Vietnam war

[Douglas Bay]

I did two stints of SIX months each into Saigon - first stint as a cadet on the AncoQueen [1966]and the second as mate on the AncoSceptre [1971], both parcel tankers.
Loading all the explosive stuff - toluene, xylene, paraxylene, naphtha, gasoil, gasoline, acrylonitrile and several lube oils in Singapore and Bangkok delivered into Saigon. Each time we rocked up at the mouth of the Saigon river, along with the pilot, out came the helicopter gunships and patrol boats to escort us up river into Saigon. Several times witnessed the US jets napalming off in the distance, whilst the shrubbery on either bank of the river for a mile or so was completely destroyed by Agent Orange. Often, the helicopter gunships on each side of the vessel would peel off and join a skirmish a few miles away firing into the dense jungle.
Once, when I was on R and R in Singapore, the Queen had a Cong bazooka/mortar shell put into her through 3 starboard tank [empty] lodging in and sinking to the bottom of 3 Centre ...filled with Toluene. The shell did not explode - fortunately - but the port of Saigon was evacuated when the vessel docked - whilst the tank was discharged and ventilated before US Navy divers went down to de-fuse it!
As both vessel were seconded by the US Navy, the crew were all paid double wages, double everything ... so that seemed worthwhile in the end!
I still paid off in debt to the company ... too many cigs and beer and trips ashore!
Hairy times those - but when you're 17 years old - it's all one massive adventure!

[Peter Eccleson]

Any one know which RFA ships went to Vietnam in the 1970's supplying Avgas?

[john walker]

Any one know which RFA ships went to Vietnam in the 1970's supplying Avgas?

In theory no RFA ships went to Vietnam as the uk was not directly involved. There is an account of one RFA ship doing a RAS in Vietnamese tetitorial waters for an American ship if I can find it I will post the link.

[happy daze john in oz]

John #43. it was only going to Vietnam and seeing some of the tunnels and other bits of the war that I took real interest.
In a museum dedicate to the war we viewed a video of the time, it was of great interest and my views on the war became clearer then.
Yes China may well have been involved but this was definitely a war between Russia and USA.

[john evanson]

sorry Tony you might be thinking of the HYRIA. I was on Hemisinus 73 - 74 and on the Nha Trang / Da Nang run a few times after the diversion to Anchorage and pre DD. Hemisinus didn't have gas tanks on deck pre DD. Incidentally Hemisinus was the "boat" that took the cannon shell into the Chef Steward's cabin...

[Tony Taylor]

sorry Tony you might be thinking of the HYRIA. I was on Hemisinus 73 - 74 and on the Nha Trang / Da Nang run a few times after the diversion to Anchorage and pre DD. Hemisinus didn't have gas tanks on deck pre DD. Incidentally Hemisinus was the "boat" that took the cannon shell into the Chef Steward's cabin...

John, I checked my discharge book and I signed on the Hemisinus 27/1/74 in Singapore, Captain was Eric Charles (gentleman of the first order) and it most definitely had LPG tanks on the foredeck.
I never ever sailed on Hyria. I paid off in drydock in Sasebo 23/4/74 Captain Doug Renton had joined at beginning of drydock, I paid off halfway through. The Chief Stewards cabin still had shrapnel damage visible. I knew the Chief steward who was on there when it was hit and he reckons he was very lucky as he had just walked out of his cabin when it hit.

[Dennis Billaney]

John, just a thought, contact Dennis Billaney (The Arctic Convoys thread) he lives in Saigon and may be able to glean some local knowledge that may help. Rgds

Noticed this thread in the latest newsletter and then came across the post above, so here I am…

From the OP I take it that you’re mainly looking for information specifically about direct involvement of the British MN during the war.

I can’t recall anything specific but it depends on which time frame you consider the definition “Vietnam War” falls under. Nowadays Vietnamese history books say it started shortly after the 2nd WW when the Viet Minh began their struggle for independence from France.

What is often overlooked or forgotten, is the fact that the Japanese surrender was overseen by the British Navy after they landed in Saigon 1945. Not sure how long the Brits where in Vietnam before handing it back over to the French, but obviously during that period the MN must have been present.

You may want to check out “Tommy VS Charly” or some of the other links below regarding the handover in 1945, or then the less known “secret” RAF missions over Laos. Maybe it helps pointing you in the right direction to finding more solid information involving the RMN VS Sir Charles during the “American” part of the war.

https://militaryhistorynow.com/2012/...ar-in-vietnam/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in...%E2%80%931946)
https://www.forces.net/heritage/hist...in-vietnam-war
https://www.worldhistoryblog.com/bri...etnam-war.html
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publica...inh-trail-1962
https://mekongreview.com/operation-saltmeat/
here’s a short video about the operation Saltmeat convoy from Phnom Penh to Saigon https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060034220


On a side note, to all those of you who have shared your memories and stories about you time “visiting” Vietnam during those years, thanks a lot, I really loved reading them, and very interesting too!


A short comment though regarding post #11 by Captain Kong about “the rescue of 2000 French Foreign Legionaries off Vung Tau Beach, who escaped from Dien Bien Phu”.

To me this seems a bit odd. The name Dien Bien Phu stands for many different meanings. One of them is the outcome of the French Foreign Legion, similar like that of the 6th Army in Stalingrad. The crucial similarities where a superior force was annihilated down to the last man killed or captured, were amongst others the fact that once the trap closed, THERE WAS NO WAY OUT and those trapped inside were doomed.

Of course, it is possible that some might have escaped, but 2000? And I have a hard time getting my head around how the heck they made it all the way from Dien Bien Phu down to Vung Tau? Keep in mind, we’re talking 2000km of which half would have been north of 17th parallel. Which again makes me wonder by when they would have had to make their escape at Dien Bien Phu, in order to still get under fire from Viet Minh forces once reaching Vung Tau beach?

However, I’m always willing to learn something new!

[Ivan Cloherty]

Dennis, thank you for the above, I feel sure John Walker, the originator of the thread will appreciate your post also.

[j.sabourn]

#47 Dennis finally caught. Up with the aquaintance recently discussed with you.Gave him a copy of your email , as it was happy hour was the wrong place to discuss but he said thanks for the info. So he will read it at leisure . He is well over his schedule now for return home to Vietnam , but not too perturbed . However thanks once again JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Recall as a young lad at school hearing about Dien Bien Fu just about every day.
All we understood about it was something to do with the French in Vietnam.
Funny how things like that stick in the mind.
Buit like the story of the 'Flying Enterprise' and Captain Carleson, all around similar time frames.