Australian Cavalry M113, Fire Support, RAEME & RAE tracks in Vietnam

Australian M113s in Vietnam .

The Australian Armoured units had elements serving in South Vietnam for nearly six years. Between 1966 and 1972 the men served in every major operation conducted by the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF), including the Tet Offensive, the 1968 battles for Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, and the battle of Binh Ba in 1969. Using Armoured Personal Carriers (APCs), the regiment's squadron was a highly mobile force that served throughout Phuoc Tuy province.

Australian APCs had been serving in Vietnam since 1965: initially with the 1st Troop, A Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment, subsequently re-named the 1st APC Troop; and then with 1st APC Squadron. In January 1967 1st APC Squadron was split one half  became A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment the other 2nd Cavalry Regiment, with the 2nd remaining in Australia for training and rotation. A squadron's 3rd Cavalry regiment strength in South Vietnam at the time was 117: ten officers, 14 warrant officers/sergeants, and 93 other ranks. The squadron's strength increased over time and by August 1971 had grown to 169 men: 15 officers, 22 warrant officers/sergeants, and 132 other ranks. The scorpion symbol though was not adopted until after 1971, originally designed by the mortar troop as the “sting in the tail” of the squadron. 

I have collected the track (M113) in troop order, as much as I can

A Squadron 3rd Cavalry regiment 

“& Tears” call sign three one Alpha 31 ARN 134738

1 Troop

“Blood” call sign three one 31
“Sweat” call sign three one Bravo 31B ARN ……55

“& Tears” call sign three one Alpha 31A ARN 134738

“Tene - Nui” Call sign one one Alpha 11A ARN 134357 two 30 cals 74c turret
“UBEAUT” call sign one two Bravo 12B

2 troop

“Tinkerbell” 
“Miss carriage” call sign 
“The Pig” call sign two two Bravo 22B

3 troop

"the Good" call sign eight six 86 ARN 84343
"The Bad" call sign eight six Alpha 86A (two 30 cals 74c turret)
"The Ugly" call sign eight six Bravo

Fire Support troop

In mid-1971 the squadron received six M113A1 Fire Support Vehicles (FSVs), a M113 carrier mounted with a Saladin turret and armed with a 76 mm gun. The majority of the FSVs crew were seconded from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and posted on strength to the 3rd Cavalry Regiments. More heavily armed, the FSVs were still only lightly armoured and were not intended to replace Centurion tanks in offensive tasks. It was felt however, they could relive the Centurions from their role in protecting the fire support bases, thereby allowing the tanks a greater role in supporting 1ATF's operations.

1971 first four vehicles
“SANDGROPER” call sign four two (42)
“DENISE” call sign 42A
“COMALCO” call sign 42B
“TINY TEDDY” call sign four two Charlie 42C

Late 1971 a further two were delivered
“BEWITCHED” call sign 41
“BEAST BOTHERED” call sign four one Alpha 41A ARN 134711 (on display in Australia)


I have found one other, not sure if it a rename or new vehicle
XXXX

B Sqaudron 3rd Cavalry Regiment 

1 troop

“The Glen” call sign one three 13  ( T50 Turret fitted )
"The Nympho" ( T 50 turret) one three alpha (13A), ARN 134305

2 troop

“Snoopy” call sign two zero (fitted with T50 turret)
"Denise"
"Shelly"
“Bronwyn ” call sign two one Alpha 21A
“Dehydrated” call sign 29 M later renamed in 1972 “Irish Power”

3 troop 

“Z” call sign three zero Alpha 30A
"Cherryboy" call sign three nine M 39M ARN134266
"Gaylord" call sign three three Bravo 33B


Unplaced M113A1s with T50 turrets.
"Bewildered"
"Foul Boy"

Support Troops 

106 Field Workshops Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME)


M113A1 Fitters vehicles

“White Winged Warrior” call sign nine eight Alpha 98A
"Puff the magic dragon"(ARN) 134377
“Miss Hellfinger” call sign 98B

Royal Australian Engineers

The 1st Regiment Royal Australian Engineers modified three carriers for anti personnel mine clearance operations, extra armour was fitted to the belly and the sides. Various contraptions were manufactured by RAEME workshops.

Her Majesty’s Armoured Personnel Carrier Flint RAE

1 Troop Royal Australian Engineers

HMAPC Flint ARN134226
HMAPC Steel call sign nine two S 92S was fitted with a small blade
HMAPC George call sign one two Alpha 12A

cheers
Matt

"Banzai" a bolt action trial!

Decided to see what all the fuss is about and I played my first game of bolt action on the weekend, overall quite satisfied with the game, has a few quirks but happy to play with my mates if they are having a game. The mechanics  are quite easy, and I liked the random draw of the dice, although this I felt slowed the game down a little. The weapon ranges  I felt were off in comparison to the movement scales, with only long and short range for personal weapons, at times especially vehicles it felt a little to gamey with the ability of a vehicle to fire at multiple targets around it in range, it seemed to be a great advantage if you had multiple weapons, MG pintal, MG turrent, MG AA mount. the troop mechanics seemed to work quite well, and I did like the pinned idea for Morale, although my Japs ignored it when charging which was fun, but felt a little beer and pretzels. I will try it again but will not get overly excited and build a army I think. Th e japanese came away with a good win, with more than 60% of my hit dice hitting and killing in the last two turns, still could not kill the stuart tank! Pictures below, including some other games being played, some great painters and modellers out there!

 Other Bolt action game

Bolton Paul Defiant mk1 RAAF 1/72 WIP build

Built this kit while on holidays last week, a simple build, this one is destined for my Australians to take on the sneaky zeros!

Australian War Memorial Open Day

I have been meaning to post these pictures from the Australian War Memorial open day back in April, I concentrated on the displays outside as I always manage to drop in at least once a month for a look through the galleries inside the memorial.

Australian Light Horse Display
from left to right
1920 -  1935 NSW Lancers uniform, 1914-19 Light Horse uniform, NSW Mounted Rifles 1899-1902 (Boer War) uniform

1920 -  1935 NSW Lancers uniform, 1914-19 Light Horse uniform, NSW Mounted Rifles 1899-1902 (Boer War) uniform

Bushmaster

Vietnam Era SWB Landrover with 105mm recoilless (the bright green seat covers are wrong.....)

WW1 era Ambulance

Japanese Ha-Go light tank, captured at Milne bay, September 1942

Soviet ZPU-2 captured in Afganistan

Cheers

Matt

Vallejo Paint colours Auscam and Descam my solution

Having been asked about my colour solution for 20mm Australian Camouflage more times than I can remember at CANCON when I ran the Force on Force demo game, so I have decided to post up my solution, I will try to also do a step by step too.

Auscam

undercoat black
Vallejo Colurs unless noted
uniform base Iraqi sand 819
Dark green rabbits ears Black green 70980
mid Green rabbits ears olive green 967
light brown rabbits ears german cam medium brown 70826
dark brown rabbits ears Mahogany brown 70846
then apply vallejo black wash mixed 40/60 water

Descam

undercoat black

Vallejo Colours unless noted
uniform base Buff 976
grey rabbits ears Space wolves grey (Games workshop)
light brown rabbits ears german cam medium beige 821
mid brown rabbits ears horse tone bay 224 (coat d'arms)
Then apply vallejo black wash 40/60 water








weapons, metal work, radio antenna's and radio hand sets German black grey 70995, webbing clips, Radio bodies, ammo box's, Steyr's stock and magazine, carry handle and scope, goggle covers, Luftwaffe cam green 70823
Boots and early chest harness English Uniform 921
Boots and some SF chest harness and radio harness and head sets, knee pads and straps sets US field drab 873
Boots 70995 black grey
Nonnex gloves grey, black or green.


Note: Vallejo black wash 60% diluted with distilled water or satin varnish with a single drop of glaze medium (I find this helps to improve flow so the wash only lays in the creases), then allow to dry for a day or more, then you can also re highlight the colour's (I don't bother on auscam) then matt varnish and then complete the base.


cheers
Matt