direct fire when needed. The battery would continue to support allied forces throughout its entire time in Vietnam including participation in Operation Bribie in 1967, and Operation Coburg, the Tet Offensive and the Battle of Coral–Balmoral in 1968. As Australian and New Zealand combat units began to be withdrawn in keeping with US troop reductions, the battery was withdrawn in May 1971. The battery was involved in 17 major operations during their time in Vietnam. It was the longest serving Allied unit in South Vietnam after the 173rd Airborne Brigade, having been continuously deployed for six years, ten months and 21 days. Approximately 750 members of the 161st Battery served in Vietnam with a loss of 5 killed and 22 wounded. 1980s–1990s A range of new capabilities were introduced during this period. In 1986 the British designed, Australian produced 105-mm L119 Hamel Light Gun was introduced, while computerized artillery systems were introduced in 1989, and global positioning systems in 1997, which resulted in a significant increase in capability. In 1997 the French Mistral short range air defence missile was acquired, providing an anti-aircraft capability for the first time since 1961. The headquarters of 3rd Field Regiment RNZA was disbanded in 1990, with its two subordinate TF batteries remaining. Twenty-first century Today, the RNZA consists of a single regiment: 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery Regimental Headquarters HQ Battery JOST Troop 161 Battery (Close Support) – L119 Light Gun, L16A2 81mm mortar Headquarters Troop Able Troop Baker Troop Command Post Troop 163 Battery (Close Support) – L119 Light Gun, L16A2 81mm mortar Headquarters Troop Easy Troop Fox Troop Command Post Troop Members of the 16th Field Regiment formed part of the New Zealand Battalion deployed on peacekeeping operations in East Timor. The School of Artillery is active. Territorial units In addition, there are a number of Territorial Force artillery units; these were formerly units of the RNZA, but were moved into the structure of the TF battalion groups on the restructuring of the army in the late 1990s: 11(A) Battery (Auckland) (Close Support), 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Battalion Group (Amalgamated 1990s) 22(D) Battery (Wellington) (Air Defence), 7th Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Battalion Group (Disbanded 1990's) 31(B) Battery (Dunedin) 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group (Disbanded 1990s) 32(E) Battery (Christchurch) (Observation Post), 2nd Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast Battalion Group (Disbanded 1990s