I’ve added some comments this morning to the item by Ross Eastgate yesterday – in which I referred to the remarkable service of Captain Ivan Cahill with the US Marines including in the Khe Sanh area.

Also, Some brief comments of possible interest on Hue, Khe Sanh, and Hamburger Hill.

Regarding “Australian involvement” in the Battle of Hue and the Khe Sanh battles, apparently some supporting 2 Sqn (RAAF) missions were flown and some RAN off-shore gunfire may have been involved – but I don’t have that detail readily to hand.

Regarding “Hamburger Hill” (Hill 937) – 13-20 May 1969 (Operation Apache Snow), located about two kilometres from the Viet-Lao border, I don’t believe that any Australian ground forces/advisors were involved or associated with Operation Apache Snow – but I could be wrong.

Regarding AATTV personnel at the Battle of Hue in February 1968, the Australian Army Journal (No. 237, February 1967, p.4) cites: “At the time, eleven AATTV members were stationed in the Hue area, or were to become involved in the battle.”

No doubt, some AATTV personnel may have visited the Khe Sanh area during the War. More specifically, Captain Ivan Cahill’s remarkable time as a staff officer/company (+) commander with the US Marines in Military Region I is related in an article at: https://s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/rslnewsletters/pdf/2014/2014-06.pdf – that includes:

“Thus, during his last week with the battalion, Cahill commanded a force consisting of two rifle companies (one from his own battalion and one “on loan” from the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment), as well as the direct support artillery battery, a platoon each of tanks, 81 mm mortars, 4.2-inch mortars, 106mm recoilless rifles and various other attachments; well over 500 Marines in all. During that period, he was responsible for a four-mile stretch of Route 9 near Khe Sanh and an area of operations encompassing some 40 square miles north and south of the highway. While Captain Cahill’s time with the Marines eventually came to an end in May 1968, today he still speaks with great pride of what he terms “the great honour of having led Marines.” “
PS. Ivan Cahill introduced Australian slouch-hats to his company – see the photograph.

photo – Ivan Cahill  (centre) even had some of his troops in slouch hats !

And – separately, in early September 1968, HQ AATTV directed “approval for Australian advisors to accompany their ARVN units into the DMZ, providing that they do not cross the border” – ie into the North.
Regards, Ernie

DESPITE some perceptions, there were significant battles other than Long Tan involving Australian combat forces during this country’s decade long Vietnam military commitment.

Additionally, Australians were involved is such iconic US battles as Hue, simultaneously at Khe Sanh and later Hamburger Hill.

Australia’s Vietnam involvement began in July 1962 when 30 “military advisors” were sent to train and advise the Vietnamese Army.

It ended in June 1973 when the 27-strong Australian Embassy Guard Saigon was withdrawn.

Over 60,000 Australians from all three services served in Vietnam; 523 died as a result of the war and almost 2,400 were wounded.

CLICK LINK to continue reading.

Australian Defence History, Policy and Veterans Issues (targetsdown.blogspot.com)

Murray Brewster of CBC News has reported that the Canadian Army is contemplating the retirement of numerous M113 Tracked Light Armoured Vehicles (TLAVs) this year. This move comes despite a refurbishment proposal presented by the Ontario-based private firm, Armatec Survivability, suggesting these carriers be repurposed for Ukraine.

From the total 140 M113 TLAVs in the army’s possession, 67 are currently set aside either for demilitarization or as spare parts due to their deteriorating state. The Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) aims to phase these out in favour of the newer Armoured Combat Support Vehicles (ACSVs) in the coming years. While Armatec Survivability has put forth a plan to rejuvenate the redundant armoured vehicles, a definitive decision remains pending.

In the backdrop of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Canada has already made contributions to Ukraine in the form of tanks, ACSVs, and armoured vehicles, totalling an impressive $1.8 billion. According to Ty Curran, the DND’s deputy director general of international security, the proposal from Armatec is merely one among several they have received post the invasion.

As the DND details, aside from the 67 vehicles set for disposal, 30 of the remaining 73 operational TLAVs are retained in military storage. When deciding on equipment donations to Ukraine, Canada ensures that the hardware aligns with Ukrainian requirements and is sustainable for long-term use.

Ukraine’s armed forces are no strangers to the M113, having previously incorporated over 560 such vehicles from various nations. Moreover, countries like the United States and Australia are expressing interest in joining hands with Canada on the Armatec initiative to supply excess vehicles to Ukraine.

Currently, the Canadian government has earmarked up to $500 million specifically for military equipment donations to Ukraine this budget year, which may very well cover the costs of the proposed Armatec project.

Ukranian Forces have been praising this vehicle for months. It’s saved the lives of countless UAF soldiers and inflicted heavy casualties on the invading Russians. The Bushmaster, an Australian vehicle, has an interesting development beginning all the way back in 1994. Designed specifically to save the lives of it’s occupants, it’s a hugely impressive piece of kit. But how does it work? And why is it in Ukraine?

Australians Special Forces units have the longest presence in Australia’s longest war. They have been operating there for over 10 year, but for all those 10 years what they do and how they do it had been kept largely secret until now. Here we join Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment the (SASR) along with their brothers in arms the Commmandos. The different force elements merge to make up rotation 16 of Australia’s special operation task group, a unique ban known throughout Afghanistan as Task Force 66.

Photo: An Australian Army M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment during a combined arms live-fire serial on Exercise Brolga Sprint 23 at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland. Photo: LCPL Riley Blennerhassett

By Robert Dougherty – Defence Connect

Australian veteran-owned SME Global Defence Solutions has been engaged to manufacture a dozen container systems to house main battle tank simulators under a multi-million-dollar contract.

GDS, an Alkath Group company, will construct the deployable containers in Nowra, NSW, before they are fitted with M1A2 Abrams System Enhancement Program Version 3 (SEPv3) main battle tank immersive tactical trainers.

The first 20-foot 1C ISO container is scheduled for delivery in March 2024, while the complete 12 will be manufactured by January 2025.

Thomas Global Systems, an Australian avionics and mission-critical electronics manufacturer and prime system integrator, will install the M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams simulation system to support the Australian Army’s acquisition of 75 M1A2 Abrams SEPv3 main battle tanks under the $3.5 billion Land 907 Phase 2 project.

The trainers will train Australian Army tank crews before they accept the new M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks by fully simulating an M1A2 tank environment with crew positions for gunner, driver, and an additional instructor station to enable system training control.

“Following the TGS approval of our design plans for the deployable container system in mid-August, our team has commenced manufacture,” GDS general manager Jeromy Bendall said.

“The modular Abram’s ITT is taking mission simulation to the field, allowing crews to prepare for actual operations while deployed, increasing efficiencies and mission outcomes.

“It represents the latest and greatest training capability for Australia’s upgraded tank force. Once complete, the 12 containerised ITTs will be deployed to defence bases around Australia.

“Securing the Abrams contract allows GDS to further solidify our position as leaders in sovereign manufacturing. We are proud to be producing tactical trainers for the Army’s most advanced capabilities while generating skilled employment opportunities in the Nowra region.

“Given the Abrams is extensively operated by the US and its allies around the world, the global Abrams supply chain is huge and represents AUKUS export, growth, and job opportunities for GDS as well as our Alkath Group sister companies Mellori Solutions and Resilience Logistic Solutions.”

GDS has previously collaborated with Saab Australia on JP 2060 Phase 3 to deliver a new generation of deployable health capability.