Timeline - NZ's Vietnam War 1963–75

Scroll through the timeline below to look at key events relating to New Zealand's participation in the Vietnam War, 1963–1975. A plain text version of the timeline is available at the bottom of the page.

1963

• April: New Zealand civilian surgical team arrives in Vietnam, based at Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh province

1964

• June: New Zealand Army Detachment Vietnam (NEWZAD) arrives in Vietnam, based at Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong province

1965

• July: NEWZAD withdrawn from Vietnam
• July: 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery (RNZA), arrives in Vietnam, based at Bien Hoa air base as part of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade

1966

• June: 161 Battery, RNZA, comes under operational control of 1st Australian Task Force (ATF) at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province
• July: 161 Battery, RNZA, increased in strength from 4 to 6 guns
• August: 161 Battery, RNZA, involved in the Battle of Long Tan, in which they assist 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR)

1967

• April: New Zealand Services medical team arrives in Vietnam, based at Bong Son in Binh Dinh province
• May: Victor (V) Company, 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1RNZIR), deployed to Vietnam from Malaysia
• November: V Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by Victor 2 (V2) Company, 1RNZIR
• December: Whiskey (W) Company, 1RNZIR deployed to Vietnam from Malaysia

1968

• March: New Zealand infantry companies integrate with 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), to form 2RAR/NZ (Anzac) Battalion; the battalion is part of 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) based at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy province
• May: V2 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by Victor 3 (V3) Company, 1RNZIR
• November: W Company, 1st Battalion, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by Whiskey 2 (W2) Company, 1RNZIR

1969

• May: V3 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by Victor 4 (V4) Company, 1RNZIR
• November: W2 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by Whiskey 3 (W3) Company, 1RNZIR

1970

• May: V4 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by V5 (Victor 5) Company, 1RNZIR
• November: W3 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam

1971

• January: First New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam (1NZATTV) deployed at the National Training Centre at Chi Lang
• May: 161 Battery, RNZA withdrawn from Vietnam
• May: V5 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam; replaced by Victor 6 (V6) Company, 1RNZIR
• December: New Zealand Services medical team withdrawn from Vietnam
• December: V6 Company, 1RNZIR leaves Vietnam

1972

• March: Second New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam (2NZATTV) arrives at Dong Ba Thin, near Cam Ranh Bay
• December: 1NZATTV and 2NZATTV training teams withdrawn from Vietnam

1975

• March: New Zealand civilian surgical team leaves Vietnam
• April: New Zealand Ambassador to (South) Vietnam evacuated from Saigon by 41 Squadron, RNZAF; this is the last RNZAF flight out of Vietnam