DESCRIPTION
A 5RAR search and destroy operation on the eastern side of the Long Hais, a long standing VC base area. 103 Fd Bty in direct support from a FSB south of Dat Do.
131 SURVEY
Establish a BP in the gun area by 181200 H Feb. Survey party travelled with gun party of 103 Fd Bty. They returned by air from the FSB at 181600 H. The party limited to 15 persons and 900 lb stores. FSB positioned at YS 479564.
Around the end of Feb, beginning of March the “old hands” moved from their 5 RAR lines and moved to the western side of the taskforce, in the US 2/35th compound.
A total of nine men moved out with 103 Fd Bty RAA on 18 Feb, to a gun position in YS 4856. On 19 Feb a traverse from the stn in YS 4657 carried theatre survey to the battery centre. Infantry protection was provided by 5 RAR. Also on 19 Feb a reconnaissance of a new gun area in YS 4854 was carried out.
PS Sadler, Doc. 7 Ch 4, Survey Sect. Part C
To have carried theatre survey to the new gun portion from the old, on 20 Feb, would have involved a 3500 m traverse, at least 2000 m being through close country. As the battery's fire was not tied in with other guns at that time, it was decided to supply theatre orientation by use of the simultaneous orientation method, the trig station at NUI DAT being the master station. Once an azimuth had been determined in this way, directions were read by theodolite to several prominent features and carefully plotted on a 1:50,000 map as a resection. A short traverse was carried out from a nearby natural feature, the grid reference of which could be easily plotted and the survey mark position checked by this. The BC 103 Fd Bty RAA condoned this technique and later expressed satisfaction with the survey provided.
PS Sadler, Doc. 7 Ch 4, Survey Sect. Part C