Armoured sweep in Vietnam DPR/TV/1235

The Australian Army in Vietnam has mounted a full-scale armoured operation against enemy for the first time since World War II. Forty-four armoured vehicles and two hundred and seventy men are sweeping one hundred and fifty miles through three provinces, hounding the Vietcong. The operation, codenamed Matilda, began from Nui Dat, the headquarters of the Australian Task Force, last week (the 15th) with its first objective as Ham Tan, 46 miles north-east in Binh Tuy Province. Taking part are twenty seven armoured personnel carriers and crew from B Squadron 3rd Cavalry Regiment, eight 52-ton Centurion tanks, three APCs, two armoured recovery vehicles and four tracked load carriers and crew from A Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment, a company of infantry, Bravo Company of the 6th Battalion, ANZAC, and other smaller attachments. The armoured column is moving in three groups, an advance guard, main body, and rear guard. Nui Dat to Ham Tan was accomplished in three and a half days, the target time, but was across the most difficult terrain expected to be encountered on the operation. Creeks and gullies are relatively minor obstacles for the armoured personnel carriers, but the mammoth Centurions have a harder time in this type of country. The armoured column was prepared for this, however, bringing their own bridge with them. Fifty-two feet long and weighing seven tons, it came to the aid of the operation twice in the first phase. The tough terrain created a few technical problems for the armoured vehicles, but replacement parts were quickly brought forward from Nui Dat and rapidly put in the broken down vehicles. The first major casualty was the APC troop commander's vehicles, which smashed its final drive. In command of the big operation is Major (Maj) Jack Chipman of East Hawthorn, Vic, the new officer commanding the tank squadron. Here he goes through the plans for the day with commanders of the other elements of the column. Objectives are given, enemy locations suggested. Then back on the move again and the advance party forges ahead. Part of its task is to check out the country, select routes and river crossings and conduct jungle fringe sweeps for the enemy. Squadron headquarters moves with the main body which, apart from command and control, has the additional task of further checking and then destroying enemy installations found by the advance guard. A platoon of infantry from Bravo Company travels with each of the three groups to conduct sweeps through the jungle by day when not on the move and ambush at night. It's a change for the infantry to get from one place to the next by means other than their feet, but it's a dusty, dirty operation. The armoured column is an impressive sight from the air, carving a dusty swathe across the provinces - sight enough to deter any enemy. On the first phase small signs of the enemy were picked up, but no contact with them. The operation is now in its second phase, details of which have not yet been released by the Army for security reasons. An armoured operation is in progress in Vietnam, the first by the Australian Army in 25 years. Also identified: Trooper (Tpr) Mike Davies, 21, of Leichhardt, NSW; Private (Pte) Marcus Blackmore, 21, of Burwood, Vic; Tpr Graeme Merkel, 22, of Wodonga, Vic; Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) Wally Hunt, 21, of Southport, Qld; Tpr Vern Judd, 21, of Cobden, Vic; Tpr Gordon Belling, 21, of Nowra, NSW; Captain (Capt) Fred Fairhead of South Head, NSW; Maj Mike Harris of Kyogle, NSW; Maj Ron Rooks of Duntroon, NSW; Tp Sergeant Alan Buckingham of Gympie, Qld; L/Cpl David Hocking of Wangaratta, Vic; Lieutenant Steve Sainsbury of Wollongong, NSW; Capt Ken Ashman of Killara, NSW; Pte Dick Bradley, 21, of Northbridge, NSW; Pte Ted Miskin, 21, of Townsville, Qld; Tpr Tony Pollock, 21, of Benalla, Vic; Cpl Max Drinkwater of Somerton Park, SA.