Description
Title: Vietnam Task : The 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment 1966 – 1967
Author: O’Neill, Robert J
Condition: Very Good Plus – Previous owners name neatly written on the top right corner of the half title page.
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 1968
ISBN: Nil
Cover: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket – 256 pages
Comments: The history of the Fifth Battalion (The Royal Australian Regiment) in South Vietnam 1966 – 1967.
5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) was raised at the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney on 1 March 1965. It was comprised of surplus 1RAR soldiers and some of the first conscripts. The battalion arrived in Vietnam throughout April and May 1966. It formed half of the infantry component of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) with 6RAR. 1ATF replaced 1RAR in Vietnam and was stationed at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province.
Once the Nui Dat base area had been cleared and secured, the task force began patrolling the province. The purpose of these patrols was to undermine Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army operations in the area. This was done by seeking out and engaging the enemy in small contacts and limiting its ability to access supplies. These duties dominated 5RAR during its first tour.
In March 1967 5RAR was given the task of establishing and defending a base on the forward rim of an extinct volcano known as the Horseshoe. The purpose of this base was to deny the VC access to supplies from Phuoc Tuy.
5RAR was relieved by 7RAR in late April, departing for Australia the following month, where it returned to Holsworthy Barracks.
