Series number

AWM 328

Series title

Records of 2 Advanced Ordnance Depot (2 AOD) -Vietnam

Series contents date range

1965 – 1972

Extent

6.3 metres

Access conditions

Subject to the Archives Act (1983)

Custodial agency

Australian War Memorial

Agency controlling

Australian War Memorial

Function and Provenance

Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War spanned ten years from 1962 to 1972.

At its peak the Australian Army’s commitment to Vietnam stood at a Task Force consisting of three infantry battalions and supporting arms, a logistic support group (1 ALSG) and the Australian Army Training Team attached as advisors to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.  These forces were controlled by Headquarters Australian Force Vietnam (HQ AFV), based in Saigon.

The initial deployment of Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC) personnel in the Vietnam War occurred in May 1965 in Bien Hoa Province.  This ordnance group consisted of a headquarters, a movement control section, an engineer detachment, elements from other corps  (providing medical and dental, stores, repair support, rations and fuel), and included 18 RAAOC personnel who were expected to provide the full range of ordnance supply support.  Following this initial deployment the RAAOC became  responsible for the provisioning, receipt, storage and issue of all army items of supply.  It also provided such services as ammunition, repair, salvage, parachute maintenance, printing, laundry and bakery facilities.

In April 1966, Headquarters 2 Company Ordnance Depot deployed to Vietnam to provide ordnance support to the AFV.  Its subunits were, 13 Ord Sup Con Pl, 16 Ord Veh Pl

14 Ord Stores Pl, 18 Ord Dep Ldy Sect, 15 Ord Ammo Pl, 19 Ord Sup Con Pl and 20 Ord Stores Pl.  In November 1967, the unit was renamed 2 Advanced Ordnance Depot.

In the period to 1971 the main elements of RAAOC support to the AFV were 2 Advanced Ordnance Depot (2 AOD) and 1 Ordnance Field Park (1 OFP).  The 1 OFP, located at Nui Dat in the forward echelon of the AFV, was responsible for the supply of Task Force units (up to 30 day holdings): 2 AOD, located at Vung Tau, being responsible for the re-supply of 1 OFP and several stores sections attached to workshops units in the Vung Tau area, HQ AFV and the RAAF were supplied on a “retail” basis.  The stock holding of 2 AOD was in the vicinity of 16,000 line items across the full range of ordnance stores, except small craft and aircraft spares.

The records of 2 AOD were amongst the major transfer of records, which occurred between November 1981 and March 1982, from the Department of Defence to the Australian War Memorial, relating to the Vietnam War.  The consignment was accessioned as OW 82/11.  They formed part of a larger series which was designated as AWM 100 in the 1980’s.

Since 1999 Official Records staff have removed subseries from AWM 100 and registered each of them as a separate series of records.  The records of

2 AOD were added to the RecordSearch database and the series was redesignated AWM 328 in March 2004.

Content

AWM 328 contains the records created and maintained by 2 AOD during its service in Vietnam.  Much of AWM 328 are paper files and documents and consist of a variety of records concerning the operation, management and administration of 2 AOD in Vietnam.

Researchers should note that the organisation of 2 AOD, and 1 OFP, was changed on 15 September 1971 in preparation for AFV’s return to Australia.  On this day 1 OFP became a ‘special to purpose unit’, assuming ordnance support responsibility for the AFV from 2 AOD for all functions except Group 1 (Veh), Group 3 (Clo), and 4 Sub Depot (Returned Stores).  The aim of the re-organisation was to allow 2 AOD to outscale stock and close down, unhampered by its previous role of supply and issue.  Refer record AWM 320 item R128/1/1.  Also refer to plans to establish a Forward Ordnance Company to replace 2 AOD, record AWM320 item R579/1/1.

System of arrangement and control

The system of arrangement and control is the original Department of the Army filing system as used when the records were created.  AWM328 contains registered records.  The registered records have a three-part number conforming to the Department of the Army Registry Classification of Correspondence Catalogue.  The first number represents the primary topic of the item, the second and third number refines the topic further in particular the third number representing the sequential file number for the record subject.  Item numbers are preceded by the letter ‘R’.

Using the series

Each item in the series is recorded on the RecordSearch database which researchers can access via the Internet.  Further assistance in finding relevant information may be gained from related series of records (click on series links at the bottom of this page).

Sources

AWM file, series dossier AWM 328.

Tilbrook, John D, (1989) To the warrior his arms: a history of the ordnance services in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Army

Ordnance Corps Committee, Canberra.