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Images from the Vietnam War era.

HMAS Sydney

aka 'The Port Jackson - Vung Tau Ferry' 1968, departing Port Adelaide with the 9th battalion Royal Australian Regiment for South Vietnam.

The former Aircraft Carrier HMAS (Her Majesty's Australian Ship) Sydney was converted to a troop carrier for the Vietnam conflict ferrying Australian Infantry Battalions from Australia to Vung Tau in South Vietnam.

8 Platoon, C Company 9 RAR 1968

Photo taken at Woodside Army Barracks, South Australia Those present include Steve Cole, Pte French, Pte Yankovich, Rod McLennan, Sgt. Colin Parker, Warwick Archer, Dennis Sigston, Pte.Goff, Kevin Stojko, Pte Talbot, Terry Gardner, Cpl. Jock' McKay, Mick Gervase, Pte. Grandison, Lt. Guy Bagot, Steve Jones, Pte Spacek, Allyn McCulloch, John England, Russell 'Fuzz' Hall, Tommy Eaton, Brian Mantach, Andy Ochiltree.

Island of Krakatoa, approaching the Sunda Strait between Java & Sumatra, John England and I, Nov. 1968 on the bow of the

HMAS Sydney

King Neptune celebrations crossing the Equator.

C Company, 9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, the 'WTFRW', sign at the entrance to the Company area, Nui Dat, South Vietnam 1968 (possibly Jock McKay in photo)

C Company, 9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (9RAR) preparing to depart Nui Dat for operations. Terry Gardiner in the foreground is holding an SLR with 30 round magazine.

D type Iriquois Helicopters departing Kapyong Strip, Nui Dat, ferrying elements of 9RAR on operations, Phuc Tuoy Province 1968

An Australian Armoured Fighting Vehicle, a Centurion Main Battle Tank. Weighing 62 tonnes and powered by a V12 Rolls Royce engine, these Tanks were armed with a 84 mm main gun, 3 machine guns, grenade & smoke launchers and infra-red searchlights for night fighting. Although these huge machines had limited value in the jungle, they could bring accurate and devastating firepower to bear and proved highly effective when used in close cooperation with infantry on a number of occaisions.

(Left) 8 Platoon Section Commander Allyn McCulloch, a veteran of Malaya and two tours of Vietnam, during cordon and search operations around the village of An Nhut, Phuc Tuoy Province. (Right), Ivan Bertram and Rod McLennan manning the M60 outside An Nhut

(top, & left to right), View from the air while ferrying troops to operations. The Helicopters frequently flew at high altitudes (for Helicopters), about 8,500', to avoid ground fire, particularly 12.5 mm heavy machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades (RPG's). Coloured smoke indicates to the helicopter the LZ (landing zone, pronounced 'L Zee'), troops remain concealed in the treeline to give cover while the landing party unload the Chopper. These photos were taken on the Firestone Trail, a huge trail system blazed through the jungle by the Americans, eco-vandalism on a massive scale matched only by the spraying of millions of litres of defoliants. The enemy responded by laying landmines and ambushing the trails.

Bomb craters from American B52 bombing raids, and trees shredded by bomb fragments. Although dramatic in appearance, saturation bombing was of limited effect in the jungle unless very accurately directed at large enemy troop formations. The seven month siege of the American outpost at Khe Sanh was an example where this type of airpower played a decisive role.

Photos above, W.Archer

The above photos show infantry weapons used by American & Australian troops, (l to r), M60 belt fed machine gun, M79 grenade launcher, M72 rocket launcher (strapped across back) & holding a M16 Armalite rifle.

(Left to right), Iriquois inserting troops, Chinook recovering downed Iriquois, DC3 'Spooky' gunship. These aircraft provided ground support day & night, with 6 barelled machine guns ('mini-guns') & illumination flares.

Massive American firepower is typified by the Battleship New Jersey bombarding targets in North Vietnam in 1969, and the eight engined B52, USAF front line heavy bomber.

Vung Tau Markets,

South Vietnam 1969

John England and I, Charlie Company, 9RAR lines, Nui Dat, 1968 & Anzac Day 2003.