PIC OF THE WEEK: Australian M113 in Vietnam.

[The Tank Museum]

 

Continuing the Australian theme of two weeks ago, this week’s image shows an American built vehicle, the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier, crewed by Australian infantry, on the outskirts of a Vietnamese village. Although practically nothing in the way of insignia is visible, the troops in shot are identifiable by the fact that they are armed with the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle rather than the American M16.

The Australian contribution to the Vietnam War is relatively little known despite the fact that some 50,000 Australian servicemen fought in Vietnam and 512 were killed in action. They nevertheless made a distinct impression in the areas in which they were deployed; well trained in jungle warfare at a specialist facility at Canungra, Queensland, Australian forces developed a reputation for taking on the enemy face to face rather than standing off and calling in artillery and air strikes, a common American tactic. Australian troops particularly distinguished themselves at the battle of Long Tan and the action fought around Firebase Coral.

Iconic and much imitated, the M113 is a vehicle perhaps uniquely associated with the Vietnam War. An aluminium armoured APC designed and built by the Food Machinery Corporation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the M113 was introduced in 1960 and, uniquely perhaps, in terms of US military equipment, is still in service today. Weighing just over 12 tonnes, the M113 is light enough to be air portable and is amphibious, using its tracks for propulsion. The example shown mounts a .50 Calibre machine gun in an armoured mount; another Australian variant was fitted with the turret of a Saladin armoured car as a fire support weapon.

Our photograph is a classic image of the war, showing Australian troops fraternising with Vietnamese civilians. The village in the middle of the shot has a timeless quality, the typical “stilt house” design changing little over the course of centuries.

Rather as in America, Australia’s involvement in Vietnam became unpopular as the war went on. Such was the tide of opinion at home that Vietnam veterans were, for many years, refused membership of the Returned Serviceman’s League or allowed to take part in the annual Anzac Day parades. Of recent years, these situations have happily both been rectified.

 

 

 

[Shakey985]

The M113 was not crewed by Australian Infantry, but by members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corp. Starting With 1 Troop, A Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales Light horse Regiment (1965). 1 APC squadron 1966 which became A Squadron 3 Cavalry Regiment in 1967. This unit remained until 1971. As a foot note the same vehicles and unit also served in East Temor.

[AlienFTM]

The M113 was not crewed by Australian Infantry, but by members of the Royal Australian Armoured Corp.

 

In my day infantry crewed and provided dismounts for their own APCs.

 

The Light Dragoons Regimental Journal dropped through my letter-box yesterday. It describes how LD participated in the first Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER to replace MEDICINE MAN at BATUS and worked a fully hybrid BG with a squadron of heavy armour, one of recce/medium armour and two infantry companies in different roles (sorry I only briefly scanned the article - haven't read it properly yet and it hasn't sunk in so details are missing) instead of the traditional 50/50 heavy armour / infantry split with a few odds and ends bolted on.

 

Apparently using LD to crew the IFVs and infantry to provide the dismounts worked very well and brought the soldiers together in a way that doesn't tend to happen.

 

There's nothing new it seems.