Service in Vietnam

"Statistics aside, it is impossible to quantify the achievements of CDT3 in South Vietnam 1967 - 71.

There is no doubt this small band of Australians was known and respected for professional ability wherever the men operated.

Man for man, there probably was no more effective unit deployed during the war in Vietnam, on either side."

From Lex McAulay's book "In the Ocean's Dark Embrace".

______________________________

The Royal Australian Navy's role in the Vietnam War is sometimes overlooked by comparison with the Army's larger numerical involvement. As well as serving in ships deployed to Vietnam, naval personnel served in Clearance Diving Teams, the Navy Helicopter Flight, in logistic support roles and in medical teams.

Australian destroyers sailed nearly 400,000 miles in the course of the war and fired more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition.

The converted aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY carried about 16,000 Australian troops and made 22 voyages as the famed 'Vung Tau Ferry'.

Australian Clearance Divers carried out several thousand ship searches looking for bombs and other explosive devices.

By Joe Straczek, Senior Naval Historical and Archives Officer.

___________________________________

In total, 8 six man Clearance Diving Teams served in South Vietnam from 5th February '67 until 5th May '71.

The eight contingents rotated through the war zone at approximately six to seven month intervals.

The first 7 teams were based at Vung Tau, to the southeast of Saigon (in 3 corp/military region 3) where CDT3 was part of the US Navy Inshore Undersea Warfare Group and the teams took part in operations including 'Market Time', 'Stabledoor' and 'Game Warden'.

In August 1970, the 7th team was relieved at Vung Tau by South Vietnamese Naval personnel and airlifted to Da Nang (I corp/military region 1). The 8th and final team served their entire tour based out of Camp Tien Sha in Da Nang.

Teams were on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for their entire  tour. To achieve this high rate of availability, the team implemented an internal roster which in any 24 hour period had  2 personnel ready to deploy at immediate notice, 2 on standby as backup and 2 on stand down.  Occasionally 4 or 5 team members were deployed together on the one operation.

Operations varied from 'bread & butter' type diving and EOD Ops to support of the 'Brown Water war'. Clearance Divers worked alongside US Navy Seals, US Army Air Force Marine and Navy EOD, US Army Rangers, US Cavalry (air & armoured), the Australian Army Training Team, US Advisors and South Vietnamese Army and Navy units.

CDT3 had originally been directed not to participate in SEAL type operations or in operations along the Cambodian border, however the prohibition was lifted in January 1969 allowing team members to make full use of their unique skills. Consequently, the operational focus from 1969 shifted towards the provision of EOD support for offensive operations, with team members frequently being attached to US and South Vietnamese special forces. These operations intensified in 1970 and team members were often under enemy fire while they were engaged in the destruction of bunker complexes, tunnels, trenches, observation posts and log barricades erected by the Viet Cong in the rivers and waterways of  South Vietnam.

During its early service in South Vietnam, CDT3's US Military designation was 'Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Pacific Team 21', and later, renamed 'EODMUPAC Team 35'.

CDT3 was under the operational control of COMNAVFORV.

(US Navy Commander Naval Forces in Vietnam).

_______________________________-

"No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War.

It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.

Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much.

Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic."

Richard M. Nixon