate. 1 and 2 Tp became op con to C Company 5RAR to act as part of Ready Reaction Force in Hoa Long. B company 5RAR formed a block whilst D Company and 4 Tp B Sqn 1 Armd Regt swept through Binh Ba. Cumulative results from 060800Jun: One Aust KIA; six Aust WIA (Evac), 51 VC KIA, 11 VC PW. Enemy casualties Hoa Long...see Operation TONG After Action Report.