Vietnam Stats

Reference	Statistics - Subject
Table 1	Official Numbers of Australians Who Served
Table 2	Cost of the Australian Commitment - Human Terms
Table 3	Vietnam Veterans Mortality Data
General	General Statistics

Reference

Statistics - Subject

Table 1

Official Numbers of Australians Who Served

Table 2

Cost of the Australian Commitment - Human Terms

Table 3

Vietnam Veterans Mortality Data

General

General Statistics

Total Royal Australian Air Force	4,706	4,544	96.6%
Group/Service	Estimate	Collected	Complete
Australian Regular Army/National Service/CMF
ARA & NS Male Personnel(approx 18,000 NS)	40,610	40,695	100.2%
ARA Female Personnel	47	47	100.0%
ARA & NS Visitors	1,300	64	45.9%
CMF Observers		629
Total ARA/NS/CMF	41,957	41,435	98.8%
Royal Australian Air Force
Male Personnel	4,443	4,281	96.4%
Medevac Flights - Nurses	106	106	100.0%
Medevac Flights - Male Personnel	157	157	100.0%
Royal Australian Navy
Personnel on Operations in Vietnam	2,858	2,880	100.8%
Logistics Support Personnel	10,000	9,496	95.0%
Total Royal Australian Navy	12,858	12,376	96.3%
Philanthropic Organisations
Australian Red Cross	22	22	100.0%
Everymans Welfare Service/Campaigners For Christ	6	6	100.0%
Salvation Army	13	13	100.0%
YMCA	5	5	100.0%
Australian Forces Overseas Fund	5	5	100.0%
Total Philanthropic Organisations	51	51	100.0%
Civilians
Merchant Seamen	230	230	100.0%
SEATO Aid Program Surgical Teams	445	441	99.1%
Official Entertainers	349	349	100.0%
War Correspondents and Photographers	92	92	100.0%
Others	2	2	100.0%
Total Civilians	1,118	1,114	99.6
Grand Total	60,690	59,520	98.1%

804,000 Australian men registered for National Service(NS)
63,000 NS were called up
18,000 NS saw service in Vietnam

Action	ARA	NS	CMF	ARMY	RAN	RAAF	TOTAL
Killed In Action(KIA)	172	143	1	316	6	4	326
Killed Accidentally	15	10	-	25	-	-	25
Died of Wounds	40	28	-	68	-	-	68
Missing in Action(MIA)			-	4	-	2	6
NonBattle DeathsNBC	50	15	-	65	3	8	76
Totals Deaths Civilian Deaths 7	278	200	1	479	9	14	501 508
Wounded In Action	1140	880	6	2026	13	30	2069
Injured/Ill in Action	171	150	1	322	9	-	331
NBC injured/ill	426	249	2	677	28	26	731
Total Non Fatal	1737	1279	9	3025	50	70	3632

Source: Australian Defence Force Casualties in Vietnam - Revised June 1988. The Official figures still indicate only 1 as Missing in Action(MIA). We have adjusted the figure to show 6, which we believe to be the true figure. We have accounted for a definate 6 MIA. Confusion may exist as some MIAs were listed as KIA, even though their bodies were never recovered from the battle field.

Casualties
1. Estimated overall at 5,773,190 2. Estimated dead 2,122,244 3. Americans killed - 58,169 at an average age of 23.11 years - 304,000 wounded 4. 11,465 killed were less than 20 years 5. 1 in 10 Americans who served in Vietnam were casualties 6. 75,000 Veterans were severely disabled 7. Amputation and crippling wounds were 300% higher than WW2 8. 51% of deaths and 16% of wounds were caused by small arms fire.(World War II 32% - Korea 33%). The higher rate in Vietnam was contributed to the high velocity rapid fire weapons such as the AK47 and captured M16s. 9. 36% of deaths and 65% of wounds were caused by fragments from artillery 10. 11% of deaths and 15% of wounds were caused by booby traps and mines 11. 2% of wounds were caused by punji stakes 12. 2% of deaths and 2% of wounds were caused by other means 13. There were 18 military hospitals scattered throughout Vietnam 14. Medivac helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions 15. 900,000 patients were airlifted(almost half being American) 16. Average time lapse from being wounded to hospitalisation was one hour 17. Percentage of those seriously wounded who were saved 82 % 18. Percentage of wounded who died after arriving at hospital 2.6 19. There were almost twice as many casualties in South East Asia(primarily Cambodia)in the first two years after the fall of Siagon in 1975 than there were during the ten years the US was involved. 20. 1973 - US POWs in SE Asia 591, missing in action 1,380, unaccounted for 1,929. 21. US War Casualties 22. Casualties - US versus NVA/VC 23. North Vietnamese military personnel and Vietcong reported to have died in combat 444,000 . 24. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians killed in the war 587,000. 25. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians wounded in the war 935,000 . 26. Number of South Vietnamese military personnel killed during the war 220,357 27. Number of South Vietnamese military personnel wounded during the war 499,000 28. Number of South Vietnamese military personnel who deserted between 1965 and 1972 840,000. 29. Number of US NCOs and US Officers killed by their own troops 86. 30. Number of US NCOs and US Officers wounded by their own troops 714 . 31. Number of probable explosive-device assaults (fraggings) against officers by US servicemen 788 .
The Air War
1. The US flew 1,899,688 sorties and dropped 6,727,084 tons bombs on Indo China, compared with the 2,700,00 tons of bombs dropped on Germany during the Second World War 2. US conducted 124,532 B52 missions, expending 2,633,035 tons of ordnance 3. 18 B52s were lost to enemy action with 13 more lost in collisions and accidents 4. 3,750 Aircraft(Fixed Wing) were lost in Vietnam. 5. More than 8,000 US Airmen were killed 6. Approx. 12,000 helicopters saw service in Vietnam(all services) 7. 4865 Helicopters were downed by Communist ground fire at a cost of $250,000 ea. 8. Aircraft Flown In Vietnam 9. B52 Bomber Missions 10. US Fighter-Bomber Missions - By Region 11.US Helicopter Missions - By Year 12. By the end of 1968 Royal Australian Air Force(RAAF) 9 Sqn with only 6 helicopters had amassed 100,000 sorties in support of Australian troops, carried more than 150,000 passengers and evacuated from the battle field 2,000 casualties. Overall the RAAF conducted 331,000 missions of which 315,000 were operational sorties. 13. The RAAF No2 Sqn(Canberra Bombers) lost 2 aircraft in Vietnam. 1 shot down by a SAM and 1 lost without trace. 14. RAAF 9 Sqn(Iroquois Helicopters) lost 7 aircraft. No 35 Sqn(Caribou) lost 3 aircraft. 13. 35 Royal Australian Navy(RAN) Helicopter Pilots saw service in Vietnam and flew a total of 33,735 hours. 14. Amount of the damage, in dollars, inflicted on North Vietnam by US bombing raids $600,000,000 15. Cost of US bombing raids on North Vietnam $6,000,000,000 .
The Ground War
1. 2.59 million Americas saw service in Vietnam 2. From 1957 to 1973 the NLF assassinated 36,725 South Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499 3. Allied Troop Levels In Vietnam 1960 - 1973
The Chemical War
1. 3,500,000 acres of Vietnam was sprayed with 19 million gallons of Defoliants, the effects that will last 100 years. 2. Herbicides Used in Vietnam
Naval Operations
1. HMAS Hobart served 3 times and fired a total of 42,475 rounds in support of ground troops. HMAS Perth, 3 deployments, firing 30,711 rounds, HMAS Brisbane, twice, firing 15,651 rounds and HMAS Vendetta once, firing 13,709 rounds of ordnance.
The Infantry Combat Soldier
1. Average age of Infantry soldiers was 20 years. 2. Average age during World War 2 was 26 years. 3. The infantry soldier in the South Pacific in WW2 saw about 40 days of combat in four years 4. The American infantry soldier in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in 1 year. 5. The Australian infantry soldier saw an average of 314 days combat in 1 year.
Logistics
1. 352(US) Billion Dollars spent on the war. 2. 760,000 tons of supplies arrived each month. 3. 10 million field rations were consumed each month. 4. 71,000 tons of ammunition was expended each month. 5. 303 million litres of petroleum products were consumed each month. 6. Engineers paved 33,450 hectares of airfields and heliports. 7. Eingineers constructed 18,000 hectares of covered and open storage facilities plus 14,150 cubic metres of refrigerated storage. 8. Engineers contructed 2,740 km of roads, built 4,600 metres of bridges and constructed 15 large fortified bases. 9. Average number of artillery rounds expended in one day by the US in Vietnam 10,000 . 10. Cost per artillery round $100 .Cost per day $1,000,000 11. Cost of one sortie for a B-52 bomber $30,000 12. Amount of aid, in dollars, provided to North Vietnam and the Vietcong by the Soviet Union and China $3,000,000,000 .
Civilian
1. There were 140,000 Vietnamese evacuees in April 1975.(The Fall Of Saigon). 2. An estimated 10 million Vietnamese were refugees being 55% of the population including 900,000 orphans 3. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians killed in the war 587,000 . 4. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians wounded in the war 935,000
At Wars End - Equipment Lost To Communist Forces(Estimated)
1. 550 light and medium tanks. 2. 1,200 Armoured Personnel Carriers(APC). 3. 80 small ships and landing craft. 4. 1,000 aircraft including 200 fighters and ground attacks aircraft. 5. 100 transport aircraft and 500 helicopters.

Casualties

1. Estimated overall at 5,773,190
2. Estimated dead 2,122,244
3. Americans killed - 58,169 at an average age of 23.11 years - 304,000 wounded
4. 11,465 killed were less than 20 years
5. 1 in 10 Americans who served in Vietnam were casualties
6. 75,000 Veterans were severely disabled
7. Amputation and crippling wounds were 300% higher than WW2
8. 51% of deaths and 16% of wounds were caused by small arms fire.(World War II 32% - Korea 33%). The higher rate in Vietnam was contributed to the high velocity rapid fire weapons such as the AK47 and captured M16s.
9. 36% of deaths and 65% of wounds were caused by fragments from artillery
10. 11% of deaths and 15% of wounds were caused by booby traps and mines
11. 2% of wounds were caused by punji stakes
12. 2% of deaths and 2% of wounds were caused by other means
13. There were 18 military hospitals scattered throughout Vietnam
14. Medivac helicopters flew nearly 500,000 missions
15. 900,000 patients were airlifted(almost half being American)
16. Average time lapse from being wounded to hospitalisation was one hour
17. Percentage of those seriously wounded who were saved 82 %
18. Percentage of wounded who died after arriving at hospital 2.6
19. There were almost twice as many casualties in South East Asia(primarily Cambodia)in the first two years after the fall of Siagon in 1975 than there were during the ten years the US was involved.
20. 1973 - US POWs in SE Asia 591, missing in action 1,380, unaccounted for 1,929.
21. US War Casualties
22. Casualties - US versus NVA/VC
23. North Vietnamese military personnel and Vietcong reported to have died in combat 444,000 .
24. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians killed in the war 587,000.
25. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians wounded in the war 935,000 .
26. Number of South Vietnamese military personnel killed during the war 220,357
27. Number of South Vietnamese military personnel wounded during the war 499,000
28. Number of South Vietnamese military personnel who deserted between 1965 and 1972 840,000.
29. Number of US NCOs and US Officers killed by their own troops 86.
30. Number of US NCOs and US Officers wounded by their own troops 714 .
31. Number of probable explosive-device assaults (fraggings) against officers by US servicemen 788 .

The Air War

1. The US flew 1,899,688 sorties and dropped 6,727,084 tons bombs on Indo China, compared with the 2,700,00 tons of bombs dropped on Germany during the Second World War
2. US conducted 124,532 B52 missions, expending 2,633,035 tons of ordnance
3. 18 B52s were lost to enemy action with 13 more lost in collisions and accidents
4. 3,750 Aircraft(Fixed Wing) were lost in Vietnam.
5. More than 8,000 US Airmen were killed
6. Approx. 12,000 helicopters saw service in Vietnam(all services)
7. 4865 Helicopters were downed by Communist ground fire at a cost of $250,000 ea.
8. Aircraft Flown In Vietnam
9. B52 Bomber Missions
10. US Fighter-Bomber Missions - By Region
11.US Helicopter Missions - By Year
12. By the end of 1968 Royal Australian Air Force(RAAF) 9 Sqn with only 6 helicopters had amassed 100,000 sorties in support of Australian troops, carried more than 150,000 passengers and evacuated from the battle field 2,000 casualties. Overall the RAAF conducted 331,000 missions of which 315,000 were operational sorties.
13. The RAAF No2 Sqn(Canberra Bombers) lost 2 aircraft in Vietnam. 1 shot down by a SAM and 1 lost without trace.
14. RAAF 9 Sqn(Iroquois Helicopters) lost 7 aircraft. No 35 Sqn(Caribou) lost 3 aircraft.
13. 35 Royal Australian Navy(RAN) Helicopter Pilots saw service in Vietnam and flew a total of 33,735 hours.
14. Amount of the damage, in dollars, inflicted on North Vietnam by US bombing raids $600,000,000
15. Cost of US bombing raids on North Vietnam $6,000,000,000 .

The Ground War

1. 2.59 million Americas saw service in Vietnam
2. From 1957 to 1973 the NLF assassinated 36,725 South Vietnamese and abducted another 58,499
3.
Allied Troop Levels In Vietnam 1960 - 1973

The Chemical War

1. 3,500,000 acres of Vietnam was sprayed with 19 million gallons of Defoliants, the effects that will last 100 years.
2. Herbicides Used in Vietnam

Naval Operations

1. HMAS Hobart served 3 times and fired a total of 42,475 rounds in support of ground troops. HMAS Perth, 3 deployments, firing 30,711 rounds, HMAS Brisbane, twice, firing 15,651 rounds and HMAS Vendetta once, firing 13,709 rounds of ordnance.

The Infantry Combat Soldier

1. Average age of Infantry soldiers was 20 years.
2. Average age during World War 2 was 26 years.
3. The infantry soldier in the South Pacific in WW2 saw about 40 days of combat in four years
4. The American infantry soldier in Vietnam saw about 240 days of combat in 1 year.
5. The Australian infantry soldier saw an average of 314 days combat in 1 year.

Logistics

1. 352(US) Billion Dollars spent on the war.
2. 760,000 tons of supplies arrived each month.
3. 10 million field rations were consumed each month.
4. 71,000 tons of ammunition was expended each month.
5. 303 million litres of petroleum products were consumed each month.
6. Engineers paved 33,450 hectares of airfields and heliports.
7. Eingineers constructed 18,000 hectares of covered and open storage facilities plus 14,150 cubic metres of refrigerated storage.
8. Engineers contructed 2,740 km of roads, built 4,600 metres of bridges and constructed 15 large fortified bases.
9. Average number of artillery rounds expended in one day by the US in Vietnam 10,000 .
10. Cost per artillery round $100 .Cost per day $1,000,000
11. Cost of one sortie for a B-52 bomber $30,000
12. Amount of aid, in dollars, provided to North Vietnam and the Vietcong by the Soviet Union and China $3,000,000,000 .

Civilian

1. There were 140,000 Vietnamese evacuees in April 1975.(The Fall Of Saigon).
2. An estimated 10 million Vietnamese were refugees being 55% of the population including 900,000 orphans
3. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians killed in the war 587,000 .
4. Estimated number of Vietnamese civilians wounded in the war 935,000

At Wars End - Equipment Lost To Communist Forces(Estimated)

1. 550 light and medium tanks.
2. 1,200 Armoured Personnel Carriers(APC).
3. 80 small ships and landing craft.
4. 1,000 aircraft including 200 fighters and ground attacks aircraft.
5. 100 transport aircraft and 500 helicopters.

Send mail to AUSVETS with questions or comments about this site. Copyright � 1997 VSASA Last modified: June 05, 1998

Send mail to AUSVETS with questions or comments about this site.
Copyright � 1997 VSASA
Last modified: June 05, 1998