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 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.
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. 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.
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.
See also Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps Military history of New Zealand Military history of New Zealand in Malaysia New Zealand in the Vietnam War Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group ANZUK Commonwealth Ordnance Services in Malaya and Singapore
References
Further reading Ian McGibbon (Ed.), (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History.
External links ANZ Military Brats Singapore South East Asia Veterans Organisation RAAOC History To the Warrior his Arms A History of the RNZAOC and its predecessors