The Secretary
of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the Meritorious Unit Commendation
to RAN Clearance Diving Team Three for service as set forth in the
following citation:
"For meritorious achievement while conducting defence
and surveillance operations in the harbors of Vung Tau, Cam Ranh Bay,
Qui Nhon, and Nha Trang, in the Republic of Vietnam during the period
19 February through 30 June 1967.
As a part of the Inshore Undersea
Warfare Group ONE, Western Pacific Detachment, the Royal Australian
Navy Clearance Diving Team THREE displayed well-coordinated effort
and exemplary performance of duty during the planning and establishment
phase of the counterinsurgency operations. Although operating in an
environment where the United States Navy had virtually no past experience,
detachment personnel were instrumental in denying enemy forces freedom
of movement within assigned harbors.
Harbor Defence units detected,
boarded and searched large numbers of suspect junks and craft, contributing
significantly to the curtailment of acts of sabotage and the flow
of enemy supplies. Through their initiative, versatility, reliability
and professional competence, the officers and men of the Royal Australian
Navy Clearance Diving Team THREE reflected great credit upon themselves
and the Royal Australian Navy, and upheld the highest traditions of
the naval service."
Nominal Lists
First
contingent
February 5th 1967 - August 29th 1967
Officer-in
- Charge
Lieutenant M. T. E. Shotter RAN
Petty Officer
R 52167 POCD B. V. Clark
Leading
Seamen
R57829 LSCD P. Boettcher
R62377 LSCD P. C. Kember
Able Seamen
R93876 ABCD G. D. Lassau
R93888 ABCD P. A. Magnuson
Second
contingent
August 12, 1967 - February 11, 1968
Officer-in-Charge
Lieutenant R. J. Burns, GM, RAN
Petty Officer
R37368 POCD R. A. Donne
Leading Seamen
R93186 LSCD M. J. Currie
R58122 LSCD B. A. Blake
Able
Seamen
R63807 ABCD D. C. Trompp
R94154 ABCD P. J. Zegenhagen
Third
contingent
February 11, 1968 - September 3, 1968
Officer-
i n -Charge
Lieutenant W. D. H. Lees RAN
Petty
Officer
R56583 POCD W. H. Ellery
Leading Seaman
R56898 LSCD D. Winckle
Able
Seamen
R64433 ABCD J. B. Branch
R94395 ABCD R. Cocks
R64198 ABCD J. R. Henry
Fourth
contingent
August 12, 1968 - March 4, 1969
Officer-
in-Charge
Lieutenant C. J. Littleton RAN
Petty
Officers
R51893 POCD R. J. Cox
R52721 POCD B. W. Wilson
Leading
Seaman
R94107 LSCD D. N. Rhook
Able
Seamen
R94402 ABCD C. L. Darling
R94851 ABCD R. H. Spicer
Fifth
contingent
February 10, 1969 - August 21, 1969
Officer-in-Charge
Lieutenant A. A. Davis RAN
Petty
Officers
R50410 POCDJ. R. Brumley
R51758 POCD A. V. Rashleigh
Able Seamen
R62189 ABCD M. H. Ey
R64687 ABCDJ. L. Garrett
R95038 ABCD A. J. Sherlock
Sixth
contingent
August 12, 1969 - March 10, 1970
Officer- i n -
Charge
Lieutenant A. Donald RAN
Petty Officers
R54635 POCD B. J. Bailey
R51305 POCD J. Thompson
Leading Seaman
R63936 LSCD B. J. Bullock
Able Seamen
R65093 ABCD R. A. Barclay
R94293 ABCDJ. C. Pocklington
Seventh
contingent
March 10, 1970 - October 29, 1970
Officer-in-Charge
Lieutenant R. S. Blue RAN
Chief Petty Officer
R36395 CPOCDJ. M. Dollar
Petty Officer
R54055 POCDJ. W. Kershier
Leading Seaman
R66029 LSCD R. L. Steer
Able Seamen
R63 109 ABCD C. Kingston
R62713 ABCD B. K. Wojcik
(Killed June 22, 1970)
R93944 ABCD J.
A. Aldenhoven
joined July 8, 1970
Eighth contingent
October 14, 1970 - May 5,
1971
Officer- in -
Charge
Lieutenant B. W. Linton, BEM, RAN
Chief Petty Officer
R49435 CPOCDJ.J. Gilchrist
Petty Officer
R94081 POCD P. C. Narramore
Able Seamen
R95851 ABCD L.J. Digney
R64620 ABCD A. L. Ey
R94207 ABCD B. J. Furner
A total of 49 Clearance Divers had officially served in South Vietnam during the period February 1967 through to May 1971. Many years later it was revealed that six members of CDT1 had made a brief visit to the Saigon/Nha Be area during May and June '66. Their short 'visit' has never been officially acknowledged by Government authorities.
They were:
L/CDR Alistair Cuthbert
POCD John Kershler
LSCD Harry Brankstone
LSCD Derek Bartholomai
ABCD John Pocklington
ABCD Paul Wright
On arrival back on Australian soil, Clearance Diving Team 3 was officially disbanded, with the proviso "to be reformed again at the discretion of the Australian Naval Board".
A Summary of CDT 3 Statistics 1967 - 1971
Ship's Searched: 7,573
Major Diving Tasks: 153
Explosive Devices removed from Ships: 78
Ordnance destroyed (unpredictable explosive items) : 42,000
Special Operations: 68
Casualties: 1 killed - 1 wounded
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