During the Vietnam War, the task of moving, supplying and maintaining Australian armed forces in South Vietnam was shared between:

• The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
• Civilian aircraft – mainly Qantas
• Ships from the Australian National Line (ANL)The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) – doing most of the work.

The vessel that carried out the most transport duties to and from Vietnam was the former aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney amusingly known as "The Vung Tau Ferry.".