Unusal guns of Vietnam

[Rugerrev]

Project Eldest Son was initiated by a SOG Colonel named Singlaub in 1966. By the time I got there in December of 1967 it had been going on for a while.

The information we were given at the time was that the explosive actually used was formulated at a CIA lab in Okinawa. Don't know if that was true or not but I do know, for a fact, that the "sabotaged" munitions were transported from Okinawa (Kadina AFB) where they had been uncrated, buggered and then re-crated. This work was most certainly done by the CIA on the island.

Placement was accomplished by various SOG units in country. The most difficult to place was the mortar rounds because they were so damn heavy to carry. Sometimes we'd carry that stuff around for a week or two until we found a suitable cache to place them in.

After the Khe Sanh party was over there were several 82MM mortars found with nothing left but the base plate.

Bob

PS: By the way, John Singlaub was a born again bad ***. I think he eventually rose to 3 Star.

I was a year too young for VN and can't say I'm sorry. Thanks to you folks who did your duty!

Here is link on Singlaub. I had a copy of his book, "Hazardous Duty" but loaned it to a friend and it disappeared. Fascinating reading!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_K._Singlaub

Jess

 

[sarg1c]

Someone mentioned seeing the M-40A1 Rem. 700 sniper rifle. It was the Marine Issue but the Army used the same Rem. but desingated it the M-24. wich was chambered for the 7.62 nato round, . the rifle was a long action not a short action. Probably intended for a long action cartridge at a later date like the .300 win mag or .338. which I believe is being used today. I was wondering when the M-16A2 was adopted.I remember carring both but the A2 was a lot diff.m Mine was very accurate

 

[oldcorps76]

Early days of VietNam

My brother was an Air Force vet, Phan Rang and DaNang 1966-67. Bomb loader (I was a year too young for Viet Nam, but we both spent 24 years active AF). In those days Lemay was Chief of Staff and he was a big gun guy, not the gunshy military we got later and have today. It was easy getting guns over but after the 1968 Gun Control Act, not so getting them back. He had a Smith 37 Airweight he carried in a shoulder holster all-the-time, and a RVN concealed carry permit (I've seen it in his papers) if you can believe that. Couldn't get it back in the country so he left it for someone who probably needed it more than he back in the world. He died in 2006, complications of Agent Orange exposure, a casualty as sure as if he had fallen 40 years earlier.

Incidentally, he had an M-16, one of the early ones. He was a pretty intense gun guy, and as a non-drinker, used to trade his liquor ration to Army troops for ammo he could go shooting on his off time. Without reservation, he loved that rifle; he said he fired it every chance he got, which would have been a lot, never cleaned it, and never had a jam (understand the early ammo bought by the Air Force was Stoner-spec IMR, not the later ball powder). Even had two VC to his credit, returned fire when his weapons convoy was attacked; believe that was the source of his Army Commendation Medal.

Some folks I know who spent tine in the recent GWOT sandpile said that you can't get anything back. One woman I know, retired O-6, had to hide a piece of concrete she picked up in one of Saddam's palaces, so she could put it in her retirement shadow box. Thank God for those coiffured Ivy League policymakers, folks who have never been 50 feet from a flush toilet in their lives, who make rules ensuring the grunts are kept under proper control.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I was in country 11/67-6/69 (19 mo. 19 days) & 5 months after I arrived the f-100 & f-4 jockeys got a delivery of (I believe it was 9) M3 30 cal. grease guns with 30 rd. clips from a capt's brother stateside who was a major in a supply depot. The story we got was these had been laying around from Korean war & were originally carried by the f-86 jockeys. Whichever group (f-4 or f-100, sometimes both) drew the daily mission carried them for the run.

I am standing by for a detailed write up on how you can fly a F-100 and F-4 with a Greasegun.
What base and unit were you assigned to?
Where did you work, what was your AFSC?

 

[italiansport]

I saw a 1911 45 will it looked like one but did not have any marks on it, poof or other wise. It was found on a dead VC.

I don't remember where I saw the article but one guy brought back what was apparently a VC homemade 45 auto copy. The gun was unmarked and had a prominent upturn to the slide and barrel. It had been made in 45 auto but as a straight blowback with no toggle like assembly. If I should find the picture I'll post it.
Jim

 

[gaucho1]

I don't remember where I saw the article but one guy brought back what was apparently a VC homemade 45 auto copy. The gun was unmarked and had a prominent upturn to the slide and barrel. It had been made in 45 auto but as a straight blowback with no toggle like assembly. If I should find the picture I'll post it.
Jim

Yes..........turns out that specific gun was the prototype for the
HiPoint .45...........

 

[REM 3200]

I was in country 11/67-6/69 (19 mo. 19 days) & 5 months after I arrived the f-100 & f-4 jockeys got a delivery of (I believe it was 9) M3 30 cal. grease guns with 30 rd. clips from a capt's brother stateside who was a major in a supply depot. The story we got was these had been laying around from Korean war & were originally carried by the f-86 jockeys. Whichever group (f-4 or f-100, sometimes both) drew the daily mission carried them for the run.

I've never seen a .30 cal. grease-gun , only .45 ACP. It would be interesting to see some pictures of it.

 

[Saigon1965]

Thank you - Welcome home Gentlemen -

Not only SF but also CIA staff officers. I was in Danang and always carried a Swedish K (along with six 30-round mags in a shoulder pouch) and my Hi-Power.

The Mike Force I flew for did the same in ammo caches they found. Just a few to screw with their heads and make the whole mess suspect. Kind of like Russian Roulette on steroids.

That's exactly why MAC-V kept announcing on AFRTS that AK's were unsafe and could blow up on you. Common practice was to seed VC/NVA ammo caches with C-4 loaded ammo. I had a captured AK myself when I was in 'Nam but only shot ammo from a pristine, sealed case of ammo. Even then I was tense shooting off the first mag (at full auto the get over the suspense quickly). Surprise!!

 

[Saigon1965]

Thank you and welcome home Gentlemen -

I was the head company Corpsman for Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.

I pulled this from your album - Thank you for a wonderful album - What is it? It looks to be an SKS - But what are the additions -

Served 68-69 with the 1st of the 5th Mech, 25th ID.
Index of /wayne/Vietnam

I had posted a few pictures of one a few pages back -

I saw a 1911 45 will it looked like one but did not have any marks on it, poof or other wise. It was found on a dead VC.

Thank you and welcome home Gentlemen -

Very nice pics thanks to all who shared them, brings back many memories. In 1965 Marine snipers were using Model 70 heavy barreled Winchesters .30-06, among others. The Winchesters were preferred though

I took a Colt LW Commander with me in 1964, many guys took S&Ws, Rugers, P-38s, etc. Traded for a like new Thompson, a grease gun with the holes in the bolt in a cardboard box with pictures for instructions. Used a genuine folding stock M-1 carbine. Didn't see an AR-15 until the gulf of Tonkin. We used anything that would shoot.

 

[Saigon1965]

Khe Sanh circa 1968 -



Vietnamese Rangers - Circa 1961 - The Garands are just as tall as some of us!



Anyone here ran one of these?

 

[davefromhere]

Best thread I've ever read on the net.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Anyone here ran one of these?

Ontos - correct?


Regards,

Dave

 

[gvillafane]

Remington 700s were a favorite amongst snipers in Nam.

 

[Saigon1965]

Indeed Dave - Not many of these were around -

Ontos - correct?


Regards,

Dave

 

[Saigon1965]

Served 68-69 with the 1st of the 5th Mech, 25th ID. First 5 months carried the M60 and I also carried an issued 1911 until a stoned Medic shot himself in the foot to get off line. So what does the Bn. do, take away all 45s from everyone but officers and Medics?? I wrote my Dad and in about two weeks got a sweet Hi-Power in a care package. After the M60 I tried out the M79 for a while until I made Sgt. and then was almost forced to carry the *** M-16. I instead got an Ithaca 37 that's barrel was stamped Joliet Prison. and just that walking point till I got so short and went back to Cu Chi I left my weapons in the field and finally Had to be issued a M16 which I zeroed a starlight to for bunker work. As an aside traded AKs to the Aviation unit for a mini gun.
If you follow the link there are some of my pics.
Index of /wayne/Vietnam

 

[Saigon1965]

General Loan was a good friend of my dad -

At the scene he had sent his men to a position in Cho Lon where my cousin's troops were pinned down - They got there late and we lost my cousin there -

Here's a link to a photo album depicting some of what happened that fateful day for all involved -

https://www.flickr.com/photos/13476480@N07/sets/72157632602043161/

The lead up to the 2nd most famous picture of the war. A model 49 in use and a Uzi there!

 

[Saigon1965]

Traded my personal Browning .25 ACP for the "Tommygun" in photo which I grew weary of carrying, then went back to the issue M2 carbine.
Never had the need to fire any of them, for which I am still grateful. Don't even know if they worked.
3rdRRU_PhuBai, 1962-1963, before VN was a war.
http://oldspooksandspies.org/Photos/standish/Standish341.jpg

 

[Old TexMex]

Great thread.
Cam on,
Jim

 

[jimmyj]

I've never seem a .30 cal. grease-gun , only .45 ACP. It would be interesting to see some pictures of it.

IIRC (?) wasn't there a 9mm conversation unit for the .45acp M3 (grease gun) /

 

[FPrice]

I've never seem a .30 cal. grease-gun , only .45 ACP. It would be interesting to see some pictures of it.

Any possibility that they were M1 or M2 Carbines? That might make more sense.