Small arms in Vietnam

[David]

M16 Rifle

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M16A1 Rifle

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M203 Combination M16


Notes: A rifle and grenade launcher combination. It was designed to replace the M79. The M203 combined an M16 rifle with a 40mm pump action launcher tube. This advantage meant that the soldier could perform the role of both grenadier and riflemen (Lyles, 1999: 59). The combination M16A1 automatic rifle and M203 (a version of the M79) grenade launcher was produced to avoid the problem of a Grenadier having to carry a grenade launcher as well as a weapon for personal protection and hence allowing him to also function as a rifleman. The 40mm grenade launcher was used to provide additional fire support for the infantry by delivering high explosive, parachute flares and canister rounds. The high explosive had a maximum range of 400 meters and a casualty radius of 5 meters.

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XM177E2/CAR-15 Shorty (Colt Automatic Rifle)


Notes: The sub-machine version of the M16, being shorter and lighter with a telescopic butt stock. The CAR-15 was favored by Sergeants, and officers. The XM-177E2, commonly known as the Colt Commando. This is a shortened version of the M-16 with a telescoping stock. The CAR-15 was very popular with special ops troops but saw only limited use with line units.

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M1 Garand

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M1 Carbine

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M1A1 Carbine

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Thompson M1A1

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Bar

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M1903A4 Sniper Rifle

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M1911A1 Colt Pistol

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M60 Machine Gun


Notes: A 7.62mm general purpose machine gun that gave infantry units the edge in firepower in close-quarter firefights. Nicknamed "The Pig", it weighed at 23.75 lbs and gave a fierce kick when fired. Ammunition was generally distributed amongst the squad, each carrying at least 100 rounds, usually worn in bandolier fashion, or in special M60 ammunition carriers (Lyles, 1999: 71). It was employed in a light role on it's bipod (effective range 500 meters) or in a medium role on a tripod (effective range 1,100 meters) as well as being used as protective armament on vehicles and helicopters. Gas operated, air cooled and belt fed, with a quick-change barrel to counter overheating during sustained firing, it has a practical rate of fire of 200 rpm (550 rpm max). In Vietnam it was the main firepower of the infantry rifle section. With bipod the M60 weighs 10.5 kg (23 pounds), which increases by 6.8kg (15 pounds) if a tripod is added (Total 38 pounds minus ammo).

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M79 Grenade Launcher


Notes: Commonly known as the 'Thumper' or 'Blooper', this weapon first appeared during the Vietnam war and closely resembled a large bore, single barrel, sawn-off shotgun. The first M79 Grenade launchers were delivered to the US Army in 1961.
The M79 was designed as a close support weapon for the infantry, with two weapons being issued to each rifle squad. The tactical use of the weapon required the gunner (grenadier) to be dedicated to the weapon and only carried a pistol as a side arm. the M79 was intended to bridge the gap between the maximum throwing distance of a hand grenade, and the lowest range of supporting mortar fire - between 50 and 300 meters - and thus gave the squad an integral indirect fire weapon. With a length of 737mm (barrel = 355mm) and a loaded weight of 3kg, (6 and a half pounds) the M79 was an ideal weapon in the close terrain of Vietnam.
The M79 was a single shot, shoulder fired, break-barrel weapon which fired a spherical 40mm diameter grenade loaded directly into the breech. It had a rubber pad fitted to the shoulder stock to absorb some of the shock. The M-406 40mm HE grenades fired from the M79 traveled at a muzzle velocity of 75 meters per second, and contained enough explosive within a steel casing that upon impact with the target would produce over 300 fragments at 1,524 meters per second within a lethal radius of up to 5 meters. Stabilized in flight by the spin imparted on it by the rifled barrel the grenade rotated at 3,700rpm, this in turn, after approximately 15 meters of flight, armed the grenade.
For close range fighting the Army came up with two types of M79 rounds. The first was a flechette round ( or Bee Hives round) which housed approx 45 small darts in a plastic casing, these rounds were issued on an experimental basis. Later this round was replaced by the M-576 buckshot round. This round contained twenty-seven 00 buckshot which on firing was carried down the barrel in a 40mm plastic sabot which slowed down in flight so that the pellets could travel in their forward direction un-aided. The M79 could also fire smoke grenades (both standard and parachute), CS gas, and flares.
The M79 had a large flip up sight situated half way down the barrel, with a basic leaf foresight fixed at the end of the barrel. The rear sight was calibrated up to 375 meters (410 yds) in 25 meter (27.3 yds) intervals. In the hands of a good experienced Grenadier the M79 was highly accurate up to 200 meters. Later in the war the M79 was superseded by the M203.

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M3A1 Grease gun

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Ithaca 12gf mod.37 shotgun

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Stevens 12g mod.77E shotgun

With the United States Government's involvement in the Viet-Nam War early reports came back from the troops in the field asking for combat shotguns. Many of the World War II stocks were no longer available (having been sold off during the 1950's to civilians) so the Government turned towards two companies for new models. During the 1960's some 69,709 models were procured by the government for troops in South East Asia. These weapons also were supplied to South Vietnames and Australian troops as well who liked the rubber recoil pad which helped absorb some of the recoil. Despite some problems with the stock (and how it was mounted to the receiver) many troops felt the weapon was the "Cheverolet" of shotguns.

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LAAW (LAW) Light Assault Anti-Tank Weapon


Notes: Weighing 2.37-kg (5.2 pounds) complete, the LAW was designed as a discardable one-man rocket launcher primarily for use as an anti-tank weapon. In Vietnam however, the LAW was used almost exclusively as a bunker buster or for attacking entrenched enemies. When carried, the smooth-bore launcher tube was carried closed, and was watertight. In action, the end covers were opened by removing safety pins and the inner tube was telescoped outwards. This cocked the firing mechanism. Held over the shoulder, aimed by the simple sights, the weapon was fired by pressing the trigger button. The LAW Fired a 1-kg rocket to a maximum effective range of 300m. The rocket motor was fully burnt out by the time it left the launcher and resulted in a large back-blast danger area behind the firer. Once fired the tube was discarded. Due to it's low weight, a number of complete assemblies could be carried in a squad with each person capable of packing at least two if necessary.

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M20 Recoilless Rifle


Notes: Often referred to as the 'Super Bazooka', the M20 was developed from the earlier 2.36-inch M9A1 rocket launcher. Although used in Vietnam, the M-20 was on its way out of service. It was however a very useful weapon when used against enemy fortifications. The M20 weighed 5.5-kg and was a simple rocket launcher, firing a hollow-charge 4-kg HEAT rocket to relatively short ranges of 1200-meters. It was operated by a two-man team and had a rate of fire of six shots per minute. When carried, the long tube was folded into two for easier handling. In action a rocket was loaded into the open breech and two wires were attached to electrical terminals. When the trigger was pulled, a small electrical current ignited the rocket motor and propelled the rocket forward, leaving a large and dangerous back-blast area to the rear of the launcher.

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M67 Recoilless Rifle


Notes: Measuring 1,346-mm (53-inches) in length and weighing in at a hefty 16-kg (35-lbs), the M-67 was intended for use against AFV's and bunkers as a portable crew served weapon. It was a breech-loaded, single-shot weapon which was shaped like a long tube with the sight assembly and firing mechanism offset to the side in opposite directions about half way along the barrel. The breech was hinged on the right side, and had to be swung open to load the round. It was then swung closed and when the rifle was fired, the rear end of the shell case broke up and was blown out of the back of the breech block.
Capable of maintaining a sustained fire rate of 1 round per minute, the weapon could be fired at an increased rate of 1 round every 6 seconds (10 rpm) by a well trained crew. However, due to excessive heating at this rate of fire, it was necessary to allow the weapon a 15-minute cooling period after each 5 rounds fired.
The maximum range of the M-67 was 400-meters (437-yds) and was sighted to 800-meters (875-yds) although the shell could actually be fired out to 2,000-meters (2,187-yds).
Requiring a crew of three (gunner, assistant gunner and ammo bearer) the M-67 fired a 9.5-lb M371E1 HEAT round and could be shoulder fired or ground mounted.

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Browning .50 cal HMG


Bore diameter: .50 inches (12.7mm)
Maximum effective range: 2000 meters with tripod mount
Maximum range: 4.22 miles (6.8 kilometers)
Maximum effective range: is 1,830 meters
Cyclic rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute

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M16/M14 Magazines


Notes: Lots of these around. Though if you are going to fill up your bandoliers then its better to use wooden blocks.

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AK-47


Notes: (also AK or Kalishnikov) rifle. The AK-47 was the basic infantry weapon of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Vietcong (VC). Originally manufactured by the Soviet Union, most the these "Assault rifles" used in the war were made in the People's Republic of China, which was the major supplier of armaments to NVA and VC forces. Also known as the Kalishnikov, after its Russian inventor, this weapon was sturdy, reliable, compact, and relatively lightweight. It fired a 7.62mm bullet in a fully automatic mode (continuous firing, like a machine gun, as long as the trigger was squeezed). The high muzzle velocity (speed of the bullet after firing) and the tumbling action of the bullet contributed to its effectiveness. The combination of these effects plus its rapid-fire capability meant that accuracy was not a major requirement, thus reducing the training time before a soldier could be sent into combat. Most armaments analysts judge the AK-47, which normally holds thirty bullets, to be superior to the U.S. M-16, which became the standard weapon of American, Korean, and South Vietnamese troops. It was more durable and less adversely affected by the climate and conditions of Vietnam. There are a number of accounts of cases in which American troops preferred to use the AK-47 and in fact did use it when combat conditions permitted. An inherent risk, however, to U.S. troops using the 'AK,' was that its distinctive "popping" sound might cause the firer to be mistaken for the enemy.

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M16 Bipod

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XM3 Bipod Case

Notes: The case has a main compartment for the bipod. The front zipped closured pocket would contain a rifle cleaning kit. The cleaning rods disassemble can be stored in a long pocket down the right side.

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Cleaning kit - Typical Contents

Notes: Typical contents may include cleaning Rod Set, bore brushes, chamber brushes, double ended plastic tooth brush, cloth cleaning patches, a bottle of bore cleaner, compound solvent and a bottle of Light Small Arms (LSA) Gun Oil.

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AN/PVS-2 'Starlight Scope'

This rugged versatile "modular" starlight system with the most advanced 1st Generation intensifier, mounts on most popular weapons as well as on your 35mm SLR, camcorder and video camera(shown above). The STANO AN/PVS-2B Night Vision System is a passive starlight system used for aimed fire and surveillance. Inexpensive adapters allow use as a medium-range night vision weaponsight, telephoto lens, or telescope for any tactical, surveillance or observation purpose.

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M1916 Pistol holster


Description: The standard leather holster with imprinted "US" on the flap. Vietnam war ones were dyed black.

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M1916 Shoulder HolsterVietnam war ones were dyed black.