By Denis Hare
Introduction
I have had a
number of enquiries from Signals
and other Veterans on which unit
they served with in Vietnam. The
confusion comes from the fact that the Royal Australian
Corps of Signals (Signals) was using the “Brick System” for
Force Signals. In many
cases, Soldiers were posted to a Troop which was under the
Administration and Operational control of a Squadron.
Unfortunately the
records only reflect the Troop not the Squadron and
therefore some books and the Vietnam Veteran Roll don’t
reflect the Signals units correctly.
Signal units in Vietnam with Administration and Operational
Command, are detailed as follows.
Timeline Royal Australian Corps of
Signals, South Vietnam
Signals
709 Signal
Troop (Composite including Heavy Radio, Med Radio
and Sigcen)
“First Signals Unit in Vietnam”
Self-contained from
25 May 1965 until absorbed into 145 Signal Squadron
527 Signal
Troop (Additional Signals manpower
for 709 Signal Troop)
From 14 September
1965 and under command of 709 Signal
Troop until absorbed into 145 Signal Squadron
Australian
Army Assistant Group Vietnam (AAAGV) Signal Detachment
“Last Signals in Vietnam”
12 March 1972 -
December 1972
Force Signals
145 Signal
Squadron
The first elements
of the Squadron arrived in South Vietnam, 1st April 1966.
The unit was formed on the "brick" system and had a
headquarters and a number of Signal Troops as follows:
506 Signal Troop
(Med Radio Relay)
520 Signal Troop
(Tech Maint)
552 Signal Troop
(Light Sigcen)
581 Signal Troop
(Med Sigcen)
Plus 527 Signal
Troop and 709 Signal Troop were absorbed into the Squadron
structure.
110 Signal
Squadron
2 March 1967 - 12
March 1972, replaced 145 Signal Squadron with the following
Troops:
503 Signal Troop
(Med Sigcen)
532 Signal Troop
(Med Radio)
557 Signal Troop
(Tech Maint)
561 Signal Troop
(Light Sigcen)
704 Signal Troop
(Med Radio Relay)
709 Signal Troop
(Base Comms Sig)
Individual
replacements into 110 Signal Squadron became the norm after
1967 effectively replacing the “brick” system.
Special Signals
547 Signal
Troop
Electronic Warfare
(EW) from 1 April 1966 - 23 December 1971
Det 152
Signal Squadron
Special Air Service
(SAS) from 31 August 1966 - 15 October 1971
Det 125
Signal Squadron
Members worked on
fixed communication installation tasks but were normally
detached to HQ AFV or Force Signals for temp duty in
Vietnam.
Task Force Signals
103 Signal
Squadron
May1966 -
April 1967
104 Signal
Squadron
April 1967 -
December 1971 replacing 103 Signal Squadron
Individual
replacements into 104 Signal Squadron became the norm after
1967.
Note:
A number of 145 Signal Squadron members served with 103
Signal Squadron and deployed with them on operations.
Up to forty members of 110 Signal Squadron served with 104
Signal Squadron at any given time, with some deployed on
operations also.
Other Signals
Signals
members also served with the Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam (AATTV), on 32 Small Ships (Engineers) and in
Headquarter roles.
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