I was just curious as to what S&W models were issued during the Vietnam war era. I was reading on another forum about model 15's being issued in small numbers and it made me wonder how many different S&W models were used. Also does anybody have any memories of seeing other smiths that were not issued but just happened to end up over there?

I remember reading somewhere that "tunnel rats" preferred M&Ps because 45 acp could be deafening in a tunnel. I am not sure if that is true, or if its just somehing that is heard and then passed down.

The source went on to say that the Tunnel Rats were willing to give up the extra capacity for a firearms that wasn't as loud.

When I read it I was thinking, why not a P35 9mm? (Browning Hi Power).

I knew Navy aircrew personnel that were issued 4" S&W M15 revolvers and a shipmate carried a personally owned M28 as an aircrewman.

I read that S&W provided some special revolvers for Navy SEAL use. They were fitted with extra tight barrel-cylinder gaps and silencers.

Some 9mm Brownings were issued, mainly to Special Forces personnel, especially to covert units operating inside Cambodia and Laos. Sgt. Barry Sadler had one, among others. I assume that you will recognize his name, and his novels and famous songs, "Ballads of the Green Berets". I used to have that alblum; may still.

The Model 15 wasn't issued in "limited" numbers. It was the STANDARD USAF sidearm then.
We also had some commercial M&P and Victory Model guns until enough Model 15's were available, and some Colts. CID and OSI personnel often carried J-frame .38's and Colts, usually with shrouded hammers.

Those who got away with carrying personal guns might have had anything they could get.

The South Vietnamese cops often had Model 10's, as did Army and Navy pilots and some security personnel. Some Army pilots had snubs, some being Model 12's.

T-Star

Here's a poor pic of a 15-2 that was carried in Nam. Issued with TH & TT. I replaced the magnas with the targets shown.





f.t.

There is a pic that shows up fairly often of a tunnel rat with a pre-WWII M&P. You can clearly see the shine from the front face of the old style ejector rod knob.

I am Google-challenged and could not find the pic.

Bob

I remember reading (American Rifleman - I think) about a N-frame revolver S&W built for the "tunnel rats." It was chambered for specially developed scilenced ammunition. Does anyone know about those?

We (helicopter aircrew) were given a choice between a Smith & Wesson Model 10 or a Colt 1911. I carried a S&W M10 for 10 months - never needed it. Very comforting to have when in the local village or Saigon tho.

Bruce

Mod 39's were used with silencer, called a Hushpuppy. Also made a Tunnel gun for the tunnel rats. Built on a 29 frame, 40 smooth bore. Multi steel balls, VERY short barl. Don't know if any reached the public.

Ive read that the navy issued mod 59 9mms to the seal teams.

My flying squadron armed us with 4" S&W .38 Combat Masterpiece and a standard M-16. My off duty gun was a .30 caliber M-2 carbine. Fortunately I never had use any of them to defend myself. I had escorts of F-100s and F-4s to do that.

As a secondary weapon, I was also issued an M16 - I was never trained on an M16 (went thru Basic w/ M14) so the use of, care & cleaning, was all OJT. As soon as I had an opportunity, I substituted the M16 for a folding stock AK.
As primary weapons, I was issued two M60D's (aviation sights w/ butterfly handles & triggers), one for either side of the CH47 Chinook.
Almost all crewmembers, including pilots, chose the S&W M10 over the 1911. The 1911 had a horrible reputation for accuracy (deserved or not).
I did see some personally owned sidearms - mostly HiPowers or S&W .357 mags, don't know model numbers tho. A few custom Randalls too, & many, many Kabars.

Bruce

This is a Vietnam "era" Model 15-2, shipped to the US Air Force in June, 1964.
I was an Air Force SP from 1971-1975, carried the Model 15 exclusively for duty. I did see some 2" Model 15's and 4" Model 10's in pilots holsters.

On flying status I was issued a Model 15 by the USAF, and actually got to use it once though on temporary duty with the army.

In 67, I bought a M15 from an AF Sgt. at Xuan Loc, VN. I carried it for a while. Later in 68 I had a Chiefs Special.