Slummer and convoys
 

he brought up an interesting thing as to convoys. I can remember being in three convoys (I think) . One was heading to Duc Pho from Pleiku and one was around the Da Nag area and the third was, (Ithink) in the Chu Li area. Two of them I was riding in a 2 1/2 truck and the third I was driving the LT in a jeep. You ain't got squat for protection in a jeep. And to top it off, he wanted to drive, so I looked like the one in charge, What the F. over.
The two convoys I was in the back of a truck I remember there being a pesonnel carrier at the lead and a tank behind it.
Oh yea, I just thought of a 4th, One time we took some LRRPs from Pleiku out past the Oassis and droped them off. But that wasn't a real convoy, more like a ride in the park.
Ron

Like Ron says, 'you ain't got squat for petection in a jeep.' Still they really relied on them with m-60's for road security. I bet not many of us [including Tom Frisco on his second tour] thought about that then. On those QL-19 convoys. The convoy comanders were usually LT's in jeeps. I was in Ankhe when they brought in one that was hit by a mortar. The LT's helmet was still in the wreckage. I didn't know him but the people around me who did felt real bad. One of the sargents kept the helmet.

Another thing. If they are using APC'S and tanks for security in a convoy. THAT'S A REALLY BAD SIGN.

I never hauled troops because we were a tractor trailer company, not duce and a halfs. Some of my buddies were involved with big unit moves like the 1st cav in 1968 leaving I Corp. At our reunions and phone conversations now, they talk about how nervous the infrontry guys were riding with us out in the open. They told some of the guys that we were nuts.

Slum
 

Im gona have to agree with the guys you were hauling,
"They told some of the guys that we were nuts"

Steve
Most of our escorts were done with gun jeeps, V100's, and a few of our trucks had the turret mount over the cab. Every once in awhile a few M113's joined in but I think they were just along for the ride because they didnt make the return trip. Return trips were the best....Running empty (or with artillery shell casings) It was more like a race than a convoy.
Bob K

Bob
 

I've seen pictures of V-100's, but what is a M113? If they were tanks or APC's they probably didn't make the return trip because once you were empty the army didn't care much about you any more. The marines had a turret above the cab on a few 5-tons with a 50 on it. It looked like a metal hoop. Was that the same with you? Rt-1 from Phu Bia to Dong Ha in the latter part of 1968 must have been pretty secure. No convoys during the day, we just got loaded and drove by our selfs after the mine sweeper engineers were done. [the only problem is that they missed some.]

Steve
M113= APC.
For quick unloading. They would have a tank retriever which would hook up to the tow hooks on the bumpers which would raise the truck vertical emptying its load. (5 ton and Duece 1/2 only)
One of the Army's ingenious ways to unload a truck quickly.
After we were unloaded, we went over to the ammo dump and got reloaded with shell casings.
The ring looked like a big snap-ring for the tire with a moveable mount for the 50
Bob K

splummer, remember the V100's vividly, I was with the 716th MP's my 3rd tour in Nam, did a lot of convoy escorts with them. Also remember being in jeeps with 60 mounts, definetly a different feeling of security between that and a V100. Those twin 30's gave me a good feeling of security next to just a 60 mount.

Here ya go Robert.....This was taken while assembling for a convoy
Bob K