On This Day

1960-1975 > Vietnam era

November 23, 1968

The RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam made it second base move when it relocated from Camp Black Horse near Xuan Loc in Long Khan Province to Camp Martin Cox codenamed’ Camp Bearcat’

November 21, 1968

HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), landed the Australian 9th Battalion, RAR, at Vung Tau, Vietnam.

November 9, 1968

HMA Ships Acute (P81), and Sydney III left Adelaide and proceeded to cross the Great Australian Bight in atrocious weather. Sydney’s captain, Captain Domara Clarke, MVO, DSC, RAN, later reported that it was the worst crossing of the Bight he had ever experienced while Lieutenant Commander Coleman, a merchant navy officer in civilian life, reported that it was the worst weather he had ever encountered at sea. Coleman and his crew were later commended by both the Naval Officer in Charge, West Australia Area, and the Naval Board for their seamanship during the crossing.

The Australian Government issued the first Vietnam Medals to RAN personnel.

November 5, 1968

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BOMBARD, was commissioned. She was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in April 1968, and launched on 6 July 1968.

November 1, 1968

New Queen’s Colours were presented to the RAN by His Excellency, the Governor General at a special parade held at Olympic Park No.2 in Melbourne.

October 26, 1968

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS ARDENT, was commissioned. ATTACK was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, in October 1967, and launched on 27 April 1968. Mrs Gair, (Wife of Senator Gair), performed the launching ceremony.

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BARRICADE, (LEUT A. Wyatt, RAN), was commissioned. BARRICADE was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard in December 1967, and launched on 29 June 1968. Miss Cameron performed the launching ceremony. She was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in on 22 April 1982, and renamed KRI SIGALU.

October 22, 1968

The guided missile destroyer HMAS BRISBANE, (CAPT A. A. Willis, RAN), arrived in Sydney on her maiden voyage from the USA, where she was built.

October 21, 1968

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS LADAVA, was commissioned. LADAVA was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in February 1968, and launched on 11 May 1968. Mrs Robert Tabua, (Wife of a Former Member of the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly), performed the launching ceremony.

October 20, 1968

The USN Communication Station at North West Cape, WA, which commenced operation in 1962, is formally renamed USN Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt, in memory of the late Prime Minister. The station remained operational with a combined USN/RAN presence until April 2002.

October 15, 1968

The guided missile destroyer HMAS PERTH, (CAPT D. W. Leach, RAN), with two Skyhawk aircraft from USS INTREPID, (aircraft carrier), destroyed the Dac Nguyen highway bridge in Vietnam.

September 28, 1968

HMAS TORRENS, (destroyer escort), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.

September 20, 1968

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), was awarded the US Presidential Commendation for service in Vietnam between 10 March and 20 September, 1968.

September 18, 1968

HMAS OTWAY, the third of the original four Oberon class submarines ordered for the RAN, arrived at Fremantle.

September 16, 1968

The following awards were made to personnel of the RAN’s Helicopter Flight for service in Vietnam:- DSC LCDR Neil Ralph; DSC LEUT Bruce Crawford; MID LCDR P. J. Vickers, (posthumous); MID LEUT J. M. Leak; MID LA Air-crewman J. Mclntyre.

September 7, 1968

HMAS JUNEE, (ex-corvette), was scuttled off Rottnest Island, WA. She had been sold in 1957 for conversion to a fishing boat mother ship, but this never eventuated, and she remained tied up at the Palm Beach naval jetty until scuttled.

September 3, 1968

HMAS ATTACK, (patrol boat), completed a two-month operation shadowing the Russian trawling vessel VAN GOGH, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

September 2, 1968

851 Squadron recommissioned at NAS Nowra as a training and transport squadron flying Grumman Trackers and Dakotas

August 22, 1968

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), bombarded Viet Cong camps and bases in the Long Hai hills, east of Vung Tau, Vietnam.

August 21, 1968

LEUT A. A. Casadio, RAN, and PO O. C. Phillips of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam, were killed when their helicopter gunship crashed six miles from their base at Black Horse. The helicopter, flying at tree top level, was engaged by enemy troops equipped with Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and was hit by one of these deadly projectiles and exploded in flames before crashing through trees and exploding. Lieutenant Dalgleish, RAN, landed his helicopter quickly in an attempt to rescue the crew, but all had been killed, and the exploding ammunition stopped attempts to extinguish the fire. Also lost was WO Hershel Bullock (USA) and Specialist 4 William Fennell (USA)

August 17, 1968

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS ADROIT, (LCDR J. E. A. Toulouse, RANVR), was commissioned. ADROIT was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, in August 1967, and launched on 3 February 1968.

August 16, 1968

The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BARBETTE, (LCDR B. Hammill, RAN), was commissioned. BARBETTE was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in November 1967, and launched on 10 April 1968. Mrs T. Morrison, (Wife of RADM Morrison), performed the launching ceremony. BARBETTE was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in February 1985, and renamed KRI SIADA.

August 9, 1968

The Australian-developed Ikara missile system, was given its first public demonstration in HMAS PERTH, (guided missile destroyer).

August 4, 1968

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), provided support fire to a helicopter landing by the US 1st Marine Division, north of Da Nang, Vietnam. The object of the assault was to recover 200 buffaloes captured by the Viet Cong from local villagers.

July 29, 1968

HMS NEASHAM, (inshore minesweeper), arrived in Sydney as deck cargo on the merchant ship GLADSTONE STAR. The minesweeper, and her sister-ship WINTRINGHAM, were purchased from the RN and converted to diving tenders. They were renamed PORPOISE and SEAL.

July 28, 1968

HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), fired on suspected enemy observation posts near Da Nang, Vietnam. Twelve enemy dead were later found in the target area.