Australian Patrol (6RAR) in Vietnam 1969 - Part 1

[BJBTJF]

The hat had also served the purpose of breaking up the recognizable outline of the soldier's head. It was made with cotton twill, and was issued in olive drab, the standard colour of Australian combat uniforms at the time. If you wanted to blend in to the jungle you couldn't have sharp features or shapes. Remember the Japanese snipers use to wear branches on their bodies and rifles to help blend in with their surroundings.

[47rhys]

About hemets never wore them on operations,as 30% of bodys heat in head and they wouln't stop an ak round at close range or perhaps any range..

was rifleman 9rar vietnam 1968/69

[88pie88]

@47rhys its suppose to protect you from shrapnel

[necroturky]

This was awesome, thank you very much!

[kyletango]

I noticed that quite a few of your fellows carry the M-16. What other US weapons did you use?

[dsgrantdsgrant]

@kyletango M16's of course, M79, M60, some .45's, plus all the US claymores, mines etc.We had a deal with the US, unlimited ammo and air/arty support, but we paided a small percentage of the costs.

[MAKER6450]

@dsgrantdsgrant did they switch to the M16 because it was lighter?.

why did they change

[dsgrantdsgrant]

@MAKER6450 Lighter and you could carry more rounds, but it was a personal choice,L1A1 or M16

[MAKER6450]

@dsgrantdsgrant were you there....are you a vet?

what would you use if you had the choice back then?

[wattlebough]

@MAKER6450 Generally the M16 was used by section scouts (squad pointman in US parlance), infantry medics, signallers, officers and section commanders (Corporals), for it's automatic ability, which the SLR (FAL variant) didn't have. They didn't "switch" so much as use it to compliment the heavier SLR. The standard section/ platoon riflemen continued to use the 7.62mm SLR through out the Aussie involvement in the Vietnam war from '65 to '71.

[Eshayzbra96]

my dads uncle served in this war but i only met him once soo he never told me any storries even though he'll probly wouldnt wana

[RamboAmbo]

@Eshayzbra96 my Uncle served in Vietnam. Many a time he'd regale us with stories revolving around drinking and bar room brawls. Only once did I ever hear the full story when he'd been drinking heavily. Stories about how they used artillery pieces as shotguns in desperation, or coming across the tortured remains of a village chief and his raped daughters who supported the allies and the death of his friends. It's the only time I have ever seen him cry. Fuck war

[Eshayzbra96]

@RamboAmbo They used shrapnal for shotgun rounds, shit must of been tough well war is tough

[ozziearmy]

Same helmet as US. Most equipment was the same as the US. As for helmets, diggers did not usually wear them. Australians had a totally different approach to patrols than US forces did. The average Ozzie patrol could only be matched in quality by US special forces patrols.

[PasoFreak]

@ozziearmy I doubt that.. so you're sayin the americans that went through tunnels the REAL tunnel rats were as well trained as australian regulars.. gimme a break, respect to the aussies but in terms of size and scope the U.S and South Vietnam did 99% of the shooting, and there is a reason for it. Theres also a reason the U.S SF are so renowned buddy

[merklereenactment]

did you Ozzies ever wear helmets,???.. ive never seen a photo with you wearing one in Vietnam??. or did you use the US M1 Helmet, or the British Turtle helmet ??.. i've been wondering for some time ?

[dsgrantdsgrant]

@merklereenactment Yes, the M1's were worn, but only at FSB's when it was thought they might get mortared.Aussies found the helmets to heavy and hot to wear.

[Hperman09]

@dsgrantdsgrant Why didn't the Australians. British, and canadians wear helmet even in the Korean war?

[jimmyrhondy]

@merklereenactment Its spelled Aussie not "Ozzie" although it is pronounced that way so I can see why you would get mixed up.

[JBNeervoort]

@merklereenactment Australian infantry patrolled with cloth bush hats and NO flak jackets. Sleeves were normally down and cam paint was often used on face and hands to make the skin less visible.

[surrealismisabitch]

@merklereenactment Not just were helmets too hot and heavy to be patrolling in, but they didn't actually offer that much protections, and when on patrol they also made it difficult to hear things. and reduced your peripheral sight lines.

[HavocProductions1943]

@surrealismisabitch and they coverd ur ears so u couldnt hear everything

[Eshayzbra96]

@merklereenactment what he said and its been like an Australian army ect tradition to wear hats cause we did since ww1 and probly the reason why they always wore the hats is probly to like show some respect and honor to the men who died in golipoli hmm AUSSIES FTW i must say cause our country is madd

[joelizm321]

@merklereenactment Australians always saw helmets as extra weight, they were all about speed stealth & precision, anything that could slow them down or looked unnatural wasn't seen as necessary kit, these guys where elite & god they showed it in every contact.

[Eshayzbra96]

@merklereenactment The Turtle helmets were never worn after WW2 or Korea, but good question.

[dantae666]

having done a short hike in the jungle i cant stress enough how teribble an eviroment it is to fight in absouloutley bloody awful greatest respect lads

[wilbut47]

Butch was B coy first tour and then Trackers and later Acoy second tour!

Butch

[thetarraj]

I remember the dogs roaming around the Dat and sometimes visiting the boys. We all made a fuss of them becuse they were a little bit of home. Our tendency to feed them and cuddle them ruined them as tracker dogs though and unfortunately they could not come home - as most of us did.

[thetarraj]

I know a lot of the guys on this patrol, but cannot remember what they were doing at Diggers Rest. They belonged to a Rifle Coy. Thought Butch was Bcoy.

Go for it boys!

[wattlebough]

Sometimes I find it hard to imagine history being in colour. For some silly reason I almost imagine that in those days even the vision of people back then was in black and white, much like historical motion picture footage. Seeing this in colour and real-time movement brings life to the memory of these men, just knowing that they were young once like many of us that use youtube today- and in living colour as we are. Suddenly we feel that much closer to these men. It could have been us there.

[widgit007]

Wattlebough. Well said, as always.

[rav3nbird]

@wattlebough

I cant believe how dumb and uneducated the people of today are, so out of touch! no clue what all wars mean.