Vietnam-what would you carry?
- Thread starter 45Guy
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1911Tuner
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Carry
Read a good response on what to choose once...here, I think. It went somethin' like:
"Private! You will choose this weapon!"
"Yes, Gunny!"
"Outstanding!"
Read a good response on what to choose once...here, I think. It went somethin' like:
"Private! You will choose this weapon!"
"Yes, Gunny!"
"Outstanding!"
kimsonvu
Member
It seem 1911 pistol is popular .....I born at 198x...not know too much about Vietnam war but know more from my family.
KIMSON
KIMSON
Chuhhuniban
Member
Absolute staff-wienie, REM*, spent a year on in-country TDY orders going from one end to the other annoying people actually doing something. Carried a personally-owned commercial Colt Government Model and a really elderly US Army Winchester Model 97 12-gauge (bayonet lug and all). Vietnamese translator/driver/ultimately friend (ex-French Army NCO) carried an equally elderly Thompson M1 submachine gun (on my hand receipt from MACV). Most of our time was spent wandering around in urban areas (Dong Ha south), so we had no need of weapons with any kind of range. Our technique was empty the magazines in the direction from which we received fire and di di mau and come back with real warriors — Army, USMC or ARVN (and some of them were very good).
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Vern Humphrey
Member
Ah, Dong Ha -- in my day, HQ for the 3rd Mar Div. My brigade (1st Bde, 5th Inf Div) was part of 3rd Mar Div -- one of only two Army-Marine divisions to see combat in US history.
jerkyman45
Member
I would probably go with the M14, with the almost obligatory M1911A1.
Smoke
Member
...any gun that would function.....and Jane Fonda's itenarary.
Smoke
Smoke
And since we have the real deal here, has anyone carried BOTH the M14 and the M16? If so what did you prefer and why? What were your problems with each?
I carried a M14 for a short time before I got a M16. I preffered the M16 as:
1. I had a M14 with a selector. Very good for making noise and spray and pray.
2. When the finish wore on the M14 it was very prone to rusting. The only rust I ever saw on a M16 was on the ejection port cover. Sometimes.
3. The M14 with 2 full ammo pouches + 1 in the rifle gave you 100 rds, M16 the same way gave you 140 rds. Yes the 7.62 was more powerful but the 5.56 worked fine.
4. When frolicking in the countryside I would carry about 400 rds (claymore bag and a bandolier) for the M16. Plus a belt or two for the M60. I would not like to hump 400 rds of 7.62 for a M14.
5. Like someone else said I knew how to use a cleaning kit. Do what the Army told. I had no reliability issues with the M16. Oh yeah, as someone else said I also used Dri-slide. I think Breakfree would be about as good.
I'd pick what I had a M16 and either a S&W 38 or 1911. Also a PRC25 on the DIVARTY net. Much more responsive than air and there were very few places in South Vietnam that weren't covered by FA fires. Field Artillery can deliver in all types of weather. Naval Gun Fire is great but doesn't help you unless you're near the coast.
There were a variety of small arms around for fun or some special use. Carrying an AK could get you KIA by friendly fire. LRRPs and SOG guys carried them to look like VC or NVA. Later on in the war they carried M16s as everyone on both sides had them.
Shotguns are good up close but I never saw slugs incountry so if the enemy was 100 yds away you could be screwed.
Scoped rifles are fine for long distance but pretty slow at pumping out rounds at close quarters.
I carried a M14 for a short time before I got a M16. I preffered the M16 as:
1. I had a M14 with a selector. Very good for making noise and spray and pray.
2. When the finish wore on the M14 it was very prone to rusting. The only rust I ever saw on a M16 was on the ejection port cover. Sometimes.
3. The M14 with 2 full ammo pouches + 1 in the rifle gave you 100 rds, M16 the same way gave you 140 rds. Yes the 7.62 was more powerful but the 5.56 worked fine.
4. When frolicking in the countryside I would carry about 400 rds (claymore bag and a bandolier) for the M16. Plus a belt or two for the M60. I would not like to hump 400 rds of 7.62 for a M14.
5. Like someone else said I knew how to use a cleaning kit. Do what the Army told. I had no reliability issues with the M16. Oh yeah, as someone else said I also used Dri-slide. I think Breakfree would be about as good.
I'd pick what I had a M16 and either a S&W 38 or 1911. Also a PRC25 on the DIVARTY net. Much more responsive than air and there were very few places in South Vietnam that weren't covered by FA fires. Field Artillery can deliver in all types of weather. Naval Gun Fire is great but doesn't help you unless you're near the coast.
There were a variety of small arms around for fun or some special use. Carrying an AK could get you KIA by friendly fire. LRRPs and SOG guys carried them to look like VC or NVA. Later on in the war they carried M16s as everyone on both sides had them.
Shotguns are good up close but I never saw slugs incountry so if the enemy was 100 yds away you could be screwed.
Scoped rifles are fine for long distance but pretty slow at pumping out rounds at close quarters.
45Guy
Member
I like these replies! Pretty informative stuff from all the vets around here.
Thank you all very much for your service.
My Choices: M16 & 1911 for in the bush
Thompson or M1 carbine & 1911 for urban (think Hue)
Thank you all very much for your service.
My Choices: M16 & 1911 for in the bush
Thompson or M1 carbine & 1911 for urban (think Hue)
Shadow Shock
Member
I spoke with my Dad's best freind, he said ifhe had to go back, he'd use the same thing he used the first time, M16A1 and M1911A1. He doesn't like the inacurate AK's
Vern Humphrey
Member
My experience in fighting in urban areas is that you need something with penetration -- lots of concrete walls and so on that you need to shoot through. Neither the Thompson or M1 carbine is good for that.
Personally, I consider a 7.62 with AP to be about the minimum. I prefered working an M113 APC into position and using the M2 .50 Caliber whenever possible.
glockamolee
Member
AK 47, and Hi Power (If I can use Hollowpoints, if not, then a 1911).
the pistolero
Member
1911 and M-14. As for Vietnam-era airpower, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the AC-130 Spectre, and the old warhorse the B-52.
Todays rifles, Sig556 or HK416 or Robinson Arms M-96 in 5.56 62grain green penetrator round or even heavier bullets in the 70 to 80 grain range, for Sniper work accurized AR platform or M-14 Platform in 7.62 or 260 Remington or 6.5 Grendel, handgun Glock 19 with 33 round Glock 9mm magazines and Speer Gold Dots or Powerball or Cor Bon Ammo.
Yesterdays rifles, Stoner 63 or AR180 for general combat and Winchester Model 70 or Remington 700 or accurized M-14 for Sniper work in 7.62, handgun Browning High Power.
Yesterdays rifles, Stoner 63 or AR180 for general combat and Winchester Model 70 or Remington 700 or accurized M-14 for Sniper work in 7.62, handgun Browning High Power.
James T Thomas
Member
hands down
I carried the M16 with 108 rounds in six magazines in the pouches. Four handgrenades. Usually two or three M375, 81mm mortar rounds. If you kill 108 or 126 of the enemy in any one engagement, you will be doing good.
I had the option to carry the 1911 pistol, but declined.
Several times I was able to give extra ammo to those who came crawling by.
My weapon of choice would be the M14. The younger brother of the best battlefield rifle ever made. I would have gladly born the additional weights.
Not meant as a jibe, but with even a little PM, rust would not have been a problem. -From someone who was continually in the green latrine.
{Vern; we went 65 days or so without a bath or change of clothes. The laundry was broken down or something. My socks became stiff as boots!
And my jacket/shirt took on the aspect of an armored vest -hard.}
Many of my posts here on THR are where I've espoused fire control and aimed, one shot shooting. The M16 spraying, I will testify, is useless.
Even at close jungle range. Trust me on that. At moderate ranges of 25m,
the 22 cal. round proved "ineffective." We were not hunting varmits.
This was Airmoblile warfare; the Cavalry -helicopters were our "steeds."
The only application where I would advocate for the M16 would be the urban, house to house, as in Bhagdad. Even then...
I carried the M16 with 108 rounds in six magazines in the pouches. Four handgrenades. Usually two or three M375, 81mm mortar rounds. If you kill 108 or 126 of the enemy in any one engagement, you will be doing good.
I had the option to carry the 1911 pistol, but declined.
Several times I was able to give extra ammo to those who came crawling by.
My weapon of choice would be the M14. The younger brother of the best battlefield rifle ever made. I would have gladly born the additional weights.
Not meant as a jibe, but with even a little PM, rust would not have been a problem. -From someone who was continually in the green latrine.
{Vern; we went 65 days or so without a bath or change of clothes. The laundry was broken down or something. My socks became stiff as boots!
And my jacket/shirt took on the aspect of an armored vest -hard.}
Many of my posts here on THR are where I've espoused fire control and aimed, one shot shooting. The M16 spraying, I will testify, is useless.
Even at close jungle range. Trust me on that. At moderate ranges of 25m,
the 22 cal. round proved "ineffective." We were not hunting varmits.
This was Airmoblile warfare; the Cavalry -helicopters were our "steeds."
The only application where I would advocate for the M16 would be the urban, house to house, as in Bhagdad. Even then...
Vern Humphrey
Member
I know the feeling -- I used to try to find pools of water, streams, bomb craters and so on and arrange for a few cakes of soap and scrub brushes in our resupply. We'd put out security and get reasonably clean.
Funny thing, no manual discusses that vital operation, the combat bath and laundry tactic.
I used to drill fire control into the boy's heads. In my company, a burst on full auto was worth an Article 15 and a $50 fine.
KINGMAX
Member
AK 47 and a S&W 686 in .357
Fulcrum of Evil
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My snark response: A plane ticket to somewhere else (not Laos, TYVM). I'd never get called up anyway, what with my uncle and grandfather being in theatre anyway.
Now, if I was stuck on the ground, an M4 carbine with a good ammo mix and a Sig would be nice for infantry. Dunno if the scout sniper role was used much - for that, I'd probably want something in .308 with optics. For some reason, that role is more appealing to me anyways.
Now, if I was stuck on the ground, an M4 carbine with a good ammo mix and a Sig would be nice for infantry. Dunno if the scout sniper role was used much - for that, I'd probably want something in .308 with optics. For some reason, that role is more appealing to me anyways.
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