WNW of Nui Dat) on 27-28 May. There were 10 contacts in 18 days but the battalion found and destroyed the headquarters of the Chau Due Local Force. The BC HQ Bty's appointment was upgraded in June and K.R. Hall was promoted to Major accordingly. 1 ATF Op Cung-Chung (working with Vietnamese forces to deny enemy access to populated areas) commenced on 12 June and saw infantry companies and sections of guns spread across the main population centres of the province. During July IIFFV redeployed 2/25 US Bde including A and B Btys 1/8 US Arty (105 mm) into Phuoc Tuy bringing strengths in the province to 7698 Aust Army and 6906 US Army (Aust in 4 Fd Regt totalled 385 + 103 LAD and 131 Bty attached.) On 8 July MAJ Salmon sustained a shrapnel wound whilst observing fire. MAJ K.R. Hall assumed command of 107 Bty two days later and Salmon was repatriated. In this month also, eight personnel were added to 4 Fd Regt for duty in the Air Warning Control Centre (AWCC). The TFHQ including Arty Tac deployed 9 km north of Nui Dat from 17 to 21 August 1970. MAJ K.W. Mackenzie arrived as the new BC HQ Bty with Capt T.R. Ford to replace Capt Kennedy as the TFAIO. In September, a proposal was raised to reequip 107 Bty with US 155 mm M114A1 towed howitzers to balance 1ATF Arty after 8 RAR withdrew. This was not approved as the withdrawal of 16 1 Bty RNZA in mid-1971 would require two Australian field batteries for DS of the two remaining battalions. In September 1970, CO Forward became involved in an acrimonious exchange of letters with Senator Wheeldon (ALP) who had told a Moratorium crowd that the RNZA Battery's primary contribution to the war 'had been to shell some Australians'. Forward defended 161 Bty strongly. This somewhat astounded the new BC of 161 Bty, MAJ J.M. Masters MC. Capt B.J. Campbell assumed command of 106 Bty vice MAJ Gilroy to Staff College in October 1970. This was also the time troop withdrawals began. 8 RAR was awarded the Vietnamese Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Commendation (a first for an Australian unit) just prior to its departure on 3 1 October aboard HMAS Sydney. Early in November, the NZ W Coy of 2RAR/NZ returned to Singapore without replacement. A/2/35 US Arty 155 mm SP departed Nui Dat on 21 November, ending SP support which had been provided since 1 ATF was established in 1966. A month later, C/5/42 Bty US Arty (155 mm towed) arrived at Nui Dat. With the departure of 8 RAR, 161 Bty went into general support and on 14 December, MAJ J.M. Masters MC RNZA became Operations Officer in Arty Tac whilst still continuing to command 161 Bty. Just before the Christmas cease-fire, SGT B.H. Rudduck (106 Bty) was conducting an air OP mission when the aircraft was shot at and forced down. He and the pilot escaped without injury. Both the Christmas and New Year cease-fire periods were uneventful. 4 Fd Regt (-) was in Nui Dat, 106 Bty at the Horseshoe and 161 Bty has a section 35 km ENE of Nui Dat. A Land Rover carrying four members of det 131 Div Loc Bty struck a mine in the Courtney Rubber Plantation 22 km north of Nui Dat on 3 February 1971. All soldiers were evacuated by helicopter and two repatriated to Australia. The changeover from 4th to 12th Field Regiment began on 4 February 1970 when A Bty (MAJ A.P. Williams) replaced 106 Bty who returned to Australia. The advance party from 12 Fd Regt’s HQ Bty also arrived at this time. MAJ K.W. Mackenzie assumed command of 107 Bty when MAJ Hall returned to Australia on 15 February. MAJ P.J. Pearson (12 Fd Regt) took over HQ Bty. 107 FO sig GNR P.R. Opray with 6 RAR was wounded by fragments from an RPG2 rocket during a contact on 16 February. This was the second time he had been wounded on the tour, but remained on duty till evacuated to Nui Dat.
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