Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Australian Army held a LSM vessel on station in Vietnam during the Australian involvement in support of both Australian and US forces operating mainly between Saigon, Vung Tau and Cam Ranh Bay. They also visited the coastal ports of Nha Trang, Phan Rang, Qui Nhon and Da Nang plus the Mekong Delta ports of My Tho, Can Tho and Bin Thuy.

Each LSM carried a crew of 4 Officers and 47 other ranks, when on operations in Vietnam. While most of the manning was RAE, other Corps members were also part of each crew, including medical, signals and ordnance. Signallers who served with the 32 Small Ship Squadron all became experienced ship Radio Operators who adapted to ships life, working both with the RAN and Army units in Vietnamese waters, without much support from RASigs. In Vietnam, the ships were fitted with 40mm bofors gun and several machine guns for protection.

All LSM ships served in Vietnam with the "John Monash" undertaking the "Shuttlerun" between Australia and Vietnam.

32 Small Ship Squadron Headquarter (HQ) never left Australia and was located in Sydney. Once the ships sailed from their Sydney Base, operational control was RAN via the Commander Australian Fleet (COMAUSTFLT). In Vietnam waters the tasking was HQ Australian Vietnam Force (AFV) via HQ 1st Australian Logistics Support Group (1ALSG).

The unit,32 Small Ship Squadron, was disbanded in early 1972 with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to be responsible for all seagoing activities of the Defence Force since.

32 Small Ship Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and had five ships, each named after famous Australian generals, as follows:

THE SHIPS

AV1353 Harry Chauvel  (123 veterans listed on the DVA Nominal Roll)
AV1354 Brudenell White (63 veterans listed on the DVA Nominal Roll)
AV1355 Vernon Sturdee (137 veterans listed on the DVA Nominal Roll)
AV1356 Clive Steele (323 veterans listed on the DVA Nominal Roll)
AS3051 John Monash (203 veterans listed on the DVA Nominal Roll)

The only Australian LSM to sustain battle damage during the Vietnam War was the Clive Steele, attacked in the Mekong Delta in transit between Can Tho to Vung Tau on the 5 January 1969. The ship was hit by three B40 RPG rockets but lucky received no casualties. When committed to the Vietnam War, the LSMs were already old ships in need of constant maintenance. On the Clive Steele's final voyage to Vietnam in 1970 one of the bow doors fell off whilst in transit. 

All the Australian LSMs came under sniper and sporadic fire from time to time.