On This Day
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
On This Day - 1960-1975
- October 15, 1971
HMAS Brisbane arrived back in Sydney after having left the Vietnam gunline for the last time on 5 September marking the end of the RAN’s combat role in the Vietnam War. Over the course of her two deployments to Vietnam, Brisbane had steamed nearly 70,000nm and fired over 15,000 rounds of 5-inch ammunition
- October 8, 1971
HMA Submarine OTWAY, (LCDR T. Roach, RAN), with only two thirds of the crew aboard (44 men) rescued the crew of seven from a life raft, after the 101-year-old ketch ONE AND ALL, sank off Middleton Reef.
- October 1, 1971
HMAS DIAMANTINA, (oceanographic research vessel), represented Australia at the Christmas Island Territory Day celebrations.
- September 30, 1971
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), sailed from Subic Bay on completion of her second deployment in Vietnam. BRISBANE fired 7,760 rounds in the deployment.
- September 29, 1971
The Australian Naval Board announced the following gallantry awards to personnel of HMAS PERTH, (guided missile destroyer), for service in VietnamOBE CAPT I. M. Burnside, RAN; MBE LEUT D. J. Marrable, RAN;MID CRS W. F. Hunt.
- September 13, 1971
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), sailed from Vietnam, thus completing the RAN’s four-year involvement in the war.
- August 20, 1971
The following gallantry awards were made to personnel of the RAN’s Helicopter Flight, for service in Vietnam:- BEM: Mechanician AE R. G. Markwell; MID: LEUT W. Kimpton, RAN.
- July 9, 1971
Three members of the RAN’s Clearance Diving Team 3, received gallantry awards for service in Vietnam:- DSC LEUT A. Donald, RAN; DSM POCD B. Bailey; DSM LSCD J. Aldenhoven.
- June 24, 1971
HMAS BRISBANE, (guided missile destroyer), supported an operation of the 1st Australian Task Force at Phuoc Tuy, Vietnam, with gunfire.
- June 11, 1971
LEUT R. T. Griffen, RAN, of the RAN Helicopter Flight, was awarded the DFC for conspicuous gallantry in operations in Vietnam. LEUT Giffen died of illness before the award was gazetted.