Story 47 - 1ATF Comd Net (VHF) Log
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By Denis Hare OAM BEM |
Introduction
The discovery recently of one of the
Radio Log Books used by the 104 Sig Sqn Radio Detachment
working with 6RAR/NZ on Operation (Op) Burnham in Sept 1969,
gives us a look at how the detachment worked and what they
reported on their radios. Op Burnham was a land clearing task
in Area of Operation (AO) Stuart supported by reconnaissance
and ambush operations. The operation started on the 29
August 1969, with 6RAR/NZ deploying in and around Fire
Support Patrol Base (FSPB) Diggers Rest. The Operation
lasted 33 days with most of the Battalion returning to Nui
Dat on the 30 Sept 1969 to prepare for the next Operation.
Field living was hard as this was the wet season.
The Radio Log Book located covers the
period 6 to 15 Sept 1969 and the log for the 10 Sept
1969 is displayed below to highlight a normal day working
with an Infantry Battalion on operations in
Radio Detachment
The 104 Sig Sqn radio detachment working with 6RAR/NZ at the time was as follows:
Sgt John Laurie 104 Sig Sqn Radio Operators worked in the underground 6RAR/NZ Command Post (CP) and passed communicating rearward back to commander at HQ 1 ATF with the 6RAR/NZ Regimental Signalers communicating forward to their troops (6RAR/NZ).
Radio shifts of about 6 hours were
planned but weapon pits, sleeping protection had to be dug,
as well as the CP, clearing patrols, etc, so the shifts were
not strictly to the 6 hours. For example, it appears
the shifts on the 10 Sept from the handwriting were: Chris
2130-0800 104 Sig Sqn Radio Log for the 1ATF Command Network (VHF) Detachment at FSPB Diggers Rest with 6RAR/NZ on the 10 Sept 1969
Information in Radio Log below explained
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Radio
Appointments used:
Sunray =
Commander
Note 1. Sunray
refers to the
formation
commander,
it is a synonym of
leader.
This could be a
commander of
platoon,
company,
combat group,
battalion
or battle group.
Note 2.
When
you communicate thru radio to a
command element you normally speak to the
radio operator
for the commander,
the commander usually has several operators and radio nets
up any one communicating with command will usually talk to
the operator who then communicates the message to the
commander or his designated rep,
actual comes in
when you are actually speaking with the commander
Code words
and Terms used in the Radio Log:
0642 hour
Standard military radio
formatted contact report
Note: The new
encryption equipment was provided to 104 Sig Sqn in April
1969 and was used to form an ‘on demand’ 1 ATF Comd Net
Secure between the three Battalions, HQ SAS Sqn and HQ 1
ATF. The SOI for
Sept allocated freq but has no other details.
0941 hour
Trail Dust =
Trail Dust
missions.
Note: This was the term used in the classified messages for
herbicide spray missions
from Aircraft as part of Operation Ranch Hand.
Now known as Agent Orange!
1335 hour
Dust Off = Medical Evacuation
by Helicopter
Note:
South Vietnamese Regional Forces
were roughly akin to militias. Recruited locally, they fell
into two broad groups - Regional Forces and Popular Forces
(The RFPF's were called Ruff-Puffs by American forces)
Numeral/Authentication Codes Numeral codes were used for locations and some grid references have not been decoded in the radio log. For example see 1105 hours.
Callsigns
(1ATF Comd Net):
Callsign 11
= 6RAR/NZ (Manned by 104 Sig Sqn)
- Log book Callsign Footnote: The radio log book detailed in this story has been presented to the Australian War Memorial (AWM) in Jan 2012 for safe keeping. Ref: AWM Acc Number PR05125 |
The
104 Sig Sqn detachment also had a VHF secure voice link
(Code named: Rare Bird in the Radio Log below) using KY-38
Encryption Equipment connected to the Radio Set AN/PRC-77
back to HQ 1 ATF. Codes for the encryption
equipment were not held at the FSPB, so a 104 Sig Sqn member
would fly in by chopper, when necessary with the key, to
rekey the equipment.
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