The true story of the Australian SAS in the Vietnam War
July 2022 is an auspicious anniversary within the secretive world of the Australian Special Air Service (SAS) as it marks the 65th anniversary of their establishment in July 1957.
Originally the organisation was 1st SAS Company and was raised at Campbell Barracks, Swanborne, Western Australia where the regiment continues to be based. At first they were an infantry corps element and became part of the Royal Australian Regiment in 1960. At that time, it was re-designated 1st SAS Company Royal Australian Regiment (1st SAS Coy RAR). On 14 September 1964 1st SAS Coy RAR was augmented and re-designated the Australia SAS Regiment. 1st then consisted of Headquarters and Base Squadron (Training Cadre), 1st and 2nd Sabre Squadrons and 151st Signals Squadron.
Borneo was to be the squadron’s first significant test when in February 1965 the regiment went to war. They arrived in theatre as part of the Commonwealth Forces assembled to combat the so-called ‘Confrontation’ between Indonesia and Malaysia. The jungle warfighting in Borneo taught the Australian forces much that would later feature heavily in their tactics and operations in Vietnam.
Even before the final days of the Borneo operations Australian SAS troops of the newly formed 3rd Sabre Squadron arrived at Nui Dat in July 1966. Australia and New Zealand had committed forces to support the United States in securing Vietnam from communist forces and the SAS Regiment was one of the first units on the ground. The 3rd Squadron’s first tour ended in February 1967 after which a rotational system was initiated whereby the 3rd and 2nd Squadrons would each serve a year in theatre before being relieved. The Squadrons operated out of an area of Australian Task Force Headquarters (ATF HQ) Nui Dat called ‘SAS Hill’. No other Australian or allied forces were permitted entry to this most secure of locations, only Australian SAS personnel were allowed inside.
The nature of the SASs work in Vietnam remains mostly secretive but the first missions launched were to gather intelligence which could be used to launch further raids against Communist forces. A standard SAS patrol would consist of five men: lead scout, patrol leader, second-in-command, signaller and medic. The teams were especially closely knit, and their compatibility was closely regulated as the teams would invariably remain together for the duration of their tours of duty in Vietnam.
The SAS Regiment could choose from a large arsenal of weapons including M16s, CAR 15s, Self-loading rifles, M79 grenade launchers and M203s attached to the bottom of the M16s, silenced Stirling sub-machine guns (mysteriously purchased from the United Kingdom), General Purpose Machine Guns, Bren guns, combat shotguns, a wide variety of pistols, Claymore mines, M79 40mm grenade launchers and grenades. The Australian SAS wore uniforms similar to US special forces of tiger stripes on olive-drab greens.
Usually target areas were four map grid squares in size with one of them designated as a ‘safety grid’ or emergency extraction. Insertion of the teams was usually performed at dusk from a troop helicopter escorted by helicopter gunships. At a signal from the leader, the troop carrier and gunship would perform a 180 degree turn, sink down to fly nap of the earth to the designated drop off point.
The helicopters used by the Australian SAS teams were from 9th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who had been deployed to Vietnam since mid-1966. Their aircraft were based at ‘Kanga pad’, Nui Dat. The men of the SAS and the 9th Squadron developed a close bond during their time in Vietnam with the SAS coming to rely on the bravery and skill of the helicopter crews to save their lives.
Once on the ground the Australian SAS troops tried to outthink their enemy staying away from high traffic areas and choosing the hardest routes their designated targets. This path of least resistance policy increasing their chances of going undetected. The SAS troops would during peak enemy activity times (1100–1500 hours (known as Pak Time), conceal themselves, watching and recording enemy movements to gather valuable intelligence.
Once Pak Time was over they would move out and reach their night ‘laager’ position where they would execute ‘sensory recon’ by fanning out to form a rough extended perimeter. Then after a meal they’d conceal themselves and sleep in their hidden locations. Silence was maintained throughout communication being achieved by tugging a string strung out of fishing line. Stealth was maintained throughout a mission, sometimes the men would move only around 500 metres a day to remain concealed and undetected.
On one mission, an SAS NCO inadvertently crept into a Viet Cong jungle firing range, its alley cut deep through dense undergrowth. He remained there for three days until it was safe to leave. Another man found himself in the dubious position off being in a bush while a Viet Cong soldier relieved himself over it.
Inevitably the Australian SAS Sabre Squadrons came into close contact actions with the Viet Cong earning themselves the distinction of achieving the highest kill ratio of any Vietnam serving unit of its kind since the French Indo China War accounting for at least 500 killed in action without loss. One SAS soldier was, however, killed after falling from a helicopter extraction rope.
Australian successes and tactics were soon copied by other in theatre units including the US Army Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LLRPs) and personnel of the Australian SAS units taught their skills to pupils at the MACV Recondo (Reconnaissance Commando) School at Nha Trang in September 1966.
