Battalion 6, Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR) is an Australian Army's infantry mechanical battalion. Originally raised in Brisbane, Queensland, on June 6, 1965 and has since served in a number of overseas placements and conflicts including South Vietnam, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. During the Vietnam War, the battalion acquired US Presidential Unit Excerpts from the United States, when members of the 'D' Company participated in the Battle of Long Tan on 18-19 August 1966. Currently the battalion is based in Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane and parts forms from Brigade 7.
Video 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
History
Formation
6 RAR was raised on June 6, 1965 at Barak Alamein in Enoggera in Brisbane, Queensland, when a cadre of non-commissioned officers and officers (NCO) and two rifle companies were moved from 2 RARs to form a new battalion core. The battalion was then taken to full force when the intake of 250 national troops marched in September 1965. The platoon platoon battalion was rounded up soon after with the arrival of six Scheyville graduates.
The first commander of the battalion's command was Lieutenant Colonel Colin Townsend, DSO, while Lieutenant Guard 1 George Chinn, DCM, came from the Campbell Barracks Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in Perth as the first premier sergeant of the regiment. Originally assigned to the 6th Task Force (which later became the 6th Brigade). In early 1966, 6 RAR received orders to spread to Vietnam as part of the expansion of Australian troops there. To prepare for this, the battalion conducted leadership training at the Forest Training Center in Canungra and then at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area before the party advanced to Saigon on 31 May 1966.
Vietnam War
First tour
6 RAR serves two tours to Vietnam as part of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War. The first tour was between June 1966 and June 1967 and the second tour was between May 1969 and May 1970. 6 RAR departed for his first tour in Vietnam in May 1966 at HMASÃ, Sydney , arriving at Vung Tau in time to celebrated the battalion's first anniversary before moving to Nui Dat, in Phuoc Tuy province, where they joined 5 RARs as part of the Australian 1 Task Force (1 ATF).
Initial operations focused on securing the task force base. Once this was achieved, 1 ATF began conducting patrol operations across the province in an attempt to undermine the operations of Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnam Army (NVA) units operating in Phuoc Tuy. Using tactics developed by Australia during the ATH Malacca Emergency Department focused on reducing enemy contact with local residents to deny them the primary source of their support and strengthening; this is accomplished by carrying out custody and search, and searching and destroying operations. During this time 6 RARs perform two major operations. The first operation was codenamed "Enoggera" and focused on cleaning up the Long Phuoc village, while the second operation, "Hobart", was a five-day search and demolition mission. Some VC camps were destroyed in these operations and a large cache of weapons and supplies were found, while 36 enemy casualties were dropped.
Between 16 and 18 August 1966, 6 RAR performed Operation Smithfield, which came to be known as the Battle of Long Tan. The battle began on the night of August 16 when the Task Force headquarters was attacked by VC troops using mortars and recoilless rifles. The next day, 'B' Company was sent to clear the area east of the base, before they were replaced by 'D' Company on the morning of August 18th. While sweeping through rubber plantations, Company 'D' was contacted by regimented VC troops and they were immediately attacked from three sides. Under the heavy rain and thick fog that enveloped the plantation, the fighting raged for over three hours when 108 men from 'D' Company fought for their lives against an estimated 2,500 troops.
When the rest of the battalions were mobilized to lighten the beleaguered 'D' Company, patrols from 'B' Company were the first reinforcements to arrive. As the battle continued, the A relief force from the A Company arrived at a critical moment, aboard the seven M113 armored personnel carriers of the 3 Forces, the 1st Armored Person Squadron and launched an attack on a VC battalion that had been set up to launch attacks directed backwards 'D' Company. The enemy casualties due to this attack are severe, as it comes on their side, and as a result the VC units are forced to retire, leaving Australian troops leading the battlefield. The extent to which Australia's victory was not known until the next day, however, when 245 dead enemy bodies were counted on the estate and the surrounding area. It is believed that many more are also discarded during the battle.
Seventeen people from 6 RAR were killed, along with one of the 1st Armored Peer Squadron, during a battle around Long Tan and then Company 'D' was awarded a US Presidential Unit Excerpt by President Lyndon B. Johnson. While the people of 'Company D' receive this honor, the role of the other 6 RARs in this battle should not be understated, nor should the contributions of various Australian, New Zealand and American artillery units, as well as the courage of RAAF helicopter crews flying through the weather which would normally ground them to supply infantry to the ground.
After 6 RAR it continues patrolling and security operations throughout Phuoc Tuy as 1 ATF takes on a bigger role in this province. 6 RAR conducted seventeen more operations, before being released by 2 RARs in May 1967. After celebrating the second anniversary of the battalion on their way back to Australia on board the HMAS Sydney , 6 RAR arrived back in Brisbane on June 14th.
Second tour
The battalion returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty on May 19, 1969, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Butler. Eliminating 4 RARs, the battalion was again set as 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) due to the fact that there were two New Zealand rifle companies attached to it at this time, along with two mortar parts and two pioneer parts of the attack. The main focus of RAR's second tour 6 is a pacific operation, which basically involves operations designed to help create an internal stability situation to allow the South Vietnamese government to better control the situation in the country. 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) conducted its first operation in the program between May 30 and July 1, 1969 when it launched Operation Lavarack. This operation involves the formation of firefighters and patrol bases north of the main Task Force base at Nui Dat, from where the company-sized patrol embarked on a large-scale surveillance-on-scale mission. Lavarack proved very successful and the battalion was involved in 85 contacts with VC during this time, which led to over 102 VCs killed and at least 22 people were injured.
During the rest of the tour, 6 RARs undertook fourteen further operations, and as they began to dominate their area of ​​operations, they were increasingly asked to provide support to a number of civil society reconstruction projects and assist in local training of the South Vietnamese Forces. As a result of the battalion effort, at the end of their journey, enemy presence in their area of ​​operation has been so weak that they are forced to operate only in small groups, involving Australians in battle only when necessary to survive.. On August 18, 1969, the battalion performed a ceremony at the site of the Battle of Long Tan to present a memorial (known as Sal Cross Length) for the engagement.
6 The last operation of the RAR war was Operation Townsville, which took place between 23 March and 24 April 1970. A search and destruction mission conducted in the northeastern region of Phuoc Tuy province, the operation resulted in a large coup for Australians when they captured the operational signal code and one time cipher pads used by VC headquarters in charge of Ba Long province. In May 1970, 6 RAR was discharged by 2 RARs and returned to Australia shortly afterwards.
Australia's commitment to the Vietnam War ended before the battalion was called to be deployed for a third tour. A total of 6 RAR victims for both tours were 61 dead and at least 148 wounded. Balanced against this, in the second tour the battalion was credited for having killed 60 VCs, injuring at least 64 others and arresting 51. Members of the battalion received the following decorations: two Distinguished Service Orders, seven Military Cross, four Differentiated Medal Behavior, six Military Medals, three Royal Medals, one Queen's Prize, and 23 Mention in Shipping.
Battalion is the focus of my song only 19 by Redgum.
1972-99
The battalion was headquartered in Singapore between July 1971 and December 1973 as part of 28 marketable ANZUK Brigades, a mixed British/Australian/New Zealand infantry force that replaced the "28th Commonwealth Infantry Lobby Group" in providing attendance to defend Malaysia and Singapore is neutral from external attacks. In this formation, 6 RAR acts as a quick reaction force to fulfill the obligations of the Australian Southeast Asian Agreement Organization and is involved in defending the ANZUK Brigade assets in Singapore. Initially, battalion personnel consisted of a mixture of the National Army and Regular Army personnel, many of whom had seen combat service in Vietnam, although the national service was removed in December 1972. During its deployment, he participated in a number of tri-national exercises. in Johore; it also spun the rifle company through Butterwoth Air Base, located in northwest Malaysia as a ready-made reaction force known as the Rifle Company Butterworth, a commitment made by Australia under Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), to support Malaysia's war against communist insurgency. During his deployment, the battalion was first based in Barracks and then in Kangaw Barracks and Nee Soon, and it had two commanding officers at this time: Lieutenant Colonel David Drabsch and then Lieutenant Colonel John Healy.
In September 1974, after returning to Enoggera from Singapore the previous year, 6 RAR briefly improved air capability but this was only short-lived. That same year, the battalion also provided assistance to civilians in response to Hurricane Tracy, performing clean duties in Darwin. The company 'D' was reorganized as a parachute group of companies in the early 1980s and continued in this role until November 1983. As a result of the deficiency of the Australian Defense Force was highlighted after Fiji's 1987 tat coup, the battalion was trained in amphibious role. In April 1989, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel David Mead, the battalion took part in a joint exercise Caltrop Force in California, where he conducted an amphibious operation in the US Marine AAVP7. Then, in February of 1992, 6 RAR started the conversion into a motorized organization and added the Ready Reserve company that same year. It was returned to a regular-unified/backup battalion in February 1997 and tested the Army's experimental organization 21.
East Timor 2000
On Anzac Day 2000 6 RAR released 5/7 RAR at Balibo in East Timor, beginning a six-month service trip on the western border as part of Operation Tanager. Heavy rains in March have resulted in widespread flooding throughout the border areas that continued into May, however, in June rivers have subsided and reports of attacks across the border from West Timor by pro-Indonesian militias were received, prompting 6 RAR to conduct extensive patrol operations across all areas of their tactical operations. Through an intensive active patrol program and tracking, surveillance, blocking and other security operations, the battalion dominates the western border region. However, during May and June there were a number of attacks on 6 RAR positions.
During deployment, the battalion was involved in nine separate contacts, with a total of 6 injured RAR personnel. In one of these incidents, Sergeant David Hawkings was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal after the attack on the Company's 'B' headquarters in Aidabasalala on June 21, 2000.
As a result of this and attacks on other UN personnel including the offensive that resulted in the death of a New Zealand soldier on July 24, on 6 August the RAR initiated a number of high-tempo operations to counter militia activities in their area. operation. On 2 August, after an intelligence report indicating that the militia was once again tracking Australians, the trackers found signs of further militia infiltration near Maliana. A platoon of 'A' Company, along with a number of troops from the SASR were sent to investigate, patrol about six kilometers from Maliana.
Signs of further infiltration were found by the lead sections and as scouts tracked down militia footprints through dry river beds, they found several empty food packets and old cigarette butts, which confirmed the presence of militia in the area. When the platoon paused, a guard on one of the machine guns that had been stationed for all round defenses saw a group of three militias patrolling along the river bed and interpreting this as an act of aggression under the ROE governing the spread of him firing, smashing the militia leader with about twenty rounds of LSW, killing him.
When the guards began to engage the second target, a large amount of fire began spilling in Australia's position as a previously unseen militia group joining the engagement, returning fire while the first group began to retreat. In an effort to stop their withdrawal, Australian platoon launched a swift attack on militia positions, however, they could not prevent the militia from fleeing. After the engagement, a second militia was found dead.
Four days later, on 6 August 2000, 6 RAR was involved in two more contacts, the first near Batugade and the second one near Maliana. As a result of these contacts, three militia members were injured, one of whom was arrested. After this, the militias shifted their focus to other areas of operations, focusing primarily on the territory of New Zealand, where on August 10, four Nepalese soldiers were wounded in two separate incidents, one of which eventually died of his injuries.
Contact with the militia continued throughout the dispersion, however, as a result of the attacks by 6 RARs, the battalion was able to defend tactical initiatives and prevent militias reaching their stated destination forcing the UN to withdraw from the country.. Before they were released by 1 RAR in October 2000, the battalion also assisted in assisting the evacuation of UN and other personnel from Atambua in West Timor, as well as carrying out CIMIC operations.
East Timor, 2003-07
6 RAR returned to East Timor in November 2003 as part of Operation Fortress, taking over as AUSBATT IX from 1 RAR. The task force consisted only of two rifle companies plus armored personnel carriers from the 2/14 Lighters Regiment, a Blackhawk helicopter force from the 5th Flight Regiment, the technical forces of the 2nd Combat Officers Regiment, the CIMIC team of the First Field Regiment and the surgical team from the 2nd Health Support Battalion.
The threat level in that country at the time was far less than the last time that 6 RAR units had been deployed there, however, due to the decrease in the number of troops deployed and the expansion of the area in which they were required to operate, That is, the company had to maintain a very operational tempo high during a seven month tour. During this time they were mostly deployed in AO Matilda, in Bobonaro district, although they also had to cover the districts of Liquica, Ermera, Ainaro, Cova Lima and Oecussi. This area has a population of over 400,000 people and has previously been covered by three full battalions.
This rotation is the last placement under Fortress Operation. It was also the longest, a factor that led to a three-month power rotation coming in. The advanced element of the Company 'D' is first spread, arriving ahead of the October time. They are then followed by Company 'C' and finally Company 'A'. Later in the deployment, when other national troops deployed in Timor were withdrawn, the battalioned forces entered a Fiji company, leading to a battalion renamed WESTBATT. The troops were initially ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Glen Babington and later, in 2004, by Lieutenant Colonel Shane Caughey.
Due to the size of the area in which they operate, an advanced operating base system was established in Moleana, Aidabaleten and Gleno. From these bases the task force performs various tasks including a mixture of highly visible peacekeeping operations, as well as less visible underground surveillance duties along the border. In June 2004 AUSBATT/WESTBATT was withdrawn from East Timor and 6 RARs were returned to Australia.
In November 2006, the 6th RAR element was deployed to East Timor (as East Timor has become) as part of Operation Astute. This time they were placed next to a platoon of 4 RAR, a company of 1 RAR, and 'G' Company which is the battery of the 16th Air Defense Regiment that has been re-rolled as an infantry company.
Iraq, 2004-08
Elements 6 RAR has been deployed to Iraq three times as part of the Baghdad-based SECDET. The first deployment was from 'A' Company as part of SECDET 6 in 2004, followed by elements of 'C' Company distributed on SECDET 7 in 2004-05. The last rotation is SECDET 12, which is based around elements of 'D' Company and distributed from September 2007 to March 2008.
A 6-RA Engine-powered combat team was also deployed to Southern Iraq to support the 4th Overwatch Battle Group 4, OBG (W) 4 from 4 November 2007 to June 2008. This deployment was led by the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and operated in two different provinces.
Afghanistan, 2010
The battalion was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper in 2010, with 6 RAR forming the base of a 750-strong combined weapons battle group consisting of elements of infantry, engineers, cavalry, artillery and logistics taken from Brisbane-based Brigade 7, which known as the First Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1). Based in Forward Operation Base Ripley outside Tarin Kowt, he was involved in counter-insurgency operations in Uruzgan province along with the United States, the Netherlands and other coalition forces, operating from a number of patrol bases in Mirabad, Baluchi and Chora valleys.
Originally ordered by Lieutenant Colonel Jason Blain, the task force arrived at the end of January 2010 and was tasked with partnering with the 4th Brigade, the 205th Corps of the Afghan National Army. Blain then handed the command to Lt. Col. Mark Jennings on June 21. MTF-1 operates throughout the province, with their operations area extended westward to the Tangi Valley following the Dutch withdrawal in August. The elements of the task force were then involved in a fierce battle at Derapet in Deh Rahwod on August 24, 2010.
During an eight-month deployment, the task force conducted more than 1,700 patrols involving more than 560 small firearm incidents, and placed more than 100 homemade bombs (IEDs) and more than 250 arsenal and explosives. Engaged in ongoing operations, MTF-1 suffered nearly 40 victims of the fighting, including six killed in action, the majority of the IED. Returning to Australia in October and November 2010, he was later awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation (MUC) at the Queen's Birthday Awards 2011. On November 20, 2010, MTF-1 moved through Brisbane's main business district along with other units deployed from the Brigade to- 7, when the returnee was officially welcomed home in the biggest march since the end of the Vietnam War.
On 1 November 2012 Corporal Daniel Keighran of 6 RAR is Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions in Afghanistan during the Battle of Derapet on 24 August 2010. The award is the first for Royal Australian Regiment members.
Maps 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
The current role and structure
In 2017 the battalion initiated the transition to a mechanical role with the adoption of the M113AS4 Armored Personnel Carrier.
The current battalion consists of:
- Battalion Headquarters
- 3 Company Rifles - 'A', 'B', and 'D'
- Support Company
- Logistics Support Company
Awards of war
- Vietnam : Vietnam 1965-66, Long Tan, Binh Ba, Vietnam 1969-70.
See also
- Australian military history
- Royal Australian Regiment
Note
References
Further reading
External links
- 6 RAR Official Website
- History 6 RAR
Source of the article : Wikipedia