The Helicopter War
A
large scale revolt in Brunei in December 1962 led the Sultan of Brunei
to appeal for British Assistance. No.42 Royal Marine Commando were flown
in from their base in Singapore and backed up by Bristol Belvedere helicopters
of No 66 Squadron RAF, and HMS Albion which had been exercising in the
area at the time. The Commando's landed by the carriers' Westland Whirlwind
helicopters were No 40 and No 3 Royal Marine Commando brigade. Albion was
later joined by the HMS Bulwark. The insurgents were dispersed in one month,
but another crisis soon arose as brunei was not included in the newly formed
Federation of Malaya and Indonesia threatened confrontation, including
a continuation of the effort started by the north brunei Liberation Army.
By February 1964, RAF and Royal Navy Helicopters including some Westland
Wessex operating from bases in Sarawak and Sabah to assist Army and Marine
detachments fighting guerilla forces infiltrated by Indonesia over its
one thousand mile frontier with Malaysia.
In
Borneo, the helicopter played a major role in fortifying the frontier and
maintaining the frontier strong points by airlifting supplies in. They
also airlifted troops into interception points against retreating Indonesian
and guerilla forces. Armed with wire-guided anti-tank missiles they engaged
hill-top positions held by the Indonesian forces, their armour and vehicles.
Using these ambush techniques the Gurkhas were able to ambush the retreating
Guerillas and usually inflict heavy casualties with little loss. The helicopters
saw also very effective use as CASEVAC aircraft and in the vast tracts
of jungle was an invaluable tool for the British forces.
|
|