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59-1. FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Ralph
Bilsby. [May 1968]
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59-2. Command Post (CP) ARTY and AIR
at FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
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59-3. Signal Centre (SIGCEN) at FSPB Coral -
Communications equipment under ground including the AN/MGC-17 Shelter.
Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
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59-4. SIGCEN at FSPB Coral - Communications
equipment under ground including the AN/MGC-17 Shelter. Photos supplied
by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
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59-5. SIGCEN bunker. Also included
FSPB Coral Telephone Switchboard "Ebony Forward Sir" . Photos supplied by
Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
Comment:
Because of the lessons learnt from this
battle, 104 Sig Sqn and 547 Sig Tp (Plus HQ 1 ATF) were issued with
Armored Command Vehicles (ACV) so the communications equipment would not
have to be carried forward in cases and dug in. 104 Sig Sqn still has
armored vehicles today.
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59-6. Unknown manning SIGCEN bunker. Also
included FSPB Coral Telephone Switchboard "Ebony Forward Sir". Photos
supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
Information:
Future deployments 104 Sig Sqn and 547 Sig
Tp communications were deployment pre wired and mounted for quick and
protected communications. 104 Sig Sqn ACV had the Callsign
"85 Charlie" and 547 Sig Tp ACV had the Callsign
"85 Delta".
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59-7. Ralph Bilsby's FSPB Coral home under
construction. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [May 1968]
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59-8. FSPB Coral after attack 16
May. Note the shrapnel holes in the cloth line articles and trees.
Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
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59-9. Ralph Bilsby's sleeping bag with
shrapnel holes after attack 16 May. Photos supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16
May 1968]
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59-10. 104 Sig Sqn members shell shocked after
attack 16 May. L-R
Ian Crostwaite, Mal Fergusson, Hugh Hutton (lying) and ? Photos supplied
by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
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59-11. 104 Sig Sqn at field kitchen after
attack 16 May. L-R
Dave Thompson (back), ?, ?, Bob Lowick, ? and Mal Fergusson. Photos
supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
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59-12. Unknown 104 Sig Sqn 16 May. Photos
supplied by Ralph Bilsby. [16 May 1968]
Note:
See communication shelter in back ground with sandbags on the air vents to
stop light at night. Most likely the Radio Relay AN/MRC-69 from 110 Sig
Sqn.
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59-13. 1RAR with
helicopter sticks line up ready to return to Nui Dat from FSPB Coral.
Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
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59-14. 1RAR CP at
FSPB Coral. Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
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59-15. 1RAR returning to Nui Dat from FSPB
Coral. Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
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59-16. 1RAR HQ waiting at FSPB Coral for
return to Nui Dat. Photo supplied by Bob Parkyns. [1968]
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59-17. 104 and 110 Sig Sqn Vehicles lined up at
Nui Dat for the road convey to Bearcat - Start of Operation Toan Thang and
the deployment to FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Norm Munro [1968].
Information: First truck
(2.5 ton) has the AN/MGC-17 and AN/MTC-17 Shelters (Both 104 Sig Sqn).
The other truck (5 ton) the AN/MRC-69 Shelter (110 Sig Sqn). |
59-18. Vehicles lined up at Nui Dat for the
road convey to Bearcat - Start of Operation Toan Thang and the deployment
to FSPB Coral. Photos supplied by Norm Munro [1968].
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