Chronology/Operations - Period -
1970
VC = Viet Cong(local force enemy). NVA= North Vietnam Army.
FSB = Fire Support Base. A defended perimeter within which artillery and/or mortars
were placed to support tactical operations by infantry or armour that were operating more
than 10 klms(maximum gun range) from the Nui Dat Base.
FSPB = Fire Support Patrol Base. As above. Provided a secure base to operate
patrols from.
AO = Area of Operations. TAOR=Tactical Area of Operational Responsibility
KIA = Killed in action. WIA = Wounded in action. MIA = Missing in Action. DOW =
Died of wounds
RAR = Royal Australian Regiment(Infantry). RAA = Royal Australian Artillery. RNZA =
Royal New Zealand Artillery. RAE = Royal Australian Engineers
Art = Artillery. Bty = Battery. Coy = Company. Bde = Brigade. APC = Armoured
Personnel Carriers.Tp = Troop. Cav = Cavalry.
January - 1970
Spiro Agnew, US Vice President
"They have been in a war for years and years and they are quite debilitated and
decimated, and I don't think they are capable with any kind of resistance of continuing
this fight".
1 - New Year Truce.
10 - 8 RAR return to Nui Dat from Op "Atherton" and celebrate
Christmas.
15 - 16. Operation Matilda - an armoured sweep covering more 200 klms is
conducted east and north east of Nui Dat.
23 - 8 RAR Deploy to Xuyen Moc Village for Op
"Keppera".
24 - 8 RAR Cordon and Search the village of Xuyen Moc.
26 - B and D Coys 8 RAR deploy to blocking positions in the Nui Dinh
Hills
27 - A and C Coys including Section of Mortars and Assault Pioneers
deploy to Nui Dinh Hills.
28 - Australian Minister of State for the Army - Andrew Peacock
visits elements of 8 RAR at Nui Dat.
February - 1970
3 - D and C Coys 8 RAR return to Nui Dat for Ready Reaction tasks.
6 - Lunar New Year (TET) Truce.
7 - C Coy 8 RAR deploy to east of Hoa Long for local ambush duties.
10 - C Coy 8 RAR deploy on Op Hammersley to the Long Hai
Hills and is supported by 2 Troop A Sqn Tanks.
FSB Pat - YS 61-82 32 km NE of Nui Dat, 17 km ENE of Duc Tanh and Rte-2,
14 km N of FSB Discovery. Described as an old, mosquito infested FSB. 161 Bty, RNZA
(Andrew’s Bty 18Sep69-6Sep70) firebase set here 16Feb-11Mar70. 106 Bty RAA also here
13Feb70. Prov, III Corps.
Advance Party of 100 men from 7 RAR departs Kingsford Smith Airport, Sydney for
Vietnam. a further 50 depart on the 15th.
14 - A and B Coys 8 RAR including Assault Pioneers return to Nui Dat to
prepare for Op Epsom.
15 - D Coy 8 RAR with the remainder of A Sqn tanks deploys to Op
Hammersley to assist C Coy
16 - 7 RAR main body departs Sydney, Australia, on board HMAS Sydney.
B Coy 8 RAR deploys to Op Hammersley.
18 - 8 RAR - Battle of the Long Hai Hills.
Long Hai Mountains Generally 20 km NE of Vung Tau and 15 km due S of Nui
Dat. A rugged mountain chain rising from the plain S of Ba Ria and Long Dien, and
bordering the coast of Phuoc Tuy Prov. Long Hai Airfield was on the coast at the SW edge
of this hill mass.
18 - 3 Sqn SAS depart Vietnam and are replaced by 2 Sqn SAS. During their
tour 3 Sqn had mounted 230 operations with 78 contacts resulting in 144 enemy KIA plus 32
possibles.
21 - B52 strike on the Long Hai Hills in support of 8 RAR. B52 Damage
24 - Rear Party 7 RAR depart for Vietnam by air.
27 - 7 RAR arrive at Vung Tau on their second tour. 5 RAR depart for Australia.
28 - Dustoff . 9 Australian soldiers are killed and 16 wounded by an M16 mine. The
Chief of General Staff (Australia) signals the Commander Australian Forces Vietnam
(COMAFV), "Most distressed and concerned at casualties being suffered by 8 RAR in
Long Hai area. In view of our experience I am at loss to understand 1 ATF undertaking
operations in an area in which they have always been costly and of doubtful value. Please
let me have a report urgently including the aims of the operation and the responsibility
for its initiation".
March - 1970
2- A and B Coys 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
3 - A and B Coy including Bn HQ 8 RAR deploy on Op Ascot.Op
Hamilton commences. FSB Discovery - YS 60-68 On Rte 328, 18 km due E
of Nui Dat, 5 km NNW of FSB Bond, 13 km NE of Dat Do, 5 km W of Xuyen Moc, and 14 km NE of
FSB Horseshoe. Placed in a position to provide support for 8 RAR’s blockade of VC
escape routes from the Long Hai Hills during operations there in 1970. 161 Bty, RNZA
(Andrew’s Bty 18Sep69- 6Sep 70) firebase set here 3-22Mar70 (left section),
11-24Mar70 (right section). Prov, III Corps.
4 - D Coy 8 RAR deploy to Op Ascot.
5 - 5 RAR arrive in Australia completing their second and last tour of Vietnam.
7 - 8 RAR cordon the area believed to be the location of HQ D445.
9 - 7 RAR deploys on Operation Finschafen.
12 - C Coy 8 RAR redeploy to FSPB Isa.
16 - HMAS Hobart departs Australia for Vietnam on its third deployment.
18 - General Lon Nol ousts Prince Norodom Sihanouk an seizes power in Cambodia.
20 - A Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
21 - FSB Toby - YS 71-79 Along Rte-329, 5 km SW of FSB Lynx, 13 km SSW of
Hill 2310, 30 km NE of Nui Dat and 161 Bty, RNZA (Master’s Bty 6Sep70- 8May71)
firebase set here 21-29 Mar 70 (left section). Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
24 - B and C Coys 8 RAR with Bn HQ return to Nui Dat. C Coy deploy to to
area north east of Xuyen Moc.
27 - South Vietnamese troops attacks communist bases across the border of Cambodia.
D Coy 8 RAR reacted to an area north east of Xuyen Moc.
28 - HMAS Hobart relieves HMAS Vendetta at Subic Bay.
29 - D Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
April - 1970
1 - A Coy 8 RAR react to an intelligence report of enemy concentration east of Dat Do.
They return same day. Nil result.
2 - A Coy 8 RAR react again to the area east of Dat Do.
3 - A Coy 8 RAR react to an area north of Ap Nui Nhon.
4 - FSB Andrea - YS 26-58? On Long Son Island, 20 km SW of Nui
Dat, 13 km N of Vung Tau, 3 km from the ocean and 5 km SW of QL-15. The base located on
the solid rock summit of Hill 84, and was first built when a single, 161 Bty RNZA L-5
cannon and eight gunners deployed here 4 Apr 70. The position was manned by the one
gun and 17 PF Viet soldiers firing in support of HQ ATF D and E Plts while they searched
the island for rocket sites that endangered Vung Tau. One night, one of the PF’s
threw a cigarette into a pit containing all the unused powder charges, causing an intense
blaze that lasted several hours, exposing all to sniper fire. 161 Bty, RNZA (Andrew’s
Bty 18Sep-6Sep70) firebase set here 4-17Apr70. Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
6 - B Coy 8 RAR react to an area north east of Binh Ba and return same day.
7 - B Coy 8 RAR deploy to an area west of Duc My on Op Phoi
Hop.
8 - A Coy 8 RAR deploy to an area west of Ap Suoi Nghe. C and D Coys deploy to
ambush positions in Hoa Long Village on Op Phoi Hop.
First Australian moratorium demonstration. 120,000 people march in cities across
Australia.
11 - C and D Coys 8 RAR deploy to ambush positions south and west of Hoa Long
Village.
14 - Cambodian President Lon Nol appeals for military assistance in Cambodia.
18-19 . 8 RAR conduct cordon and search of Ap Bac Hamlet.
19 - 7 RAR deploy on Op Concrete 1 in the
Xuyen Moc District.
20 - All Companies 8 RAR and Bn HQ deploy on 1 ATF Op
"Concrete". Op Nudgee commences. FSB Bond
- YS 62-64 At the intersection of Rte-23 and Rte 328, 4 km SSE of FSB Discovery, 20 km ESE
of Nui Dat and 7 km N of the ocean. 161 Bty’s deployment here was part of Operation
Concrete, the largest Australian Operation since WWII, involving all 3 RAR Inf Bns, 1ATF
HQ, a Field Rgt and supporting arms, that were deployed to destroy the HQ of the D445 VC
RGT. 161 Bty, RNZA (Andrew’s Bty 18Sep-6Sep70) firebase set here 20-26Apr70. Prov,
III Corps.
22 - Prime Minister Gorton Announces a Reduction in Australia's Commitment,
"...the process of Vietnamisation made this force reduction 'desirable and
feasible'".
25 - C and D Coys 8 RAR move to Hoa Long and lay ambushes.
26 - A and B Coys 8 RAR move to Hoa Long and lay ambushes.
27 - FSB "Bond " vacated.FSB Le Loi - YS 45-76
Called FSB Le Loi. On Rte-2, 7 km N of Nui Dat, 4 km S of Duc Tanh, and 3 km SW of Ngai
Giao. 161 Bty, RNZA, Andrew’s Bty set here 27-30Apr70, 7May-7Jun70, 6-29Jun70 and
1-14Jul70 (left section), 14-20Jun70 (right section); Master's Bty, 22Oct70, 3- 9Dec70. US
1st/8th Field Arty also here until Apr/May70, when it moved to support the Cambodian
Invasion. While at Le Loi in 70, 8 RAR developed and unusual ambush tactic in which squads
would hide in the upraised scoopers of "earth scrapers" (earth moving vehicles)
that then dropped them off at ambush positions along Rte 2 without the local VC operatives
observing them leaving the compound. During Jun70 (after 14Jun), 161 Bty fired its biggest
shoot of the war, during which 184 "serials" pounded the area around FSB
Dampier. Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
28 - B, C and D Coys 8 RAR deploy on Op Nudgee. A Coy continues to
ambush approaches to Hoa Long Village.
29 - US forces announce participation in the offensive into Cambodia by South
Vietnam.
30 - President
Nixon's speech on Cambodia.
May - 1970
2 - 9 - Anti war demonstrations break out on US college campuses. 4 Students are
killed.
8 - 120,000 Australians demonstate for an end to the war.
7 - Bn HQ 8 RAR deploy to FSPB "Le Loi. B and C Coys deploy to AO
Quartermile in continuation of Op Nudgee. 7 RAR OP "Concrete 1" concludes with
redeployment for Op "Concrete 11".
9 - B Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat. Luscombe Field at Nui Dat.
9 May, 10 days after ground troops crossed the border, a combined
Vietnamese-American naval task force steamed up the Mekong River to wrest control of that
key waterway from North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces. The flotilla, led by a Vietnamese
naval officer, was composed of American PCFs, ASPBs, PBRs, HAL-3 and VAL-4 aircraft, Benewah,
Askari, Hunterdon County, YRBM 16, YRBM 21 and 10 strike
assault boats (STAB) of Strike Assault Boat Squadron 20, a fast-reaction unit created by
Admiral Zumwalt in 1969. The Vietnamese contingent included riverine assault craft of many
types, PCFs, PBRs, and marine battalions. Naval Advisory Group personnel sailed with each
Vietnamese vessel. By the end of the first day, Vietnamese naval units reached the
Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, while to the south the combined force stormed enemy-held
Neak Luong, a strategic ferry crossing point on the river. For political reasons, no U.S.
personnel were allowed past Neak Luong, midway to Phnom Penh. Although the American
component pulled out of Cambodia by 29 June, the Vietnamese continued to guard the Mekong
and evacuate to South Vietnam over 82,000 ethnic Vietnamese jeopardized by the conflict.
12 - D Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat One Platoon of D Coy occupy FSPB
"Isa".
13 - D Coy 8 RAR conduct a cordon and search of Ap Bac Hamlet. B Coy
ambushed around Long Dien.
15 - C Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat. D Coy redeploy in AO Quartermile
north west of Ap Suoi Nghe.
18 - C Coy 8 RAR deploy to ambush positions in the south east sector of
Hoa Long.
20 - D Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
21 - C Coy 8 RAR deploy to ambush positions south of Long Dien.
23 - D Coy 8 RAR ambushed south and south east of Hoa Long.
25 - B Coy 8 RAR move to north of Le Loi. Coy HQ to Nui Nhan.
26 - D Coy 8 RAR ambushed south of Hoa Long and replace C Coy south of
Long Dien. C Coy deploy to block south west of Le Loi in conjunction with 2 RAR's initial
operation.
28 - 6 RAR complete their second and last tour of Vietnam. A Coy 8 RAR deeply to Le
Loi in attempt to locate an enemy hospital.
30 - A and C Coys 8 RAR deploy to the north of AO Kipper.
FSB Kylie - YS 45-84 On the W side of Rte-2, 3 km NNE of FSB Peggy, 7 km
N of Duc Tanh and 17 km N of Nui Dat. Built initially on a small scale since it housed
only a section of 161 Bty RNZA 30May70, it was later expanded significantly to accommodate
the M2A2 howitzers added to cover the Binh Ba Rubber Plantation. 161 Bty, RNZA
(Andrew’s Bty 18Sep69-6Sep 70) firebase set here 30May-6Jun70 and 1- 12Jul70 (right
section); 29-30Jun70 (left section). Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
An
Australian Protestor's Perspective
June - 1970
1 - B Coy 8 RAR returns to Nui Dat.
5 - A Coy 8 RAR redeploy from AO Kipper to the north west of Binh Ba.
6 - C Coy 8 RAR redeploy from AO Kipper to Le Loi and conduct local patrols.
7 - B Coy 8 RAR deploys to night ambush tasks around Hoa Long.
10 - A Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
11 - Operation "Nudgee" concludes.
12 - 29. 7 RAR conduct Operation Cung Chung
. A Coy 8 RAR deploys to the west and south west of Binh Ba .
15 - C Coy 8 RAR returns to Nui Dat.
19 - 23. 7 RAR conduct Operation "Elanora" as part of Op
"Cung Chung".
20 - C Coy 8 RAR take over from D Coy in Long Dien District. B Coy
conduct searches for bunkers in Ap Bac Hamlet. FSB Bridget - YS 51-53 On
the coast at the end of Rte-44, appx 1 km from the water’s edge, 29 km NE of Vung
Tau, 17 km SSE of Nui Dat and 9 km SSE of FSB Horseshoe. Described as a very unpleasant
location built on gray, metallic sand that was very hot underfoot and gave off an intense
blinding glare. 161 Bty, RNZA, Andrew’s Bty firebase set here 20-21Jun70 (right
section); 21-31Aug70 (one tube?). Master's Bty here 22-30Sep70 for
"Housekeeping"? Prov, III Corps.
25 - D Coy 8 RAR deploy to Le Loi.
29 - A Coy 8 RAR deploy by APC to blocking positions in the north of AO Mullet. B
and C Coys deploy by air to blocking positions in AO Mullet. D Coy deployed from Le
Loi to AO Mullet. Op Petrie
commences
FSB Kylie - YS 45-84 On the W side of Rte-2, 3 km NNE of FSB Peggy, 7 km
N of Duc Tanh and 17 km N of Nui Dat. Built initially on a small scale since it housed
only a section of 161 Bty RNZA 30May70, it was later expanded significantly to accommodate
the M2A2 howitzers added to cover the Binh Ba Rubber Plantation. 161 Bty, RNZA
(Andrew’s Bty 18Sep69-6Sep 70) firebase set here 30May-6Jun70 and 1- 12Jul70 (right
section); 29-30Jun70 (left section). Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
29. US ground troops withdraw from Cambodia.
July - 1970
7 - A Coy 8 RAR deploy to a blocking position north of the Song Ca.
8 - C Coy 8 RAR redeploy to a blocking position north of the Suoi Soc.
11 - B Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat for local ambush tasks at Hoa Long.
13 - FSB Le Loi and Kylie handed over to 2 RAR.
23 - D Coy 8 RAR deploy to FSB Brigid. Spt Coy deploy to FSB Isa.
A, B and C Coy begin operations around Long Dien and Hoa Long.Op
Decade commences.
In July the Vietnamese Navy assumed sole responsibility f or the Ready Deck operation,
which was given a Tran Hung Dao designator like the other former SEALORDS areas. Also in
July, the U.S. Navy ceased its combat activity on I Corp's Cua Viet and Hue Rivers. The
Americans then transferred the last combatant vessels of Task Force Clearwater to the
Vietnamese. A final turnover of river craft at the end of 1970 enabled the Vietnamese Navy
to take charge of the Search Turn, Barrier Reef, and Breezy Cove efforts deep in the
Mekong Delta. Except for continued support by HAL-3 and VAL-4 aircraft and SEAL
detachments, the U.S. Navy's role in the SEALORDS campaign ended in April 1971 when Solid
Anchor (previously Sea Float and now based ashore at Nam Can) became a Vietnamese
responsibility.
August - 1970
2 - B Coy 8 RAR deploy to Le Loi and begin operations. D Coy vacate NDP Brigid and begin
operations in the Long Dien area. A Coy deploy to the west of AP Suoi Nghe.
3 - 10 Sep. 7 RAR deploy for Op Cung Chung 2 and 3
.
7 - All Companies 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
9 - All Companies of 8 RAR return to the area operations occupied on the 7th,
except A Coy who deploy to An Nhut sector of Long Dien District.
11-12 . C Coy 8 RAR ambush the village of Hoa Long. 19 NLF soldiers are killed and ten
captured..
24 - B Coy 8 RAR return from Le Loi which is handed over to an element of
C Coy.
25 - FSB Isa is handed over to 7 RAR.
26 - 8 RAR less B Coy concentrate around Hoa Long.
27 - B Coy 8 RAR deploy to the neck of the Chau Pha Valley.
TPC 25 - Radar Personnel movement detecting radar equipment used by the
ANZAC (and presumably the US under other nomenclature). First employed by the 1 ATF Aug70
when set up on the slopes of Nui Dat and FSB Horseshoe guide arty fire missions and alert
RAR ambush sites
September - 1970
1 - B Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat for ambush tasks around Hoa Long.
10 -22. Op Cung Chung 2 Phase 1 commences.
13 - FSB Kylie is closed. Assault Pioneers of 8 RAR return to Nui Dat.
14 - D Coy 8 RAR take up ambush duties around Hoa Long.
14 - HMAS Perth departs Sydney on its third Vietnam deployment.
16 - D Coy 8 RAR deploy to the Chau Pha Valley. C Coy deploys to the area
of The Three Sisters.
18 - Second Australian moratorium. 100,000 march and 300 people arrested.
21 - C Coy 8 RAR return to Nui Dat and take up ambush tasks to the east
of Dat Do.
24 - A Coy 8 RAR take up ambush duties east of Dat Do Town.
25 - C Coy 8 RAR redeploy from Dat Do to Hoa Long.
28 - HMAS Perth relieves HMAS Hobart at Subic Bay.
October - 1970
3 - 1 February 1971. 7 RAR conduct Operation "Cung Chung 111 (phases
3 and 4).
4 - 8 RAR ceases Battalion Operations and begins one Company operational
cycle.
6 - FSB Allisoun - YS 65-68 Along the N side of Rte-329, 24 km due
E of Nui Dat, 5 km ENE of FSB Beth, and 7 km WNW FSB Feathers. 5Oct70, 161
Bty’s deployment here met with near disaster when it ran into the tail end of a VC
ambush compromised by captured intel. 161 Bty, RNZA (Master’s Bty 6 Sep70-8
May71)firebase set here 6-13 Oct 70. Prov, III Corps.
14 - FSB Bruiser - YS 64-65 3 Km S of Xuyen Moc, 18 km ESE of Nui
Dat, 5 km SE of FSB Beth and 4 km SSW of FSB Allisoun. Built on firm white sand that
caused sandstorms when Chinooks arrived to resupply. 161 Bty, RNZA (Master’s Bty
22Sep70-29Mar71) firebase set here 14- 21Oct70 . Prov, III Corps.
15 - President Nixon announces a further withdrawal of 40,000 US troops
25 - 8 RAR Ops Cung Chung 2&3 concludes.
31 - 8 RAR Main Body departs Vung Tau for Australia on HMAS Sydney.
November - 1970
3 - RAAF Canberra Bomber A84-231("Magpie 91") is lost - missing
in action - . The crew and aircraft are never found.
5 - 8 RAR Advance Party depart Tan Son Nhut by air.
10 - 8 RAR Rear Party depart Tan Son Nhut by air.
12 - 8 RAR arrive in Brisbane, Australia completing their first and final tour of
Vietnam.The Battalion marches through Brisbane.
27 - FSB Cook - YS 29-62 On QL-2, 16 km SW of Nui Dat,
18 km N of Vung Tau, 5 km NNE of FSB Andrea and 8 km SW of Nui Thi. Author of Vietnam
Gunners wrote that it was located in a "flat, sandy covered with grass and
fringed mangrove-like swamps of a tropical river delta." with 161 Bty, RNZA
Master’s Bty 6Sep70-8May71) firebase set here 27Nov-2Dec70. Bty deployed here 27Nov70
to fire in support of a 2 ANZAC operation on the western slopes of the Nui Dinh Mountains.
Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
December - 1970
C Sqn 1 Armd Regt tanks replace A Sqn in Vietnam.
FSB Feathers - YS 71-67 8 km N of the ocean, 28 km E of Nui Dat, 14 km S
of FSB Toby, 6 km E of Xuyen Moc and 23 km ENE of Dat Do. 161 Bty, RNZA (Master’s Bty
6Sep70-8May71) firebase set here 9-13Dec70 and firing in support of B and Support
companies, 7 RAR. Phuoc Tuy Prov, III Corps.
FSB Raglan - YS 60-80 17 km ENE of FSB Le Loi, 10 km W of FSB Toby, 23 km
NE of Nui Dat and 11 km ENE of Ngai Giao. Located 11 km S of the Long Khanh Prov border,
and 16 km E of Rte 2, the site was covered with luxuriant shoulder-high grass which was
quickly flattened. 161 Bty RNZA fired "Mark Missions" in support of 7 RAR
that was working with US units in that area. Named for a NZ town that was very supportive
of the 161 Bty, sending the Bty gifts every Christmas and throughout its 6 years in SVN.
161 Bty, RNZA (Master’s Bty 6Sep70-8May71) firebase set here 19 Dec70-2Jan71. Phuoc
Tuy Prov, III Corps.
US military strength now at 335,000.
The change in the nature of the allied war effort reflected the rapid but measured
withdrawal from South Vietnam of U.S. naval forces. NAVFORV strength dropped from a peak
of 38,083 personnel in September 1968 to 16,757 at the end of 1970. As Admiral Zumwalt
transferred resources to the Vietnamese Navy, he disestablished U.S. naval commands and
airlifted personnel home. With the redeployment of the Army's 9th Infantry Division and
the turnover of 64 riverine assault craft in June 1969, the joint Mobile Riverine Force
halted operations. When the Riverine Assault Force (Task Force 117) stood down on 25
August 1969, it became the first major naval command deactivated in Vietnam. By December
1970, COMNAVFORV had transferred to Vietnam the remaining river combatant craft in his
command, which included 293 PBRs and 224 riverine assault craft. That month, the River
Patrol Force was disestablished and the Task Force 116 designator reassigned to Commander
Delta Naval Forces, a new headquarters controlling SEAL and naval aircraft units still
in-country.
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