operation

720th

Operation PADDINGTON
10 July to 27 July 1967
~ 720th Military Police Battalion Reunion Association ~ Vietnam History Project ~
This Page Last Updated 8 March 2008

It was a joint search and destroy operation conducted from 10 July through 27 July, 1967, by elements of the 1st Brigade, 9th Infantry Division, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1st Royal Australian Task Force, and ARVN (Army of The Republic of Vietnam), and Vietnamese Marine units near Long Giao and Nui Dat.

From 8 to 16 July 1967 the 720th MP Battalion became the first U.S. Military Police unit in Vietnam to utilize the V100 Commando Armored Car during Operation PADDINGTON.

Two V100 Commando cars, one armored jeep and one sandbagged gun jeep reported to the base camp of the 1st Australian Task Force (1-ATF).

The three teams, of four MPs were headed by, SGT James L. Talbert of A Company, SGT William G. Albright of C Company, and SGT Donald R. Dellecese of the 615th MP Company, under the direction of 1LT Gordon L. Locke of A Company.

9th ID

11th ACR

1st-AT

1st LOG

18th Bde.

Their mission was to provide resupply convoy escorts to the forward base camp at Xuyen Moc in direct combat support of the 9th Infantry Division and the Royal Australian Forces.

In accomplishing their assigned mission, the MPs found their tasks to be a bit more difficult than initially anticipated. The major problem was the rains which turned the roads into almost impassible quagmires, especially the last eleven miles of the route which was little more that a dirt path between rice paddies. All along this stretch of road, the 15th and 69th Engineers, 1st Log Command, and the Australian Engineers, made valiant efforts to put the road in serviceable condition, at times resorting to portable bridges to negotiate sections of the road washed away by rain. Despite all these efforts, many drivers found themselves operating through axle deep mud.

During their stay in the field, the V100 crews had a wide variety of escorts, from small eight vehicle convoys to 200 vehicle convoys of five ton tractor-trailers loaded with bulldozers, earth movers and other engineering equipment. The majority of the cargo carried by these convoys consisted of mail, food, ammunition, medical supplies, and other essential tactical equipment coordinated and delivered by the 1st Logistics Command.

To take full advantage of the V100 Commando cars capabilities, its position in the convoy varied as to needs. At times it was lead vehicle while at others it trailed the convoy, acting both as rear security and wrecker retriever using its muscle to extricate vehicles which had become immobile in the mud. The Commando was found capable of pulling up to and even beyond its 7&1/2 ton weight with its winch. At one point a bogged down bulldozer was recovered by a Commando.

1LT Locke flew over the convoys in a Royal Australian Forces helicopter, giving spot reconnaissance by radio and noting any problems in the convoy such as a stalled vehicle. Because of his excellent vantage point, 1LT Locke also provided an additional means of securing the convoy.

On July 16 1967, the MP crews returned to the 720th MP Battalion area with their Commandos. The V100 Commando proved to be an effective and efficient machine for the Military Police functioning in the role of direct support of combat elements.

WANTED: Information, stories or photographs from Operation Paddington, please contact the History Project Manager via the Email Link at the top of the 8 July Time Line page.

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