July 1967 The 720th MP Battalion received its first XM706, V100 Commando Armored Cars.

8 to 16 July The 720th MP Battalion became the first MP unit in Vietnam to utilize the V-100 Commando Armored Car during Operation PADDINGTON. Two V100 Commando Cars, one armored jeep and one sandbagged jeep reported to the base camp of the Royal Australian Forces. The three, four man teams of MP’s under the command of 1LT Gordon L. Locke of A Company, were supervised 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.

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

Operation PADDINGTON was a joint search and destroy operation conducted from 8 through 27 July, 1967.

     In accomplishing their assigned mission, the MP’s 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 V-100 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 Commando cars capabilities, its position in the convoy varied as to needs. At times it was the 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.

July 16 The MP crews returned to the 720th MP Battalion area with their Commando's. The operation confirmed that the Commando proved to be an effective and efficient machine for the Military Police functioning in the role of direct support of combat elements.

     As a direct result of this in-the-field operational test, the V100 Commando Car would see extensive use by the 720th MP Battalion and numerous other military police units for convoy and escort duties throughout the Vietnam War.

V100 Losses In Combat Operations

     The History Project knows of only three 720th MP Battalion V100's that were put out of action from enemy fire.

28 April 1969 C Company V100, C54 was destroyed in combat and it's three man crew wounded during an NVA ambush on Highway QL-13 during the Quan Loi Convoy.

15 January 1970 A Company V100, bumper number unknown, was damaged in combat and two of the three man crew were wounded during an ambush of an Operation OVERTAKE Darkness Escort.

March-October 1972 A Battalion V100 was destroyed during the NVA Easter Offensive during a convoy run to Lai Khe. No further details are known as of this time.

     If you can contribute any information, photographs, stories, or know of any other incidents, please notify the History Project Manager via the Email Link on any of the V100 pages.