5 Advanced Ordnance Depot

5 Advanced Ordnance Depot (5 AOD) was a short lived Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps and Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps combined Depot in Singapore 1970 to 1971.

5 Advanced Ordnance Depot
Active1 March 1970 – August 1971
Country Australia
 New Zealand
BranchRAAOC
RNZAOC
Garrison/HQSingapore
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Major N.W Spencer, RAAOC

5 AOD

As a result of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). 5 AOD was formed by Australia and New Zealand in 1970 to support the Australian and New Zealand Forces remaining in Singapore post the British withdrawal.[1]

5 AOD was set up from scratch in March 1970 and as the first order of business finding working accommodation was a priority. The Singapore authorities were unwilling to provide suitable accommodation in any of the recently vacated British facility’s, so as a temporary measure 5 AOD was housed with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC), 3 Base Ordnance Depot (3 BOD) at Alexandria and Keat Hong.[2] Eventually 5 AOD was located at Transit Shed No 4 at the Sembawang Naval Basin on 15 July 1970.

In-scaling of stores was achieved by assuming the responsibilities of the Australian Cell of 3 BOD and their existing stocks. Additional stocks were delivered direct from Australia by HMAS Jeparit. By October 1970 5 AOD was functioning as a unit.[3]

The Strength of 5 AOD in September 1970 was:

  • 10 Officers
  • 38 Other Ranks
  • 58 Locally Employed Civilians (LECs)

New Zealand strength within 5 AOD averaged two Officers and 18 Other Ranks.

The Officer Commanding go 5 AOD was:

  • Major N.W Spencer RAAOC

In 1971 the United Kingdom decided that’s its forces were to remain in Singapore and as an economy measure it would be sensible to have a combined UK, Australian and New Zealand Ordnance Depot and as a result 5 AOD ceased to exist on Aug 1971 and its responsibility, personnel and stock absorbed by the new ANZUK Ordnance Depot.[4]

  • Officer Commanding, 5AOD

See also

References
  1. Tilbrook, Major John D (1980). To The Warrior His Arms: A History of the RAAOC. The Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps Committee. pp. 556–557. ISBN 0731674863.
  2. "Ordnance Depots Numbered". British Army units from 1945. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  3. Bolton, Major J.S. (1992). A History of the RNZAOC. RNZAOC. pp. 211–212. ISBN 0477015816.
  4. Steer MBE, Brigadier Frank (2005). To The Warrior His Arms: The story of the RAOC 1918–1993. Pen and Sword Books ltd. p. 207. ISBN 1844153290.

Further reading
  • Ian McGibbon (Ed.), (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History.
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