BATTLE OF LONG TAN - VIETNAM

[Peter Laidler]

Long Tan artillery. Notice the lovely old 105mm pack howitzer (we called them Pak-Hows) in the short trail howitzer position and the strange LBM set-up. A VERY mobile and light bit of kit and well respected replacement for the 25 Pounder. We had both in Malaya and the Kiwi gunners used to rotate through 14 light Reg RA, a composite RNZA, RA and RAA support Artillery Reg. The OC was usually a Kiwi and blokes from the Battalions would spend a week or so with them learning the intricacies of (and problems with.....) calling in artillery support. Not so simple in the monsoons if the radios are drenched!

Gil is dead right about some of the 'wars'. I was lead to believe that once something became a 'war' then the politics - and economics - changed and....... and......... That's when the accountants start running the show