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Aussies in Vietnam Trivia Quiz

Okay - there's enough questions about US involvement. Now it's the turn of the not so silent partner.

A multiple-choice quiz by kettenhunde. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
kettenhunde

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
81,176

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1255

Last 3 plays: Guest 115 (9/10), Guest 131 (3/10), Guest 49 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the standard issue Australian infantry weapon during the Vietnam War? Hint

L1A1 SLR

M16

M14

SMLE .303

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Question 2 of 10

2. The Victoria Cross is the highest Military Award (equivalent to the Medal of Honor) for an Australian soldier. How many Victoria Crosses were awarded during the Vietnam War? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the first Australian Army unit to be committed to Vietnam? Hint

The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV)

1st Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers

1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment

1 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment

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Question 4 of 10

4. What was the name of the Australian Special Forces unit that was known as "Ma Rhung" - Phantoms of the Jungle? Hint

The Special Air Service Regiment (SAS)

Z Force

1 Commando Company

The Parachute Regiment

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which Australian Prime Minister during the Vietnam War disappeared and was presumed drowned at Portsea Beach, Victoria in 1966? Hint

Robert Menzies

Edmund Barton

John Gorton

Harold Holt

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Question 6 of 10

6. What type of tank did the Australians deploy in Vietnam? Hint

Challenger

Leopard I

Centurion

M26

7. What was the name of the rubber plantation in Phuoc Tuy Province where Delta Company, 6 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) encountered what was estimated to be an NVA Regiment on 18 August 1966? Hint

Binh Ba

Long Tan

Nui Dat

Hoa Long

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Question 8 of 10

8. What were the Huey Helicopter Gunships used by the Australian Forces known as? Hint

Flying Tanks

Bushwhackers

Wallaby Airways

Bushrangers

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the name of the only Australian "Light Horse" unit to serve in Vietnam? Hint

10th Light Horse

Prince of Wales Light Horse

Princess Patricia's Light Horse

2nd Guards Light Horse

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who was the Australian Prime Minister who, on winning the election in 1972, ended Australia's commitment to Vietnam? Hint

Malcolm Fraser

Gough Whitlam

John Gorton

Robert Menzies

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 12 2024 : Guest 115: 9/10
Nov 11 2024 : Guest 131: 3/10
Oct 27 2024 : Guest 49: 2/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the standard issue Australian infantry weapon during the Vietnam War?

Answer: L1A1 SLR

The L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR) was made under licence at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in Australia and was based on the Belgian FN. The SLR was a semi-automatic, gas operated weapon that fired the NATO 7.62mm round from a 20 round magazine. It was preferred over the M16 by Australian troops because of its greater stopping power (usually one hit - one kill).

It could be converted to automatic fire (by grinding down the safety sear) but became hard to control. The SLR served the Australian Army for nearly 30 years before being replaced by the Austeyr 5.56mm rifle.

2. The Victoria Cross is the highest Military Award (equivalent to the Medal of Honor) for an Australian soldier. How many Victoria Crosses were awarded during the Vietnam War?

Answer: 4

The four VC winners were all members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), the most highly decorated Australian unit of the Vietnam War.

3. What was the first Australian Army unit to be committed to Vietnam?

Answer: The Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV)

The AATTV was the most highly decorated Australian unit to tour Vietnam. It was formed when the Australian Government sent "Military Advisers" to SVN in 1963 and officially disbanded in 1972, when Government policy changed and it was decided that a gradual withdrawal should take place.

4. What was the name of the Australian Special Forces unit that was known as "Ma Rhung" - Phantoms of the Jungle?

Answer: The Special Air Service Regiment (SAS)

The SAS had honed their jungle warfare skills in the Malaya/Borneo campaigns and were famous for their ability to conduct long range recon and ambush patrols. One stunning fact is that they lost very few (2-3) to direct enemy contact during the whole war.

5. Which Australian Prime Minister during the Vietnam War disappeared and was presumed drowned at Portsea Beach, Victoria in 1966?

Answer: Harold Holt

Holt's body was never found and many theories have surfaced - from a shark attack, to a covert operation involving a Chinese submarine!

6. What type of tank did the Australians deploy in Vietnam?

Answer: Centurion

The British made Centurion tank was introduced to the Australian Army in the late 1950s and replaced by the German made Leopard I in the mid 1970s.

Answer: Long Tan

D Company, 6RAR was awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation for its gallant stand against overwhelming odds. It is estimated that at least 253 NVA/VC were killed for the loss of 18 Australian KIA and a number wounded.

8. What were the Huey Helicopter Gunships used by the Australian Forces known as?

Answer: Bushrangers

These heavily armed UH1Bs carried forward firing 7.62mm miniguns, 2.75" multi-barelled rocket launchers and twin 7.62mm GPMG M60s on each door.

9. What was the name of the only Australian "Light Horse" unit to serve in Vietnam?

Answer: Prince of Wales Light Horse

The "Light Horse" unit used M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers.

10. Who was the Australian Prime Minister who, on winning the election in 1972, ended Australia's commitment to Vietnam?

Answer: Gough Whitlam

Whitlam was elected on the platform of "It's time for a change" and had made commitments during the campaign to withdraw Australian troops from Vietnam. Whitlam is the only Prime Minister in Australian history to be dismissed from office - 11 November 1975.

Source: Author kettenhunde

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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