OPERATIONS of 5 COY RAASC 1ALSG VUNG TAUDecember 1967 - December 1968 by Maj. P.M. Douglas -from RAASC Digest July 1969. 5 Company RAASC was originally responsible for providing support both for 1ALSG in the Vung Tau area and 1ATF at Nui Dat. However, with the arrival of 26 Coy RAASC into the theatre during December 1967 it became necessary for a regrouping of 5 Coy RAASC to take place. The final composition of the Coy at Vung Tau was as follows:
HQ 5 Coy RAASC
2 Tpt Pl
86 Tpt Pl
Sect 85 Tpt Pl
Det 176 Air Dispatch
25 Sup Pl
Det 8 Pet Pl
Det 1 Comm 2 Postal Unit
Det 1 Div S & T Wksps
Det 30 Terminal Sqn, RAE (tn)
A local Command arrangement for functional reasons). At this stage, by a working agreement with 26 Coy RAASC, it was decided that each company would supplement the other where and when required, in terms of manpower and equipment. This was done primarily to give additional backing to 26 Coy RAASC which was given the charter for running the Task Force Maintenance Area (TFMA) Nui Dat and also providing an element for a Forward TFMA should the Task Force redeploy elements, needing support away from its normal resupply sources. To this end, 26 Coy RAASC (Coy HQ Tpt Pl, Det Sup Pl) retained the following additional elements at Nui Dat; Elm Det 8 Pet Pl Elm Det 176 AD Coy Elm 1 Div S & T Wksps Ammunition members from 25 Sup Pl During this regrouping period replacement of personnel from the original 5 Coy was taking place. The bulk of the first replacement consisted of 9 Coy RAASC personnel; replacement and phasing into the company covered the period October 1967 to March 1968. By the end of March 1968 the company was again in full swing with fresh blood and plenty of work. The new grouping was:
a. HQ 5 Coy RAASC
OC----MAJ. P.M. Douglas
21C----CPT. R.G. Whitehead
HQ CPT.----CPT. D.L. Childs
Admin Offr.----2LT. J.E. Heron
CSM----WO2 P.C. Delforce
CQMS----SSGT. I. WellsS
GT. Clerk----SGT. F. Wolber
b. 2 Tpt Pl
OC----CPT. T.J. Byrne
21C----2LT. G.J. Adler
SGT. Clerk----SGT. T.R. Berriman
SGT. Tpt----SGT. R.J. Brock
c. 86 Tpt Pl
OC----CPT. A.C. West
21C----2LT. D.Castle
SGT. Tpt----SGT. D. Spence
d. Det 176 AD Co
OC----CPT. B.C. Irving
WO Supervisor----WO2 R. Harvey
e. 25 Sup Pl
OC----CPT. N.L. Francis *
21C----LT. R.L. Denner
SGT. Sups----SSGT. K. Luff f.
Det 8 Pet Pl
OC----CPT. M.A. Ball
21C----WO2. E. Rousell
g. Det 1 Div S & T Wksps
OC----CPT. G.L. Coat
21C----WO1. J. Maber
h. Det 30 Terminal Sqn
OC----2LT. O. Martinson
21C----WO2. M. O'Leary
SGT. Clerk----SGT. *
In July 1968 LT. Denner of 25 Dup Pl was cross posted with 2LT. K. Laffer of 52 Sup Pl (26 Coy RAASC). In the middle of changeover of personnel the Tet Offensive commenced throughout Vietnam and whilst this is now old history to most, at the time it put the company to the test. The Task Force deployed out of Phouc Tuy Province into Bien Hoa Province and was then outside its normal re-supply channels. This forced a re-deployment of the support facilities and a Fwd TFMA was established. To support the Fwd TFMA, 1ALSG decided to deploy a Fwd ALSG into the United States Long Binh complex, its task being to draw material and supplies from the US Logistics system and transport them to the Task Force as required. This type of deployment continued from January to late July during a series of successive operations in 1968. After Operation Coburg, which took place in January and February, the Task Force was then employed clearing the Long Hai Hills some 10 miles south east of Nui Dat. During this operation support was direct from Vung Tau (ALSG) by both road and air. Operation Toan Thang 1 took place between 24 April and 7 June. This commenced as a Task Force clearing operation, in force, into the Bat Dich hills to the west of Nui Dat and to the border of the Phuoc Tuy Province. To support this operation the Fwd TFMA and Fwd ALSG were again deployed. The Fwd TFMA was sited at the US 9 Div base of Bearcat on Route 15; it was decided that road running to Bearcat was both uneconomical and risky and as most items required could be drawn from Long Binh the Fwd ALSG would again be deployed there. This meant road resupply to Bearcat on a 15 mile turnaround, with air overfly to units of gun and mortar ammunition. Water distribution to units posed a problem and as water was not available locally, it had to flown in from Bearcat. The technique of lowering plastic water bottles to forward areas by helicopter was successful but proved costly on water bottles, which in most cases were not recovered. Resupply items of Australian origin were taken to Bearcat by road convoy from Vung Tau, usually on a 5 to 7 day basis. The convoys were protected by a section of APCs despatched from Bearcat and marrying up with the convoy at Baria. Additional protection was provided by helicopters which flew over and to the flanks of the convoy to give early warning. Generally this was a period of routine but steady work. Word was then received on the possibility of a large scale attack on Saigon from the north. 1ATF was given the task of blocking the northern approach to Saigon and was redeployed into an area of operations known as Surfers where FSPBs Coogee and Coral were opened; this was west of the Dong Nai river on Route 16 and posed considerable resupply problems. The Fwd ALSG remained in Long Binh while the Fwd TFMA deployed into FSPB Coral. Road access to Coral was only possible with heavily protected convoys and only two convoys were run during this period, the balance of resupply being by air. A total of 1463 tons were flown in as against 95 tons by road. Water again posed a serious problem and accounted for 369 tons during this time. Aerial delivery equipment was also a source of worry owing to the high usuage rate. However, in spite of many trials and tribulations the operation concluded on 7 June, when all elements had been withdrawn to either Nui Dat or Vung Tau. Operation Toan Thang 2 took place between 12 June and 16 July. Again, the Task Force deployed into Bien Hoa Province in the area used for Coburg, its objective being to prevent rocket attacks on Long Binh and cut approach routes to Saigon. On this occasion the Fwd TFMA moved into Long Binh, separated from the Fwd ALSG by some three miles. This was a routine resupply by road operation, but again water posed a significant problem; out of a tonnage of 1258, water represented 560 tons. The average daily tonnages of all commodities transported during the period of Toan Thang 1 and 2 are worthy of note.
They were:
Water------------11.4 tons
Ice---------------4.3 tons
Ammunition-------13.0 tons
POL---------------2.0 tons
Engr Stores-------8.7 tons
Canteen Supplies--0.03 tons
Miscellaneous-----0.15 tons
Total per day----40.9 tons
The total of 40.9 tons per day was the average for a force of approximately 2,400 persons. To meet each of these situations and operations, 5 Coy RAASC usually deployed a small Coy HQ control element, three sections of transport (including one section of dump trucks), a recovery crew and a repair team, 3 or 4 supplies personnel, a petroleum NCO and 6 to 8 air dispatchers. In all our deployments and convoys over unfriendly terrain, our only casualty was the recovery vehicle (Tunza Gutz) of Det 1 Div S & T Wksps, which went forward to assist the cavalry troop to change the engine in a APC (M113). Whilst the vehicle was in location at FSPB Coral, the area was hit by a mortar barrage and shrapnel made several large holes in the hide of old "Tunza Gutz". With a new radiator installed, two new tyres fitted and the sump neatly glued and patched with Araldite, it came home with the next convoy. A few brief notes on the sub-units...
a. HQ 5 Coy RAASC - the routine story of a headquarters, providing command and administrative support to the company. The RAP is the busiest in ALSG. Catering for both for the company and HQ 1ALSG; a total of some 550 personnel.
b. 2 Tpt Pl has 33 x 5 ton task vehicles and an FIA water tanker. Its most unenviable job is water distribution within 1ALSG where it distributes approximately 35,000 gallons a day. Three of the normal 33 cargo vehicles are fitted as permanent water carriers.
c. 86 Tpt Pl is the orphan unit, equipped at present with 15 x 5 ton cargo, 13 x 5 ton dump trucks, three hired US semi-trailers (15 ton) and two 32 seater Bedford buses. Needless to say many mixed jobs!
d. Det 176 AD Coy has done it again with several firsts during the year. These were the unloading of vehicles from HMAS Sydney by CH54 Skycrane helicopter; the loading and unloading of the LSM, again by the CH54, the flying of a mobile kitchen unit of three pieces, the largest of which weighed 15,500 pounds; and to cap it all, between 1 January and 15 November a total of 10,000 tons of stores of all natures were packed and flown. This figure should reach 12,000 tons by 31 December 1968.
e. 25 Sup Pl has now got its new warehouse forklifts and has fiendish delight in stacking pallets three and four high. To offset the joys of new forklifts, the refridgerators have regularly blown every fuse they own; they have now been converted to electric power instead to be installed and operating by the time this article is printed.
f. Det 8 Pet Pl now has its new installation in both Vung Tau and Nui Dat and is still satisfying all hungry consumers.
g. Det 1 Div S & T Wksps was expanded in the Force buildup in January and now provides support for both transport companies RAASC. An element of the detachment is located with 26 Coy at Nui Dat and handles all unit repairs, bigger jobs being backloaded to Vung Tau. The service and repair of 100 vehicles each month is continuing smoothly and each unit has a servicability average of approximately 78%.
HQ 5 Coy RAASC
2 Tpt Pl
86 Tpt Pl
Sect 85 Tpt Pl
Det 176 Air Dispatch
25 Sup Pl
Det 8 Pet Pl
Det 1 Comm 2 Postal Unit
Det 1 Div S & T Wksps
Det 30 Terminal Sqn, RAE (tn)
A local Command arrangement for functional reasons). At this stage, by a working agreement with 26 Coy RAASC, it was decided that each company would supplement the other where and when required, in terms of manpower and equipment. This was done primarily to give additional backing to 26 Coy RAASC which was given the charter for running the Task Force Maintenance Area (TFMA) Nui Dat and also providing an element for a Forward TFMA should the Task Force redeploy elements, needing support away from its normal resupply sources. To this end, 26 Coy RAASC (Coy HQ Tpt Pl, Det Sup Pl) retained the following additional elements at Nui Dat; Elm Det 8 Pet Pl Elm Det 176 AD Coy Elm 1 Div S & T Wksps Ammunition members from 25 Sup Pl During this regrouping period replacement of personnel from the original 5 Coy was taking place. The bulk of the first replacement consisted of 9 Coy RAASC personnel; replacement and phasing into the company covered the period October 1967 to March 1968. By the end of March 1968 the company was again in full swing with fresh blood and plenty of work. The new grouping was:
a. HQ 5 Coy RAASC
OC----MAJ. P.M. Douglas
21C----CPT. R.G. Whitehead
HQ CPT.----CPT. D.L. Childs
Admin Offr.----2LT. J.E. Heron
CSM----WO2 P.C. Delforce
CQMS----SSGT. I. WellsS
GT. Clerk----SGT. F. Wolber
b. 2 Tpt Pl
OC----CPT. T.J. Byrne
21C----2LT. G.J. Adler
SGT. Clerk----SGT. T.R. Berriman
SGT. Tpt----SGT. R.J. Brock
c. 86 Tpt Pl
OC----CPT. A.C. West
21C----2LT. D.Castle
SGT. Tpt----SGT. D. Spence
d. Det 176 AD Co
OC----CPT. B.C. Irving
WO Supervisor----WO2 R. Harvey
e. 25 Sup Pl
OC----CPT. N.L. Francis *
21C----LT. R.L. Denner
SGT. Sups----SSGT. K. Luff f.
Det 8 Pet Pl
OC----CPT. M.A. Ball
21C----WO2. E. Rousell
g. Det 1 Div S & T Wksps
OC----CPT. G.L. Coat
21C----WO1. J. Maber
h. Det 30 Terminal Sqn
OC----2LT. O. Martinson
21C----WO2. M. O'Leary
SGT. Clerk----SGT. *
In July 1968 LT. Denner of 25 Dup Pl was cross posted with 2LT. K. Laffer of 52 Sup Pl (26 Coy RAASC). In the middle of changeover of personnel the Tet Offensive commenced throughout Vietnam and whilst this is now old history to most, at the time it put the company to the test. The Task Force deployed out of Phouc Tuy Province into Bien Hoa Province and was then outside its normal re-supply channels. This forced a re-deployment of the support facilities and a Fwd TFMA was established. To support the Fwd TFMA, 1ALSG decided to deploy a Fwd ALSG into the United States Long Binh complex, its task being to draw material and supplies from the US Logistics system and transport them to the Task Force as required. This type of deployment continued from January to late July during a series of successive operations in 1968. After Operation Coburg, which took place in January and February, the Task Force was then employed clearing the Long Hai Hills some 10 miles south east of Nui Dat. During this operation support was direct from Vung Tau (ALSG) by both road and air. Operation Toan Thang 1 took place between 24 April and 7 June. This commenced as a Task Force clearing operation, in force, into the Bat Dich hills to the west of Nui Dat and to the border of the Phuoc Tuy Province. To support this operation the Fwd TFMA and Fwd ALSG were again deployed. The Fwd TFMA was sited at the US 9 Div base of Bearcat on Route 15; it was decided that road running to Bearcat was both uneconomical and risky and as most items required could be drawn from Long Binh the Fwd ALSG would again be deployed there. This meant road resupply to Bearcat on a 15 mile turnaround, with air overfly to units of gun and mortar ammunition. Water distribution to units posed a problem and as water was not available locally, it had to flown in from Bearcat. The technique of lowering plastic water bottles to forward areas by helicopter was successful but proved costly on water bottles, which in most cases were not recovered. Resupply items of Australian origin were taken to Bearcat by road convoy from Vung Tau, usually on a 5 to 7 day basis. The convoys were protected by a section of APCs despatched from Bearcat and marrying up with the convoy at Baria. Additional protection was provided by helicopters which flew over and to the flanks of the convoy to give early warning. Generally this was a period of routine but steady work. Word was then received on the possibility of a large scale attack on Saigon from the north. 1ATF was given the task of blocking the northern approach to Saigon and was redeployed into an area of operations known as Surfers where FSPBs Coogee and Coral were opened; this was west of the Dong Nai river on Route 16 and posed considerable resupply problems. The Fwd ALSG remained in Long Binh while the Fwd TFMA deployed into FSPB Coral. Road access to Coral was only possible with heavily protected convoys and only two convoys were run during this period, the balance of resupply being by air. A total of 1463 tons were flown in as against 95 tons by road. Water again posed a serious problem and accounted for 369 tons during this time. Aerial delivery equipment was also a source of worry owing to the high usuage rate. However, in spite of many trials and tribulations the operation concluded on 7 June, when all elements had been withdrawn to either Nui Dat or Vung Tau. Operation Toan Thang 2 took place between 12 June and 16 July. Again, the Task Force deployed into Bien Hoa Province in the area used for Coburg, its objective being to prevent rocket attacks on Long Binh and cut approach routes to Saigon. On this occasion the Fwd TFMA moved into Long Binh, separated from the Fwd ALSG by some three miles. This was a routine resupply by road operation, but again water posed a significant problem; out of a tonnage of 1258, water represented 560 tons. The average daily tonnages of all commodities transported during the period of Toan Thang 1 and 2 are worthy of note.
They were:
Water------------11.4 tons
Ice---------------4.3 tons
Ammunition-------13.0 tons
POL---------------2.0 tons
Engr Stores-------8.7 tons
Canteen Supplies--0.03 tons
Miscellaneous-----0.15 tons
Total per day----40.9 tons
The total of 40.9 tons per day was the average for a force of approximately 2,400 persons. To meet each of these situations and operations, 5 Coy RAASC usually deployed a small Coy HQ control element, three sections of transport (including one section of dump trucks), a recovery crew and a repair team, 3 or 4 supplies personnel, a petroleum NCO and 6 to 8 air dispatchers. In all our deployments and convoys over unfriendly terrain, our only casualty was the recovery vehicle (Tunza Gutz) of Det 1 Div S & T Wksps, which went forward to assist the cavalry troop to change the engine in a APC (M113). Whilst the vehicle was in location at FSPB Coral, the area was hit by a mortar barrage and shrapnel made several large holes in the hide of old "Tunza Gutz". With a new radiator installed, two new tyres fitted and the sump neatly glued and patched with Araldite, it came home with the next convoy. A few brief notes on the sub-units...
a. HQ 5 Coy RAASC - the routine story of a headquarters, providing command and administrative support to the company. The RAP is the busiest in ALSG. Catering for both for the company and HQ 1ALSG; a total of some 550 personnel.
b. 2 Tpt Pl has 33 x 5 ton task vehicles and an FIA water tanker. Its most unenviable job is water distribution within 1ALSG where it distributes approximately 35,000 gallons a day. Three of the normal 33 cargo vehicles are fitted as permanent water carriers.
c. 86 Tpt Pl is the orphan unit, equipped at present with 15 x 5 ton cargo, 13 x 5 ton dump trucks, three hired US semi-trailers (15 ton) and two 32 seater Bedford buses. Needless to say many mixed jobs!
d. Det 176 AD Coy has done it again with several firsts during the year. These were the unloading of vehicles from HMAS Sydney by CH54 Skycrane helicopter; the loading and unloading of the LSM, again by the CH54, the flying of a mobile kitchen unit of three pieces, the largest of which weighed 15,500 pounds; and to cap it all, between 1 January and 15 November a total of 10,000 tons of stores of all natures were packed and flown. This figure should reach 12,000 tons by 31 December 1968.
e. 25 Sup Pl has now got its new warehouse forklifts and has fiendish delight in stacking pallets three and four high. To offset the joys of new forklifts, the refridgerators have regularly blown every fuse they own; they have now been converted to electric power instead to be installed and operating by the time this article is printed.
f. Det 8 Pet Pl now has its new installation in both Vung Tau and Nui Dat and is still satisfying all hungry consumers.
g. Det 1 Div S & T Wksps was expanded in the Force buildup in January and now provides support for both transport companies RAASC. An element of the detachment is located with 26 Coy at Nui Dat and handles all unit repairs, bigger jobs being backloaded to Vung Tau. The service and repair of 100 vehicles each month is continuing smoothly and each unit has a servicability average of approximately 78%.
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