Story 74
 
FSPB Lion, Operation Capital I & II

Deploying 104 Sig Sqn's Armoured Command Vehicle (Callsign 85C)
 plus a unit Defence and Employment Section for the first time

By Denis Hare OAM BEM

"The area occupied by the forward HQ complex is too large to be effectively protected by
the Defence Platoon.  Sigs must be made responsible for their own security." (1) 

Introduction

There were lots of valuable lessons for Signals from the Battle of Coral Balmoral in May/June 1968.  One of the most important was the men became very fatigued working long communication shifts after setting up the communication equipment, plus the ongoing work to improve sector defences, gun pit duties, clearing patrols, stand-to periods, etc.  They also had to keep digging their own pits ensuring overhead cover.  Extra manpower from the Squadron was flown in to assist and replace some exhausted soldiers. 

In the OC Communication Report (2) post Operation Toan Thang after the battle,  OC 104 Sig Sqn Major Norm Munro proposed the following

“Defence and Employment Section. On future operations it is proposed to raise a D&E Section of one NCO and ten to twelve men.  The role of this section will be to provide a force whose sole purpose is to construct defences and man the perimeter pits.  This section will ease the pressure on the remaining personnel of the Fwd Op Sigs Gp in the first few days of deployment.  Once satisfactory defences are completed the section would return to Nui Dat.  If sufficient notice of deployment is given it is proposed that the D&E Section would undergo concentrated weapon handling and practice firing course.”

Operation Capital I and II (28 Oct - 29 Nov 1968)

Operation Capital was a two-phase, two-battalion-size reconnaissance in force operation in the area of Thua Tich, in the north-eastern part of the province, where friendly forces had not operated for several months. This was the traditional home of the Rear Services Group 84, the unit responsible for maintaining 274 Viet Cong (VC) Main Force Regiment in the field. It was also known as an important staging area for VC troops moving between the Hat Dich area west of Route 2 and the Nui May Tao area in the north-east of Phuoc Tuy Province.

Operation Capital Phases I and II, the 1^st Australian Task Force  (1ATF) units included 1RAR, 3RAR, 4RAR/NZ, 1 Field Regiment RAA (102 Field Battery,  104 Field Battery and 161 Field Battery RNZA), 161 (Indep) Recce Flight, 1 Field Squadron RAE, Helicopter Support (including 135th Assault Helicopter Company (US Army using RAN Pilots) and 9 Squadron RAAF), 104 Sig Sqn plus other supporting units.

104 Sig Sqn support included communications for the deployed 1ATF (Forward) at FSPB Lion plus radio detachments to each of the battitions and other 1ATF units. Six Liaison Officer (LO) radio detachments located with US Army and ARVN units adjacent and in support of the operation.  In addition, a retransmission detachment was deployed to Blackhorse.

The operation was tough for the men, particularly the rifle companies with malaria considerably reducing the strength of each battalion. The incessant rain exacerbated the appalling conditions and, after weeks of continuous operations, many of the soldiers were exhausted. The nature of the operation was emotionally and physically draining on all involved.

Overview Map Operations I & II in the North-East of Phuoc Tuy Province. 
Note the temperary bridge location.

Headquarters (HQ),1ATF deployed to Fire Suport Patrol Base (FSPB) Lion by air and road in early November 1968.  The Command Post (CP) for the first time, was setup in four Armoured Command Vehicles (ACV) Type M577A1.   Callsign 85 (Operations Command Post), Callsign 85A (Air Support Command Post), Callsign 85B (Artillery Fire Support Coordination Centre) and 104 Sig Sqn using Callsign 85C for the Communications Centre (COMCEN).(3)  104 Sig Sqn also deployed a section of unit members in a Defence and Deployment (D&E) role to assist the Sqn members setup its sector in defence of the CP at FSPB Lion.

HQ 1ATF CP deployed at FSPB Lion using ACV's for the first time.
Note the wire at the front of the vehicles to deflect rockets.
Photo supply by Neil Westwood (110 Sig Sqn).

Deploying to FSPB Lion

1ATF Convey 3 November 1968 and ACV Callign 85C on Highway 23. 
Photo supplied by Denis Hare.

The road party of 1ATF deployed to FSPB Lion on the 3^rd November 1968 via Highway 23 and Route 328 which included 104 Sig Sqn and a detachment from 110 Sig Sqn (Radio Relay/CRATT). 

The access just past the turn off into route 328 had been secured the day before and a temporary bridge had been placed over the Suoi Cau Gia River by 1 Field Troop, 1 Field Squadron (RAE) with protection of an APC Troop, Infantry Platoon and Mortar Section, to allow the convoy to pass over the river and travel North. 

The road was suspected of being mined and a Centurion tank with mine clearing equipment was used as the lead vehicle, to clear a path for the 1ATF convey, in the firebreak (off the road)  to the location were FSPB Lion was being set up.  The road had old bits of blown up vehicles which suggested an unknown convey had hit mines or been attacked at some earlier time on this road.

Crossing the temp bridge on Route 328.  Note: The fire break on the road North.
Photo supplied by Denis Hare

The bridge was dismantled but reconstructed for resupply conveys going to and from FSPB Lion on the 8/9 Nov 1968.    Its was then dismantled again but the engineers started working on an easier way for the returning 1ATF conveys in late Nov.

Prior to the operation starting, a fair bit of preparation work was done  (Operation Hunting Horn) to ensure the route culverts and bridges on Highway 23 could take the weight of our Centurion tanks traveling on the Regional Highway.

First Deployment

The deployment  by the Task Force Signal Squadron  to FSPB Lion with its key communications equipment (Switchboard and Telegraph) in an ACV (Callsign 85C) and a Squadron D&E section  was the first time for the unit.  A result of one of the valuable lesson for the unit from the Battle of Coral Balmoral, earlier in May/June1968.

I was the D&E NCO I/C and our role was to ensure the unit defences that  helped protect HQ 1ATF CP.  Work was under the  direction of the Squadron Sergeant Major (SSM) WO2 Bluey Still, while our communicators secured communications and attended to their  personal sleeping arrangements which included overhead cover.  We worked our butts off digging to ensure the unit  defence sector but we had a little help from the engineers (gingerbeers).

Rabbit at FSPB Lion having a break while digging weapon pits. 
Photo supply by Denis Hare.

Now that we had an ACV somehow a small fridge had been added to the COMCEN stores.  This enabled us to get some assistance with our diggings from the gingerbeer digging machines, for the small cost of a cold goffer for the plant operator. 

The ACV COMCEN was powered by two 10KVA generators, one working while the other fuelled and on standby.  One of the generators became unserviceable, an urgent replacement was requested.  Unfortunately the Task Force Commander, Brigadier Sandy Pearson came into the COMCEN to check on the generator issue and found the fridge!  He was not happy and that same helicopter that delivered the replacement generator to the FSPB also took our fridge back to his tent at Nui Dat.  The Commander let it be known the owner could, when we returned to Nui Dat, drop round to his tent and claim it!  This never happened and he ended up with a bar fridge!  Also our OC was not happy after the Commander had discussed fridge incident it with him!     

 104 Sig Sqn ACV (Callsign 85C) COMCEN at FSPB Lion.
Note the wire to help protect against incoming rockets.
Photo supply by Neil Westwood (110 Sig Sqn).

Outside the Wire

I got the opportunity while at the FSPB to do a day fighting platoon size patrol East of road 328.  During this patrol we located a number of bunker systems.   The bunkers were very well built from bush material (tree trunks, etc) with lots of overhead cover.  Dirt from the bunkers, not used in construction, was carried and deposited around tree bases to aid concealment from the air.  We put up balloons so the bunkers could be relocated and destroyed later. 

The final part of this patrol was walking back up, some of Route 328 to FSPB Lion, to check for mines.  Clearly at this stage I realized I was mad being a patrol volunteer!

We left only one set of foot prints on the road (really just an old disused track), that of the forward scout, as the rest of the patrol were in his footsteps!

 
Map section showing patrol area east of Road 328 (Xuyen Moc 6430 II)

Returning to Nui Dat

Once the defence arrangements for the unit were completed, the 104 Sig Sqn D&E section returned to Nui Dat by Helicopter. 

My tour had finshed and I returned to Australia on my 21^st birthday (19 November 1968) but the unit communicators were still deployed on Operation Capital at FSPB Lion and the radio detachments, with the battations. 

HQ 1ATF (Forward) (4) adandon FSPB Lion early on the morning of the 27 November to return to Nui Dat via Route 328 and Hightway 23 and the temporary bridge was required again to be setup.  The engineers had prefabricated a bridge frame that could be lifted on to the site by Skycrane CH-54.  This required a 104 Sig Sqn radio operator to be on site for communications with the aircraft. 

HQ 1ATF leaving FSPB Lion by air and road 27 November 1968. 
Photo supplied by Neil Westwood (110 Sig Sqn)

Nick Quigley deploying as the radio operator with the engineers on the 26 November to the temporary bridge location on Route 328.  A Skycrane Helicopter air lifed the bridge frame to the site and into postion and it was secured by the engineers.  At the same time the protection party was busy ensuring the bridge site area was secure.

Skycrane CH-54 deploying bridge parts on the 26 November 1968 to temporary bridge site on route 328. 
Photo supplied by Nick Quigley.

At 1030 hours on the 27 November, the 1ATF convey of about 60 vehicles, passed over the temporary bridge as they returned to Nui Dat.  The Skycrane returned and picked up the bridge parts and Nick Quigley, the engineers and their protection party returned to Nui Dat.

   1ATF convey at the temporary bridge area on the 27 November 1968 returning
to Nui Dat.  Both photo supplied by Nick Quigley

Conclusion

After the success of HQ 1ATF (Forward) ACVs CP on Operation Capital, this became the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for deploying the HQ in South Vietnam.

Also 104 Sig Sqn using a D&E section for defence sector setup became SOP for the Task Force Signals, when deploying with HQ 1ATF (Forward), in South Vietnam.

In the Training Report (5) to HQ 1ATF in October 1969 the OC, 104 Sig Sqn gave details on the way the Squadron deployed as follows:

“When deployed the squadron forward element is normally located on the outer perimeter of the FSPB and is responsible for the defence of its own sector and for its own clearing patrols with in that sector.  There is also the requirement to assist other FSPB units in conducting ambush patrols around the base.

On deployment into a FSPB a defence element, consisting of the Squadron SM and approx. 10 personnel is constituted in addition to the normal FSPB component.  This defence element is responsible for the construction of the bunkers, weapon pits and normal defence works, while the normal component is engaged in setting up the communications systems.  The defence element returns to Nui Dat as soon as the defence works have been completed.”

Fotenotes:
1.   104 Sig Sqn in support of HQ 1ATF (Forward) deployed ACV Callsign 85C and a D&E section in South Vietnam for the last time on Operation Overlord, June 1971 to Courtenay Hill (6).  

2.  ACV Callsign 85C was the last ACV to leave Nui Dat after the Task Force abandon Nui Dat.  The vehicle remained with the 104 Sig Sqn Sig Det supporting the 4RAR/NZ Group, which secured the Task Force withdrawn.  

References

1.    Commander's Analysis from Op Hayman (First HQ 1ATF/103 Sig Sqn deployment forward
       from Nui Dat in 1966).   Commanding Officer After Action Report, Operation Hayman
       AWM95-1-4-27, Page 17.
2.    OC Communications Report – See http://www.au104.org/Memorabilia/Mem-8.htm
       Para 24d.
3.    In April 1969 a fifth ACV (Callsign 85C) would be added to the HQ 1ATF CP Grouping.
       This vehicle was used by 547 Sig Tp (SIGINT).   Details on HQ 1ATF ACVs at:
        https://www.au104.org/Veteran_Stories/vetstory44A.htm
4.    HQ 1ATF (Forward) was also called HQ 1ATF (Main).  Normally the HQ that remained at
       Nui Dat was named HQ 1ATF (Rear).
5.    Training Report – 104 Sig Sqn – See http://www.au104.org/Memorabilia/Mem-18.htm
       See Part 5 - Defence.
6.    Report on Operation Overload, Annex A to 104 Sig Sqn Monthly Report – Jul 71.
       See Para 16d.  The report is part of 104 Sig Sqn War Diary AWM95-6-2-52.

Comment:  The Task Force Signal Squadrons of the Vietnam War were not only communicators but combat troops as per the RASigs role.  However they were the only Arms Corps soldiers as part of the 1ATF Order of Battle (ORBAT) who weren’t granted retrospective approval for  the Army Combat Badge (ACB) after 90 days service when it was introduced in 2005. 

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