Unusal guns of Vietnam

LimaCharlie said:
During my time in Viet Nam, we only used G.I. weapons and ammo. That is my story and I am sticking to it.
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The statute of limitations is over, if you have an alternate story please share it. This has turned into a great thread, thanks to all who have served. Ed
 
checkmyswag said:
I figure weapons policy enforcement varied as most policies do in the military. Did this vary typically only at the lower levels (team/squad) where NCOs decided what their guys needed or were there larger units (platoon/company) ran by lieutenants/captains that used non-regulation weapons as de facto policy?

I'm curious how this would work. Youd have to keep you M16 for inspection and accountability but on patrol you can run what you brung so long as your direct leaders allowed it?
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In 18 months "In Country" I never once carried a M-16. Now, that said, I was in a bit of a different kind of unit and we were allowed to select our weapon based on the mission we went out on. Most of the time I carried a M40A1 with a S&W Model 29, 4", as a side arm. My spotter usually carried a Remington Model 870 pump shotgun and the same side arm as I did.

The rest of the time, when operating in a "support and cover" mode, I opted for the M-14. I hated the early M-16s with a passion.

Bob
 
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30-30remchester said:
The rifle I saw in the photo was not the standard issue Remington 700 sniper rifle with the Redfield scope. It appeared to be a stock 700 ADL with impressed checkering and it had a small cheap Bushnell scope mounted on it. Very similar to the K Mart package guns. The US soldier holding the gun had it cradled in his arms. If you get a chance to see the show, the picture will appear within the first 15 minutes of the show.
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I will watch for a replay of the show. I do know for a fact that the early issue M40A1 was nothing more than a 700 ADL or BDL with standard wooden stock. Scopes were not consistent and were pretty much "whatever was available". Later on they standardized the weapon system to include the Redfield scope and later went to the Camo stock. Mine was of the original ADL variety but I did have the state of the art, latest technology, Redfield and felt darn lucky to have it. It was a pretty good scope but was not nearly good enough to fully exploit the capabilities of the weapon.

Man, I sure wish we'd have had some of todays wonderful toys to play with over there. :)

Bob
 
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italiansport said:
I've had friends tell me that Thompson SMGs were highly prized by vehicle drivers. They'd take the butt stocks off and had a handy full auto weapon at their disposal.
Jim
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One of my good friends that went there told me long ago that he got his hands on a Thompson and carried it for about half of his time there. Said it came in quite handy at times. Never heard him say he took any static over it. Of course when he came back he had to leave it there!
 
Voyager28 said:
I will watch for a replay of the show. I do know for a fact that the early issue M40A1 was nothing more than a 700 ADL or BDL with standard wooden stock. Scopes were not consistent and were pretty much "whatever was available". Later on they standardized the weapon system to include the Redfield scope and later went to the Camo stock. Mine was of the original ADL variety but I did have the state of the art, latest technology, Redfield and felt darn lucky to have it. It was a pretty good scope but was not nearly good enough to fully exploit the capabilities of the weapon.

Man, I sure wish we'd have had some of todays wonderful toys to play with over there. :)

Bob
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That's interesting that you had a standard ADL. This might just be the answer I was looking for. The scope I described was my GUESS. However I saw so many of the cheap Bushnells that look spray painted, gloss black, that I feel comfortable with my guess.
 
Double-O-Dave said:
I worked with a Special Forces (Green Beret) Sergeant who spent a couple of tours in Viet Nam. One of my favorite stories he told was how he liked to take a loaded AK-47 magazine, and strip off the top 3 to 4 rounds. He would then remove the projectile from one of the rounds, dump the powder charge, shave some strips of C-4 (plastique explosive) and stuff them into the cartridge case, reload the projectile, reload the magazine, and them leave the doctored magazine where it could be found by enemy troops. That Sergeant had a wicked sense of humor.
Regards,
Dave
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Why??? I am not EOD but would the C-4 even burn from ignition of a primer?? I would think that double, triple load of standard powder, seat the bullet deep with a very heavy crimp, would make for some FUN? Be Safe,
 
vipermd said:
Why??? I am not EOD but would the C-4 even burn from ignition of a primer?? I would think that double, triple load of standard powder, seat the bullet deep with a very heavy crimp, would make for some FUN? Be Safe,
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I read an interesting article on this subject in the American Rifleman magazine. The US government wanted to spread fear and mistrust of the NVA allies. The operation was called "Operation eldest son". The government scientists developed an explosive that when visually inspected, resembled gun powder. The US would find a stockpile of munitions, and instead of destroying, they would plant numerous explosive rounds of ammo, faulting mortar rounds that would explode when dropped down the tube and various other booby-trapped munitions. The VC got so vary of their own ammunition that they filed complaints with China for supplying them with defective munitions that were killing their own troops. An interesting operation.
 
I see that the government is as on-the-ball as ever. That last document. The RUSSIAN carbine, Type 56. I'm pretty sure that Type 56 SKSs are Chinese.
 
Early in the war- MAC V, I flew for the US Army- Army Security Agency doing airborne electronic survallance out of the Tan Son Nhut Air Base - then up north. The Gov't issued .45's we were issued were unreliable at best, probably picked over from the Korean war.

I, as did many others, obtained a new 9mm Browning - Hi-Power and used that as my side arm. (Thanks Mom)
The aircraft had no on-board armament - just three old .30 cal M-1 carbines rattling around in the back made by Saginaw Steering......just in case you had to get out and walk !
Still have the Browning.....
Hell of a situation when you've got to buy the guns you had to fight with.....Grrrrr !
 
30-30remchester said:
I read an interesting article on this subject in the American Rifleman magazine. The US government wanted to spread fear and mistrust of the NVA allies. The operation was called "Operation eldest son". The government scientists developed an explosive that when visually inspected, resembled gun powder. The US would find a stockpile of munitions, and instead of destroying, they would plant numerous explosive rounds of ammo, faulting mortar rounds that would explode when dropped down the tube and various other booby-trapped munitions. The VC got so vary of their own ammunition that they filed complaints with China for supplying them with defective munitions that were killing their own troops. An interesting operation.
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Actually, it was called Project Eldest Son and later changed to Italian Green. I know a little bit about it if you have any questions.

Bob
 
A.O. said:
I'm reading this thread with much admiration for you guys who were there. I was to young at the time..

I just want to thank you all for your service and sacrifice in that little war!!! THANK YOU ALL!!
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Me too. I remember driving home from high school one day and them announcing on the radio they had called off the draft. I remember thinking - whew!
 
jmace57 said:
Me too. I remember driving home from high school one day and them announcing on the radio they had called off the draft. I remember thinking - whew!
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Yes, I was also in high school at that time..
 
Voyager28 said:
Actually, it was called Project Eldest Son and later changed to Italian Green. I know a little bit about it if you have any questions.

Bob
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I don't have any specific questions but am limited on my knowledge of the subject. Can you educate some of us forum members who need some more learning?
 
Texas Star said:
I read an article by a USAF fighter pilot that said his commander told the pilots to bring their own sidearms, as they were in short supply. Naval and Marine pilots also seemed able to use their own handguns. Jeff Cooper used to have a Q&A column in Guns & Ammo then, and he fielded quite a few questions about which gun was good to take to Vietnam. Many indeed came from pilots and other officers.

Life and other magazines often showed Special Forces men with personal handguns.

And Gen. Westmoreland had that ivory-handled Randall Model 1 knife...
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My stepfather carried in Vietnam a Wehrmacht-issue FN Hi Power he'd captured during a previous assignment.
 
CatboatWillie, whats changed? When my step-son went to Iraq in 2003, as a Marine I purchased him a Barretta 9mm, as the Marines didn't have enough side arms to go around. I only told him, pass it along to a another Marine who could us it since it wasn't worth the grief if got caught trying to bring it home with him. Hopefully it's still getting use somewhere over there by one of the good guys....
 
This is a great thread……I was 18 in 1973, and missed Vietnam…..I had some friends that didn't, and some that died there.
I have heard a lot of stories about that war from people I know, but I appreciate the memories from the veterans on this forum, and I want to thank you all for your service to our country.

Semper Fi!
 
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