These photographs are from 87 Transport Platoons Time in Vietnam. They come from a number of members of the 87 Tpt Pl RAASC SVN Association, and sent to remlr via Glen Hutley.

Glen expands on the unit's nvolvement.

Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War began in 1962 with Australian military advisors posted to the American MACV (Military Advisory Command) to train RVN troops in modern warfare methods.

In 1965 the Australian Govt. committed a Battalion (1RAR) and a group of supporting arms, and logistical support units, known as 1 ALSC. As far as REMLR's interest is concerned, the transport contingent consisted of members of 2 sections of 3 Tpt Pl, based in Wacol Qld, equipped with an assortment of AB160 tippers, Mk3 GS Cargo's, L/Rs. The Battalion, as well as the supporting Artillery and Engineers would also have had a smattering of Mk 3's and L/Rs. and engineer equipt

I have included a photograph of the HMAS Sydney on its first trip to SVN, loaded with the vehicles and equipment of 1RAR and supporting ALSC. This shot was taken at Hamilton wharf (?) in Brisbane 1965. (1 ALSC's Tac sign was white129 on a black background (Non specific Corps)) They carried no Formation sign.

In May 1966 the Australian commitment was increased to an independent task force, under Australian Command, and two Infantry Battalions and complete support forces were dispatched. I Coy RAASC was the transport company and it consisted of it's own '1 transport Platoon' (Tac white 31 on Blue/yellow background) and the Independent '87 Tpt Pl' (Tac white 519 on blue/yellow). 1 Platoon consisted of 33 Mk3 GS cargo trucks and a couple of L/Rs. 87 Pl had 18x AB160 tippers and 15x Mk3 GS cargo trucks. The OC of 1 Coy HQ 6005 vehicle was painted Bronze Green compared to all other vehicles Olive Drab.

Once the Task force had settled in 1 RAR was RTA'd from Bien Hoa to Aust., and 1ALSC was moved by river and road from Bien Hoa to Vung Tau and assimilated into other units, i.e. The vehicles from the original 3 Pl were posted onto the books of 87 Tpt Pl, as were the members for three months prior to their RTA. At this juncture 1 Coy also took over two S2 gun buggies (111-578 & 110-807) from 1 RAR's books and these were allocated 1 per Tpt Pl and used as convoy escorts. Aside from general resupply missions we also ran some domestic tasks. An AB160 tipper collected daily rubbish during our stay; this was later replaced by 5 Coy with a purpose built garbage compactor on a Mk5 chassis (Museum Bandiana). Water supply was carried out by a standard Mk3 GS (170-998) loaded with a transportable bladder and pump. By late 66 this set replaced by a potable water tanker fitted to a Mk3 GS, and the only shot I have of this is suffering from water damage. Perhaps what is left of this shot may be of value to someone somewhere (170-362).

In April 1967 1 Coy and its various platoons were RTA'd en masse, and the Company was replaced by 5 Coy RAASC. and this Company stayed in country for the remainder of Australia's commitment to SVN. As you see by the above-mentioned article from 'Par Oneri', 5 Coy operated Mk5's and their derivatives. I don't know when the AB160's and Mk3's (that basically set up the two major camps in SVN) were repatriated to Australia but it would have been soon after 1 Coy.s departure. Most of these Mk3's would then have been renovated and most more than likely retrofitted with Mk4 cabins, as there was a notable problem with cracking roofs in the Mk 3's. The old Fibreglass bonnet was a godsend when heat was a problem! Early fibreglass fuel tanks necessitated a carby overhaul pretty regularly.

Other trucks in 5 section of 87 were; 170- 411, 170-375, 170-378, 170-135, 170-137, 170-998, 170-362.

‘Little Toot’ ARN# 111-578, 87’s S2 Gunbuggy (I must admit it was commonly referred to as the ‘gunjeep’) taken in the’Bowl’ a natural depression amongst sandhills outside Vung Tau. This shot would have been taken about May June 1966, prior to wire cutter being fixed

Mk3 170-378 in the “bowl’. Note the Yellow top third of the headlights. I was informed at the time that all vehicles were to have this mod as a courtesy to the Vietnamese, presumably to shield the high beam, which on our trucks threw left, being right hand drive. This would have been inconvenient to oncoming traffic considering the traffic travelled on the wrong side of the road by our standards. I note that 5 Coy vehicles’ lights (Mk5s) weren’t painted this way. Perhaps by 1967 they were fitted with left hand drive light bulbs that threw the right way. I would be interested to hear any ideas on the subject.

Note the vehicle ARN stencilled onto the tray sides. This was done so that after a truck was converted to a flat top, drivers knew who’s bits were who’s when the reassembly took place. These numbers may well be worth looking for on any restorations.