FeaturesUnit Histories

Cavalry · May 1965 – March 1972

3rd Cavalry Regiment

Helicopter missions
8
Contacts
465
Operations
90
Dead
18
Australian wounded
501
Enemy killed
888

View unit in Battle MapView missions in Battle MapAustralian War Memorial record

Year by year #

465 contacts are recorded for the unit and sub-units, from 12 June 1966 to 12 October 1971. It was the unit in contact in 371 of them, and took part in 94 led by other units.

Year Contacts
1966 37
1967 20
1968 80
1969 145
1970 100
1971 83

Unit actions #

In the contacts it led, by the task the report records:

Task Contacts Share
Patrol 156 42%
Ambush 66 18%
Security 62 17%
Transport 36 10%
Mine incident 33 9%
Artillery and mortar fire 5 1%
Artillery engagement 2 1%
Bunker 2 1%
Not recorded 9 2%

Armoured personnel carriers in 94 contacts led by other units: 8 RAR (15), 3 RAR (14), 5 RAR (14), 6 RAR (13), 1 RAR (6), 2 RAR (6), 1 Armd Regt (5), 7 RAR (4), 4 RAR (3), ARVN (3), 1 ATF (2), 9 RAR (2), V Company, 4 RAR (New Zealand) (2), 1 Fd Sqn (1), LFT (1), SASR (1), V Company, 2 RAR (New Zealand) (1), W Company, 2 RAR (New Zealand) (1).

Operations #

Air support #

No. 9 Squadron RAAF's unit history records 8 helicopter missions flown for 3 Cav Regt, from 30 May 1968 to 31 July 1970. 8 casualties were evacuated, as the reports count them; helicopters were fired on from the ground on 1 mission.

Mission Missions Share
Medevac 7 88%
Troop Lift 1 12%

The most significant:

  • 30 May 1968: medevac. 6 casualties evacuated. Fired on from the ground. On the allied side: 6 wounded. 7 Platoon, 1 RAR came under heavy fire during the day and was pinned down. Supported by a light fire team from the Playboys, a US Army aviation company, and Centurion tanks of A Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment, two …
  • 27 April 1970: medevac. 1 casualty evacuated. On the allied side: 1 killed. Albatross 02, flown by Pilot Officer Ozanne, recovered the body of an Australian soldier of 3 Cavalry Regiment who had been killed and took it to Vampire.
  • 28 April 1970: medevac. 1 casualty evacuated. In the early hours, Albatross 10, flown by Squadron Leader White, evacuated a litter patient with severe malaria from B Company, 3 Cavalry Regiment to Vampire pad.

Notable contacts #

12 June 1966: Patrol, Operation Hardihood #

First · Armoured personnel carriers for 5 RAR

Australian: 1 killed, 3 wounded.

D Company, 5 RAR, was sweeping the north-east of Hoa Long for enemy mortar positions when its force came under light mortar fire. One Australian was killed and three wounded, from D and E Platoon, 1 APC Squadron and 1 Field Squadron. Radar placed the mortars at Long Phuoc village, and artillery fired on them with unknown results.

18 August 1966: Patrol, Operation Smithfield (original - Vendetta) #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 6 RAR

Australian: 17 killed, 19 wounded. Enemy: 245 killed, 350 wounded.

The Battle of Long Tan. D Company, 6 RAR, 108 strong, was following fresh tracks east of Nui Dat when 11 Platoon met a few Viet Cong and then a much larger force. From about 5.30 pm the company was attacked by at least a company, later found to be far more, under heavy machine-gun and mortar fire in heavy rain, and held on until A Company arrived in armoured personnel carriers after 7 pm. Close artillery fire broke up many of the attacks; low cloud ruled out air strikes, and helicopters flew in ammunition and took out the wounded. Seventeen Australians were killed and nineteen wounded; 245 enemy were recorded killed. The company commander afterwards reported that the M60 machine-guns jammed in the mud and that the men needed to carry more ammunition.

17 February 1967: Bunker, Operation Bribie #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 6 RAR

Australian: 8 killed, 21 wounded. Enemy: 50 killed, 13 wounded.

Operation Bribie. After A Company, 6 RAR, found a Viet Cong company and its heavy weapons company dug into bunkers, B Company was ordered to assault the position. It was pinned down by fire from all sides, including heavy machine-guns, Claymore mines and mortars; four air strikes were called in, and carriers of 2 Troop, A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, went in to bring out the wounded, one being disabled by recoilless-rifle fire. After four hours both companies withdrew into the battalion's night position, and the enemy left during the night. Eight Australians were killed and 21 wounded; about 50 enemy were recorded killed. The battalion's commander said that tanks could have taken the position with little difficulty.

20 July 1967: Security #

Typical: security · 3 Cav Regt in contact

Australian: 4 wounded.

3 Troop's position at Duc Thanh was shelled by 60 mm mortars. Artillery at Nui Dat returned fire and silenced them. No carriers were damaged, and four men were slightly wounded.

1 February 1968: Security, Operation Coburg #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 3 RAR

Australian: 1 killed, 19 wounded. Enemy: 42 killed, 5 wounded.

During the Tet Offensive a Viet Cong battalion seized much of Ba Ria, a town of 15,000, and the province headquarters asked 1 ATF for help. A Company, 3 RAR, less a platoon, with nine armoured personnel carriers of 3 Troop, A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, was rushed in by carrier to protect the US compound and other key buildings, and fought through a town full of uncleared houses, infiltrators and rocket teams. One Australian was killed and nineteen wounded; 42 enemy were recorded killed.

16 May 1968: Security, Operation Toan Thang 1 #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 1 RAR

Australian: 7 killed, 19 wounded. Enemy: 38 killed, 10 wounded.

Fire Support Base Coral was attacked a second time by an estimated regiment: heavy mortar and rocket fire, then a ground assault. It was beaten off with the help of a gunship aircraft, helicopter gunships and an air strike on an enemy anti-aircraft gun. Seven Australians were killed and about 19 wounded, and two Americans wounded; 37 North Vietnamese were counted dead and one captured. Later intelligence assessed that only 100 of the 790 attackers came through unhurt.

26 May 1968: Security, Operation Toan Thang 1 #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 3 RAR

Australian: 3 killed, 16 wounded. Enemy: 6 killed, 30 wounded.

The 165th North Vietnamese Regiment attacked Fire Support Base Balmoral, held by 3 RAR with tanks and carriers: heavy mortar fire, followed by a ground attack by about a company, supported by rockets and machine-guns, from an estimated battalion group. Three Australians were killed and sixteen wounded; six enemy were recorded killed.

28 May 1968: Security, Operation Toan Thang 1 #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 3 RAR

Australian: 1 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 55 killed, 10 wounded.

The North Vietnamese renewed their attack on Fire Support Base Balmoral with a heavy mortar and rocket bombardment and a ground attack by two battalions of the 165th Regiment. The attack broke up on the wire under artillery and helicopter gunship fire. One Australian was killed and six to eight wounded; about 47 to 55 enemy were killed and six captured.

22 August 1968: Attack, Operation Nowra #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 1 RAR

Australian: 12 wounded. Enemy: 40 killed, 8 wounded.

About 100 enemy, of the D445 Battalion, attacked Long Dien with recoilless rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. B and C Companies of 1 RAR, with tanks of C Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment, carriers and helicopter gunships, fought a company-sized force in the town and another group on Route 23, in contacts that went on all day. About eleven Australians were wounded, most of C Company's by a 60 mm mortar; 29 to 40 enemy were recorded killed.

27 March 1969: Transport, Operation Federal #

Typical: transport · 3 Cav Regt in contact

Australian: 20 wounded.

A Company, 5 RAR, with A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, was escorting a convoy of trucks up Route 15 in Bien Hoa when two US lorries hit mines 50 metres apart. About 20 Australians were wounded, half of whom stayed on duty, and two Americans.

6 June 1969: Contact, Operation Hammer #

Significant · Armoured personnel carriers for 5 RAR

Australian: 1 killed, 10 wounded. Enemy: 43 killed, 6 wounded.

The Battle of Binh Ba. B and D Companies of 5 RAR, with tanks of B Squadron, 1 Armoured Regiment, carriers of B Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, and local Regional and Popular Force troops, fought an estimated 90 enemy in the village of Binh Ba from late morning until evening. One Australian was killed and eight to ten wounded, and two Centurion tanks were damaged; 27 enemy were counted dead, more were recorded later, and two were captured.

5 August 1969: Ambush, Operation U/K #

Typical: ambush · 3 Cav Regt in contact

Enemy: 13 killed, 4 wounded.

Four armoured personnel carriers of 3 Troop, B Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, set an ambush near the beach, one of several in the area, and fired on 20 to 25 Viet Cong in the killing zone. Thirteen were killed, four wounded and one captured, with no Australian casualties. Weapons, documents and packs of food and supplies were captured.

12 June 1971: Patrol, Operation Overlord #

Typical: patrol · 3 Cav Regt in contact

Australian: 8 killed, 2 wounded.

Three armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, carrying men of D and E Platoon, were patrolling a track when the leading driver stopped at an illumination canister he suspected was part of a mine. The enemy, of the 274th Regiment, opened fire, and a rocket-propelled grenade hit a pile of Claymore mines on the back of the last carrier, which exploded, killing its crew and five of D and E Platoon. Eight Australians were killed in all, and two wounded.

12 October 1971: Security, Operation South Ward #

Last · 3 Cav Regt in contact

Armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment, fired on two enemy after a light was seen at the perimeter. The enemy fired one shot, and a sweep found nothing.

Sub-units #

1 APC Squadron #

45 contacts, 12 June 1966 to 1 September 1971; 21 operations. Australian: 24 killed, 47 wounded. Enemy: 280 killed, 399 wounded.

Actions: patrol 67%, security 10%, artillery and mortar fire 5%, artillery engagement 5%, mine incident 5%.

Most significant contacts:

  • 18 August 1966: patrol, Operation Smithfield (original - Vendetta). Australian: 17 killed, 19 wounded. Enemy: 245 killed.
  • 18 August 1966: contact, Operation Smithfield (original - Vendetta). Australian: 4 wounded. Enemy: 20 killed.
  • 7 June 1971: bunker, Operation Overlord. Australian: 3 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 5 killed.

A Squadron #

240 contacts, 21 June 1966 to 12 October 1971; 49 operations. Australian: 57 killed, 285 wounded. Enemy: 328 killed, 135 wounded.

Actions: patrol 42%, ambush 19%, security 16%, transport 10%, mine incident 9%.

Most significant contacts:

  • 17 February 1967: bunker, Operation Bribie. Australian: 8 killed, 21 wounded. Enemy: 50 killed.
  • 16 May 1968: security, Operation Toan Thang 1. Australian: 7 killed, 19 wounded. Enemy: 38 killed.
  • 28 May 1968: security, Operation Toan Thang 1. Australian: 1 killed, 8 wounded. Enemy: 55 killed.

B Squadron #

173 contacts, 17 May 1969 to 5 January 1971; 37 operations. Australian: 16 killed, 157 wounded. Enemy: 239 killed, 101 wounded.

Actions: patrol 39%, ambush 18%, security 18%, transport 10%, mine incident 9%.

Most significant contacts:

  • 6 June 1969: contact, Operation Hammer. Australian: 1 killed, 10 wounded. Enemy: 43 killed.
  • 7 June 1969: contact, Operation Hammer/Tong. Enemy: 40 killed.
  • 18 February 1970: bunker, Operation Hammersley. Australian: 2 killed, 13 wounded. Enemy: 12 killed.

Roll of honour #

The unit's 18 dead on the honour roll: those on a tour with the unit when they died, and reinforcements killed in the unit's contacts. Each opens their entry on the honour roll.

Photographs #

From the site's collection: pictures linked to the unit's contacts, and others taken near them at the time. Each opens on the Battle Map.

Sources #

  • Tours and arm: the Australian War Memorial's record of the unit.
  • Contacts: the Battle Map's records of 465 contacts, each report citing the archival source (most often the commanders' diaries, AWM95).
  • The dead: the honour roll, with tours of duty from the nominal roll.
  • Helicopter missions: No. 9 Squadron RAAF's unit history sheets (National Archives of Australia, A9186, 736), read into the Battle Map's records, with each report's summary written by an AI model (Claude).
  • Summaries of the reports: written by an AI model (Claude) from the reports, and reviewed.