DESCRIPTION
A 2 Brigade operation involving 1 bde 9 Div US and 1 ATF. 2 RAR and 7RAR search and destroy operation in the southern Hat Dich base area.
4Fd (108 & 161 Btys) and 2/35th Arty US would be in direct support from FSB Berryman in the bush some 19km NNW of the Taskforce
On the 10th Jan 108 Fd Bty moved into the first FSB YS4577 position close to, or at FSB Alanbrooke. No survey was required as the Bty was covering the movement of 1ATF up Route 2. They remained in this position for 4 hrs only.
A 2nd FSB, a harbour for the night, was established at YS 4583 in the Xa Bang outpost area.
131 SURVEY
At the 2nd FSB, Regimental grid was handed to 161 Fd Bty and to108 Fd Bty when it arrived from the 1st FSB near Ngai Giao.
FSB Berryman (YS3986)
Early on the 11th the Taskforce including 108 Fd Bty and 161 Fd Bty was airlifted into FSB Berryman. Late in the afternoon, radar was airlifted to the FSB while B Bty 2/35 Arty also moved into FSB Berryman.
131 SURVEY
As the location was in tall timber, theatre grid from known points could not be accessed. The 3 Btys,( 108, 161 and the 2/35) were placed on Regimental Grid along with the Radar.
Secondary Roles
Surveyors again redeployed to FSB perimeter defence and the manning of LP 31 G.
Surveyors' LP, 31 Golf southern end FSB Berryman. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
Surveyors Jimmy Menz, Marty Van Driel and Peter Fuhrmann, in LP31G, FSB Berryman. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
161 Fd Bty howitzer FSB Berryman. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
131 Radar personnel arriving at FSB Berryman. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
Column of US Armoured Cavalry passing northern perimeter of FSB Berryman. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
US tank passing Northern Perimeter LP FSB Berryman. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
L/Bdr Nick Proskurin digging in northern LP, FSB Berryman. Gnr A Morely assisting. Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold.
22. On 10 Jan Op Duntroon commenced. There were three FSBs involved during the operation, two of which required svy. FSB A at YS4577, did not require survey, was only occupied for four hours. At FSB B YS 4583, Regt grid was provided for the two batteries occupying the area. In the third FSB, BERRYMAN at YS3986, the three Btys involved, 108, 161 and B 2/35 plus the deployed radar were put on Regt grid. The original plan was to provide theatre grid, but the FSB was a relatively small clearing surrounded by high trees which made higher survey impossible. The svyrs again deployed as an LP, as C/S 31G which is now becoming well known on the Div Loc net.
131 Bty Reports Survey Section Jan ‘68
Northern LP plus hootchies FSB Berryman.
Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold
LZ adjacent to northern LP. Gnr Mick King standing.
Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold
Gnr Ernest Newbold on duty northern LP FSB Berryman.
Photo courtesy Ernest Newbold