Commander's Diaries

B Squadron

11 February 1969 - 23 December 1969

11 March 1969

3 Troop op con 5 RAR; 2 and 4 Troops Nui Dat

12-13 March 1969

No change.

14 March 1969

1 Troop moved to road block with Int and APC’s; 2 Troop op con 9 RAR; 3 Troop released from 5 RAR; 4 Troop Nui Dat

15 March 1969

B Sqn (-) FSB Kerry; 2 Troop op con 9 RAR; 2 and 4 Troops Nui Dat.

16 March 1969

1 Troop supported elements of A Squadron 3 Cav and A Coy 2/52 Inf (ARVN) on reconnaissance-in-force in area of Trang Bom.

17 March 1969

1 Troop FSB Kerry;2 Troop Nui Dat; 3 Troop,1 Troop A Squadron 3 Cav and C Coy 5 RAR conducted reconnaissance-in-force in area east of Belconnen;4 Troop conducted RIF with A Coy 9 RAR near Nui Dat.

18 March 1969

4 Troop conducted RIF with A Coy 9 RAR in area 1 ATF base. At 1330hrs 4 Troop and A Coy 9 RAR moved to area of AP Ngai Giao to assist ARVN securing the area following a VC attack early in the day.

19 March 1969

1 Troop supported D Coy 5 RAR RIF operations east of Trang Bom; 4 Troop supported 9 RAR operations in 1 ATF TAOR; 2 and 4 Troops at Nui Dat.

20 March 1969

3 Troop supported 5 RAR operations in AO Arunda; 4 Troop supported 9 RAR operations in 1 ATF TAOR.

22 March 1969

B Sqn(-) at FSB Kerry; 2 and 4 Troops remained at Nui Dat as Ready Reaction Force (RRF)

23-25 March 1969

No Change

26 March 1969

4 Troop commenced operations with 4 RAR in area NE of 1 ATF base; B Sqn (-) Kerry

27 March 1969

B Sqn remained at Kerry and supported 1 ATF arty ops by firing 11 H & I missions during period. 2 Troop conducted RIF operations with HQ 1 ATF Defence Platoon east of AO Arunda without contact. 4 Troop supported C Coy 4 RAR in AO Drayton.

28 March 1969

1 Troop fired 9 H & I missions in support of 1 ATF arty; 2 Troop remained in 1 ATF as RRF; 3 Troop conducted RIF ops with 3 section 3 Troop A Sqn 3 Cav and elements of HQ 1 ATF Defence Platoon in SE AO Arunda; 4 Troop returned to ATF base from FSB Avenger after supporting C Coy 4 RAR.

29 March 1969

B Sqn (-) remained FSB Kerry and fired eight H& I missions in support of 1 ATF arty. 1 Troop remained FSB as RRF; 2 Troop remained 1 ATF base as RRF; 3 Troop plus 2 section 2 Troop A Sqn 3 Cav and HQ 1 ATF Defence Platoon (-) conducted RIF in southern portion AO Arunda and northern portion of AO Belconnen without results. 4 Troop departed Baria Hard at 1000hrs for Long Binh on LCM.

30 March 1969

B Sqn (-) at Kerry fired 11 H&I missions in support of 1ATF arty. 1 Troop departed Kerry by road and LCM for Nui Dat. 2 troop moved as RRF with W Coy 4 RAR to YS 392638. 3 Troop remained at Kerry as RRF. 4 Troop arrived Kerry from Long Binh at 0900hrs. 3 Troop conducted RIF in AO Arunda…one person detained.

31 March 1969

B Sqn(-) at Kerry fired 9 H & I missions in support of 1 ATF arty 1 Troop returned to Nui Dat after operating in support of W Coy 4 RAR as RRF in AO Lois, 3 Troop conducted RIF in AO Arunda.

1 April 1969

B Sqn (-) remained FSB Kerry;1 Troop remained Nui Dat;2 Troop moved to AO Lois as part of RRF deployment; 4 Troop with 2 section 3 Troop A Sqn 3 Cav and elements of HQ 1 ATF D & E Platoon conducted RIF in AO Belconnen and Arunda.

2 April 1969

B Sqn(-) FSB Kerry;1Troop Nui Dat as RRF; 2 Troop returned to Nui Dat from RIF in area 1 ATF base ;4 Troop moved with elements above into Belconnen to conduct RIF.

3 April 1969

B Sqn(-) moved from FSB Kerry to FSB Jillian; 1 Troop remained Nui Dat as RRF; 2 Troop moved with 1 Troop A Sqn 3 Cav and Victor Coy 4 RAR/NZ to check reports of VC activity( No enemy contacted, some bunkers located, force returned to 1 ATF base at 1730hrs );3 Troop moved from FSB Kerry to FSB Wattle; 4 Troop.

moved from overnight position to Jillian.

4 April 1969

SHQ remained FSB Jillian; 1 and 2 Troops remained Nui Dat; 3 Troop remained op con to 9 RAR;4 Troop conducted RIF in AO Reid with elements of D & E Platoon until 1400hrs and then under op con 5 RAR.

5 April 1969:

SHQ remained FSB Jillian. 1 and 2 Troop remained 1ATF base; 3 Troop op con to 9RAR (FSB Wattle); 4 Troop remained op con 5RAR

6 April 1969:

B Sqn (-) FSB Jillian; 1 Troop Nui Dat; 2 Troop deployed with D Company 4RAR and 1 Troop A Sqn 3 Cav at 1530hrs in Baria area; 3 Troop op con 9RAR; 4 Troop op con 5RAR.

7 April 1969:

B Sqn (-) FSB Jillian; 1 Troop Nui Dat RRF; 2 Troop returned to Nui Dat with C Company 4RAR/NZ; 3 Troop op con 9RAR; 4 Troop released from op con 5RAR and returned to FSB Jillian.

8 April 1969:

B Sqn (-) deployed from FSB Jillian to FSB Martine; 1 and 2 Troop remained Nui Dat; 3 Troop remained op con 9RAR.

9 April 1969:

B Sqn (-) remained FSB Martine; 1 and 2 Troop remained Nui Dat; 3 Troop remained op con 9RAR.

10 April 1969:

B Sqn (-) FSB Martine; 1and 2 Troops Nui Dat; whilst returning to FSB Martine from 9RAR, a Centurion tank from 3 Troop detonated a mine at 1426hrs, tank received moderate damage, no crew casualties. 4 Troop carried out RIF in AO Camden with 2 Troop A squadron 3CAV.

11 April 1969:

B Sqn (-) remains at FSB Martine; 1 Troop Nui Dat; 2 Troop with 1Troop (-) A Sqn 3 Cav carried out a search in area YS5763, returning to Nui Dat at 1700hrs; 3 Troop moved to FSB Juanita and became op con to 9RAR, 4 Troop carried out RIF in AO Camden with 2 Troop A Sqn [3 Cav] and elements of HQ 1ATF D&E Platoon. At 1140hrs at YS283709 twp persons were sighted moving into a cave, the cave entrance was destroyed by tank fire.