Anyone got any info on 174-444 in Vietnam?

[Disco95]

Hi guys, I recently purchased this vehicle for restoration. The registry shows my chassis
number as matching ARN 174-444 and suggests that the vehicle did some time in Vietnam.
Does any one know where I can look for more information?
Cheers,
Sean 

[Mick_Marsh]

Interesting. The ARN list has this note:

Appears in Vietnam MP Reports (Accidents, stolen etc), 1970-71. Note that vehicle was not sold to NZ Army.

[Disco95]

Yes I read that also.
I was hoping for more. Where would I find more history on my new landy?

Sean

[FFRMAN]

Yes I read that also.
I was hoping for more. Where would I find more history on my new landy?

Sean

Well now that's the joy of owning ex military land rovers, there is no one specific place, just start searching and follow leads. Start with google search of units that deployed to SVN, some of their home pages have links to photo albums. That's how I found mine, then shoot them an email....

[Carzee]

  Hi Sean - my apologies as I have been off the web, off the grid completely on a trip and just arrived home today.

Well, congrats, a, for identifying 174-444 and, b, for living in Vincentia/Hyams. Top spot.

174-444 [ chassis 25328129D ] is a great find because it has a lot of documented info and unit service photos in-country as well -the jackpot!!

This has not happened for a couple of years and when it happens it makes us all very happy. Just before ANZAC Day too. Cheers.

This 109WB GS census 6028 did indeed go to SVN. It has a departure date and a return date. It has a recorded traffic accident and also a incident leading to a theft/illegal use report. It was also logged into a Vungers restricted/secured area, ie, a guard post log of every vehicle entering and leaving and it also noted who the vehicle belonged to.

These are the specific notes: (this not a summary of the docs, this is all the info verbatim)

Departed 17nov1969 Brisbane with 8RAR Troops, arrived 28nov1969 at 2AOD at Vung Tau.
DLP Provo logbook entry: "14apr1970, driver 1Fd Hosp."
Accident: MP report "MVA 14aug1970, attention 1 Fd Hosp."
also MVA when stolen: "hit concrete pole on Le Loi Street in Vung Tau on Sunday 31jan1971 at 2030hrs."
Returned to Australia 18dec1971 on HMAS Sydney (see note ** below). Disembarked 4RAR Troops at Townsville then proceeded to Sydney to unload full cargo of vehicles etc. 174-444 transferred/allocated to 1Aust Field Hospital Ingleburn NSW.

** Note that this voyage was somewhat historic: Canberra had announced that the Australian Task Force was withdrawing from South Vietnam. HMAS Sydney fired a 21 gun salute and held a farewell parade on deck at 1200hrs 08dec1971 at Vung Tau. The Aust. Ambassador to SVN, and the SVN President Nguyen Van Thieu were present to officially "thank the Australian Forces for their task in South Vietnam."

Lest We Forget.

[Mike C]

DLP = De Long Pier at Vung Tau, ie where Jeparit tied up most trips.

Also recorded at DLP on 20 April 71.

Mike

[Ravvin]

Anyone know if De Long Pier was actually named after someone or was somebody having a joke?
Is there also a De Short Pier?
Sounds like something one of our lot might do.

[Carzee]

Could be some humour in the name
Google searches reveal it was a corporation that patented the pre-fab floating pier that rises or falls with the tide. Where would modern rec boat marinas be without the idea...

The piers were subject to sabotage attempts by enemy swimmers in other ports. Not sure about Vungers.

This GS and its nexus with DLP shipping, casualty medivac, traffic, MPs, etc, certainly would make for a good story board.

What is the current condition of the vehicle? Is it 'on road'?
Does the vehicle still have good nomenclature and other ID plates in the pgr side of the dash?

edit - just looking at the photos, seems to be a sort of non-tech inspection.

And that Kombi: nowadays the dollar value of that split-screen Kombi would probably be equal to the LRs combined.

[Mick]

Hi Carzee,

The Kombi would be worth a small fortune - who wouldn't love one ? 😎

[Disco95]

Hey guys,
Thanks so much Mike. That info is just gold!
I picked her up a week ago from a guy that had it sitting in the shed for a bit. Apparently the dude that he bought it from had died (not in it I hope).
She's in pretty good nick, Id say it was a daily driver. it has a rego sticker from 2007, and was driven around Oz.....
Thankfully the prior owner was a hoarder and I still have most of the original army bits, including 3 seats from the rear.
It has the original engine which was supposed to be running before the gearbox died. The box has been removed and rebuilt, or at least there is a replacement box which was rebuilt and not yet fitted, plus an additional box and transfer which may even be the original?
Anyhow, I reckon I can have her running pretty quickly if I wish, but I'd like to strip her down properly first.
It looks like she's had 4 coats of differing red paint since the olive drab.
Chassis and 90% of the body is rust free!
I'm only going to need to replace the entire passenger door.
Also it has a few strange mods that will be easy to rectify and a hard top that I need to replace.
Damn good buy for a grand I reckon.
Once I figure out how to do it I will post up some pics.
Sean.