Task 1

What were the experiences of the AATTV in Vietnam? What roles did
they play? How did they find their time there?

What roles did they play?

The AATTV(Australian Army Training Team) were divided into groups and
dispersed. Some worked with the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN),
some with the indigenous people of North West Vietnam, some with the
South Vietnams Civil Guard which had a responsibility to protect key
provincial infrastructure. Other Australian soldiers worked with the American
Combined Studies Division which trained village militias and which also
involved in the Phoenix Program that targeted Viet Cong cells and cadres for
assassination. Many Australian soldiers found it an isolating experience. They
often worked alone or in pairs, in small, mainly American, advisory teams
which served with Vietnamese Units. AATV personnel trained Vietnamese
Units until their withdrawal from Vietnam. It should be noted that until 1964,
members of AATV were forbidden to join those whom they trained in
operations, a ban that proved completely impractical as it diminished their
credibility in the eyes of their students when they were caught in ambushes.

Why were the Australians sent to Phuoc Tuy Province?

Australians were sent to the Phuoc Tuy Province as it was an area that was
deemed suitable for task force operations, and as a logistics base since it had
access to the sea through the port of Vung Tau.

What did Lieutenant General John Wilton hope to achieve?

John Wilton hoped to create an Australian force which could operate
independently of United States forces, as well as to provide additional troops
in support of the fight against the Viet Cong

Who else was responsible for defending the Phuoc Tuy Province?
Australians shared the resposilibty of defence with the South Vietnam
government, and the US.

What recreational and educational options were available to troops?

The Long Binh Post had an education centre which offered a number of
college courses, self-study USAFI courses and GED tests. Many personnel
used their off time to participate in these courses to continue their education.
Recreational facilities were limited for soldiers but they were improving in
quality constantly. Soldiers had access to movies, radio programs, television
shows, newspapers and sport programs.

What did the Australians do in Nui Dat?

The Australians aimed to secure the village, as some of the villages around it
were supposedly Viet Cong bases. They forcibly moved the people and
livestock of two villages, then established a base.

Describe the process of setting up the base

The village that the base was made at was heavily fortified to protect from the
Viet Cong threat. The first soldiers lived in tents, and were responsible for
establishing defences. Elevated bunkers were constructed around the bases
perimeter, as well as mines.

Why did the Australians set up a minefield?

The Australians set up minefields to attempt to prevent Viet Cong movement

from mountain bases to rice growing areas. The minefield also set up a
protective barrier to prevent communist influence from reaching the villagers.

What were the dangers associated with setting up and managing the
minefield?
The security of the minefield was ineffective, as the Viet Cong were able to
breach the barrier fences, lift the mines and then re-use them against
Australian and ARVN troops. Viet Cong laid mines posed as significant threat
to Australian soldiers as they were well camouflaged. For instance, the Viet
Cong had put a snail on top of the three prongs, so all you would see was a
snail. By the end of the war, Australian mines ad contributed significantly to
the Australian casualty rate in Vietnam.

Why were entertainers so important?

The entertainers were so important as they raised the morale of the troops
and reminded them of home. This increased the troops desire to continue
fighting

Which Australian entertainer died in Vietnam, and what were the

circumstances?
Cathy Wayne. She died from being shot in the chest while performing at a US
marine base.
Look at images 21 and 22, Casevacs and Medvacs section. Describe
what is happening in the pictures.
Image 21: Two members of V Company are preparing for a casualty
evacuation by using smoke to signal a dustoff helicopter.
Image 22: This image shows a wounded soldier being unloaded from an
RAAF helicopter which has winched him out of the jungle.

Describe some of the mine and booby trap markers that soldiers were
instructed to look out for.
Some markers included: a red cylindrical can, with two sticks poked through
the ends; Sticks or bamboo, forming a triangle with a mine in the centre;
Tripod of bamboo sticks placed over mines; a vertical bamboo stick with a
horizontal bamboo stick protruding with short bundle of sticks hanging off the
end.

Why was patrolling Phuoc Tuy so important?

Patrolling was so important as it helped to familiarise battalions with the
landscape of Vietnam, and it also helped them find Viet Cong jungle
sanctuaries and camps. It allowed them to take an offensive stance.

What was the role of Fire Support Bases?

To allow a more flexible and rapid response with greater coverage for
operations beyond the immediate vicinity of the main Task Force base.

What did the Viet Cong use their tunnels for?

The Viet Cong used the tunnels as a fast way of escaping from attacking
soldiers, using them to disappear during combat. The limited tunnel space
allowed for a few men to hold up a force far greater and inflict casualties out

of proportion to numbers.

What was Operation Crimp? What was the outcome?

Operation Crimp was an attempt to defeat the Viet Cong who had a large
network of underground tunnels and bases in the Chu Chi District. Australian
soldiers had difficulty invading the tunnels as the space underground was
limited, making it possible for a couple men to hold up a whole force of Allied
soldiers. However, the tunnels use was lowered as the Viet Cong sustained
had casualties in the 1968 Tet Offensive coupled with the 1969 US carpet
bombing of the area.

Explain what happened at the Battle of Long Tan

The Battle of Long Tan was an encounter battle where Delta Company 6
RAR fought enemy forces in the Long Tan rubber plantation which was close
to an Australian task force base in Nui Dat. The Australians suffered 42
casualties, including 18 dead while 245 enemy troops were killed. 105
Australian soldiers with 3 New Zealanders fought for 4 hours against North
Vietnamese soldiers who outnumbered them by 10 to 1.

What was Sergeant Buicks memory of the battle of Long Tan?

Sergeant Buick remembers the Australians fighting very defensively in the
battle of Long Tan. This was because they were surprised and relatively
outnumbered. He says that they were stuck there and getting killed and all
soldiers could mainly do was to hang in there. Australians soldiers were low
on ammunition, and had lack of support in the.

What did the Australian troops discover when they returned to Long Tan
after the battle?
The Australian troops discovered 245 enemy corpses which they had to
search for intelligence purposes before burial. All possessions of the Viet
Cong soldiers, including photos of families, had to be collected in order for
Australian intelligence to piece together any important information. Australian
troops discovered that the Viet Cong had soviet-designed weapons.

Task 2
Demonstrate your exceptional Googling skills by finding images of the following (be sure to
insert it into this document, accompanied with an explanation of what type it is):

An M1131A1 APC
A tank used in the Vietnam War by Australians.

Australian centurion tank from Operation Overlord in June 1971

A helicopter used in the Vietnam War by Australians.

9 Squadron Iroquois dust off helicopter