.455Eley
Member
He was a bomb loader in Da Nang. I just assumed it was with 52s. I wasn't around for another 20-25 years so I couldn't say what models for certain, lol.
Unusal guns of Vietnam
- Thread starter 30-30remchester
- Start date
He was a bomb loader in Da Nang. I just assumed it was with 52s. I wasn't around for another 20-25 years so I couldn't say what models for certain, lol.
smokey04
Member
Well,where to start? My first two tours I smuggled my Python in and out.Third tour the Army was getting "hot" on privately owned weapons[POW] so I left the Python home. When I got to Da Nang [Marble Mountain] my unit [282nd Assault Helicopter Co.]issued me a brand new S&W mod. 10 blue, 4" round butt.I told the supply guy I didn't want that thing give me a .45 .I found out the TO&E[Table of Organization and Equipment] had changed and we weren't authorized .45s. I bought 2 qts. of Jim Beam at the Officers Club and went over to the Marine side of the airfield. I came back within an hour with 2 1911As and an ammo can full of mags. and ammo!
My first two tours I "acquired" various Thompsons, Grease guns, M-1 & M-2 Carbines and a French MAT sub gun! I gave all this hardware to fellow pilots who were only authorized a handgun. I carried an M1A or an M1A1 Thompson all the time. Third tour I couldn't beg, barrow, or steal a Thompson. I never liked the Grease guns so, I managed to deal into a "Swedish K" , Carl Gustav M-45. It was destroyed in my last helicopter crash.
In ,66-,67 I was flying in support of the 1st Bde, 1st Inf. Div. their "fun trick" was to swap smoke grenade fuses in to frags and leave them along the trail for the VC.. Nothing like pulling the pin and chucking that rascal only to have it airburst about 5 feet above, and 10 feet in front of you!!! "Mr. Charles" didn't like that much!
There are many other fun things I could pass on but my memory is short and this post is long so, I'll just say God Bless America, Nick
My first two tours I "acquired" various Thompsons, Grease guns, M-1 & M-2 Carbines and a French MAT sub gun! I gave all this hardware to fellow pilots who were only authorized a handgun. I carried an M1A or an M1A1 Thompson all the time. Third tour I couldn't beg, barrow, or steal a Thompson. I never liked the Grease guns so, I managed to deal into a "Swedish K" , Carl Gustav M-45. It was destroyed in my last helicopter crash.
In ,66-,67 I was flying in support of the 1st Bde, 1st Inf. Div. their "fun trick" was to swap smoke grenade fuses in to frags and leave them along the trail for the VC.. Nothing like pulling the pin and chucking that rascal only to have it airburst about 5 feet above, and 10 feet in front of you!!! "Mr. Charles" didn't like that much!
There are many other fun things I could pass on but my memory is short and this post is long so, I'll just say God Bless America, Nick
Last edited:
Saigon1965
Member
I was with 3 MAF, Studies and Observation Group, Counter Intel, at marble Mountain from December 1967 until June 1969. First 2 digits in my MOS was 02??. Beyond that there's not much I'm willing to talk about concerning my personal comings and goings.
Bob
Last edited:
Lots of "Arc Light" missions were flown out of Kadena, Okinawa as well. As a side note, the United States dropped more bombs on North Vietnamese Army-occupied eastern Laos than it did during World War II on Germany and Japan combined.
Bob
Last edited:
Saigon1965
Member
They are Montagnard - Indigenous to the central highlands of VN -
Thank you and welcome home Bob -
Thank you and welcome home Bob -
I was with 3 MAF, Studies and Observation Group, Counter Intel, at marble Mountain from December 1967 until June 1969. First 2 digits in my MOS was 02??. Beyond that there's not much I'm willing to talk about concerning my personal comings and goings.
Bob
litenlarry
Member
Didn't 5th special forces have a compound just to the north of Marble Mountain..I mean the mountain. South of MAG 16..Sorry not a Army guy, might have been 3rd special forces..
Circa '69-'70...
Marble mountain proper had some serious firepower for close support..Quad 50's and other naval turret weapons..Never saw them, just was on the receiving end..
Circa '69-'70...
Marble mountain proper had some serious firepower for close support..Quad 50's and other naval turret weapons..Never saw them, just was on the receiving end..
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Didn't someone report on one of the surplus sights the vc had 55 gallon drums filled with cosmoline with 98k mausers stuffed in them.
Didn't the French use the French MAS 49 & MAS 49/56 rifles over there in rice land?
Didn't the French use the French MAS 49 & MAS 49/56 rifles over there in rice land?
Last edited:
In the beginning was M1 Garands with the stocks cut down issued to the RSVN and when the recoil was a bit much for the guys, M1 Garands were replaced with M1 Carbines ?
Saigon1965
Member
They sure did BB -
An early picture of VN troops with MAS CR39 -
Algerians in VN with MAT 49 subgun -
The smaller VN troops liked the carbine much better -
This is a cool one - My Brother in law's boss when he was in VN with an XM21 - Circa 69 -
An early picture of VN troops with MAS CR39 -
Algerians in VN with MAT 49 subgun -
The smaller VN troops liked the carbine much better -
This is a cool one - My Brother in law's boss when he was in VN with an XM21 - Circa 69 -
Yes, the two tenant commands were Mag-16 and 5th Special Forces. However, there were several "Operational" units there that were not part of the base command structure including SOG units from Army, Navy, USMC and USAF.
Bob
Richard Simmons
Member
Some photos I've filed away for my collection -
One of my favorite photo -
Those subguns look like Danish Madsen M-50's.
Richard Simmons
Member
The French were pretty much out of Vietnam after 1954 so they wouldn't have had the MAS 49/56 but I'm sure they had the MAS 44 and 49 as well as the MAT 49, MAS 36, MAS36-CR39, etc.
Squarebutt
Member
I read an article on this subject a while back that listed some of the SOG guys' toys. They liked suppressed SMG's and one guy carried a Marlin .45-70. Gotta love a soldier that fights with the same cartridge as they carried in the 1800's.
Shorty 45 MK2
Member
No, he was in the Marines. He said that they were tasked with ambushing mule trains coming over from Laos. He might have traded for the M3, not sure.
35Rem
Member
Dad shot 5" guns...
from the Gulf of Tonkin from aircraft carriers.
1963-67
from the Gulf of Tonkin from aircraft carriers.
1963-67
Last edited:
ibewbull
US Veteran
1971 I worked in a sporting goods store in NJ.
Sold a 99 Savage in .308 to a soldier going on his 4th tour.
I asked him why 4 tours and his reply was he hadn't gotten even yet.
He also mentioned he wanted the Savage so he could reach out and touch someone. I don't recall what the scope was.
I really wanted a S&W snub 19 before I enlisted. Then the problem came up. I was only 18 NO and SALE for me.
I was 58 when I got the 19 Smith.
Never went to the Pacific and made it home from where I did go.
Sold a 99 Savage in .308 to a soldier going on his 4th tour.
I asked him why 4 tours and his reply was he hadn't gotten even yet.
He also mentioned he wanted the Savage so he could reach out and touch someone. I don't recall what the scope was.
I really wanted a S&W snub 19 before I enlisted. Then the problem came up. I was only 18 NO and SALE for me.
I was 58 when I got the 19 Smith.
Never went to the Pacific and made it home from where I did go.
Last edited:
Saigon1965
Member
These pictures are for Smokey04 - Voyager28 and LitenLarry - Welcome home Gentlemen -
Edit to add - For Rusty1953 - Welcome home!
Da Nang and Marble mountain -
Da Nang airbase in 1970 was the busiest airport in the world!
Edit to add - For Rusty1953 - Welcome home!
Da Nang and Marble mountain -
Da Nang airbase in 1970 was the busiest airport in the world!
Last edited:
litenlarry
Member
These pictures are for Smokey04 - Voyager28 and LitenLarry - Welcome home Gentlemen -
Da Nang and Marble mountain -
Da Nang airbase in 1970 was the busiest airport in the world!
That bottom pic of Marble mountain looks like it was taken from 3rd Amtracks, 3rd MarDiv rear area..I was there for a short time before going to 1st Recon, 1st MarDiv..Our rear area was near Freedom Hill, aka hill 327..
Similar threads
- Locked
