Australian Army Cavalry Squadron (January 1967)

Source: Lovell, Shane. A Squadron, 3

rd
Cavalry Regiment Organization January 1967. Sentinel. 22
March 2008. http://www.mheaust.com.au/Aust/Organisation/SVN/3cav67.htm


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HQ

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HQ
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Spt
Arms
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# Weapons # Equipment
36 L3 MMG 18 M74C Turret
23 M2HB HMG
3 81mm M29 Mortar
1 M60 LMG

# Vehicles # Aircraft
37 M113A1 APC
3 M125A1 Mortar Carrier
1 M113A1 Fitter
1 M577A1 Command Vehicle

Squadron HQ Section 3 M113A1 w/ M2HB HMG, M577A1
Command Vehicle, M113A1 Fitter

Support Arms Troop 3 M125A1 Mortar Carrier, M113A1 w/
M2HB HMG

Troop HQ (x3) 2 M113A1 w/ M2HB HMG

Troop Section (x9) 2 M113A1 w/ M74C Turret w/ 2 L3 MMG,
M113A1 w/ M2HB HMG

NOTES: The Support Arms Troop according to the source was also broken down into
two sections, one with a single mortar carrier and the troops APC, and one with 2 mortar
carriers.
Australian Army Cavalry Squadron (~1970)
Source: United States Government. United States Army, Army Concept Team in Vietnam. Final Report:
Optimum Mix of Armored Vehicles for Use in Stability Operations. Army Concept Team in Vietnam,
1970.


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Spt Arms
HQ
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Mortar
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HQ
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HQ
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Lt Aid
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Admin
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APC
ACV
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# Weapons # Equipment
? L3 MMG 48 T-50 Turret
? M2HB HMG
6 81mm M29 Mortar
6 M60 LMG

# Vehicles # Aircraft
48 M113A1 APC
6 M125A1 Mortar Carrier
6 M577A1 Command Vehicle
4 M113A1 Fitter
2 1/2 Ton Truck

Squadron HQ Section 3 M113A1 APC w/ T-50 Turret, M577A1
Command Vehicle

Support Arms Troop HQ Section 2 1/2 Ton Truck

Support Arms Troop APC Section (x2) 3 M113A1 APC w/ T-50 Turret

Support Arms Troop Mortar Section
(x3)
2 M125A1 Mortar Carrier

Support Arms Troop ACV Section (x5) M577A1 Commando Vehicle

Troop HQ (x3) 4 M113A1 APC w/ T-50 Turret

Troop Section (x9) 3 M113A1 APC w/ T-50 Turret

Admin Troop

Light Aid Detachment 4 M113A1 Fitter


NOTES: The numbers for L3 and M2HB machine guns are unknown, as the exact
number L3/L3 and M2HB/L3 configurations for the T-50 turrets was not clear. All
M113A1 APCs were said to be fitted with the turret. M577A1s were known to be fitted
with M60s, and the M113A1 Fitters would have been fitted with an open M2HB. The
APC sections in the support troop were to be used to augment cavalry troops, while the
ACV sections were to be doled out to Infantry Battalion HQs when necessary as
command posts. According to the source the mortars in the M125A1 were provided by
infantry units, along with their gunners, and neither were organic to the unit. Only the
two man crew was organic to the unit. These carriers could have been standard
M113A1s based on this note.
Australian Army Rifle Battalion (~1963-66)
Source: Weller, Jac. Fire and Movement: Bargain Basement Warfare in the Far East. Boulder, CO:
Paladin Press, 2006

OFF: 3
EM: 54
OFF: 1
EM: 40


OFF: 2
EM: 79
OFF: 52
EM: 1252
HQ OFF: 2
EM: 26
OFF: 0
EM: 9
OFF: 6
EM: 182


OFF: 1
EM: 39
HQ OFF: 1
EM: 3

H&H
OFF: 15
EM: 151
OFF: 7
EM: 191
Wep
Mortar OFF: 1
EM: 18
AT D/E
OFF: 1
EM: 39
Signal
HQ


# Weapons # Equipment
4

8
106mm M40 RR
or
84mm Carl Gustav M2 RR

12 81mm M29 Mortar
? Infantry Flame Thrower
15 3.5 M20A1B1 Rocket Launcher
10 M60 MMG
80 M60 LMG
580 SLR (FN FAL) Rifle
or
M16 Rifle

140 Owen SMG
or
F1 SMG


Headquarters and Headquarters
Company


Weapons Company HQ

Mortar Platoon

Anti-Tank Platoon

Demolitions/Engineer Platoon

Signal Platoon

Rifle Company HQ (x5)

Rifle Platoon HQ (x20)

Rifle Squad (x80)

NOTES: Weapons figures are based on the number of individual weapons in the rifle
platoons and heavy weapons in the battalion and company weapons platoons provided by
the source. The personnel total for the Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters
Company is based on total personnel, and contained medical and service units not
elaborated on by the source. The Heavy Weapons Company likely has a headquarters
element not noted in the source, but has been provided in the chart based on other
personnel figures (there may have been other support units also not noted). For political
reasons concerning the conflict in Vietnam, Australian elements deployed utilized the
American 90mm M67 recoilless rifle instead of the 84mm Carl Gustav M2. The 3.5
M20 rocket launcher was also replaced early on by the 66mm M72. The Demolitions and
Engineer element also is noted to have had a number of infantry flame throwers. These
were likely of Australian or American manufacture, but details of their number and
utilization are unclear from the source. The M79 grenade launcher was also added to the
available equipment by 1968.
Australian Army Tank Squadron (~1970)
Source: United States Government. United States Army, Army Concept Team in Vietnam. Final Report:
Optimum Mix of Armored Vehicles for Use in Stability Operations. Army Concept Team in Vietnam,
1970.



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HQ
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EM: 17
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Lt Aid
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Admin
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Special
Equip
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# Weapons # Equipment
2 M2HB HMG 1 T-50 Turret
18 AN/VRC-12 Radio

# Vehicles # Aircraft
18 Centurion Mk 5/1 Tank
5 5-Ton Truck
5 3/4-Ton Truck
2 Centurion Bridge Layer
2 Centurion Dozer
2 Centurion ARV
3 M113A1 Fitter
3 M113A1 APC
1 M577A1 Command Vehicle
1 M113A1 Ambulance

Tank Squadron HQ 2 Centurion Mk 5/1, 2 M113A1 APC w/
M2HB HMG, M113A1 APC w/ T-50
Turret, M113A1 Ambulance, M577A1
Command Vehicle, 3/4-Ton Truck

Tank Troop (x4) 4 Centurion Mk 5/1

Special Equipment Troop 2 Centurion Bridge Layer, 2 Centurion
Dozer

Admin Troop 5 5-Ton Truck, 3 3/4-Ton Truck

Light Aid Detachment 2 Centurion ARV, 3 M113A1 Fitter, 3/4-
Ton Truck

NOTES: According to the source, the unit in question was authorized 2 bridge layers, but
only had one, and tank troops normally operated with only three tanks, the fourth position
rotating and being held in reserve. The Light Aid Detachment was attached to the unit
from a Regimental Aid Detachment, and therefore was likely not technically in the basic
Tank Squadron TO&E.


RAAF Air Defense Guard Flight (~September 1966)
Source: Coulthard-Clark, C.D. RAAF in Vietnam: Australian Air Involvement in the Vietnam War, 1962-
1975. Australia: Allen & Urwin, Ltd, 1995 ; Weller, Jac. Fire and Movement: Bargain Basement Warfare
in the Far East. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 2006


HQ
OFF: 1
EN: 34
OFF: 1
EM: 1
ADG
OFF: 0
EM: 11



# Weapons # Equipment
32 SLR (FN FAL) Rifle
or
M16 Rifle

3 M60 LMG
3 Owen SMG
or
F1 SMG


Platoon HQ

ADG Sections (x3+)

NOTES: ADG units were formed on a relatively ad-hoc basis, as necessary, and could
have any number of ADG sections. These units utilized standard infantry arms, but the
exact equipage is unclear from the source. Impromptu Quick Reaction Force/Quick
Reaction Team units were also formed, along with ambush patrol, from ADG assets, of
widely varying sizes and equipment layouts. The M79 grenade launcher was also added
to the available equipment as it became available to Australian forces as a whole.
New Zealand Rifle Battalion (~1963-66)
Source: Weller, Jac. Fire and Movement: Bargain Basement Warfare in the Far East. Boulder, CO:
Paladin Press, 2006

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EM: 20
OFF: 1
EM: 24


OFF: 1
EM: 53
OFF: 44
EM: 892
HQ OFF: 2
EM: 10
OFF: 0
EM: 8
OFF: 6
EM: 130


OFF: 1
EM: 39
HQ OFF: 1
EM: 5

H&H
OFF: 14
EM: 250
OFF: 6
EM: 122
Wep
Mortar OFF: 1
EM: 20
AT D/E
HQ
OFF: 1
EM: 19


# Weapons # Equipment
4 106mm M40 RR
or
120mm WOMBAT RR

8 81mm M29 Mortar
? Infantry Flame Thrower
24 3.5 M20A1B1 Rocket Launcher
14 FN MAG MMG
20 2 Mortar
48 FN MAG LMG
352 SLR (FN FAL) Rifle
96 Owen SMG
or
L2A3 SMG

96 Rifle Grenade Attachment

Headquarters and Headquarters
Company


Support Weapons Company HQ

Mortar Platoon

Anti-Tank Platoon

Demolitions/Engineer Platoon

Reconnaissance Platoon

Rifle Company HQ (x4)

Rifle Platoon HQ (x16)

Rifle Squad (x48)

NOTES: Weapons figures are based on the number of individual weapons in the rifle
platoons and heavy weapons in the battalion and company weapons platoons provided by
the source. The personnel total for the Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters
Company is based on total personnel, and contained medical and service and supply units
not elaborated on by the source. The Demolitions and Engineer element also is noted to
have had a number of infantry flame throwers. These were likely of Australian or
American manufacture, but details of their number and utilization are unclear from the
source. Some sources debate whether or not the British 2 mortar was ever in the TO&E,
and may have been a product of the author of the source inspecting organizations of New
Zealand troops still present in Malaya/Malaysia when researching the document.
Regardless, New Zealand troops deployed to Vietnam were attached to Australian rifle
units, drew from their supply stocks, and utilized the Australian TO&E and not the one
described here.