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 March — 1 to 15 March — 16 to 31 April — 1 to 30 May — 1 to 31 June — 1 to 20 Conclusion Abbreviations
February 1968 — 15th to 29th
- Thursday — 15 February 1968
- Today Maj BADMAN informed me to pass all domestic problems to Capt VICKERS (21C C Sqn).
- RAEME have 12 men working with RAE on the Tank Workshop. The Tank Wash only needs splash walls and piping to be complete.
- The R and I office is almost roofed. Should be able to move in soon.
- RAEME has increased RAE workers to 20. Progress in workshops area is slow but will be good. We can't move too much of our equipment across to the workshop area as there is no security there yet.
- Friday — 16 February 1968
- Capt VICKERS has borrowed the Diary to help him prepare the Command Diary. So I have dropped behind.
- Cordon and search of HOA LONG. Lt McCORMICK and 2 Lt Mick BUTLER went as observers.
- 1 Fd Sqn RAE LAD sent a section out as Inf Protection party to guard the earthmoving equipment.
- 10 VC KIA;100 VC suspects, 50 of whom were later confirmed.
- Saturday — 17 February 1968
- All Officers, WOs , NCOs and men received a very good lecture from Intelligence covering all actions from last December. (Forrester, Duntroon, Coburg, BARIA, HOA LONG).
- Laundry run without incident.
- Operational briefing from Maj MURPHY, (A Sqn 3 Cav), describing the employment of M113s in this theatre and possible use of tanks.
- The Tank Workshop is progressing slowly but the concreting is of good standard.
- The R and I is completed except for roof capping.
- The RAAOC Store is ready for issue.
- On duty 0415 - 0700 hrs.
- Sunday — 18 February 1968
- All troops attended a lecture on employment and characteristics of the helicopters, Iroquois, Chinook, Skycrane. There was an Iroquois on the Paratus Pad for demonstration.
- Capt SULLIVAN, Cfn RICKARDS, and Cfn SHEDDON, flew down to VUNG TAU to check the two bridgelayer tanks and the ARVs and see them loaded on the LCU ready for on movement to BARIA on the morning of 19 February.
- After the morning lectures the RAEME/RAAOC men did camp maintenance.
- At 1100 hrs three 2.5 ton GS with 42 men went to VUNG TAU on a swimming run. One vehicle collected a load of stores from 102 Fd Workshop.
- All officers, senior NCOs and WOs attended a lecture on air support. Lecture finished 1515 hrs and on the completion of the lecture we had 45 mins. before attending the first officers' mess meeting.
- Cut a hole in the wire to let the A vehs in when they arrive tomorrow. The hole was covered by the M113 FRV.
- Phone call from Capt Sullivan stating that the A vehs were loaded on the LCU and gave timings of departure and ETA BARIA.
- Attended a farewell for Capt BEATTIE. Capt BRIGGS did a magnificent job on setting up buffet luncheon.
- Capt Ken BEATTIE is posted to RAEME Training Centre as Capt Elect.
- The second unauthorised discharge. Cause: Did not pull the cocking handle fully to the rear. Will cost him 14 days without pay and 14 days field punishment.
- Monday — 19 February 1968
- Starting to fence the workshop area.
- Erecting 11 x 11 tent for laundry for the workshops.
- The bridgelayers and ARVs got bogged crossing the valley below the workshop. One bridgelayer was on tow due to fuel trouble.
- Seven personal lockers came up by Workshop 2.5 ton GS yesterday. They were placed in the RAAC Officers' Tents. As the lockers belonged to workshop people I had to get them returned.
- Operation briefing from Arty. Clearances being essential, air and ground before firing.
- Arty in theatre,
- ARVs etc, arrived this area 1400 hrs. Left BARIA at 0830 hrs, distance approximately 10 kms.
- Petrol problems occurred in the ARV, Sgt. NAUGHTON and Sgt RUSSELL arrived in the area after coming up from Australia by LCM , and said it was a hell of a trip. Two days' stop in Townsville, two days in Labuan, Borneo, and straight through to VUNG TAU.
- Tuesday — 20 February 1968
- Operation CLAYTON started today. Maj BADMAN, Capt VICKERS,
- 2Lt OWENS and SSM SIMPSON went out as observers.
- The initial workshop procedures were prepared and typed in double spacing. Four copies for comment by Capt SULLIVAN , Lt. JONES, Lt. CATTERALL, and ASM JUERS.
- Trial Stand To in workshop defence area — communications were at fault.
- This will give good control. CSM to stay in the CP with the OC Workshops and one radio operator and two runners. From here we will operate ammunition re-supply and medical evacuation.
- From tonight Captains do not do Duty Officer. I do not agree with this and have spoken to the Adjt and Capt Sullivan, and the proposed idea will go to the 2 IC on return from Operation CLAYTON.
- Ran out of water throughout the camp.
- Heard Pte DUMMIT's charge. UD. Refer to OC C Sqn.
- Wednesday — 21 February 1968
- DADOS arrived and talked out all RAAOC problems. Also said the letter I forwarded thanking RAAOC support has been passed on to the Director of Ordnance.
- Close of Operation CLAYTON — results not known.
- Unit projector burnt out transformer.
- Water not re-supplied before 1630 hrs.
- On duty this morning 0215 to 0415 hrs. No trouble. I have a cold but feel OK.
- Preparations for movement to VUNG TAU to collect A and B vehicles. Stores being delivered by RAASC.
- The P&P building interior has been planned and partitions are being started. The Tels and Inst Section is coming along well and the Tool Store is progressing. The GE Section is fitting up its welding shop. Invaded by ants again.
- Thursday — 22 February 1968
- The ARV rolled a banana plantation flat. The bananas obscured the view from the troops area.
- A break has been made in the outer perimeter wire where our wire meets 3RAR. This has been done for tank ingress and egress.
- I took the two M113 FRV's out on a recce. We travelled south east for approx 2,000 yards across 3 RAR front until we met the LONG TAN / HOA LONG road (TL 52), turned right and went into HOA LONG. Along the Engineer road to the junction of the 1 ATF road and back to unit lines.
- The 2,000 metres across 3 RAR front is good all-weather tank country — that is for 200–300 yds out from the wire. The LONG TAN HOA LONG Road is 25 ft wide metal road, fenced with cattle fence . Banana plantations on each side of the road with fences going off at right angles to the road. Pedestrian traffic was heavy. Vietnamese were picking and carrying bananas. Another recce is planned for tomorrow.
- Maj BADMAN directed Sgt NAUGHTON to knock down all the rubber trees directly in front of the outer perimeter wire.
- Maj BADMAN then ambled through my Tech Store unaccompanied, noticed some reels of signal wire and wants to know why I have them.
- Friday — 23 February 1968
- Maj McDONALD (DADEME) and Capt HAMMOND (EME Task Force) visited.
- We had a farewell to Maj MURPHY (3 Cav) and welcomed in Maj KELDIE, at a very good buffet tea.
- Saturday — 24 February 1968
- Tank crews and 12 RAEME moved to VUNG TAU to collect vehicles, service them, and return when all is ready. (JEPARIT).
- Two double gates have been completed for the outer perimeter fence.
- A set of 36 photographs sent to DADEME.
- The C Sqn people have started to expand the wire on the outer perimeter. Defence is still top priority.
- The workshop concrete (the area for the main tank workshop hanger) is completed and the manufacture of the building frames is under way.
- The RAEME Workshops has 20 men working on the concrete laying. We are also making up plates, brackets and threading bolts for the RAE.
- Sunday — 25 February 1968
- All workshop personnel not on essential work, got stuck into the sand bagging RAEME RAAOC Officers' tents. One and a half tents completed . Next Sunday should see the job completed.
- Sunday afternoon — make and mend. The lads are getting their tents into order.
- Tonight the Officers of A Sqn 3 Cav have invited us over to have a buffet tea and a few drinks.
- Batteries are unserviceable in the bridgelayer. These batteries are different from any other in the theatre.
- I approached Maj BADMAN and told him he had lost the loyalty of my NCOs and I could not support him the way he was treating my NCOs and myself. After a long talk, Maj BADMAN made a time, 0900 hrs, to speak to all my senior NCOs and WOs . He suggested that we start afresh. What has gone before is forgotten. "When I make out your confidential report I shall not consider the past four weeks", or words to that effect. Maj BADMAN does not forgive nor does he forget. Lets see what happens! ?
- Monday — 26 February 1968
- Maj BADMAN spoke for 45 minutes to the RAAOC RAEME personnel, explaining his policies. I felt sure it helped to alleviate tension.
- A de-briefing from Sgt Wells, relating to the movement of vehicles from the wharves to NUI DAT. No time was allowed for technical safety checks, resulting in;
- Vehicles stopped in HOA LONG because battery terminals loose (road classified AMBER)
- Two vehicles had to be tow started.
- Loose battery terminals in M113/577 which has damaged the battery posts.
- Trailer towed with a flat tyre — tyre now unserviceable.
- M113 had a bent track guard which scraped on the track.
- If more time had been allowed those problems would have been rectified and the convoy would still have arrived in daylight hours.
- The battery terminals were remoulded so the M113 is now OK again. The bridgelayer had a fault in the charging system. Now OK.
- Today the Engineers dug a deep drain, going through the workshop accommodation defence wire. We will have to set some new wire in the hole when the engineers have finished.
- An 0 Group is planned to get the tanks up from VUNG TAU. It is planned that they come around 7 RAR, across the SONG CAV River using a bridge. This is one of the routes I recced.
- Received a very bad recovery report today. It is essential that recovery reports are clear and precise, covering all essential points.
- Tuesday — 27 February 1968
- Tanks arrived today. Two months from the day of arrival in theatre of the Advance Workshop Party.
- At the moment there is an air strike over by the Horseshoe. There has been two VC companies in HOA LONG, heavy fighting at DATDO, mortars in BARIA, unconfirmed. RPG2 and 7 used in HOA LONG.
- The Major gave his 0 Group. I have given my 0 Group. The workshop has 1 ARV and 1 FRV going out plus 1 FRV on Stand by.
- The APC arrived late, so Sgt NAUGHTON who was commanding the ARV pushed off without a clearance from the CP. I went down to check and found he had left. The first I knew he was at Highway 2 , 800–1,000 metres away.
- All tanks arrived in without major problems. One tank had its gun pointing to a flank and swiped a telegraph pole smashing the pole in two. No apparent damage to the tank.
- Wednesday — 28 February 1968
- The remainder of the tanks arrived at NUI DAT approx 1800 hrs today. No major problems.
- Next month will be serious training. Map reading, radio, weapons, tactics, vehicle servicing and maintenance.
- It is essential that we get hold of workshops and whip it into shape. Seems a lot too slow to me.
- Since Maj BADMAN and I had a talk things are going along well.
- Defence is divided into two sectors. Capt SULLIVAN is in charge Eastern Sector and I am in charge Western Sector.
- Two troops of tanks each, having one tank on duty all night.
- ARVs and dozers. One dozer on duty allnight.
- FRVs (2), 1 M113 on duty all night.
- All A vehicles on Stand To during Stand To period.
- Meals continue to be good. The projector broke down about a week ago. We have borrowed one from Civil Affairs.
- Our three 21.5 KVA generators have arrived at NUI DAT. When we get wire we will install them.
- Tomorrow we start getting our tank repair list and start our work as a workshop. I will be very interested to see how it goes. Lt JONES is in charge of Production Control.
- Thursday — 29 February 1968
- Two calendar months today since arriving in NUI DAT. The time has passed very quickly. Now that the tanks are here, hope we can get them out on operation. Maj BADMAN fears that the remaining two troops will not make a showing until we have proven that the tanks are an essential tactical weapon.
- Operational briefing (RAE). S/Sgt Brent NOLAN did the lecture. He handled it very well and explained the skill of the VC, the caution necessary, the need for co-operation.
- The Tels Instr and Elec Section, the GE Section, are right for production. Veh PI are operating about 50% capacity.
- Ken JONES is getting stuck into organising Production.