| Accession Number | P05904.002 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Colour - Print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Vietnam: Phuoc Tuy Province |
| Date made | 17 February 1967 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 PNG [Bougainville] (PMG), 1998-2003 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright unknown - orphaned work |
A group of unidentified Australian infantry from 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment ...
Description
A group of unidentified Australian infantry from 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) waiting in a United States Army UH-1D or UH-1H Iroquois helicopter, prior to lift off for Operation Bribie. Most of the Australians are armed with 7.62 mm L1A1 self-loading rifles (SLR) and one (right) is armed with a 5.56 mm M16A1 automatic rifle. A 7.62 mm M60 general purpose machine gun (GPMG) with spade grips is fitted to the helicopter along with a smoke grenade. Operation Bribie was a Battalion sized search and destroy mission, with Australian units deployed as a blocking force to trap Viet Cong (VC) fighters who had unsuccessfully ambushed Route 44 between Dat Do and Lang Phuoc Hai. At the end of the two day operation Australian casualties amounted to 35, including eight killed in action.