Troops prepare for Vietnam DPR/TV/364

Officers and men of the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, based at Holsworthy, NSW, are making last minute preparations for movement to Viet Nam. The 5th Battalion was named recently as part of the 4,500 Army and RAAF Task Force which will be on active service in Vietnam by the end of June. At Holsworthy, members of the 5th Battalion start the day with Company parades and weapon inspection watched closely by the Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Les Foale of Guilford, NSW. Company parades over the troops settle down to the serious business of getting vehicles and equipment ready for the move to Viet Nam. Craftsman Bert Trappel of Dungog, NSW, a vehicle mechanic with the Battalion completes final maintenance on a landrover. Lance Corporal Geoff Rummer of Bicton, Western Australia, stows boots, helmet and clothing into his kit bag for the trip. Patrol pack and jungle equipment is throughly checked and tested for comfort. Meanwhile unit stores and equipment are crated and packaged and checked at a growing stores compound in the unit area. At the Regimental Aid Post a woman doctor of the NSW Department of Health, Doctor Margret Jones of Woollahra, Sydney, gives final injections to Battalion troops. Outside, a group of soldiers are given final revision on latest Army weapons which they will use on operations against the Viet Cong in Vietnam. They include the M79 Grenade Launcher, the M16 Armalite Rifle and the M72 Rocket Launcher. Briefing the troops is Corporal Henry Baird of Cessnock, NSW. At the small arms range other troops practice with Self Loading Rifle watched by the Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel John Warr. At the same time troops test the 9mm pistol and Owen Machine Carbine. To complete the day troops of the 5th Battalion move out in patrol to test immediate contact drills and tropical warfare techniques which will be used against the Viet Cong. Success on operations against the Viet Cong in the swamps and jungles of Viet Nam depends on patrolling skill and tropical warfare expertise. this has been proved time and again by members of the 1st Battalion which will be relieved in June this year.