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
Active	1 March 1970 – August 1971
Country	Australia New Zealand
Branch	RAAOC RNZAOC
Garrison/HQ	Singapore
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]

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