Home on Pronto in South Vietnam

Timeline and Unit locations

It's a little confusing with Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) records of service in South Vietnam.  The confusion comes from the fact that the RASigs 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:

General 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)
From 14 September 1965 and under command of 709 Sig 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
On the 1st May 1967, 110 Signal Squadron assumed responsibility for all theatre communications held and provided by 145 Signal Squadron in South Vietnam.  The Squadron remain in South Vietnam until March 1972, with the following Signal 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 127 Signal Squadron

Members worked on fixed communication installation tasks but were normally detached to HQ AFV or Force Signals for temp duty in Vietnam and therefore the unit does not appear on the records for service in Vietnam.


Task Force Signals

103 Signal Squadron
May 1966 - April 1967

104 Signal Squadron (SHQ/Admin Tp, 501 Sig Tp (Comcen) and 582 Sig Tp (Radio)
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 Small Ships (Engineers) and in Headquarter roles.


Pronto in SVN Book   Pronto in South Vietnam   Pronto in SVN Book

The following Web Book "Pronto in South Vietnam 1962-1972" details the History of RASigs in South Vietnam:

Index/Foreward (PDF)

Chapter 1 - Early Days (PDF)

Chapter 2 - 709 Signal Troop (PDF)

Chapter 3 - Force Signals (PDF)

Chapter 4 - Task Force Signals (PDF)

Chapter 5 - Specialist Signals - Four parts, as follows;

Part 1 - 547 Signal Troop (PDF)

Part 2 - Detachment 152 Signal Squadron (PDF)

Part 3 - 32 Small Ship Squadron (PDF) 

Part 4 - Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (PDF)

Chapter 6 - Action in May 1968 (PDF)

Chapter 7 - Improvements (PDF)

Chapter 8 - Mid Term (PDF)

Chapter 9 - Closing Down (PDF)

Attachment A (PDF) Final AFV Messages, Chronology - RASigs in Vietnam, List of Terms, List of Locations, List of RASigs Units and their OC's - SOSigs (CSO, AFV), Honours and Awards to Signals in Vietnam and the History of the Signals in Vietnam Painting.

Attachment B (PDF) List of those that served in Signal Units in South Vietnam. 

Attachment C (PDF) List of those that served in AAAGV.

Note: Small number of names missing that served with non RASigs units.  See Chapter 5, Part 3 for list that served with 32 Small Ship Squadron and Chapter 5, Part 4 for list that served with Australian Army Trianing Team Vietnam.  Also Attachment C  for list of RASigs that served with Australian Army Assistance Group Vietnam.


See Signals at the Battle of Coral Balmoral Website
104 Sig Sqn, 110 Sig Sqn and 547 Sig Tp in support of 1ATF (Forward).
All involved awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG).

RASigs Battle of Coral Balmoral


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