Tiger Battalion arrives in Vietnam DPR/TV/1019

The men of the Tiger Battalion arrived in South Vietnam today to relieve the veteran troops of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, which has ended its second tour in the theatre. The Tiger Battalion - the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment - is starting its second tour in Vietnam. The changeover of the two battalions aboard the troop carrier HMAS Sydney assumed the proportions of a major military operation as landing barges ferried the men to and from the ship and giant US Chinook helicopters relayed back and forth from Nui Dat and Vung Tau. The new troops left the Sydney completely ready for the task ahead, although they will be given ample time to acclimatise and settle into their new homes at Nui Dat before they are launched on any large operation. But the battalion will conduct small local defensive patrols out from the 1st Australian Task Force base within 24 hours of their arrival. On the other hand the men of the 1st Battalion boarded the ship ready to unwind and relax after a year of almost continuous operations against the Viet Cong in Phuoc Tuy and Bien Hoa provinces. They will return to Holsworthy, NSW, after their leave, before once again preparing to go overseas - this time to Terendak Garrison, Malaysia. For the HMAS Sydney it was the 12th trip to the dangerous waters of South Vietnam. (Also identified: Midshipman Ted Breukel of Perth, WA; Sapper Rory McIlwaine of Safety Bay, WA; Major Tim Paterson of Perth, WA of 1 RAR; Sergeant Kevin Travers of Chatswood, NSW of 1 RAR; Lance Corporal John Hellyer of Smithfield, NSW of 5 RAR.)