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

Australian Patrol (6RAR) in Vietnam during 1969

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• Australian
• Patrol
• (6RAR)
• in
• Vietnam

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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]

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

[MAKER6450]

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

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

[88pie88]

@47rhys its suppose to protect you from shrapnel

[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.