Australia & New Zealand
Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam (AATTV)
Arrived Vietnam: 31 July 1962 Departed Vietnam: 18 December 1972 Australia's first military contribution to the Vietnam conflict was a small team of army officer and warrant officer advisers who arrived in mid=1962. Those advisers (originally 30) joined with U.S. advisory teams training South Vietnamese forces primarily in the northern provinces. Over the years this Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam grew to over a 100 officers and warrant officers who were employed with operational units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam and the VNSF. As such, they often led South Vietnamese troops as well as trained them. They earned four Victoria Crosses, the highest gallantry award for members of the British Commonwealth armies, during the course of the Vietnam conflict. Headquarters, Australian Army Force, Vietnam (HQ, AAFV)
Arrived Vietnam: 25 May 1965 Departed Vietnam: 2 May 1966 Location: Saigon Following a decision of the Australian government to increase its assistance to the Republic of Vietnam, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, together with a logistics support company, arrived in Vietnam May - June 1965. Supporting artillery, armored personnel carriers, engineers and light aircraft arrived in September 1965. The operational element comprised 1,300 men and was located at Bien Hoa as part of the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade. Many of their operations were conducted in War Zone D. HQ,AATTV were located in Saigon and the AATTV remained deployed with the U.S. advisory teams. The 1st Battalion, RAR, completed its tour and returned to Australia in June 1966. At that time there was a substantial increase in Australia's commitment, and the battalion group was replaced by a task force organization with its own logistical support. At the same time, HQ, AAFV was upgraded to a joint Australian Headquarters with naval and air force representation to b called Headquarters, Australian Forces, Vietnam (HQ, AFV) Headquarters, Australian Forces, Vietnam (HQ, AFV)
Arrived Vietnam: 3 May 1966 Departed Vietnam: 15 March 1972 Location: Saigon When command of HQ, AFV was upgraded, this headquarters was established to replace it. The deputy commander o HQ, AFV was the Royal Australian Air Force Commodore, who in addition to being Forces Deputy Commander also retained his position as air commodore and commander of the Royal Australian Air Force in South Vietnam. |
Headquarters, 1st Australian Task Force (ATF)
Arrived Vietnam: 25 May 1965 Departed Vietnam: 2 May 1966 Location: Nui Dat During 1966, due to the increased Australian army strength, the two major ground units were called the 1st Australian Task Force and the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group. The principal infantry units first serving this formation were the 5th and 6th Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment and the 3rd Special Air Service Squadron. The artillery contained two Australian batteries and one New Zealand battery. The task force was given its own tactical area of responsibility in Phuoc Tuy Province Southeast of Saigon, and the task force headquarters was established at a rubber plantation at Nui Dat just north of the provincial capital of Baria, about 35 miles southeast of Saigon. The task force was withdrawn from Vietnam in stages during 1971, and apart from small detachments necessary to provide security during this withdrawal phase, all combat troops and members of supporting armies were effectively returned to Australia by late December 1971. Australian Army Assistance Group, Vietnam ( AAAGV)
Arrived Vietnam: 6 March 1972 Departed Vietnam: 31 January 1973 Location: Saigon The Australian Army Assistance Group, Vietnam was established following the withdrawal of combat elements from Vietnam. Its role was to provide training and advisory assistance to both South Vietnamese and Cambodian troops, especially in Phuoc Tuy province. Composed of 23 officers and 120 other ranks, the headquarters (including a guard and escort detachment with signals) located in Saigon, and the Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam located in Phuoc Tuy province. New Zealand "V" Force
Arrived Vietnam: 21 July 1965 Departed Vietnam: June 1972 * (residual force) Location: Saigon * The first rifle company was withdrawn November 1970; the artillery battery, March 1971 and the "V" rifle company, at the end of 1971. New Zealand's first significant military contribution to the Vietnam conflict was the sending of the 161st Battery, New Zealand Artillery, to support the Australian forces with the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade in Phuoc Tuy Province. The New Zealand Battalion of the 28th Commonwealth Brigade was in Malaysia at the time and could not be spared for the Vietnam duty, but a rifle company of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment was provided from the battalion on a rotational basis to Vietnam. This "V" company first arrived in South Vietnam on 11 May 1967 and a "w" company followed on 17 December 1967, so that two companies of New Zealand infantry were present to form an ANZAC (Australian - New Zealand Army Corps) Battalion with the third element from Australia. Additionally, a platoon of the elite New Zealand Special Air Service commandos joined to provide a reconnaissance patrol capability. |