Post by aghart on Apr 3, 2024 14:38:35 GMT
23 people were sat down and 26 linked via Zoom for the April 2024 branch meeting.
Minutes of the March 2023 meeting were available to view and read out for the benefit of those on Zoom.
A letter of thanks from the Weymouth Veterans Hub (£200 donation) was available to view.
Dave Larcombe gave a detailed account of the Korean war veterans visit to Buckingham Palace.
The branch wreath that will be laid on our behalf by the RTR bikers in Normandy (D-Day 80) in June 2024 was available to view (see photo)
Recap of activity- RTRA sponsored Church Service & Curry Lunch, Memorial service for General Sir Antony Walker, Visit to Hilary Duggan (daughter of Sgt Ronald Essex).
Forthcoming activity- ANZAC Day service at Weymouth, 25th April 2024, Ex Tiger Service at Portland, 26th April, Journey to Paignton Devon and overnight stay, 27th April. Ex Tiger Service at Torcross/Slapton Sands, 28th April.
Chris Lock gave an update on the Ex Tiger-service at Portland. The RN heritage flight at RN Yeovilton will stage a fly past and drop poppies, it is hoped that the Fairy Swordfish will be available on the day, but a Westland Wasp helicopter is on standby just in case.
The meeting closed and the guest speaker introduced.
Brigadier (retired) Stephen White gave a fantastic presentation on the use of Centurion Tanks in Vietnam by the Australian Army.
He did this by concentrating on one individual tank ARN 169064 and its crew. He has met and heard the stories from the men who crewed this Tank in Vietnam.
The Australians initially expected to operate in Vietnam as the British operated in Malaya, but experience in the battle of Long Tan (1966) where the Australians were outnumbered by a VC force who were willing not to just stand and fight but were looking to overrun and destroy the Australian force, convinced the top brass that Tank support was needed.
We heard how the politicians were sceptical about using armour in Vietnam as it was feared they would not be able to operate in the wet boggy jungle conditions, but they eventually agreed to the deployment.
Long Tan was one of 4 major battles the Australians fought, and the only one of the four that did not have Tanks in support. Stephen showed archive film of Centurions in the Jungle, and we listened to the radio chatter of the crews recorded during actual battle situations. Lots of 20 Pounder HE & .30 Browning was used but the big boy of Tank Ammo was “Canister” which was very effective in stopping VC & NVA attacks in their tracks.
The Tanks though were not invulnerable, one loader was bent over picking up brass cases when an RPG 7 penetrated the front turret armour and the blast came across the breech block, it would have killed him if he had been stood up. Mines were a problem, but the Centurion suspension units were easy to replace, and the Tanks soon got back into action.
Stephen told how this Tank has been preserved and restored to almost factory new condition. This has been a snapshot, there was so much more. The audience was captivated. A great presentation.
Minutes of the March 2023 meeting were available to view and read out for the benefit of those on Zoom.
A letter of thanks from the Weymouth Veterans Hub (£200 donation) was available to view.
Dave Larcombe gave a detailed account of the Korean war veterans visit to Buckingham Palace.
The branch wreath that will be laid on our behalf by the RTR bikers in Normandy (D-Day 80) in June 2024 was available to view (see photo)
Recap of activity- RTRA sponsored Church Service & Curry Lunch, Memorial service for General Sir Antony Walker, Visit to Hilary Duggan (daughter of Sgt Ronald Essex).
Forthcoming activity- ANZAC Day service at Weymouth, 25th April 2024, Ex Tiger Service at Portland, 26th April, Journey to Paignton Devon and overnight stay, 27th April. Ex Tiger Service at Torcross/Slapton Sands, 28th April.
Chris Lock gave an update on the Ex Tiger-service at Portland. The RN heritage flight at RN Yeovilton will stage a fly past and drop poppies, it is hoped that the Fairy Swordfish will be available on the day, but a Westland Wasp helicopter is on standby just in case.
The meeting closed and the guest speaker introduced.
Brigadier (retired) Stephen White gave a fantastic presentation on the use of Centurion Tanks in Vietnam by the Australian Army.
He did this by concentrating on one individual tank ARN 169064 and its crew. He has met and heard the stories from the men who crewed this Tank in Vietnam.
The Australians initially expected to operate in Vietnam as the British operated in Malaya, but experience in the battle of Long Tan (1966) where the Australians were outnumbered by a VC force who were willing not to just stand and fight but were looking to overrun and destroy the Australian force, convinced the top brass that Tank support was needed.
We heard how the politicians were sceptical about using armour in Vietnam as it was feared they would not be able to operate in the wet boggy jungle conditions, but they eventually agreed to the deployment.
Long Tan was one of 4 major battles the Australians fought, and the only one of the four that did not have Tanks in support. Stephen showed archive film of Centurions in the Jungle, and we listened to the radio chatter of the crews recorded during actual battle situations. Lots of 20 Pounder HE & .30 Browning was used but the big boy of Tank Ammo was “Canister” which was very effective in stopping VC & NVA attacks in their tracks.
The Tanks though were not invulnerable, one loader was bent over picking up brass cases when an RPG 7 penetrated the front turret armour and the blast came across the breech block, it would have killed him if he had been stood up. Mines were a problem, but the Centurion suspension units were easy to replace, and the Tanks soon got back into action.
Stephen told how this Tank has been preserved and restored to almost factory new condition. This has been a snapshot, there was so much more. The audience was captivated. A great presentation.