Australia’s military operations in the Republic of South Vietnam began in 1962 with advisers and expanded into combat operations from 1965. Most combat forces withdrew by 1972, and the final embassy guard left Saigon in 1973. RAAF personnel returned in 1975 as Saigon was falling.
From 1962, Australian military operations in South Vietnam began with a small Army training team advising South Vietnamese forces. In 1965, Australia sent the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). In 1966, Australia expanded its commitment with the 1st Australian Task Force at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province, supported by a logistics base at Vung Tau.
Australian forces carried out patrols, ambushes, cordon-and-search operations, artillery support, air support, transport, medical evacuation and naval operations. Much of the fighting aimed to disrupt North Vietnamese forces and the Vietcong, protect local areas and support South Vietnamese and allied operations.
During planned operations and while out on patrol, Australians engaged with North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces in many major actions, with the loss of many lives and many more wounded.
Australia withdrew most of its combat forces by 1972. Its formal military involvement ended in 1973, after the final embassy guard platoon left Saigon. In 1975, RAAF personnel and aircraft returned to support evacuations from South Vietnam. This included Operation Babylift, which brought Vietnamese children to safety before the Fall of Saigon.
