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15 February
1971 |
The main body of
3RAR embarked on the HMAS Sydney at Port
Adelaide. The trip was enjoyable, with time spent
playing cards, lining up for our one can of beer
each day and viewing the sights. Although the
HMAS Sydney was built for the North Atlantic ....
and she got a bit hot and stuffy in the Tropics. We saw flying fish, porpoises, were
visited by Chinese traders off Singapore,
witnessed an awesome sunset in the Sunda Strait
and marvelled at the site of the famous Krakatoa
volcano. We had a great time, it was just like a
pleasure cruise. We used to practice our small
arms fire off the rear flight deck. They would
throw balloons over the back and you would have
to shoot them. The Navy decided to show off their
prowess with the SLR and had a shoot. The area
you shot from was a small walkway just below the
flight deck, which put your head level with the
flight deck. The sailors did OK except they
missed this one pink balloon and despite their
best efforts it just  kept floating
away in the distance. Unfortunately for the
sailors the Goon Platoon were next to shoot. We
waited patiently for our turn, but we became more
and more agitated the further this balloon moved
away. Finally it got too much for us and we
unleashed everything we had at it, rifles and
machine guns. It must have scared hell out of the
sailors, this volley of live ammunition just
above their heads, because they dropped to the
ground as soon as we opened up. We got the
balloon but nearly got some more charges as well.
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25
February 1971
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We arrived in Vung Tau harbour
just before dawn. Despite the early morning
arrival all the troops were awake and looking at
the lights of Vung Tau and all the boats on the
harbour. It all seemed so foreign and strange.
Everyone was filled with a sense of anticipation.
After all the training and waiting we were here.
The boat trip was fun but now were here ready to
do our job. US Chinook helicopters flew us from
the ship to Nui Dat. |
28
February 1971
|
After two days
settling into Nui Dat we commenced "In
Theatre" training. The Battalion was sent
out into the J [jungle], to a "safe"
area east of Nui Dat, to acclimatise to working
in South Vietnam. Alpha
Company flew out by choppers;
Bravo Company moved out near the Long Tan rubber
plantation, by APC's;
Delta Company flew out by choppers;
At 10 o'clock in the morning Charlie company
headed out. By chopper or APC? No way, we got to
walk ... Oh joy! Oh joy!
This area had been patrolled by
our allies the ARVN and was guaranteed to be free
of any enemy activity. We worked in Company size
units, something that we hadn't done before and
wouldn't do again. This would prove very
fortunate ... very quickly.
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