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 had as much as four escorts inside 1965 and you can 1966, plus often times the fresh new leading HMAS
The fresh new ubiquitous Bell UH-step one Iroquois chopper remains probably many instantly recognisable symbol of one’s Vietnam Battle. Photos of your ‘helicopter war’ function prominently in courses, video and you may documentaries – actually, a stone-etched picture of a keen Iroquois wearing down troops models the fresh new centrepiece of Australia’s Federal Vietnam Art gallery situated on Anzac Procession inside the Canberra.
Not the most famous though ‘s the character which had been starred by the professionals Essen escort of one’s RAN’s Fleet Sky Case (FAA), inside a war you to definitely relied heavily on tactical heavens path off combat troops, provides and you can gizmos with what had been eventually entitled sky-cellular businesses.
This is why unique matchmaking involving the Went and you may the usa Army, the product is theoretically appointed ‘EMU’, having Fresh Military Device
Between 1967 and 1971 brand new Royal Australian Navy Chopper Journey Vietnam (RANHFV), are totally included towards United states Army 135th Assault Chopper Providers (AHC) flying Iroquois helicopters both in the new energy and you will weapon vessel options. This was fitted, as this new emu are an indigenous Australian bird, but really witty at the same time because of the EMU’s inability to help you travel. These devices later on tailored its very own novel badge and implemented the fresh new unofficial slogan “Obtain the soft work done”, that has been in order to personify the feelings so you’re able to air-mobile surgery. In keeping with Australian Naval lifestyle some of the aviators and expanded beards to recognize on their own as the sailors in a mostly military ecosystem.
New 135th AHC was first oriented during the Vung Tau and you will constructed several troop lift platoons, each having 11 UH-1Ds, a tool vessel platoon which have 7 UH-1Cs, a servicing platoon having one UH-1D and you will a headquarters platoon. Six of your own firearm ships was in fact armed with mini weapons, rockets and you will servers guns. The rest a couple were suitable into the XM-5 40mm grenade launcher program, rockets and you may host weapons.
The latest character regarding 135th AHC were to offer tactical air path off handle soldiers, provides and you can products within the air-mobile surgery. Which provided augmentation away from armed forces medical features, browse and rescue and also the provision out of an order and you can manage aircraft features.