1RAR departs for Vietnam
1RAR departs for Vietnam On the 27th of May 1965, 1RAR departed for Vietnam on board HMAS Sydney. HMAS Sydney would go on to make a further 23 trips during the Vietnam war and earn the nickname “Vung Tau Ferry”, transporting over 16,000 Army and RAAF personnel to and from the war in Vietnam. 1RAR would operate out of the Bien Hoa Air Base with the US 173rd Airborne Brigade during its first tour of Vietnam. Initially, 1RAR was restricted to security operations defending the airbase. However, in September 1965, the Australian government lifted these restrictions, and 1RAR was able to be fully employed as a manoeuvre battalion. It participated in search and destroy missions, patrolling and security operations. 1RAR's patrol program reduced enemy activity around the Bien Hoa Airbase to an all-time low. In early 1966 1RAR was involved in Operation Crimp (8-14 January). This was a search-and-destroy operation in the Hobo Woods, north of Saigon. During Crimp, 1RAR uncovered the Cu Chi