On 27 February 1970 5RAR departed Vung Tau on board HMAS Sydney, “The Vung Tau Ferry”, for its return journey to Australia with its escort, HMAS Yarra (III), shown here.

HMAS Yarra (III), the third Australian ship to bear that name was commissioned at Williamstown Naval Dockyard on 27 July 1961. In addition to multiple manoeuvres throughout South East Asia and Japan this Modified Type 12 frigate deployed with the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve and participated in several South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) Exercises in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. As well, she at times was an escort for HMAS Sydney ferrying troops and materiel to and from Vung Tau, the Australian logistics port in South Vietnam. One of those trips was in February-March 1970 on 5RAR’s return journey to Australia onboard HMAS Sydney.

The Yarra was armed with two 4.5-inch guns, two 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns (later removed), two Limbo triple-barrelled anti-submarine mortars (one later removed), a SEACAT anti-air guided missile system and the IKARA anti-submarine missile system.

Yarra (III) was decommissioned on 22 November 1985 after a 24-year career and having steamed 714,054 nautical miles.