Pronto in South Vietnam
Royal Australian Corps of Signals
The radio military appointment title for Signals is 'Pronto'.
It's a little confusing with Royal
Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) records of service in South
Vietnam. The confusion comes from the fact
that the RASigs was using the “Brick System” for Force Signals.
In many cases, Soldiers were posted to a Troop which was
under the Administration and Operational control of a Squadron.
Unfortunately, the records only reflect the Troop, not the
Squadron and therefore some books and the Vietnam Veteran Roll don’t
reflect the Signals units correctly. Signal units
in Vietnam with Administration and Operational Command, are detailed
as follows:
General Signals
709
Signal Troop (Composite including Heavy Radio, Med Radio and Sigcen)
“First Signals Unit in Vietnam” (Self-contained from 25 May 1965 until absorbed into 145 Signal Squadron)
527
Signal Troop (Additional Signals manpower)
From 14 September 1965 and under command of 709 Sig Troop until
absorbed into 145 Signal Squadron
Australian Army Assistant Group Vietnam (AAAGV) Signal Detachment
“Last Signals in Vietnam”
(12 March 1972 - December 1972)
Force Signals
145 Signal Squadron
The first elements of the Squadron arrived
in South Vietnam, 1st April 1966. The unit was
formed on the "brick" system and had a
headquarters and a number of Signal Troops as follows:
506 Signal Troop (Med Radio Relay)
520 Signal Troop (Tech Maint)
552 Signal Troop (Light Sigcen)
581 Signal Troop (Med Sigcen)
Plus
527 Signal Troop
and
709 Signal Troop
were absorbed into the Squadron structure
110 Signal Squadron
On the 1st May 1967, 110 Signal Squadron assumed
responsibility for all theatre communications held and provided by
145 Signal Squadron in South Vietnam. The Squadron
remain in South Vietnam until
March 1972, with the following Signal Troops:
503 Signal Troop (Med Sigcen)
532 Signal Troop (Med Radio)
557 Signal Troop (Tech Maint)
561 Signal Troop (Light Sigcen)
704 Signal Troop (Med Radio Relay)
709 Signal Troop (Base Comms Sig)
Individual replacements into 110 Signal Squadron became the norm after 1967 effectively replacing the “brick” system.
Special Signals
547 Signal Troop
Electronic Warfare
(EW) from 1 April 1966 - 23 December 1971
Det 152 Signal Squadron
Special Air Service (SAS) from 31 August
1966 - 15 October 1971
Det 127 Signal Squadron
Members worked on fixed communication
installation tasks but were normally detached to HQ AFV or Force
Signals for temp duty in Vietnam and therefore the unit does not
appear on the records for service in Vietnam.
Task Force Signals
103 Signal Squadron
May 1966 - April 1967
104 Signal Squadron
(SHQ/Admin Tp, 501 Sig Tp (Comcen) and 582 Sig Tp (Radio)
April 1967 - December 1971 replacing 103 Signal Squadron
Individual replacements into 104 Signal Squadron became the norm
after 1967.
Note:
A number of 145 Signal Squadron members served with 103
Signal Squadron and deployed with them on operations.
Up to forty members of 110 Signal Squadron served with 104
Signal Squadron at any given time, with some deployed on operations
also.
Other
Signals
Signals members also served with the
Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), on Small Ships
(Engineers) and in Headquarter roles.
Index/Foreward
Part 1 - 547 Signal Troop
Attachment C (PDF) List of
those that served in AAAGV.
Note: Small number of names missing that served
with non RASigs units.
See
Chapter 5, Part 3 for list that served with
32 Small Ship
Squadron and
Chapter 5, Part 4 for list that served with Australian Army Trianing Team Vietnam.
Also
Attachment C
for list of RASigs that served with
Australian Army Assistance Group Vietnam.
104 Sig Sqn, 110 Sig Sqn and
547 Sig Tp in support of 1ATF (Forward).
All involved awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry
(UCG).