1 Armoured Squadron Workshop, RAEME, South Vietnam
OC's Diary — January - June 1968
Index of Links
About the Author Preface Introduction January — 1 to 10 January — 11 to 20 January — 21 to 31 Tet 1968 February — 1 to 14 February — 15 to 29 March — 1 to 15 April — 1 to 30 May — 1 to 31 June — 1 to 20 Conclusion Abbreviations
March 1968 — 16th to 31st
- Saturday — 16 March 1968
- Saturday lunchtime, CSM LILLEY, SGT JAGO and I went to VUNG TAU.
- Lunch at Peter Badcoe Club. Had a swim, and then reported to 102 Fd Workshops.
- It was a farewell to Maj RAWSLEY and welcome to Maj MAX TINKLER.
- The RAEME Offrs who attended;
- Maj RAWSLEY,
- Maj TINKLER,
- Capt Mick ROSS,
- Capt Don COCKRAN,
- Capt Mike BOWLAND,
- Capt Peter SNOWDEN,
- Capt Ron HAMMOND,
- Capt Geoff HAWKER,
- Capt Geoff COAT, Lt Bob FITZGERALD,
- 2/Lt Ron JERVIS.
- Apologies, Capt Len MASTERS, Lt Ken JONES
- The lively ones, SNOWDEN and BOWLAND kept going until 6 a.m.
- Lt Ken JONES attended an 0 Group for the movement for the two troops and one bridgelayer and ARV to Fire Support Base PINNAROO.
- All the preparations for the move are completed.
- Sunday — 17 March 1968
- The tanks moved to Operation PINNAROO. Travelled very well. No mechanical breakdowns or recoveries.
- I obtained a 3/4 square drive socket set and had it sent to Operation PINNAROO.
- The drive back from VUNG TAU was pleasant.
- Engineers worked all day. So did our attached group.
- Completed a weapon pit behind the R&I office.
- Monday — 18 March 1968
- Two aux. Gen. engine changes today. Both replacement motors could not have been bench run. Water pipes loose and distributor set to fire 1–2–4–3 instead of 1–3–4–2.
- Fortunately the engines were tested and repaired and tightened down before collection.
- Shifted into our new Mess today. A lot better than a tent with a dirt floor.
- Capt VICKERS is moving out to FSB HERRING Wednesday.
- Sgt SNAPE has come in from the field with stomach ulcers. He lost his three year old daughter just prior to coming up here. He is a good chap.
- Tuesday — 19 March 1968
- A very quiet day. Operation PINNAROO only required 64 socket bolts and nuts.
- Having considerable trouble with the new aux.gen. engine (Morris 8–40). Oil seals leaking, water leaks, fire order incorrect, running rich. Fortunately we made a test bench and can test the engines before they are sent out. On duty tonight. Plenty of activity in BARIA and three rockets landed in the Horseshoe feature.
- Lt Gen Sir John WILTON was supposed to visit us today but did not manage it. Maj McDONALD arrived at Task Force tonight. Could be wrong but I think he arrives here tomorrow morning to discuss the Brigadier's visit.
- Cfn LAWMAN marched in Sunday. Seems pretty stable.
- Lt. JONES and ASM JUERS went to VUNG TAU today. They had no problems.
- Wednesday — 20 March 1968
- Col BRADBURY, Chief of Staff AFV visited. We are having a clean up. The place is a typical construction site and needs a purge to get it cleaned up.
- Continuing to have trouble with the aux.gen. engine. Big ends, bearings, oil seals, valves. Have made the Sec. leader, Sgt Syd RUSSELL keep a record of all work done on these equipments.
- Maj McDONALD dropped in today to discuss the Brig. visit next week.
- We are endeavouring to clean up the area and make it look less like a construction site.
- The new officers' mess is looking well.
- On duty last night. There was quite a fight in BARIA last night. Three rockets into the HOA LONG area.
- Today a forward scout died and a Pl commander wounded. Tanks brought them out. The boys are being adjusted to war. Character building I suppose, but perhaps one would be better off without this sort of training.
- Thursday — 21 March 1968
- Wrote a letter today with reference to the aux gens. and forwarded the defects we have found. It has cost us many hours to bring these engines to a serviceable condition.
- At 1730 hrs I was taken by Possum Helicopter to Fire Support Base HERRING via BARIA. It was an extremely interesting trip. I could see the paddy complexes, the villages that had been shot out. Paddy fields covered with craters from mortars, shells, etc.
- FSB HERRING is in a very sandy area. Tanks placed in all around protection and M113 Al APCs supporting. A pretty formidable area to attack. The men are working very hard, time meaning nothing. The tankies are losing a lot of weight due to being in the tanks all day in the heat and working a heavy duty roster. Fortunately there is water and the men can shower. They have been on hard rations now since they moved out last Sunday.
- Tank Repairs today 1 clutch job, 1 final drive job.
- I arrived back about 1815. The trip back was also very interesting. We skirted around the Horseshoe and back to camp. I would like to do that trip again during the wet when the paddies are full of lush green grass and water of course. There is a lot of area not suitable for tanks. Their employment in the wet will be interesting.
- Friday — 22 March 1968
- Mortars landed close to the artillery complex. The mortar base plate was located.
- Mines are taking their toll on the Inf and Eng. in Operation PINNAROO. The tanks did not move out today.
- Saturday — 23 March 1968
- More front idler troubles. It takes at least 14 days to get idler wheels up from Australia, each wheel weighing 296 lb.
- Sunday — 24 March 1968
- This morning we cleaned up around the living and workshop areas.
- This afternoon 20 men went to VUNG TAU for a swim and 10 went to play cricket.
- I visited 161 Recce Flight. I received a phone call to say Brig. HUGHES (Commander) wishes to see me straight away. Naturally I went straight over. He had caught one of my men, Cfn WATT driving at 15 mph in a 5 mph area and another wearing desert boots and very untidy. After several "Yes Sirs", I left.
- At 1850 hrs Cpl MASON accidentally shot himself through the leg, breaking the femur. I have started the investigation. I have had his weapon secured and all his belongings secured. Cpl MASON was flown to VUNG TAU and it is anticipated he will be flown home.
- ASM went out to FSB HERRING.
- Monday — 25 March 1968
- I was made investigating Officer for Cpl MASON's shooting. I went down to VUNG TAU to get a statement from Col BEARD AND Cpl MASON.
- ASM JUERS staying out until tomorrow.
- Another front idler busted. We now have two tanks US, leaving only one spare.
- The tanks are being torn to pieces in the jungle.
- Tuesday — 26 March 1968
- Completed the investigation. Cpl MASON was found to be negligent and disobeyed a RO by having a magazine on his Fl, but due to the extent of his injury I have suggested that he is not to be charged . His sciatic nerve in his left leg is badly damaged . Cpl COOK was picked up for speeding.
- Letter from W02 MAXWELL.
HERRING ...26 Mar '68
Capt. DITTMAR
Now I have time to stop and scratch myself I thought it would be an ideal time to submit the first report.
Up to date we have been kept fairly busy and have worked through the night in a couple of cases. One aux. gen job took about 18 hrs to complete because it developed into a chain reaction and we had to rectify one problem after another.
Lack of experienced tradesmen is still a great problem and I have had to insist that all major jobs be closely supervised by senior NCOs or WOs, but most jobs still take longer than they should. Because of this I have managed to get all the diggers off night defence duties and the only blokes that do duties now are the poor old WOs.
However this is no great problem because we get one night off in three and if either one of us works through the night for any reason we take ourselves off the roster for the following night.
The main problems with the tanks at this stage are:- Aux. gen. (as usual)
- Fuel blockages and vaporisation
- Idler wheels bearings and brackets
- Electrical
- Elevation gyros overheating, causing creep in stab.
- Aux. Gen. regulator panels
- Also a few mysterious faults in the GCE that comes and goes.
- General Engineering
- Mostly panel beating as a result of scrub bashing.
Yesterday we changed a final drive on one of our ARVs and much to my disgust the beautiful final drive lifting jig that we had made up in Australia is totally useless for ARVs because of the side bins.
This would normally be a job for a forklift but RAEME improvisation won out in the end. As Mike Leonard would say, it was a typical LAD job!
Everyone here is well at the moment and I think quite happy, as morale is fairly high and we still have our sense of humour. Don't drink all the beer before I get back. Frank.
- Wednesday — 27 March 1968
- DEME Brig. MARTINS arrived at 1025 hrs. He discussed many points with reference to employment of FRTs and officers and considered that an officer should be out with the FRT.
- Spare parts were discussed and the stripping of tanks belonging to the Fwd Del Tp for spare parts. The Brig. inspected the workshops area and noted the modified trailer for Bin Packs.
- The DEME spoke to ASM JUERS re his employment and said he was satisfied that ASM JUERS would remain in theatre until September.
- Lt JONES is posted Eastern Command HQ. Lt HILL is to take his place. Lt HILL will become OC Armd Sqn Wsps when I leave. Capt SULLIVAN to take Lt. HILL's place in 1969.
- Lt. Gen Sir Thomas DALY visited. He remembered me from Port Moresby and said I had not aged. He commented on the fine job we did training the PIR boys. Sir Thomas asked me a lot of questions on tank repair, spare parts, etc. Maj Gen. McDONALD said he wished to make this an Armd Workshop and we would do M113 Al field repairs as well as tank repairs.
- Capt Bernie SULLIVAN arrived in today from FSB HERRING. Whilst cleaning his pistol he had a UD. He now should charge himself. (no charge was ever made out).
- Thursday — 28 March 1968
- Met Capt Adrian SANDERY who is taking over from Capt MUFFET. Adrian is from Port Pirie, South Australia and knows Bill RAGGATT very well (and Fran).
- Wrote two letters - one covering the hydraulic pump and the other the jacks on the dozer tanks.
- Friday — 29 March 1968
- Went down to VUNG TAU to finalise Cpl MASON's investigation.
- I saw the Dr about my foot and he admitted me into hospital for operation tomorrow.
- Diarist's Note:
- In 1960, whilst serving in Papua New Guinea as WO IC Workshops I injured my right foot, losing two minor toes and the tendons of two other minor toes, also losing part of the ball of the foot.
Walking on blast rock all day has caused blood blisters to form on the base of the foot. - 30 March to 4 April 1968
- Hospitalised