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Vietnam War

By Jappah y0
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    Australias Impacts in the War

    Australiss time spent in Vietnam and their contributions and conflicts confronted during the war.

  • 30 Army Advisors

    The Minister for Defence (Reginald Townley) announces intention to send 30 army advisers to South Vietnam (SVN).

  • First Austrlians Trained in Vietnam Facility

    The first members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) arrive in South Vietnam.

  • First Advisor to Die

    Advisor, Sergeant William Hacking was the first Australian to die when his weapon discharged after being caught in vegetation.

  • President and Brother Murdered

    Vietnam's President Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu are murdered in a military coup, with the foreknowledge of the US Government.

  • Lyndon B. Johnson becomes US Predsident

    Lyndon B. Johnson becomes US president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and announces that the US will continue support of South Vietnam. By year's end 15,000 US advisors are serving in Vietnam, which received $500m in US aid that year.

  • Minister of Defence Announces AATTV Increase

    The Minister for Defence (Hon. Shane Partridge) announces the AATTV will be increased to 83 advisers with expanded role.

  • First Australian to die via enemy contact

    Warrant Officer Class 2, Kevin Conway becomes the first Australian to die as a result of enemy action in South Vietnam.

  • Powers to act in Vietnam

    Following a reported attack on US ships in Tonkin Gulf, US Congress passes Tonkin Gulf Resolution giving President Johnson extraordinary powers to act in South Vietnam

  • National Service increas in the US

    The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzies) announces introduction of national service to increase the army’s strength from 22,750 to 37,500. Opposition to the war in Vietnam is not accepted as a reason for exemption.

  • 200 Additional Advisors requested in Vietnam

    Australian Government, responding to requests from the US President and South Vietnam Prime Minister for 200 additional advisers, offers to send ground troops to South Vietnam.

  • Prime Minister Announces Dispatch of Infantry to the South

    The Prime Minister announces the dispatch of an infantry battalion to South Vietnam, with an armoured personnel carrier (APC) troop, a signals troop and a logistic support company.

  • 1st Batallian Royal Australian Regiment dispatches for Vietnam

    Advance party from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), departs for South Vietnam, for service with the US 173rd Airborne Division.

  • HMAS Sydney arrives at Vung Tau

    HMAS Sydney arrives at Vung Tau, South Vietnam, carrying the bulk of the Australian force.

  • First national service intake begins recruit training

    First national service intake begins recruit training.

  • Approval of Increas in Australian Forces

    Australian Government approves increase of Australian forces to a battalion group, supported by an artillery, additional APCs, engineers, army helicopters, light aircraft and more logistic support.

  • Poll Shows Public wants War to Continue

    A Morgan Gallup Poll finds 56% of those polled were in favour of continuing the war in Vietnam.

  • Protest Results in Arrests

    A demonstration against the war in Sydney results in 65 arrests.

  • Kevin Wheatley earns Victorian Cross

    WO2 Kevin "Dasher" Wheatley refuses to leave his mate, WO2 Bob Swanston, and is killed. His actions earned him Australia’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross.

  • New Prime Minister

    Harold Holt succeeds Menzies as Prime Minister.

  • Harold Holt Decides

    Holt announces the Australian commitment in South Vietnam will be Increased to a 4350-man task force, and will include conscripts.The 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) will include two infantry battalions, a Special Air Service squadron, combat and support logistic units and eight RAAF Iroquois helicopters (9 SQN).The Task Force will be supported by 1 Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG) to be established at Vung Tau. For the first time, national servicemen will be sent to South Vietnam.

  • 5 RAR is Deployed

    5 RAR deploys by helicopter from 1ATF concentration area at Vung Tau to secure the Task Force area at Nui Dat. Private Errol Noack becomes the first national serviceman and member of 1ATF to die from enemy action.

  • Concentration of 1ATF at Nui Dat is completed.

    Concentration of 1ATF at Nui Dat is completed.

  • Battle of Long Tam

    The Battle of Long TanD Company, 6 RAR, strength of 108 men, battles North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) forces estimated at between 1500 and 2500 until relieved by A Company, carried in by armoured personnel carriers of 3 Troop, 1 APC Squadron. The enemy leaves 245 bodies on the battlefield while 17 Australian infantrymen and one APC crewman are killed. The Company earns the US Presidential Citation.

  • Poll on Conscription

    Morgan Gallup Poll finds that 63% are in favour of conscription, but only 37% approve of sending National Servicemen to Vietnam.

  • Major Peter Badcoe

    Major Peter Badcoe, AATTV, is killed in action leading two companies of Vietnamese regional forces. For his outstanding heroism in this and two previous actions, he will be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

  • Favour to continue War

    Morgan Gallup Poll finds 62% in favour of continuing the war in Vietnam.

  • V Company of the 1st batallion arrive at Nui Dat

    A New Zealand rifle company - V Company of the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Regiment (RNZIR) - arrives at Nui Dat to serve with 2 RAR. The Australian Battalion is re-designated 2RAR/NZ/ANZAC.

  • Harold Holt Missing

    Prime Minister Harold Holt missing, presumed drowned off Portsea in Victoria. His body is never recovered.

  • Communist Forces in South Vietnam - Tet Offensive

    Communist forces in South Vietnam launch what becomes known as the Tet Offensive, with concentrated attacks against every major city and regional centre. Although Tet costs the Communists 45-50,000 troops, it sows serious doubt in the minds of the Australian and American people and leads to major changes in government policy towards the conflict in South Vietnam.

  • Australia will not increase Commitment to Vietnam

    Prime Minister Gorton indicates that Australia will not increase its commitment to Vietnam.

  • Massacre

    Massacre of civilians by US soldiers at My Lai village. At least 450 unarmed people are killed.

  • The Battle of Coral and Balmoral

    The Battle of Coral & BalmoralThe Battle for Fire Support Base (FSB) Coral begins with an enemy attack that overruns 1 RAR Mortar Platoon and captures one of 102 Field Battery’s gun pits. The base is cleared with the help of helicopter gunships. After a second attack on May 15, Australian casualties around Coral stand at 15 killed and 56 wounded while enemy losses are estimated to exceed 100 dead.

  • Second Attack on Balmoral

    A second attack on Balmoral is crushed by combined infantry, tank, artillery and mortar fire, leaving 47 enemy dead and six prisoners for 1 Australian killed.

  • House to House Firefights

    Two companies from 5 RAR, supported by APC and Tank troops and Australian helicopter gunships, engage in house-to-house fighting to clear the town of a strong force of NVA regulars. The fighting destroys much of the town and costs the NVA more than 100 dead for the loss of one Australian.

  • Ho Chi Minh Dies

    Ho Chi Minh dies in Hanoi, aged 79.

  • Withdrawal of Troops

    Following the withdrawal of 25,000 US troops from South Vietnam, and plans by the US Government to withdraw another 50,000, the Prime Minister (Sir John Gorton) advises any further substantial reductions will include Australian forces.

  • Withdrawal From Vietnam

    Prime Minister McMahon announces further cuts in Australian forces in South Vietnam, including withdrawal of the tank squadron, RAAF Canberra bomber squadron and some Caribou transport aircraft.

  • Australian Protests

    Anti-Vietnam War protesters stage the first moratorium marches in Australian cities (70,000 in Melbourne, and about 120,000 throughout Australia).

  • Third and Last Anti-War Protests

    Third and last of the big anti-war rallies. About 110,000 demonstrate in State capitals.

  • Announcement of bulk to be Withdrawn from Vietnam

    The Prime Minister announces the bulk of Australian forces in South Vietnam are to be withdrawn, leaving only a modified training team. The period of national service is reduced from two years to 18 months.

  • Peace Agreement

    USA and North Vietnam sign a peace agreement.

  • Labor elected into Government

    Australian Labor Party elected to Government.