On this day:
1960-1975 > Vietnam era
There are 452 entries in this era
- 23 May 1968
The guided missile destroyer HMAS HOBART, (CAPT K. W. Shands, RAN), silenced three North Vietnamese automatic weapon sites near Da Nang.
- 13 Jun 1968
The crew of a RAN-manned helicopter was injured when their gunship crashed near the base of Blackhorse, Vietnam. They were rescued by an American helicopter, and returned to their base.
- 17 Jun 1968
At 0300 the destroyer HMAS HOBART, (CAPT K. W. Shands, RAN), was accidentally attacked by a US Air Force F-4 fighter, off Cap Lay, Vietnam. The aircraft fired a total of three missiles at HOBART, in two separate attacks. All three missiles hit the ship, and two RAN personnel, Ordinary Seaman R. J. Butterworth, and CPO R. H. Hunt, were killed, and seven others wounded. An enquiry into the incident revealed that due to the darkness, the pilot of the aircraft mistook the radar picture of the ship as an enemy helicopter.
- 18 Jun 1968
Investigations showed that HMAS HOBART, (cruiser), was only one of a number of ships attacked in error, by US 7th Air Force fighters, on 16 and 17 June. PCF 19, a US patrol boat, was sunk with the loss of five lives on 16 June. On 17 June US ships BOSTON, EDSON, POINT DUME, and PCF 12, were attacked. Unusual atmospheric conditions prevailing in Vietnamese waters at this period have been commented on by senior US Air Force officers.
- 21 Jun 1968
The Attack class patrol boat, HMAS AWARE, (LEUT D. J. Angus, RAN), was commissioned. AWARE was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, in June 1967, and launched on 7 October 1967. Dame Annabel Rankin, (Minister for Housing, Queensland), performed the launching ceremony.
- 03 Jul 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS ARROW, was commissioned. ARROW was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in September 1967, and launched on 17 February 1968. Mrs Hansen performed the launching ceremony. ARROW was sunk during Cyclone Tracey in Darwin, NT, on 24/25 December, 1974, with the loss of two of her crew.
- 11 Jul 1968
The Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service Reserve, (WRANSR), was formed.
- 12 Jul 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS ASSAIL, (LEUT T. J. Murphy, RAN), was commissioned. ASSAIL was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, in August 1967, and launched on 18 November 1967. Mrs S. Landau, (Wife of the Secretary for the Navy), performed the launching ceremony. ASSAIL was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in February 1986, and renamed KRI SIGUROT.
- 16 Jul 1968
The Official RAN Badge underwent further design revision, with changes to the rope design, and the addition of four dots.
- 19 Jul 1968
A section from CDT3, commanded by LEUT Lees, ambushed a Viet Cong platoon travelling in sampans up a canal. Twenty-five of the enemy were killed.
- 28 Jul 1968
HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), fired on suspected enemy observation posts near Da Nang, Vietnam. Twelve enemy dead were later found in the target area.
- 29 Jul 1968
HMS NEASHAM, (inshore minesweeper), arrived in Sydney as deck cargo on the merchant ship GLADSTONE STAR. The minesweeper, and her sister-ship WINTRINGHAM, were purchased from the RN and converted to diving tenders. They were renamed PORPOISE and SEAL.
- 04 Aug 1968
HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), provided support fire to a helicopter landing by the US 1st Marine Division, north of Da Nang, Vietnam. The object of the assault was to recover 200 buffaloes captured by the Viet Cong from local villagers.
- 09 Aug 1968
The Australian-developed Ikara missile system, was given its first public demonstration in HMAS PERTH, (guided missile destroyer).
- 16 Aug 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BARBETTE, (LCDR B. Hammill, RAN), was commissioned. BARBETTE was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in November 1967, and launched on 10 April 1968. Mrs T. Morrison, (Wife of RADM Morrison), performed the launching ceremony. BARBETTE was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in February 1985, and renamed KRI SIADA.
- 17 Aug 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS ADROIT, (LCDR J. E. A. Toulouse, RANVR), was commissioned. ADROIT was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, in August 1967, and launched on 3 February 1968.
- 21 Aug 1968
LEUT A. A. Casadio, RAN, and PO O. C. Phillips of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam, were killed when their helicopter gunship crashed six miles from their base at Black Horse.
- 22 Aug 1968
HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), bombarded Viet Cong camps and bases in the Long Hai hills, east of Vung Tau, Vietnam.
- 03 Sep 1968
HMAS ATTACK, (patrol boat), completed a two-month operation shadowing the Russian trawling vessel VAN GOGH, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
- 07 Sep 1968
HMAS JUNEE, (ex-corvette), was scuttled off Rottnest Island, WA. She had been sold in 1957 for conversion to a fishing boat mother ship, but this never eventuated, and she remained tied up at the Palm Beach naval jetty until scuttled.
- 16 Sep 1968
The following awards were made to personnel of the RAN’s Helicopter Flight for service in Vietnam:- DSC LCDR Neil Ralph; DSC LEUT Bruce Crawford; MID LCDR P. J. Vickers, (posthumous); MID LEUT J. M. Leak; MID LA Air-crewman J. Mclntyre.
- 18 Sep 1968
HMAS OTWAY, the last of the Oberon class submarines ordered for the RAN, arrived at Fremantle.
- 20 Sep 1968
HMAS HOBART, (guided missile destroyer), was awarded the US Presidential Commendation for service in Vietnam between 10 March and 20 September, 1968.
- 28 Sep 1968
HMAS TORRENS, (destroyer escort), was launched at Cockatoo Island, Sydney.
- 15 Oct 1968
The guided missile destroyer HMAS PERTH, (CAPT D. W. Leach, RAN), with two Skyhawk aircraft from USS INTREPID, (aircraft carrier), destroyed the Dac Nguyen highway bridge in Vietnam.
- 20 Oct 1968
The USN Communication Station at North West Cape, WA, which commenced operation in 1962, is formally renamed USN Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt, in memory of the late Prime Minister. The station remained operational with a combined USN/RAN presence until April 2002.
- 21 Oct 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS LADAVA, was commissioned. LADAVA was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in February 1968, and launched on 11 May 1968. Mrs Robert Tabua, (Wife of a Former Member of the Papua New Guinea House of Assembly), performed the launching ceremony.
- 22 Oct 1968
The guided missile destroyer HMAS BRISBANE, (CAPT A. A. Willis, RAN), arrived in Sydney on her maiden voyage from the USA, where she was built.
- 26 Oct 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS ARDENT, was commissioned. ATTACK was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard, Brisbane, in October 1967, and launched on 27 April 1968. Mrs Gair, (Wife of Senator Gair), performed the launching ceremony.
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BARRICADE, (LEUT A. Wyatt, RAN), was commissioned. BARRICADE was laid down in Evans Deakin Yard in December 1967, and launched on 29 June 1968. Miss Cameron performed the launching ceremony. She was transferred to the Indonesian Navy in on 22 April 1982, and renamed KRI SIGALU.
- 01 Nov 1968
New Queen’s Colours were presented to the RAN by His Excellency, the Governor General at a special parade held at Olympic Park No.2 in Melbourne.
- 05 Nov 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BOMBARD, was commissioned. She was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in April 1968, and launched on 6 July 1968.
- 09 Nov 1968
The Australian Government issued the first Vietnam Medals to RAN personnel.
- 21 Nov 1968
HMAS SYDNEY, (fast troop transport), landed the Australian 9th Battalion, RAR, at Vung Tau, Vietnam.
- 24 Nov 1968
RAN’s Helicopter Flight commenced operations at Bearcat Base in Bien Hoa province, Vietnam.
- 28 Nov 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS MADANG, was commissioned. MADANG was laid down in Evans Deakin & Co Pty Ltd, Brisbane, in March 1968, and launched on 10 August 1968. Mrs Feldt, (Widow of CMDR E. A. Feldt, RAN), performed the launching ceremony.
- 10 Dec 1968
Clearance Diving Team 3 recovered bodies, weapons and diving equipment from a Viet Cong supply sampan, sunk in an ambush at Rung Sat, Vietnam.
- 14 Dec 1968
The Attack class patrol boat HMAS BANDOLIER, (LEUT R. S. Blue, RAN), was commissioned. BANDOLIER was laid down in Walker’s Yard, Maryborough, QLD, in July 1968, and launched on 2 October 1968. Mrs Mary Benson, (Wife of CAPT S. J. Benson, RD, MP), performed the launching ceremony. BANDOLIER was transferred to the Indonesian Navy on 16 November 1973, and renamed KRI SIBARAU.
- 20 Dec 1968
HMAS PERTH, (guided missile destroyer), provided naval gun support in IV Corps sector in Vietnam.
- 01 Jan 1969
The following awards were made for bravery and resource in HMAS HOBART when the destroyer was struck by American aircraft missiles off Vietnam:
- DSM ME G. H. Sculley
- MID CAPT K. W. Shands
- MID LCDR I. A. Callaway
The titles of all RAN Fleet units became fully Australian:
- Guided missile destroyers became the First Australian Destroyer Squadron;
- Daring class destroyers the Second Australian Destroyer Squadron;
- River class destroyer escorts the Third Australian Destroyer Squadron;
- The Fourth Submarine Squadron became the First Australian Submarine Squadron;
- The Sixteenth Mine Counter Measures Squadron became the First Australian Mine Counter Measures Squadron.
- 03 Jan 1969
ASLT A. J. Huelin, RAN, (RAN Helicopter Flight-Vietnam), was killed in a helicopter crash. His helicopter hit power lines in bad weather just before dawn, and burst into flame on impact, killing all on board.