The 105th Field Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery Regiment has a distinguished history, particularly noted for its involvement in the Vietnam War. The battery, which originated in March 1916 as the 105th Howitzer Battery in Egypt, has been an integral part of the Australian Army’s artillery capabilities for over a century.

Involvement in the Vietnam War

First Tour: September 1965 – October 1966

The 105th Battery was deployed to South Vietnam as part of Australia’s increasing military commitment to the conflict. The battery arrived in September 1965, becoming one of the first Australian artillery units to serve in the war. During this tour, the battery provided vital artillery support to Australian and allied forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations against the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.

Battle of Long Tan: One of the most notable engagements involving the 105th Battery during its first tour was the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966. This battle is one of the most famous in Australian military history. The 105th Battery, along with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR), played a crucial role in the defence of a small group of Australian soldiers who were vastly outnumbered by enemy forces. The accurate and timely artillery fire provided by the 105th Battery was instrumental in repelling the Viet Cong, ensuring the survival of the Australian forces. The battery’s performance during the battle was highly praised, and it remains a key moment in the unit’s history.

Second Tour: February 1969 – March 1970

The 105th Battery returned to Vietnam for a second tour from February 1969 to March 1970. During this period, the battery continued to provide critical artillery support to Australian and allied forces. This tour was part of Australia’s ongoing efforts to counter the increasingly aggressive tactics of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.

The battery’s operations during its second tour were characterized by providing support for search-and-destroy missions, base defence, and coordination with other artillery units to maximize firepower and coverage. This period also saw increased use of mobile artillery tactics as the nature of the conflict evolved, with the battery frequently repositioning to support Australian operations across different regions of South Vietnam.

Post-Vietnam Era and Reorganization

After the conclusion of its service in Vietnam, the 105th Battery continued to evolve as part of the Royal Australian Artillery Regiment. In 1976, the battery was detached from the 4th Field Regiment and moved to Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland. It joined the 1st Field Regiment, becoming part of the 7th Brigade. This reorganization reflected broader changes within the Australian Army as it transitioned from its post-Vietnam War structure to a peacetime force, with a focus on readiness and modernization.

The 105th Medium Battery’s history is a testament to its enduring role in Australia’s military operations, from its early days in Egypt during World War I to its pivotal role in Vietnam and beyond. Today, the battery continues to serve as a key component of Australia’s artillery capabilities, maintaining the traditions and operational excellence that have defined its long and storied history.

DVA News

Every year, when we commemorate Vietnam Veterans’ Day (18 August), it is an opportunity for us as a nation to acknowledge and reflect on the experiences of those who served in the Vietnam War and their homecoming.

One such veteran is Christopher Madden AO, who was conscripted in 1970 after working as a teacher. He graduated from the Officer Training Unit as a 2nd Lieutenant. Chris served initially in PsyOps (Psychological Operations), and then with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment in the final stages of Australia’s involvement in the war.

‘Even my family didn’t really thank me when I returned,’ Chris recalls. ‘It was just something not spoken about. For the first 30 years of my working life afterwards, I don’t think anyone knew that I was a Vietnam veteran.’

In 1970 and 1971, increasing dissatisfaction with Australia’s role in the Vietnam War led to major protests. Trade unionists, university students and academics, as well as others, began to strongly express their opposition to the war as it slowly wound down.

This broader societal backlash against a war not of their making left enduring psycho-emotional scars on Vietnam veterans.

Chris Madden takes particular exception to recent claims in the media that there is no evidence that returning Australian troops were ever spat on, that they were told not to wear their uniform in public, and faced protesters at airports.

‘Some historians place great emphasis on the fact that spitting on veterans was not reported and airport demonstrations did not happen,’ Chris says. ‘I’m sure they are correct. But it probably never occurred to them that traumatised young veterans don’t always act bravely or rationally to cruel, cowardly, and hurtful taunts from their fellow Australians. Perhaps dreadful injustices can happen silently: cruelties may not be reported. Perhaps, like domestic violence victims, young war veterans felt powerless and defenceless against bullies and cowards.’

These and other issues are explored in the ABC’s three-part series Our Vietnam War, produced last year for the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the war, co-produced by DVA. The program concluded that there was a strong feeling among Vietnam veterans that Australia had not respected their service.

In part 3, former Sapper Robert Earle recalls a comment from a bar tender after ordering a beer in an RSL, while wearing full uniform and on walking sticks: You shouldn’t have been over there in the first place. ‘That hit me really hard,’ says Robert. ‘I wasn’t a war hero… it was just something thrust upon me.’

Chris Madden says that after returning from Vietnam and studying at university, groups of ‘brave students’ sitting around the university quadrangle booed, spat and hissed at him and another young veteran as they walked.

‘They weren’t trying to stop the war. They were cowardly attacking us in numbers,’ says Chris. ‘In a Sociology tutorial, when the tutor was told I was a Vietnam veteran he spat on me. No support came from the 14 or so students who saw him do this. I didn’t report this, as I was ‘off-balance’ after these experiences. I said nothing. I reported nothing. And I kept quiet about my war service for many years.’

It is good to know that societal views towards Vietnam veterans have changed. They now receive more respect and there is greater recognition and acknowledgement for their service and sacrifice. DVA would like to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of all Vietnam veterans and thank them for their service.

For an overview of Australia’s involvement in the war, please see our 50th anniversary commemorative publication, Australia and the Vietnam War, available on DVA’s Anzac Portal.

(Image: Christopher Madden AO)

Have your say on the creation of an Institute of Veterans’ Advocates!

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring high quality support is available for Australian veterans and families when they need it.

Advocates are an important part of Australia’s veteran support system. They assist veterans to understand and access support and entitlements from the Government.

The Ex-Service Organisation Roundtable (ESORT) recently established a working group to consider how advocacy services could be strengthened to benefit veterans and families.

The working group has proposed the creation of an Institute of Veterans’ Advocates as a national professional association for veterans’ advocates.

Under the proposal, the Institute would provide leadership and support to veterans’ advocates, set competency and training standards for the sector, and accredit and register advocates. The Institute would similarly establish a code of conduct for advocates and provide members with access to the training and tools they need to deliver high quality advocacy services.

DVA wants to hear your views.

Please read this consultation paper, which provides more detail about the proposal.

It is important to have your say. Submissions can be made via the consultation page.

Submissions are open until Friday, 4 October 2024.

Ultimately, any Government decision on the proposal will take into account the views of the ESORT working group, the feedback received during this consultation process, and any views or recommendations put forward by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in its final report due to Government on 9 September 2024.

Stars & Stripes

For the first time in over two years, U.S. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers have been deployed to eastern Australia as part of a strategic bomber task force mission. The aircraft, along with support personnel and equipment, arrived at Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley in Queensland last Friday, according to a statement from the U.S. Air Force on Tuesday. The last deployment of B-2s to Amberley for such a mission occurred in July 2022. This month, the bombers were dispatched from the 509th and 131st Bomb Wings stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

These bomber task force missions are a regular occurrence, often operating out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and the Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. For instance, in March, two B-52 Stratofortress bombers were sent to Diego Garcia, and in June, a B-1B Lancer bomber, operating from Guam, conducted a simulated bombing run on Pilsung Range, located about 100 miles southeast of Seoul, South Korea. The deployment to Australia reflects U.S. military efforts to diversify and disperse its forces in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in light of potential threats from China, which could target U.S. bases in Guam and other locations with a variety of missile systems.

Meanwhile, nearly $450 million worth of U.S.-funded construction is currently underway at air bases in Australia’s Northern Territory, as confirmed by Gen. Kevin Schneider, Commander of Pacific Air Forces, during his visit to RAAF Darwin in July. The upgrades include facilities capable of supporting U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers during rotations to RAAF Tindal, located approximately 180 miles southeast of Darwin. Gen. Schneider emphasized that any such deployments would require coordination at the highest levels of both the Australian and U.S. governments. Notably, RAAF Tindal and Darwin are strategically located, being over 1,400 miles closer to Manila than Amberley. Recently, RAAF Tindal hosted U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters during the biennial Pitch Black exercise, which took place in July and August and involved 21 nations, 140 aircraft, and 4,400 personnel across the Northern Territory and Queensland.

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The Taliban has introduced new draconian laws in Afghanistan that further restrict women’s already limited freedoms. These regulations, sanctioned by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, are part of the group’s broader agenda to impose their rigid interpretation of Islamic law. While the world is familiar with the Taliban’s oppressive stance on women’s rights, these new laws are particularly chilling, as they extend their control to every aspect of women’s public and private lives.

Under these new laws, Afghan women face even more stringent restrictions on their public appearances:

• Mandatory Veiling: Women are now required to cover their faces entirely when in public. The Taliban’s dress code mandates that women wear loose, non-revealing clothing, leaving no room for personal choice or expression.
• Segregation and Isolation: Women are forbidden from looking at men who are not their close relatives, further isolating them from the broader society. This ban not only curtails women’s freedom of movement but also reinforces their invisibility in public life.
• Silencing Voices: In a shocking move, the Taliban has also banned women from singing or even speaking aloud in public spaces. This silencing is symbolic of the broader efforts to erase women’s presence and participation in Afghan society.

The new laws extend beyond clothing and appearance, infiltrating various aspects of daily life:

• Public Silence: Women’s voices have been effectively erased from public life. Whether through singing, speaking, or any other form of vocal expression, women are barred from being heard.
• Personal Grooming: The Taliban’s control extends to personal grooming practices, with regulations governing how women and even men present themselves, including restrictions on shaving and other forms of grooming.

These new laws are not an isolated development but rather a continuation of the Taliban’s long-standing history of oppressing women:

• Global Condemnation: In July 2024, the United Nations released a report accusing the Taliban of numerous human rights violations, particularly targeting women and girls. The report highlighted the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, where women’s rights have been systematically dismantled since the Taliban’s return to power.
• Taliban’s Response: Despite global outrage, the Taliban dismissed the UN’s findings, insisting that their actions are in line with their interpretation of Islamic principles. The group’s control has only tightened since the United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in 2021, leading to a rapid erosion of women’s rights and freedoms.

The Taliban’s new laws represent a further tightening of their oppressive grip on Afghan women’s lives. By enforcing such extreme measures, they are not just controlling women’s bodies but are also attempting to silence their voices and erase their existence from the public sphere. This latest wave of restrictions underscores the need for continued international attention and action to support the women of Afghanistan, who remain resilient in the face of relentless repression.

RAAF News

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Wing Commander (WGCDR) Phil Parsons has become the first non-Boeing pilot to complete training on the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, an uncrewed teaming aircraft developed by Boeing. WGCDR Parsons, who has a decade of experience as a remote systems pilot, finished the comprehensive training program on 13 June.

The training included extensive sessions where WGCDR Parsons observed and monitored the Ghost Bat as it executed various commands, such as climbing and descending, accelerating and decelerating, and navigating to specific waypoints. These operations were part of the ongoing advanced testing program, which aims to push the limits of the aircraft’s capabilities.

In his role as a launch and recovery operator, WGCDR Parsons will oversee the crucial stages of the aircraft’s operation, including ground preparation, take-off, and landing procedures. This role is vital to ensuring the aircraft’s safe and efficient operation during missions. Glen Ferguson, Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28 program director, emphasized the importance of this role, stating, “On completion of the mission, the aircraft would be handed back to the launch and recovery operator to oversee landing, deceleration, and complete stop of the vehicle.”

The MQ-28A Ghost Bat, previously known as the Airpower Teaming System, represents a significant leap in uncrewed aircraft technology. It is designed to function as a force multiplier, enhancing multi-mission air combat operations through advanced teaming behaviours, mission systems, sensors, and payload testing. The Ghost Bat’s development is accelerating, with the focus now shifting from testing basic flying and handling qualities to advancing its capabilities in various operational scenarios.

Since its first flight in February 2021, the Ghost Bat has undergone rigorous testing, expanding its flight envelope as the program evolves. WGCDR Parsons noted that while the MQ-28A shares operational similarities with other remotely piloted systems, it incorporates cutting-edge technologies that redefine the interaction between the aircraft and its operators.

Boeing’s collaboration with the RAAF on the Ghost Bat program is at the forefront of modernizing air combat operations, showcasing the integration of autonomous systems in future warfare scenarios. The successful training of WGCDR Parsons marks a significant milestone in this ongoing partnership, as the program continues to advance toward operational deployment.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), recently undertook static live-fire training with the 84mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle at the Townsville Field Training Area. The exercise aimed to strengthen the confidence of personnel in handling the weapon system while also serving as a key component of the Section Commander Battle Course, designed to qualify junior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) for leadership roles.

The training involved engaging targets at a distance of 450 metres, providing a practical and challenging environment for soldiers to hone their skills. According to Officer Commanding Charlie Company, Major Lindsay Pritchard, this initial training phase lays the groundwork for more complex range exercises and activities that will be conducted in the coming weeks.

“The 84mm Carl Gustaf is a breech-loaded, percussion-fired, shoulder-controlled weapon known for its accuracy and versatility,” Major Pritchard explained. “It is capable of engaging a wide range of battlefield threats, including armoured vehicles, structures, and even illuminating targets during night operations.”

This phase of the training is not just about familiarization but serves as a refresher on essential skills that soldiers will need as they progress to more dynamic scenarios. “We will soon begin manoeuvre practices, including dismounted manoeuvre and section and platoon live-fire exercises,” Major Pritchard added. “This static live-fire exercise is crucial in ensuring our soldiers are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.”

The Section Commander Battle Course is a vital part of career progression for junior NCOs, qualifying them to supervise the conduct of range practices and lead their teams with confidence and precision. As the program advances, these soldiers will be better equipped to handle the complexities of modern warfare, making them an integral part of Australia’s defence capabilities.

Duty First

Defence image Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, prepare the 84mm Carl Gustaf for their live-fire practice, Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland.