On This Day

1960-1975 > Vietnam era

August 24, 1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), served on the screen of USS ORISKANY, (aircraft carrier), in Vietnamese waters.

August 20, 1969

A court martial to enquire into the causes of the collision between HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), was convened in Sydney. The court found that CAPT J. P. Stevenson, RAN, had ‘no case to answer’.

August 14, 1969

The findings of the combined USA-Australian Board of Inquiry into the collision of HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), was made public. Primary responsibility for the collision was laid on the destroyer, but the Board found that a share of responsibility rested with HMAS MELBOURNE.

August 3, 1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), laid down gunfire support for an attack by the 1st Australian Task Force, in Phuoc Tuy Province, Vietnam.

August 2, 1969

A destroyer squadron of the Japanese Self Defence Force arrived at Sydney on a goodwill visit.

July 31, 1969

The total number of pilots from the RAN Fleet Air Arm engaged in helicopter flying in Vietnam was 35. The eight teams averaged 93 hours per month in the year 1968-1969.

July 21, 1969

The USN Unit Commendation was awarded to HMAS PERTH, (guided missile destroyer), for exceptionally meritorious service in Vietnam from 9 September 1967 to 5 April 1968.

July 4, 1969

The Naval Club opened in Charlotte Street, Brisbane.

July 1, 1969

The Admiralty announced the changeover from fathoms to metres.

June 30, 1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), fought a fire in the merchant ship SINCERE, at Singapore. When the fire raced out of control, she took off the ship’s crew.

June 28, 1969

LCDR I. D. Roberts, RAN, became the first Australian to command an Oberon class submarine.

June 27, 1969

The six-man US-Australian Board of Inquiry into the HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), and USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), collision heard evidence from its 78th witness, and adjourned to assess blame. The Board met at Subic Bay, Philippines.

June 23, 1969

US Secretary for Defense, announced that members of the same family would be allowed to continue service in the same combat ship, or unit, despite the loss of three brothers in USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), after a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier).

June 13, 1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), engaged Viet Cong targets, destroying 16 bunkers, 19 military structures, and collapsing 25 metres of tunnels.

June 10, 1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), was Naval Gun Fire Ship for US II Corps’ operations in Vietnam.

June 6, 1969

USS KEARSAGE arrived at Subic Bay, (The Philippines), with 196 of the 199 survivors from USS FRANK E EVANS, (destroyer), which had been cut in half by HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), during exercises in the South China Sea on 3 June, with the loss of 74 lives. At the same time, MELBOURNE was undergoing emergency repairs at the Royal Navy Dockyard in Singapore.

June 3, 1969

USS FRANK E. EVANS, (destroyer), was cut in two following a collision with HMAS MELBOURNE, (aircraft carrier), during exercises in the South China Sea. The bow section sank immediately, and 74 US sailors lost their lives. The stern section stayed afloat, and was later towed by a fleet tug USS Tawasa to Subic Bay. HMAS MELBOURNE sailed to Singapore for repairs, arriving on 6th June. This was the second collision involving MELBOURNE and an escorting destroyer in the space of five years.

May 31, 1969

Leading Air-crewman N. E. Shipp, (RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam), was killed in action. Five miles west of Dong Tam, Dinh Tuong province, Shipp was door gunner in the lead gunship escorting troop-carrying helicopters of the 11th Regiment, 7th ARVN Division. Because the troop-carrying helicopters came under heavy ground fire in the vicinity of the landing zone the gunships were ordered in to suppress enemy fire. In order to engage the enemy more closely with his M60 machine gun, Shipp hung out from the helicopter, which was encountering intense fire. During the course of the action his helicopter was hit, crash landed and burst into flames. LACM Noel Shipp, who was the only Australian in the crew, was seen to continue firing at the enemy until the moment of impact.

May 23, 1969

CPO Albert Victor Rasleigh was awarded the BEM, and LS Jeffrey Lynden Garrett was MID, for gallantry while serving in RAN Clearance Diving Team 3 at Vung Tau, Vietnam. The divers were members of a team which removed a 27kg explosive charge from the hull of a ship, and captured the Viet Cong divers responsible for placing the charges. It was the first action in which Australian naval personnel were engaged in underwater combat.

April 23, 1969

CPO A. V. Rashleigh and AB A. J. Sherlock, of the RAN Clearance Diving Team 3, carried out an underwater night search of the hull of MV HERADIA at Vung Tau, Vietnam, after the capture of a Viet Cong diver alongside the ship. Knowing that another enemy diver was in the vicinity, they continued their search until they found an explosive charge secured alongside the ship. After removal of the charge they re-entered the water and captured the enemy diver.

April 21, 1969

HMAS HOBART, (destroyer), awarded the USN Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam.

April 18, 1969

• The Oberon class submarine HMAS OVENS, (LCDR B. Nobes, RAN), was commissioned. OVENS was laid down at Scott’s Yard, Greenock, Scotland, on 17 June 1966, and launched on 4 December 1967. Lady Slim, (Wife of Viscount Slim, a former Governor General of Australia), performed the launching ceremony.
• SBLT J. M. W. Hart, RAN, of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam, participated in a helicopter gunship attack on a Viet Cong troop column. Ten enemy soldiers were killed, and 25 surrendered to supporting ground troops.

April 15, 1969

VADM Sir Roy Russell Dowling, KCVO, KBE, CB, CBE, DSO, died in Canberra.

April 4, 1969

HMAS AITAPE and LADAVA, (patrol boats), penetrated 230 miles up the Sepik River, New Guinea. Their record voyage emulated the cruise of HMA Ships PARRAMATTA and WARREGO in 1914.

March 30, 1969

HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), relieved sister ship HMAS PERTH at Subic Bay, for duty in Vietnam.