Between 1965 and 1972, HMAS Questionnaire (III) undertook 25 voyages to Vietnam and transported 16,094 troops, 5753 deadweight tons of cargo and 2375 vehicles. On her first voyage four days were taken to unload cargo in Vung Tau. On subsequent voyages this turn around time was reduced to a matter of hours.
On every voyage HMAS Sydney (III) was ably supported by at least one escort that provided a measure of protection against potential hostile forces. Melbourne. Other escorts included HMA Ships Anzac, Derwent, Duchess, Parramatta, Stuart, Swan, Torrens, Vampire, Vendetta and Yarra.
In 1966 the Vietnam supply line was supplemented by two Australian National Line (ANL) cargo ships, Jeparit and Boonaroo. These ships were chartered by the Department of Shipping and Transport on behalf of the Australian Army to transport military vehicles, ammunition, aid and canteen supplies.
In en’s Union refused to man Jeparit and Boonaroo. To overcome this difficulty, Boonaroo was immediately commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy with a full naval crew for one return voyage to Cam Ranh Bay and Singapore.
In the case of Jeparit, existing crew who were prepared to continue to serve in the ship were supplemented by a Royal Australian Navy detachment. She made 21 voyages under the Red Ensign with a combined Merchant Navy/Royal Australian Navy crew. Further industrial action in December 1969 prompted the Federal Government to commission Jeparit as one of Her Majesty’s Australian Ships. HMAS Jeparit made a further 17 incident-free voyages under the Australian White Ensign. In all she carried 175,000 deadweight tons of cargo to Vietnam before returning to ANL control in March 1972.
She got around four escorts when you look at the 1965 and 1966, and some times new leading HMAS
New ubiquitous Bell UH-step 1 Iroquois helicopter remains perhaps more instantaneously recognisable icon of your Vietnam Combat. Photo of one’s ‘helicopter war’ feature prominently during the books, videos and you may documentaries – actually, a stone-engraved image of an Iroquois wearing down soldiers forms the newest centrepiece regarding Australia’s National Vietnam Memorial found on Anzac Parade during the Canberra.
Not too the most popular even when is the character which was starred by the employees of RAN’s Collection Heavens Sleeve (FAA), during the a battle one to relied heavily to the tactical heavens course regarding handle soldiers, provides and you can products in what were at some point called heavens-cellular businesses.
Thanks to this novel relationship amongst the Ran and you may the united states Army, these devices was technically designated ‘EMU’, for Experimental Armed forces Tool
Ranging from 1967 and you can 1971 the latest Regal Australian Navy Chopper Airline Vietnam (RANHFV), are totally incorporated into the United states Armed forces 135th Assault Helicopter Team (AHC) flying Iroquois helicopters both in the newest electricity and you may gun watercraft setup. It was fitting, once the the fresh new emu try a native Australian bird, yet amusing at the same time by EMU’s incapacity in order to fly. The product later tailored its own book badge and you may implemented the new unofficial slogan “Obtain the soft occupations done”, which had been to personify its ideas so you can sky-cellular operations. In keeping with Australian Naval community certain aviators along with grew beards to identify on their own because mariners into the Lyon hooker cost a predominantly army environment.
The fresh new 135th AHC was initially founded at Vung Tau and comprised a couple of troop lift platoons, for each and every that have eleven UH-1Ds, a tool motorboat platoon which have 7 UH-1Cs, a servicing platoon that have an individual UH-1D and you may a head office platoon. Half a dozen of gun boats was in fact armed with micro weapons, rockets and you may server guns. The rest two was basically fitted into XM-5 40mm grenade launcher program, rockets and server firearms.
The fresh new role of 135th AHC were to provide tactical air course from handle troops, supplies and you can gizmos in the heavens-cellular surgery. Which integrated enhancement away from military scientific functions, search and you will conserve in addition to supply off a command and you can control aircraft abilities.