Helicopter support for 5 RAR DPR/TV/532

In Vietnam soldiers of the 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, were strung out recently along twelve miles of highway linking Vung Tau with Saigon, to protect hundreds of American vehicles rolling through on convoy... Supporting the ground troops were two American armed helicopters, known as "gunships", which can bring tremendous fire power onto the enemy within minutes of a target sighted. During this operation, the helicopters were used several times, with marked success. Inside this mobile command post, Major Peter Cole, of Canberra, Captain Isaacs, of the Isle of Wight, England and Private Andy Tiliks are part of the Battalion Headquarters team which directed the operation. By radio, a patrol informs Headquarters that movement was sighted in an old pagoda on a nearby mountain. Major Cole decides to use the helicopters, and Captain Isaacs hurries from the command post to give the crews their target. The helicopter crews, waiting by their machines only a few yards away, spring into action. The target was the scene of recent bitter fighting by the fifth Battalion, when Viet Cong defended the area from caves and tunnels. Armed with rockets and multi barreled machine guns capable of firing 100 rounds a second, the helicopters dive on the target... Back at battalion HQ, artillery takes over while the helicopters fly to Vung Tau to re-arm and the gunners of 103 Battery, RAA prepare to pound the target area. Sergeant Ray Pearson of Sydney receives the target information and passes it to Lieutenant Doug Hazelwood of Warnambool Vic. who plots the target on a map, while Bombardier Dave Rose, of Casino, NSW, works out the bearing and range. A fire mission is called and gun crews race into position. Bombardier Graeme Sutherland of Gladesville, Sydney, gives the order to load and then the fire order. The 105mm howitzers are forceful answer to the Viet Cong. [Memo DPR. The helicopter attack scenes were an actual incident on this operation, but for obvious reasons we had to jack up the intro leading up to the helicopters being ordered into action. Will look forward to a critique on this one. Coates]