Osprey, Men-at-Arms #143 Armies of the Vietnam War (2) (1983) 85Ed OCR 8.12

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Text by LEE E, RUSSELL Colour plates by MIKE CHAPPELL

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Published in 1 ~}83 by O . . prey Publi.. hin~ Ltd ~Iember compan) of the George Philip Group 1'1. 1 l Lon~ .\crr, London \\'C2E gLP (" CoP) ri~h, J
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Calalogumg m Publicotzon Data Vietnam war.

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Viclnam HislOry 20th ccmuT) Vietnamcse Connict, 1961 1975 Campai~ns I. Lee E. Russell 3,,'·(lO95'17 DSS.,6.2 2.

Filmsct in (,rtaL Britain Primed in Hon~ Kong

Acknowledgem.ents The author wi . . ht to l'xpress his gratitude 10 ~lr, :\1. Albert :\lendt,z and :\Ir. Torn Hunt, who ~ave unelfishly of their lime and infonnation. aJlov.'ed me acces to their privatf' collf'Clions and permilled me to r{'produce item!! from tht'ir book. J \..'ould also like to thank :\Ir..\dam Dintcnfa..- . :\Ir, Severino ~lendez. Jr., ~Ir Tom Bartlett of uathnnu! .\Ja.~a..::.int, and the personnel of the C .\nn), :\a\)' and ~1arine Corp. Public .\ffairs Offices in. ·e.... York City for their assistance. Finally, a ..pecial thanks to my fellow Vietnam veterans, former ~Iarines Chris DeSalvo.John Olsen and ~lichad Pahj
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hltrot/l/rtioll lhe \'ietnam "'ar is a complex subject, even in so limited an a')p<'cl as military uniform. :'\ine annies lou~ht there bet\\..n 1962 and t973, each with its 0\\11 Jx:culiarili('~. In this work it is only po.. ible to examine in detail the uniforms and equipment of the major contcnders, the C nited States, the Republic of 'Ticmam, and the Communist De· m(K"ratic Republic of :'\onh Vietnam. The Viet Cong, military arm of the :'\ational Liberation Front and inSli~ator of the original insurKcncy, is co\'Cred only incidcl1lally. Of the fixe other Free World nations that prosided troops, only the Republic of Korea is even mentioned. Regrettably, this choice had to be made for reasons of space. I have also chosen lO concelllrate on the various Allird ('lite forces at the expense of their mort' prosaic brethren. Readers should not assume that c\'{'ryonc in South-East A'iia wore a camouflage suit! I have also taken some liberties with official nomenclature, especially American terms. Contrar) to popular belief, the US militar) does not de i~natC' e\'ery item with an ~l-prefixed number. Srveral sv~tems arc used, and in some cases I have also used the unofficial terminology of the troops themseh·~. Finally, when no convenient desl~nation exisl.l), I ha\'e made use of terms used by militan collectors. Rraders \\ ho desire more information are rererrr'd to the
With face camouflaged, aad wearing a 'tiser-stripe' uniform and 'Jone hac', a reconnaissaDce soldier wades a stream; c"cn his M-lli is 'tiger-slriped', apparently with paint. Hc is a member of the AeroriBe Platoon (ARP!, 2 17 ea,,-alry, 1018t Airborne DiviJiion: ARPs undertook short-range recODnaissan«, evaluated air strikes, and provided ftCUrily for downed aircraft. He is festooned with cotton bandoliers and srenades. A Pilol's Su.rvival Knife is taped to bis barnes5, and abo,,'c it an empty film c::a.n, probably 10 hold IIlalche The knife i a poor choice of w-.pon, due 10 ils short blade and sawtooth back. A field ~sing pocket bas ~n _wn 10 the left slee,,'e of the jacket; and notc the yeDow cba.mois leather work glo\'e, a fairly common item. The rucksack is the ARVN tw~pocket model. (US Army)

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[is A1711)1 0/liJ017I1S (/lidIllsigllia During the Vietnam period, the standard Army field uniform worldwide ' ...·all the OC 107 COllon Sateen Shirt and Trousers: OG 107 stood for Olive Green 107, the colour specification for the material. These wefe referred to interchangeably a"l 'fatigues' or 'utilities' by the troops. The trousers had four patch pockets, two side and two at the rear v,·;th buttoned flaps. The shirt had two breast pockets, c1o~ed with bunoned. reclan~ular flap.. In the earl) 1960>, Secretary ofDefense Robert S. ~1cNamara instituted his 'commonability' programme to [("cluce the number of similar items in usc by diffcrclll services. h was decided that henceforth everyone would usc the same fatigue clothin~. A sli~htly modified 'ersion of the OG 107 tIlilities was selected. The trousers were the same, bUl the shirt's pocket flaps were now pointed and shirt-type buttoned cuIT:, replaced the earlier plain ones. This version ,...·as used b\ the Amw, . Air Force and .\larin("~, and by certain shore-ba..rd units of 'he :\as·y such as the Seabees the :\avy Construction Battalions. The Arm) supply system did not disting-uish between this type and the earlier shirt. The OG 1°7 fatigues were worn b) the Army during the 'ad,·isor period' and the initial deployment of combat troops to \'iemam. ,\fter the first year or "0 Arm~ troop~ were ordered to take onl) one "et with them to \'ietnam and these were rarel) worn in-coumry. \\'hat replaced them was the jun~le L:tility L:niform . actually 'Coat and Trousers, :'1an's, Combat, Tropical'althou~h no one ever called it lhat . It had been designcd personally by Lt.Gen. William P. Yarborou~h, commander of the Army's Special Warfare Center later jFKCE. -:'IA at Ft. Bra~~, :'\C, in the early 196os. Yarborou~h was well qualified for the task; as a voung lieutenant in Ig.:p. he had desip;ned the .\rmy's World War II paratroop uniform. Basically what he did :20 years later \...ao;; to update his \\'orld War II design. The original jungle utilities, made in 100° 0 COllon poplin, began to be issued in Vietnam in the late summer of 1965. The jacket had four large

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bellows pockets, the top two slanted inwards for eas) access under web gear; all closed \\<;th slanted flap~ and exposed bUllons, There was a \'\-"aist adjustment tab at each side, a gas flap that counterbUlloned beneath the front Oy, and shoulder straps. The sleeves had shirt-type cuIT:s. The trousers had seven pockets: two side, two rear, and two bcllowstype cargo pockets on the legs. A seventh was located within the left cargo pocket. The leg and rear pockets closed with exposed-button Oaps. .\n early complaint concerned the sna~ging of web gear on the exposed buttons. The first modification to the uniform was to make all the buttons concealed. houlder straps, take-up tabs and gas flap were retained. A final version of this uniform appeared in latc 1967. The fabric was changed LO 100 0 0 rip-sLOp cot LOn poplin, which had nylon filaments woven into the material at intervals. This model also standardised a simplified version ofthejacket, \\<;th concealed bUllons and shirt-type cuIT:s, but lacking ~as flap, adjustment labs or shoulder straps. Trousers remained unchanged from the concealedbutton 'intermediate' pattern. Since the late 1950. the Army had been wearing black leather combat boots. Airborne troops had the 'lightly higher Corcoran paratroop boots instead. Advisor experience in Vietnam suggested that 'omething li~hter was desirable. Several types were tested before the Hot Weather Tropical Boot universally referred to as the 'Vietnam jun~le boot' was adopted. This was made of black leather and aD nylon duck, with a punji-spikere-istant aluminium insole. The original model issued in 1965 lacked a later ankle reinforcement. Very late in the war, a 'Panama tread' replaced the ori~inal sole. Durin~ the 1965 deployment a temporary shortage of jungle boots was made up by an issue of M 1945 jungle Boots, in russet leather and canvas, with a buckled cuIT: LOp. In poor condition after years ofstorage, they quickly became unserviceable and '·anished. The original leather combat boots were standard wcar in-country during 1965--66, and saw occasional wcar thereafter by indi\.;duals, Durin~ the ad,·isor period the standard Army fatigue cap was the private purchase '\Valker cap' with stilfened crown. In 1964 the Army replaced this with a silly-looking 'baseball' stylc model, the

OG 106 Hot Weather Cap. It was never popular beg-an issuin~ OD models to troop:; going o\'Crs('a~. with Army troops, who usually crushed the crown to make it morc presentable. The Vietnamese were soon making a better-looking model, and this was Insignia immediately acquired by everyone rrom Gen. I nsig'nia on combat clothing undcnvcm several chan~es during the \'ietnam \"ar, includin~colour. \\'estmoreland on down. In 1967, the Tropical Hat was introduced. with presentation and, in some cases, design. all-around brim and loops ror camouflage. Soon to After 195i Army fatigues were worn \\ith a cloth be dubbed the 'boonie hat' arter the 'boondocks' where the infantry operated, it was a popular and us operatioDs were carried out in the OG 107 utility succes ful drsi~n. An accompanying insect net was Early unifonn worn bere by meD of the 173rd Airborne Bris-de'. immediately discarded. The hat could be WOfn in a 16th Armor in Binh DuOD!; Province,Septeu.ber 196s. Note full. bripde patch and Sp4 insignia worn by radioman. The vanNy of ways. many reminiscent of the Old \'·est. colour AN PRC--;rS WILS the standard radio throuKbout the war, and Throughout the Vietnam period the Army i ued came with its own packfr&ID.e, a5 hert, a.IthouKb mO!lit RTO soollJ leaTlled to Sluff il in • standard rucksack to deny the a black web waist bell with a solid rectan~ular enemy such • conspicuous target-T'adiomen wert often picked off. a priority. The soldier in the back«rou.nd canjusl buckle. .-\ \'.;hitc T-shin \...· orn in the "States wa~ be ~n to wear the early esposed-bulton junKie utilitiu. (US usually dyed green in Vietnam: in 1966 the Arm~ Anny)

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nametape O'·er each shirt pocket. The left read l .... \R~IY in yello\\ letters on a black background. The ri~ht \\ a\ the individual\ Ia.'lt name in black on a white background. In late 1966 the latter was chan~cd 10 black on Olin- Drab, and in mid-lg67 Soldiers or the 1 t Bde., lout Airborne Div. display a mixture of uniforms typical of the ~riod-.()~ration'Checkf'rboard', DeceDlb4er Igf)S_Dd M-S6 equipment. The cf'Dtral man wears OG 107 fatigues with full insignia and namf'ta~s, and MI94S junglf' boots; and note MI910 hatchet fixed to MI9S6 Entrf'nching Tool Carrier. The others ~rn to wear early exposedbulton jungle fatigue jackets, and a mixture of jun~le and standard fatigue trousers is wo~though officiaUy p~ bibited. The two outside mf'D w_reither combat or paratroop boots in black leather; the lefl hand tnaD b.a.s the early-and ~liabl_LAW disposable rocket launchu slung. iUS Armyl

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nametape followed suit. These chan~cs affected onl) new i~ue at first. and 11 lk about a year to change o\"('r completely. There \\ere also chang-cs in rank insignia for both ofiit'ers and enlisted men, In latr 1966 the colours used in officers' rank insignia were changed rrom the embroidered white and yellow used on fatigue' r1olhin~ 10 black and lan-khaki rcspccli\dy. All officers' branch insignia was changed from yellow to bla(·k. Enlisted men ori({inally worc rank insignia as rullsize items on shirt sleeves. The original colours were .\fln) grcen and ycllow; in 1967 this changed lO t

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Olive Drab and black. Starting in 1967. some enlisted personnel in Vietnam began wearing locally authorised metal pin-on collar insi~nia. This became common by t96g and regulation in 1971. All of these changes were referred to as 'subdued' \"ersions orthe originals. Subdued unit in. ignia also appeared.

Camouflage Uniforms rhe US Army originally saw no need for camouAa~e clothing, although it procured S('\l r.ll patterns for the \'ietname 'C. which were: IKcasionally worn by .\fmy ad'\isors. These were either commercial ilem!oi intended for sporL'imen, or producUi of the Army's own Equipment Research and Development Laboratorie' ERDL. After the arrival of US l{Cound troop, it became

'Tunnl!:1 Rats' or thf! 56th Engineer Demolition Team, 25tb ImDi",. display captured enemy equipment during Operation 'Wahiawa', May 1966. They wear M-S6 equipmeot over MI952 Armor Vests and OD T-shirts. These early model ~e§18 were later modified, losing their shoulder straps and receiving an uncomfortable thref:-oClu&rter collar. The central man has a white plastic C-ration spoon tuck~ in his equipment. A mixture of M-,,, and M-16 riDes is evident.; the captured weapon i the CbjCoDl Type 53 carbine. (US Army

obvious that reconnai. -ance was ~oing- to be ,"cr) imponalll, and that some type of camoufla~e clothing '\ a, nceded for this. As an illlerim mea!'iure, members of American elite units obtained locallymade camouflage uniforms from the small Vietnamese tailor shop~ that dotted the country. These could make you anything you wallled, but mo~t customers elected either AR Y:\ patterns or copie~ ofU uniforms in camouflage material. ~lost wcre of'tiJiter-stripc' patterns. Eventually. in 1967, the Army introduced It,

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own desi~n: the Coat and Trousers, Man '5, Camouflage, Callan. It was made in a green foliage 'leaf pattern in rip.slOp material. Styling was identical to thal of lhe 'Iale' model tropical utilities and lhc 00 'boonie hal'. Intended for elite troops Long Range Reconnai"ance Palrols LRRPs. Special Forces, ARPs. Palhfinder.;, Dog Handler.;, elC. it was initially in short supply. E\-en later. some pel"Onnel thought it less effecti\Oe than the 'tigerstripes' and continued to \\car these. In addition to Reconnaissance troops of. 9 Cav.. Hit Cay.Div. (AinnobiJe), No,,·ember '970- Arra.a«ement of equipment is typical, &5 i use of bootlace to HaIre trouser I~s ti«htly below the knee. Note usc of bulky but capacious ca..ntecn carriel'5 a5 a.DlJDO pouches. M·I6s are c:a.mouftaged both with paint (left hand 1DaII) and taped cloth (riHe with ~round m.apzine leaning apins! CONEX, far left). (US Army)

Vietnamese patterns, 'tiger-stripe' items from mher Asian countries such as Thailand and Japan \.. . erc also worn at times.

US AnDy EquiplDent ,\11 .\merican military personnel wcre i 'ued the ~1- I Stcel Helmet. This came in two parb, an outer 'steel pot' and an inner fibre liner. \\'ith it \'\"as issued a re\'ersible camouflage CO\'cr and an elastic retaining band. Intended to hold foliage. it was usually used lO carry small personal items in the field. The camoufla~e covers were usually drcorated with graffiti. with calendars, home to\\-11 names and personal mottoes or nicknames the mOst popular.

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The standard Army web gear was the :\11956 pauern. It consisted of Pi'tol Belt, 'H'-type Belt Suspmde", Field Pack, 00 Plastic Canteen with Carrier, Field Dressing Pouch, Entrenching Tool Carnt.'f and Universal Small Arms .\mmunition Pou<:h",. The lauer held either two :\1-14 riOe ma~aztnes, or fOUf ~1-I6 mag-azines. or five 30found maRazines for the ~I-I carbine, or :25 J:lgaul(e shotl(un ,hell,. Two grenades could be carried extt.'rnally, and two more within. if the pouch wa\ used for this purpo"e. The :\11956 equipment stood up well to \'ietnam, the Field Pack alone pros;nl( too mall for practical use. hs replacement \vas the Lightweight fropical Rucksack. In Ig6<) a tropical "e"ion of the

m MAF commander Lt.wn. HCrnuLD NickersonJr. inspect • Recon unit of 1St Marine Div. in ,g6g.. Hi51oca.llY-Dlade utilily cap in I-J"-pancrn camouHage hu metal pin-on rank insipia; the USMC adopted. 1i000cwhac similar cap as standard in the late '970S. Note ARVN J Corps patch,. red'P on white. tagged to right brea t pocket; the conunander of m MAF automatically Senior Advisor to the ARVN forces in MR L The plastic boule hung from the holster contains earplugs, usually WOrD only by artm~rym~n. The R~con Marine w~arlii leafpattern utilitie and 'booni~ bal', with the Marine version of th~ STABO harness, and M-S6 equipm~nt. (USMC)

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M~o of Co.s, 3rd Recon Bo., 3rd Marin~ Div. patrol below the Western DMZ on New Year's Day, 1969. Th~ leading Marine w~ars 'duck bunter' camouflage fatigu~s and a black beret. He carri~s both M26AI and M-S9 fragntentaLioD gr~oade. on bili M-S6 equipment; lacking a knifc, he has taped an M-'7 bayonct to bis gear, and g.--n tape C8DlouHagclii hiJj rifle, The s~coDd man bas taped. cleaning rod to hi riHe, for em~rg~ncie•.

(USMC)

.\1-56 equipment was introduced, but never in large quantit). Another \vanime inno\'ation was a special ammunition vest for ~1-79 grenadiers, which hrld 24 rounds. Two "ersions of the :\11952 Armor \'est, made of ballistic nylon, \,'ere is..'iued. This \\-as usually referred to as a 'flak \'CSt' by troops. All these items are illustrated and described in the photo~ and colour plates. ~1-16 rifle ammunition was i ued in the field 111 'tripper clips packed in 00 cotton bandoliers, Troops usually loaded the ammunition 11110 spare mag-azincs and carried these in the bandoliers. 40mm grenades also came in bandoliers. and these ,,:ere used as they came. ~1-60 machine g-un ammunition came in linked belts, either loose, packed in Oims} cardboard boxes inside 00 cotton carriers, or in ammo cans. All of these were used, C)

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\ \ Accompanied by his Vietnam""" counterpa~. USMCc:aptain sets about his advisory dUli""lI wilh the 2nd VNMC 8n. at Can Duoc, 35 miJelll!iouth orSaigoD, in late 1964. Both officers wear 'tiger-stripe' unifonn with th~ single-button shirt pockets characl~ristic of the VNMC, and utility caps, and both carry •45 pistols in should~r bolsters. The US offic~r has pin-on caplain's bars 00 both collar poinlS, and a USMC frame buckle on a black Anny web belt. The VNMC major wean his navallityl~ r:an.Il insignia attached to a shirt bunon, French fashion, and a sm.a1Ier version i HWD to his cap. NUDetapes are in battalion colour. (S. Stibbeos, J Magazine,

Bell ror personnel armed with the M- I rifle each pocket held one eight-round 'en bloc' clip: the sixpocket ;""937 BAR ;"'agazine Belt holding 12 20round BAR magazines; and the ;.., 1936 Pistol Bell, ror pe=nnel carI)ing other weapons. With these came either ;.., 1936 or M 1945 Bell Suspenders, boIh or 'X'-type configuration. The M '945 type differed rrom the earlier model in having padding and a provision ror attaching the M '945 Combat Pack. It also lacked the 'D'-rings provided at the rront or the ;.., 1936 type. The ;"'1945 Combat Pack had been developed by Ihe Army in World War II and had many features copied from the contemporary ~larine Corp~ Ha\·ersack. Among these were ties at top and sides to attach bedroll-type items, and provision to carry an entrenching 1001 in the M 1943 Carrier on the pack nap. There was a small external pocket on the right side. It attached to the M '945 Bell Suspenders by a complicated system or straps and ·D·-rings. The ARV:'<, being practical people. l;imply improvised permanent packstraps and worc the pack knapsack-rashion. Other items, such as baY'onet scabbards and cameens. hung below the belts, attached by horizontal hooks the ;"11910 Fastener to grommets on the bellS. Still other items, such as the M-I Carbine MaKazinc Carrier, slipped on over the pistol belt by means or a loop on their backs.

[/S .J11arillf Corps but since lhe \\'eapon was belt-fed its ammunition was usually carried wrapped around the body, bandolier-style. \\'hen you needed the gun, there was no time to start unpacking its belt! ~f-14 ammunition was normally carried only in magazines. but was i~ued in stripper clips.

The US Anny World War n Korean War Field Gear During' the Vietnam period, these equipmenLS were used by Ihe AR VN, the Koreans and in part) by the US Marines. Items included the ten-pocket M '936 Cartridge

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COlllbat [Jllij017JlS (lilt! fllsigllia In the early 1960s, in common with the rest of the armed rorces, the ;"Iarine Corps had been required to adopt the Army's standard OG 107 utility uniform. The ~1arines, incidentally, never use the term 'fatigues'. These were to replace a .\1arine pattern in use since the early 19505. The changeover was not yet complete by the time of Vietnam and both uniforms were still in service. The earlier Marine utilities came in two versions,

onl' in heavy t\\ill and another in HBT doth Herrin~b()ne T\\"ill a material used. incr "'oriel \\'ar II for .\mrrican combat clOlhin~ . The shirt had plain cullS and t\\o breast pockets dosl'd with pointed flap:,>, ,\ map pocket wa" [on[ealed beneath th(' left "ide. All buttons were concealed. Tht trousers. also in two "c!"Sions. had normal "ide pockl'ts and two plain patch rear ones. Thl' Itft rtar p
~uish

betwecn types of utility uniforms. and the)" \\('1'(" worn in whatcver combination the indi"idual dt, irc.'d. The Corps additionally permitted shin ,,!rev('s to be cut off at the elbows, somt'thin~ not l'Ol1rlont'd by the Army after about 196-1-. "·hite cotton '['-shirts were worn beneath. I"Iw tharacteristic ~Iarine utility cap, made in R VN Ran,StMii board a us Army CH-2.1 bdicopttr in February 196J. Thty wtar ADltrica.a OG 107 rati~u, and a mixture of headgear: lit_I htlmtcs., maroon bt-rets., a French bush bal and a 'baStball' fatipe cap. Equipment i Wnittd to pistol belt and MI9{5 suspt:ndtr5j tht weapon:s are !\of-I carbintli and a-45 automatic, thougb sOlDtwbere out offrame thtre ougbt to be a BAR as wtll. Tbt 2o-rouad carbint DUlp.Une art carritd in two--D1a~rinepouche~ one o:tan ha an obsoltseent AN PRc..6 ·waJ..kjt-talkie'. The 2nd LL I I I in tht bush hat has his o:t~cal Ran~er Bad~e pin.ntd abo"'e the ri~ht brtaSI poclr.tL US ~yl

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ARVN Rangers of either the 30th or the 38th Bn. carry a wounded prisoner to tiafety during the Saigon street fightingof Tet 1968. The left hand man wears OG 107 fatigues, and on his right shoulder the patch of the US (99th Light Inf. Ode., indicating past service with theDl in some capacity. The other two Rangers wear 'dude hunter' fatigues. Note Ra.nger starand-panther insipa painted on helmets. (Former RVN: author' coUection)

olive green twill with a stilfened front, came with the globe and anchor stencilled al the front. Footwear, since lhe early Ig60s, was lhe standard black lealher combat bool used by' all the olher 'ervices, ant' distingui~hing' feature of the ~larine combat UIllform was a tan-khaki web belt with a brass frame buckle black when issued but usually v."om to bare metal in sen-ice. The DC 107 uniform was \.."om in Vietnam from 1965 on, althou~h after the first year or so its use was confined lO rear area personnel. The older utilities disappeared complelely during the first year. Once in Vietnam the ~larines received the same jungle utilities as everyone else, in all the variations that existed. Lackin~ the stencil for the pocket, the 12

jackets \....ere left plain. Some individuals, however, apparently added the insignia on their own with a marker pen. In the urgency and confusion of the first year, ~1arine commanders had no objection to the mixing ofjungle and ordinary utililY uniforms, and in facl paid lillie allention to such lhin~ durin!'; lhe whole war. Ig65 was a hard year logistically, and some smaller ~1arines even ended up wearing AR \':\' ulilities. In Ig68 lhe :\Iarine Corps decided lO adopllhe new leaf-pattern camouflage utilities for all .\larines in Vietnam, and issue began at the end of the year. Transition took over a year and, in the interim, themixing of camouflage and standard jungle utilities wali allo\'."OO. fhroughoul lhe whole period the :\Iarines retained their original utility cap, bUl 00 and camounage boonie hats were also worn. The white T-shirl"i gave way to olive and sometimes the tankhaki web belts were dyed green as well. Jungle boots appeared in early Ig66 and gradually supplanted the black Iealher ones in-country. The elite .\larine Force Recon units g-encrally followed a similar evolution lO that of other elite forces. Starting out with ordinary utilities, they gradually obtained locally-made 'tiger-stripe' and 'duck hunter' camouflage suits, and finally, Icafpaltern uniforms. The aUlhor recalls thal in summer Ig68 black Tshirts were a common alfectation among Marine Combined AClion Platoons CAPs)-squad-sizcd units that lived in Vietnamese villages to support the local militia. f\.1arine enlisted rank insignia were displayed as brass pin-on devices on the shirt collar. These were black \\·hen issued, but wore down to bare metal in usc. ~larine officers used metal pin-on insignia of exactly the same patterns as Army officers but sli~htl) smaller in size and these were worn on the collar as well, on both points since ~larine officers have no 'branch".. -aturall}, insignia wcre usuall} rcmO\'ed in lhe field. captain aDd his radiolIlllA, C.Ig&.z. The officer ratiSU and a ·ba.scba1J' cap in the liOoC:dled 'SAS panern' camoufla~e. Note Ranger patches on both the left shoulder aDd the ca.Dlou.8a~e 5C8Irf. The ARVN parachutiJit's b~"et is worn in both metal and cloth, on cap aDd right brat.t respectiH~ly,and meW ranking on cap and left breast. The'45 holster ha.s added cartridge loops on the strap. The radioman ~'ears OG 107 utilities., or a local copy, and a ·tige....stripc· hat. (US Army)

ARVN Wtarli

Ran~er

Marine Corps Equipment :\1arine personal equipmem in Vietnam was a mixLUre of Army panerns and some unique designs of lheir own, man) approaching ob.oksenre. Last·minulc briefing for ARVN Rangcrs from S2nd CAB Path.6.ndcr5, NO\o'cmMr 1970. Organic to larger Aviation units, Pathfinder Dctacbmf':nlS were tlitc infantry responsible for selecting and marking helicopter LZs, and co-ordination of the landing operation. The Pathfinders here (second and fourth from left) wear leaf·pattem fatigues, one with. black T-shirt of which the Iiignificance is unknown; nOlC also the unusual na.metapeli. with light lettering on • dark background. The US ht'licoplcr crewman (third from It':ft) W~ the two-pie-« Nomu Bight suit, an MI951 Fidd Ja~•• and aircrew 'chickenplatc' annour "KI. The Rangers wear mosdy l-.f-pattern fatigues, though onc has OG 1075; M-S6 equipment, and ARVN two-pocket rucksacks. The third from the right displays the rifle ling ,,'om in 'assault' tyle., with one loop through the rear sling swi"el and around the stock and • second around the front sight po!it, allowing the riOe to be carried ready for action. Helmets are camouflaged with paint, and the left hand man wears his maroon beret inside out for reduced visibility. Centre is a VNAF pilot or liaison officer: the ARVN had no aviation componenl,and all helicopter crews were VNAf personnel. He wean a li~hl grey L-2B flight Jacket over hi camouflage fatigues. (US Army)

'4

The :\1-1 Stt'd Hdmet wa.. j"sued with a mixture ofcamouflag-e CO\ el"S. The re\"ersible Army type \\ as standard. but many :\larint"~ received the older \\ orld \\ ar II Korea panern, exclusive:- to the:C()rp~. This ued similar colours but in a different pattern. Inilially, camounage re:-taining bands \\ere made up from old rubber inner tubes; later, the Army camounag-e bands became available. The ~larjne rincman went to Vietnam equipped with the :\1-14. With this he received a :\larine :\1,,)61 RiAe Belt and four :\11961 ,\mmunilion Pouches. each holding one 2o-round mag-azine. The rine belt had a series of snaps down the ce:-ntre to s("('ure the pouches. To the belt was attached the n"1 of Ihe equipment: usually, two World War II Korea aluminium canteens in ~1I910 carriers, the MarineJun~leFirst Aid Kit, and a bayonet in a ,cabbard the last usually allached to Ihe bOllom of an ammunition pouch. The belt was supported by

suspenders, the most common ofwhich was a ,"\Torld \Var II ~1arine pattern consisting of two separate straps crossing at the back in an 'X'; as the straps were separate, it was necessary to tie them together with \...·ire or string where they crossed at the back. The ~11943 Entrenching Tool and Carrier were standard. In the early perioo two further items were common issue: ~11942 Field Dressing Pouches and World War II Three-Pocket Grenade Carriers. The latter was of much greater use to the ~1arine than the soldier, since the former's web gear made no provision for the safe carry;ng of hand grenades. The Marine pack system was a lcfto"er from World War II and could be made up in four different configurations. In the field the only one used was the Light ~tarching Pack, which comprised just the Haversack. Cnlike Army packs, it could be worn withoUlthe rest oflhc equipmem on

knapsack-type maps. Again, unlike Army packs, it wa.., simply a bag whost top folded over and wall held in place by two buckled straps. Olher items could be stored externally under the fold; usually this mi~hl include a nylon rain poncho or the World War II ~Iarine Camouflage Sheher Half. .\ common ~tarine item was a US . "an Rain Jackrt with two slash patch pockets, The author was unable to disco\"cr if this was an i_-~mf Ill'm or "oml'thin~ that was 'acquired' unofficialh

lnstructor from Co.L, 75th lnfanlry, thc LRRP unil of 10lSI Airbornc Div.. lcach rappelling lechnique to thc /I /I. ('Black Panthers') of the ARVN lSI Div. Slrike Company, As members of a Ranger wait the Americans wear black be~t5; lhe a':ntraJ 6gu~ wears his with thc silver ParachutiSI Badge above the 75th Inf. C~SI. Rill;:bl band m.an wears Airborue and Ranger tab above the divisional palch. The ARVN lroops wear Viclnamese leaf.pauern fatigues, with fulJ-
I:;

The

~farines

issued two versions of their O\... n ~11955 Armor \'es!. This used for prolection a series of oSTrlapping fibreglass plales, bonded by a thermosetting polyester resin. The front closure had both a zipper and snaps. A reinforced and eyelelled band around the bottom allowed the attachment of equipment with ~119IO-lype fastenen;. There was also a very useful 'rope ridge' on the right shoulder that prevented a slung rifle from slipping off while on the march. A separate lower piece, designed to protect the groin, was worn only by helicopter crews, if at all. The early model had only' one pocket, on the left breast. Later on, twO additional pockets were crudely allached to the lower front of the vesl, each c1ose~ with a pointed flap. Both types were used throughout the war. Some ~tarines elected to wear the rcst of their equipment over the vest, allo\.. -ing it all to be shucked off as one piece. :'>lost, howes'er, wore the vrst on top. Once in Vietnam, the ~larinesquickly \acquired' Ihe superior Army 1\1 1956 equipmen!. The 'doggie' suspenders in particular were much prized. Once the ~1-16 came into use the ~t 1961 equipment was inadequate, and those Marines unable to obtain A student taking part in a National Police Fidd Force train. ~11956 univen;al pouches made do with bandolien;. ing clan in Augusl 1970 we.ars tightly-tailored (leopard' The Marine pack proved inadequate, and those camouflage fatigues, conon maga~ine baodoliers and an ARVN three-pocket rucksack. His US hebnet cover is worn Marines who tried the Army's equivalent 1\1 1956 'brown sidl!: out', the colours and panern coincidentally found it lillie beller. Fibre pack boards of World matching those of the uniform.. (US Anny) \\'ar II vintage were used as an interim measure. By 1969 mast J\1arines were using Army Lightweight Rucksacks, ARVN two-pocket models or even ~\'A rucksacks instead. Like the Army, the very unofficial channels, the phrase 'be~, borro\\ or ~larines discos'ered that empty Claymore mine Sleal' being most descriptive; and the :\larines bag:; made handy muselles. The Marines showed always had \'Ci~VA souvenirs to trade. linle interest in the Army Aak \-eM, although some were used. All of these items, except for the Claymore bag:;, entered ~larine inventory through

H''''

AR~\ '" []lIifOI711J

A class in ~tractioo techniques conducted by mea of the US Annys 283M Hl!:licoptu Delachml!:Dt in 1969- Thl!:y w_r tw~ pill!:« Noml!:JI: fli&hlliuit &ad locally-madl!: 'baRbaJJ' cap with full-e:olour l!:mbroidl!:red insis-nia to personal taste; the mao HCOnd from left b.a full-e:olour Avialor's wings and unit titll!:. Tbl!: left hand man wears the unit patch on his pocket, &ad • locally-made ('beercan') metal crest version on his cap. The ubdued patch of....th Medical Bde. WOrD on the right shouldl!:r indicates a previous combat tour with that unit. He wears the .]8 re'\-'olvl!:r issued to aircrew, in a locally.made black I_ther holster. Thl!: ARVN troops wear Il!:af-pattern utilities, aod the shoulder title WOrD by the right hand man idl!:oti6l!:s 2.Dd Ranger Group. ARVN officers in the backvound can just be seen to wear rankinS in different po!iitio1U, e.ither 00 the shirt front or the colla.r points. (US Army)

fllldIllsigllia The standard AR V:-'; field uniform was of simIlar de i~n to the Ameriean OC I 07 fati~es, althou~h a close inspection would reveal differ('nc~ in material, cut and stitching. Local tailorin~ produced sli~ht \"ariations usually shoulder strap" or additional pockets, and it was the practice of r('~ular troops to ha\-e their uniforms tailored to a ti~ht fil. Fati~uc trousers were often worn outside the bools.

17

NVA soldiers SiSD a petition of support, in about 1965. Most have khaki uniforms, hut some wear the white dres shirt s«n only in the North. Thc man with the slung AK-47 wears the rare NYA shirt with. bauJedress-style waistband, sometimcs called thc
Starling' in the early 1960~, with the deep<:nin~ of tht, \ational l':.omergene), the fatig-ue uniform was also \\()rn a'i o,;('ryke df(> ~. Oril{inally i. ~ued just to the .\rm~, this uniform \\a..'i en'l1tually u eel h) \'irluall) e\"l'~ hranrh ofmllitar~ and paramilita~ force. In till' latl" 19tXh .\merican-madejungle utilitit· b(.'gan to be..' i sued 10 the \ 'icmame e, Th(·) \\ ef(' ~enc.'fall~ of the later pattern:.;. and ne\"er elllin·h sUJ>CI'eded the e..·arlin uniform. Standard headgear wao,; eitht'r the \'il'tnamt' (. fatigue l'ap or an \mencan boonie hat. L'nits authorised b('fets wore rhem French-style, pulled to the Idl. L'S combat or jun~le boots \\ere..' pro\"id<'d

18

b I the .\m('rican~. f:lite and paramilitary forces, ('sfX'ciall I in thc ~1rkong' Delta, made cxtensi\"c use of camouOag'e dOlhing'. In addition to .Ameriran paucrns man) indige..·nowi types existcd. In theory, some org-anisaUon rhe .\irborne and ~larines, for e..·xamplr had their 0\\ n paunllS. Howc\"('r, for most. \ R \. ~ . units the sourcr of such uniforms was a local tailor shop, Troops often selected whate,'er aPP'"aled to tlwm, or simpl) \\hat wa'i a\"ailablc. I..<)\\(.'r len·1 troop mi~ht \\car pallerns disrarded b) a difft.Tellt ()r~anisation. For example, the author has a photo~aph of a Popular forces soldier in t 96<) \\('arin~ a worn-out French 'lizard' camouOag'e jatket as formerly u. ed by the Presidential BodyI(uard, who had adopted another pattern. Two \\t'I~hh of doth existrd, a light\\ri~ht (Olton and a Iwa\") t\\ ill. St~ lin~ \"aried \\:idrl~, but the m()~t (:ommon type re embled the standard fati~ue uniform in cut, with added trou cr pockl'ts. Then' \\t'f(' also a \'aril'ty of differt'nt pocket dl'tails to bt,

sl'('n. It should be rrmemlx'red that strict enfol'l"t.,- Stu:l.helmetftl. NVA soldiers pose for a propaganda photo Lime in the late IgOOS, Thr~ men in the front rank wear mc:nt of c1r('ss rel{ulations wa"i ne\'('r a hi~h priorit) some the rare 'NVA Combat Jacket" with waistband, The soldier with the hnprovised netting over his Polish bel met ha. a rice in Ihe \R\':\. bag slung at the waist. (TOlD Hunt CoUec:tion) rhe Yil'lIlamese Army had an enormous Yari('t)of houkkr patdws. Each [orps, di\'ision, school and [ommand had ih 0\\ n. but so did ('\'cry \\()rn on th(' pockets. Generally the hlg-hn unit\ regiment, battalion and elite com pan) cithn in 1~llIa was worn on the ng:ht pocket and the indept.'ndent or di\"isional within the ,\rm) Other subordinate unit's in_ igoia went on the left. Usually patdll" ('ommtmoratrd participation in (t·rtain no pau:hc \\ert' \\oro on the ri~ht ...lce\'e. txcept by difficult campai~ns, such as the 19i2 deft nrc of,\n tht' Ran~trs, who in\·ariabh- wore th<'ir ...tar-andpantl1l'r Ranr~er insi~nia on the left slrr\"{' and used L<:K' Dt ig-ns [ould be simple or quite compkx, Ill(' right for Iht'ir Corps or Group patch. Ill(' ~Io t '\t'rt mack in full [olour; subdued H'rsions aPJX'an-d 111 the l'ar!) '9io , I n a work of thi ill' it . ·alion~ll Polin' Fidd Force had a S).tl'm of thloir '\ould hl'ludinous to attempt a detailed stud), but 0\\ n, adapted from their drcs uniform. :\tC'dk...... to a), the (' \;\st('I11S w('re not ah\a)s or e\'en usually 'l1ll'fe tt'd n'adtf'i are rderred to the work... li...ted III fi)IIO\\l'd, and man~ .\RV.\" soldiers n('\"(.'r lxnhnl'd tht, bibliograph). \R \', unit patches w('n' worn a\ follo\\ ; that or '\tarine; patch('s at alL or perhap \\(If(' the till' maJor [ommand to which the soldier bt.'lon~rd diYI lonal pau:h alone, S(:anT III bright colours \\rrr us('d h) specific u uall) a di\·j ion or hig-her was worn on th(' kit h'l'\(" omtwhat limn than .\mcncan practicl' .\11 umt, or to dt.... i~ate subordinatt' unib witilin rl'glml'l1lal, battalion and company patches ,\ere lare;lT formations, or as a field i~l \\ hen difli.'rc.'nt °

1<)

\'

NVA accout~Dlents: (A) ChiCom AK-47 chest pouch (B) ChiCom SKS chesl pouch (C) NVA equipmcnt belt with 'largc star' buddc (D) ChiCom Iw~pockct grenade pouch (E) ChiCom four--pockel grenade pouch (F) Chincs~madc 'NVA sta.adard' eanl~n in web carrier (G) Chinese-made 've early NVA' cant_n in carrier (H) ve pick-ID.auoc.k. IAdaplKl by pcrm.ission from 'Vietnam CoID.bal Ullifonns', Hunl &. Mendez)

tyP(' of units \\orked together on an operation, or a"i in th(~ US .\rm)' just to dress up uniforms for a parade or formal inspection, The colours used were commonly scarlet, yellow or bright blue, Camouflag'c scaf\'e~ also appeared. omce~' rank insignia existed in three \'ersions: full colour embroidered, subdued embroidered and metal pin-on lype~. They could be worn on the cap and both lapels, or a single de\·ice would be worn on the "ihin. .-\ slip-on type could also be worn on uniforms wilh shoulder straps, :\'CO insignia could

appear in the same way, on shoulder straps or on lhe Jeft ,Ieeve.' .\R \':\" specialist bad~es Airborne, Ranger. elC. also existed as pin-on de\;ces and in cloth embroidered form. They were worn on the right breast above the pocket. Soldiers who had qualified for an American badge wore it above the left pocket Occasionally a nametape might appear abo\'{' the right pocket, but this \.,'as not especially common, Some 'nametapes', those containing numbers, are actually unit insignia ofsimple design.

' ....,"t'"

lahll" 01 rdllL. iIL..il{TlIOl.. p. 27. \1.\.\ Ill-l. JmwJ 1tN I utNml II.,

,'1,- 75·

.J.\

7f1 [J;'!101711S alld /;lsigpia

The ~{andard ;\\'A uniform was a dark ~T('('n cotton shin and trouscrs. The shirt had lon~ sleeves, shirt+type cuffs and (\vO pleated bUllon-down pockeb closed b) pointed Aap",.•\11 bUllons wcn.' of brown plastic. The trousers had only three pockets, two side and one at the rig-Ill rear. .\ )oop-andbutton arrangement permitted the trousers to be ~athered at the ankle. The same uniform was also manufactured in tankhaki cloth. This was originally an 'export' model, i",ued to Pathet Lao and Khmer Rouge forces, and X\'A uniLS operatin~ alon~ide them in their counlt;e~. ~1any of these uniforms also found thclr way into South Vietnam. They WCfC most common in the two southernmost ~Iililary Regions. Originally intended for :\1ain Force YC, they were also widely worn by, YA Regulars. Occasionally NVA soldiers werc encountered wearing light blue or grey uniforms. The~e were ~VA X.lilitia items, most commonly seen in the North, often worn by Air Defence crews. Use in the South was extremely rare. Styling was similar to that of" other NY A uniforms. A variety of web belL';, with cheap brass or aluminium buckles, were issued to enlisted men. Oaieers received a version in imitation leather \vith attached metal buckle. The ~VA soldier received several sets of uniform a.') his oriJSinal issue. Ho\ve\'cr, after his arduous transit of the Ho Chi ~1inh Trail and a fe\\ months in the South, he was usually reduced to one, with pcrhap" a spare shirt or trousers in his pack. Footwear could be either 'Ho Chi ~linh sandals or the ~Y.\ combat shoe. The lauer \vas made in tan can\·as with brown rubber lug sales. It was copIed from the French ,\rmy 'patauga' tropical boot, widely worn by French C nion forces during the first Indo-China War. tandard . ·V,\ headgear was the famous sun helmet, sometimes erroneously called a 'pith helmet' by •\mericans. It was made of a S) nthetic material called phmolir; not a true plastic, this was actually cardboard impre~nated with resin under

pressure, a process de\·e1oped in Germany bd()re \\'orld \\'ar II. During manufacture an OUtlor doth layer was permanently bonded to the hdml.:t; this was usually dark ~reell in colour. but it wa" po. "ihle to find hdm('ts in tan or brown ..\ whitt' \"torsion IS Ix'licH'd to be . ·onh Vietnam~e Xan i lie:. In addition to colour, there are two 'Ili~ht \·anation'l in "it ~ Ie. one I~:ing sli~htly flatter in shape.. \11 \ ('"ion (-arne \\nh a brown leather chin trap. Hmnemac!lcamollfla~t' m:uin~ was sometime add('d h\ indi\-idual "oldief',. The other common. ·Y.\ headg:ear \\a".1 nopp~ bush hat \\ith a c10lh chinstrap. It Wa"i mad(' in grcen, tan and brown material. oft.t'n ladim~ into l{rrys and buff-; with wear. Occasionalh, tufts of 'Viet Con!; Main For«' troops., c.1973- The Viet Cons had "irlually «ased to exist as a separate o~satioD by this date; NVA soldiers filled the ranks of their units, and NVA cadres direceed OJM'ratioDs. Except for the RPD ~nner' Mt956 pistol belt and canteen carrier (now domB: duty as • pouch) all clothing and equipmeDt seen here are of North Vietnamese orip. (Tom Hunt CoUeetion)

h) .111 thl' troop in one arl'a, Thi~ took till" lorm ofa 'lIlgle ~trip of red. yellow or blue doth tied oml"whl.'re on th(' uniform, the colour (han~ng from da\ to da\, .-\ special \'('rsion of this appeared at Huedurimphe t968Tet fighting, featuring short strips of hlue and red cloth attached lO a white paper square and worn on the arm.

NYA EquiplDent 1"Iw ~ -Y.\ ha Il'alh u~ed thl' ChiCom ')~tl'm of .1lToutn"ml"nt . l'hl'irown gUlTilla heritagt' hO\\ed through. hO\\l'\l'r, In their \\ide u e of (·aptured. honwmadl' and non-'landard ill'ms. ,\ cll' rripLiol1 A blurt"fll photo which repa)s study, of VC \fain Forapersonnd di playiU!!; capluncl ARVN weapon. Mosl are of t~ pi<-al al'('outr("menh l()I1()\\ . &r1:Iled with AK-.t7s and wear ChiCoID chesl pouches and US The ba\ls or the Communist soldier's personal pisiol ~lts. A nweture of black VC and khaki 'NVA E:..:port' unifonns are worn, with hush hats; two men have parachule l"quipml'1ll was a dark ~fl·l.'n C,lI1\'as weh equipmcnt cloth scarfs. The date is probably the mid-I960!t. (US Army) Iwh. (,hnt' \\tTl' LwO main Lypes ofhrlls, both \\'iLh material were sewn on as camouflage. SOJllt" ,duminium hurkles and keepers. The centre of the examp!('", of, "\'.-\ unifc)rm rap", al",o appt'ared in th... IHKkle was stamped with a star, and tht" owner South, Ttu: i Ut.' n'l ion, \'ague" IT t'mhling ~l nmld paiJ1l lhi, red. or not. 39 e;em'ral. howl"n'r, no ill'.ignia were \\orn until \TI) rOllnd~ in rardboard boxl', and om' hdd the late in tlw \\ar. 'imilarl\ .llthou~h "oth. '\".\ rap \\capon- comhination LOo!. two-companml'llt oiler and sun hdmtt made pro\; ion le)r nalional in- ,md ometimt"o; a spare £iring pin. Occa ionall) signia. this too wa') ran"l~ \\om befon' til{' time of . '\ ,\ oldier'S u I'd the smaller pouches to carry Slick lhe 'Ho Chi .\Iinh Olknsin" of ,,)7:;. \1~lUt lh.. gfl'nade, \ It, '" common farrier \\ a"i a fi\"eonl) 'in ignia' thaL might ht, \\ 0111 b\ Communi t magazine houldl'f bag, \\ith t'xternal romparttroops hdelu' thi~ wa, a fidd recogniLion ,ign, worn mI.'lllS lor combination tool, oiler, etc. This also came with an alternative belt loop. lSn' I.thlr "I r,l1Ik ill i~l1i,t. p, ~H, \1 \ \ Illi r 'If l'ltt mIla' The rig for th,' SKS Chinose Type 5() had ten /fl· 7.) 1.'2

Soldiers of the 196th Light lnf.Bde., AmericaJ Div., examine a VC cache near Chu Lai in December 1970' The abbreviated. rifteman'. equipment is typical of !iihort.range OpeMllt-iOD!o at thi period. Bandolier are und to carry both magazine!ii and srenade5, and "pare M-60 bell i loo~ around t-be riOemen'fi waists, The two XM203 K~nadiers at the right wear the special grenadier's aunmo "est; t-he tnan at far right also cames bis rifle magaz.ines in a spa~ canleftl carrier, and eration toilet paper pack in his hdDJ.et band. Third from right has a Kabar knife Iiheat-bed in bis trou.wr cal"!:0 pocket., and fourth from rigbt ba a civilian bunting knife on bis belt. t l:S Ann)')

indi\ idllal companments, nine of which hdd two IO-I"ollnd trippc.'1" c1ip:-. or 7.0:l 39 l'adl. .\ [(,nth ('()Inpannwnt twld lilt' oiler.. \11 \\t're c:lo,ed h~ pc:~­ and-loop 109:~Ic.' l~ tc.'TWrs. rile: ri~ I
Lightweight Tropical Rucksack with frame. This consiscs ofa cencrat compartment with draw5tring closure, and one large and two smaU eJL:ternal pockecs. The mside of the main compartment flap mcorporates a space for scowing maps and papers. Equipmenl hanger_web loops and webbmg with eyelecs-ppear at the sides of the pack and jusc above the pocket. though the laner are hidden here by the main aap. The side pockets havea 'Cunne)' belw~n their rear face and the ide of the main pack, so thac items such as machele can be slipped behind the pockels and attached Co the hanger above. The whole pack i made of heavy aylon, and can be strapped to either che lOp or the bonom of the alurniniUtD tube frame. (US Anny)

wooden handles and pull-friction fuses. All were accommodated by ChiCom pouches, holding two or four grenades each; these slipped on the belt and had a strap to hold the shoulder of the grenade. All l\;VA grrnades \vere characterised by poor reliability and low explosive power. ~Ietal pans were black or olive. and handles were left natural wood. In the early day~ of their involvement the :-IVA l!oisued a variety ofcanteens, some in metal, some in plastic. All were of ChiCom manufacture and were the same models used by the Viet Congo By the late J()60s the :'o:\'A had tandardised on one canteen: also of Chinese origin, it was of olive-painted aluminium with a brown bakelite cap. It came in a skeleton \\-'eb carrier, rather like that of the British 1937 web equipment, and was slung over the houlder on a strap. The XVA were indefatigable diggers, and their standard shovel closely resembled Soviet or World War II German types. Carrying arrangements were often improvised. The NVA rucksack was an item unique to Vietnam, its design apparently based on captured French packs of the earlier Indo-China War. It was made of canvas with a large central compartment and three external pockets. The main portion was a bag, closed by means of a drawstring. I lS top was covered with a small, squarish flap, secured by two attached straps and their galvaniscd steel buckles. The three external compartments, the rear one slightly larger than the two at the sides, closed with cloth ties. Early models of the rucksack were slightly different; among other things, the rear pocket closed with an aluminium buckle. Adjustable knapsack-type straps attached to the main body. The well-equipped NVA soldier might also have a haversack or 'day-pack' of some type, slung over his shoulder on a strap. NVA troops were issued a green rubberised ground sheet as protection from the elements.

fi,·e-round Slripper clips of 7.62 Xagant a totally diff("f("1ll round from that used \",ith the AK and SKS The fompanmems were closed by ties rather than lO«'lIes. RPD ma('hine ~unners recei\"ed a round pouch for the \\t.'apon's spare drum and its cleaning kit, carried on a . houldrr strap. The used an incredible variety of hand g-renades. from factof\'-manufactured types from AI: Para/roof!", ARI:\" AlrbornL Dhirion; Ap Bac, China to the crud,."t jungle workshop copie>. They South I'it/nam. January 1963 fell imo two ~eneral categories: cast metal types The .\R"X paratroops were the first of their with striker~rd('a'\(" fu'\es, and stick g-renadN \·",ith Army's elite forces, and sa\\ considerable action 21

'Y.'

ThePlafes

re

10

.d

JI

2

,-

"e L

.

1

n

e e t:

i

• -• -

4

1

I: Paralrooper, ARVN Airbome Div.; Ap Bae, 1963 2: l'S Army Captain. advisor lO ARVN 2nd Armd.Cav.RegL. 1963 3: CS Marine helicopter pilot. 1962-65 4: Nung mercenar)', CIDG. 1962-68

A

•

• 1

•

3

B

1: Viet Cang irregular. 1962 2: Viet Cang Main Force 8OIdjer, 1964 3: Viet Cong Main Force soldier, 1967

1: StafTSergeanl, US 10 1st Airborne Div., 1965 2: Tank crewman, US 11th Armd.Cav.Regl., 1968 3: SP4 grenadier. S 1st lnr.Div., 1968

1

2

3

c

..

1,2: NVA regula.rs. South Vietnam, 1968

3: N\'A anti-aircraft gunner, South Vietnam, 1967

o

I: Lance-Corporal RTO, US 3rd Marine Dh'., 1965 2: Vlachine gunner, CS Marines; Hue Cit)', Tet 1968 3: Rifleman, 1st Bn., 7th L"S Marines; MR I, 1969

E

I

I: Rifleman. Reece Bn.• ROK Capital Div., 1966 2: Helicopter pilot, US Army 1st Aviation Bde., 1970 3: Helicoplercrewman. US 18tAirCavairy Oiv., 1968

F

I: Enli ted man. RVN National Police Field Force; Saigon. Tet 1968 2. 3: ARVN Rangers: Saigon, Tet 1968 4: Marine, RVN 5th Marine Bn., 1972

G

1

2

1: LRRP. CS 173rd Airborne Bde., 1968 2: US Special Fo~es, Reconnaissance Team Zeta, 1968 3: CS Na\), SEAL. Detachment Goll: Rung Sat Special Zone. 1968

H

durin~

this early period. including combat jumps. One of these lOok place a' the '963 ballic or.\p Ba(', whc.>n \'iet Cong- ~Iain Force units inflicted a SCV('f(' check to .\R \',' troops and their .\merican adnsoT"S. rhe .\R \'.' .\irborne adopted a camouna!(e uniform 111 the early J96os. In style it r~embl('d the normal faLig'ues. but \\ ith shoulder straps addcd and all buuons (:oncealcd. 'The camouAag'e pautrn 1 b"'ed on, of all ,hin!(S, 'he "'orld \\ ar II 'windprool>' used b) the Briti h 5AS. of whirh surplus LOcks were lat('r used, and copied, b~ French paras in Indo-China. This particular unifc)rm ha"l t\\O pen pockeb pro\·ided. olle undc.-r rach arm. l'rcnch paratroop camouflage unifc)rms in 'lizard' pauenl were alo worn. Headg'ear \\a. a thnf\ rtd Ix'ret or a camouAag-e fati~u(' rap. \\ ith 'he .\irlxm1C bad!(e on 'he former, The C5 :\l-IC Paratrooper's Su,'e1 Hrlmet \\ as worn in the field Cloth \'ic.'tnamese Ba.sic Parachutist \"ing- are worn a!x)\"e the rig-ht pocket, in the French mannn. The inSl!(nia on 'he left pockcl is the Jump Status Designator, which indicates that the wearer is turrently assigned to an Airborne unit. Rank insignia Ha SZ, equivalent to Pri\'atc Fint Class is worn on thc left slt'evc only, just below the palch of the AR V:'\ Airbornc Di\'ision al this time ani) a brigaci(> , The man's equipment includes a US :\1 "H5 Comba, Pack with packstraps imprm'ised Ii'om :\1 "H5 Bel' Suspenders" :\1 t937 BAR :\la!(a,ine Bdt, :\1 t936 Ikl' Suspenders, :\1'9." Field Dres.sing' Pouch, and aluminium ~119IO Canteen \"ilh Carrier, All arc L'S-made and prO\'ided undt.'f :\ID.\P funds. The soldier is armed wi'h a Browning \Ulomatic Rifle B.\R in its ~11918.\:2 \'e~ion, In spite of its Ig.4--lb weight it earned many admin'~ among tht' .\RV:\'. He also carries CS \\orld \\ ar II pattern :\Ik II hand !(renad",; the .\R\'.' had "as< slOcks of the e and u ed 'hl'm throu{{hout the \\ ar.

.12: C\ . In'!)' .Id ;10': .Ip Bar, Janlla~1 1';;3 Despitl' popular belief, comparati\'ch fe\\ of til(" .\merican ad\'isors to thr .-\R \':\ were from the Sprflal F()r(·~, ~I(): t were ordinan oflice[S and enIi tcd men, I"his .\rmy captain, taken from ~\ phmo!(raph. is ad"i or an .\R\'''\ ,\rmnrl'd C
'0

Th~

us M-79 Grtnad~ Carri~r Vest,

introduced in 1969. (US

Army)

Sau'en standard rati~ue uniform lhcn eoming into sef\'icc for all hranthes of the .\mrrican armed l(,r('cs, He wears full-colour nametapes, and inig-nia dt.'nOlin~ his branch ,\rmor and rank on Iell and ri~ht rollar respecti\'e!y. The tab on hi~ left ..let.'\"(' idtntifit him as a graduate ofthe CS .\rm\ Ran~t.'r St'hool. and the white 'win~' alxwl' his kft Po(:kl'l htm him to Ix' a qualified paratroolxT. Hl'ad!(l'ar is 'he d",pi cd Army 'basl'ball rap'. on which 11(" \\ears pin-on metal rank insiKnia, Hi.. pri\'<.ue purcha..c 'tanker boots' are an allt'uation of lJS .\rmor tnx>ps. ~lan) .\mencan ad\,j ors adopted the complete unilc)rm of their \·ietnamt.·....· unit.., hut thi man' on" concr. sion to thl' .\RY_. i.. to \\('ar his equi\aknt \·ietname-.c rank f)a; l) on his shirt. Ht., al 0 \\:ears the in,iKnia of the ,\R\'~' 2nd .\rmorro Ca\'alry Rc~ment in a pla'itic prOl('ni\l' holder ..uspcnded from hi.. ri~ht . . hirt p
prohibiLed rrom carrying arms. bUL by this Lime Lhe ·45eal. :\1 J() 11f\ I pistol was common. The :\1193 6 Pistol Belt. two-pocket ma~azine pouch and .\11 q J () Canteen an' \\'orld \I ar II models. perhaps ,he officer's 0\\ n. Hi.. pla"tic precription gla'i.sn. arc .\rmy issue, howc\"('r.

Soldi~rs of th~ 1St lnfDiv.' 615t lnf.Ptn. Combat Tracker) with one of their Labrador R~trie"er dogs, ncar Lai K.b~ BaR Camp, October 1969. Ma~z.ines for their CAR-IS SMGlI and

1\1-16 rifles ~ carried in cotton bandoli~rs and in th~ newly_ issued MIg6, Lightw~ight Ammunition Pouches. Not~ ba@::~ type'T~o-Q.uartCanteens' lIlung from bells, right forevound; and profusion of !limoke grenades. Th.is pboto !libow ome of the way the 'boon.ie bat' couJd be worn; and the Idt hand man wean a locaJJy-made ltaf-pattern 'Jon~s bat'. The sc'lll-.nt (ES) team luder, sipping from his ca.nteea., wears on his bat a 'Puc~ Siga' I1lade from a grenade ring and tri~8are wire. The unit' ilite IIOtalu5 is marked by a shoulder titJ~ worn abo"e th~ 'Big Red One' IIObou1d~r patch. (US Annyl

>6

Two corporals of the Path6.nder D~tach.ment, s~nd CAB, I5t Aviation Bd~. call for ~xtraction aft~r a r~connaissanc~ tnission near th~ Canlbodian border, November 1970. Leafpattern utilities are worn with both fuJJ-eolour and subdued un.il insi~a and nam~tapes. Airborne and Ranger !lihoulder litles indica(~ the unit's ~lite status. The original print bow metal pin-on rank insignia worn on tb~ shirt collar pointli. One man USC!li the AN PRC-77 radio, successor to the PRC-~50 with attached voice scrunbling device. By his right hip bang MI9+4 goggl~ and an MI942 machete. (US Army)

.1.1: C!> .Ilannt htlicOPltr pilol: PrCljtcl !>f1CFLl. 1t/i2 {,j rhe .\Iarine Corp, made little distinction bct\\ccn till' dre: '" ofits fixed and rotary wing- aircrr\\, except that helicopter crewmen had to make do \\ ith older t:quipmrnl. This pilot. a .\tarinr captain all \Iarilw pilot~ are commis~ioned officers, \\fars the standard .'3\ Y Bureau or AeronautiOi Bu.\ir Summn F1);n.~ Co\-eralls and brm"n leather f1yin~ hoot.. I'll(' g-n'Y Icather ~IO\'cs are also. ' ..\\"~ pilot's i ... ut" His .\PH-bA Pilot's Protectivl' Helmet is a

standard model adapted for use with a helicopter's communications system. Even older helmets were worn. It has been hurriedly owrpainted Ohe Drab to reduce visibility. The pilot carries a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson ~lodel 10 revoh"er for personal defence.

A4: . VUTl,l{ mercenary. Civilian lrrl'gl~lar Defensl' Group (eIDG); 1¢:Hi8 'The CI DC Programme was an early American attempt to harness the military potential of ethnic minorities within \'ietnam on the side of the C\':\ Government of \'ietnam . ,,,,'hich denied them member.)hip in the armed forces. The L:nited States pro,"ided se"eral types of camouAa~e clothing to the \'ietnamese. This man wears a mixture of two. His 'tiger-stripe' uniform is A much-reprinted photo of VC Main Force troops in about an ERDL-lype sec main lext), recognisable by the 1964. They wear tan.khaki uniforms, and Chinese.made sun h(l'hn(l'lS with foliage netting- cloth COV(I'r was far more 'cigarette pocket' on the left trouser leg its actual common. Their AK maglUin(l'!ii are carried in the (l'arly five. purpose was to hold a field dressing. The Viet- pocket lihould(l'r bag. (Tom Hunt CoIJ(I'ction) namese \-..ere soon prodtlcin~ copies of this uniform; lhe .\RV:\' Rangers in particular affecled this particular style, with its exposed two-button 'patauga jungle boot are worn. In '96g all ClOG pockets. The ClOG's cap is an American commer- units were incorporated in the AR \':\ proper, cial pattern intended for waterfowl hunters styled ('Hher as Ran~er Border Dt'fense Baltalion~ or as afler lhe lJ ~larine utilit} cap. An all-round-brim Regional or Popular Force uniL"i. style (sometimes called a ~Jones hat' was also popular, and could be worn in various ways, often 81: l'i,t COllg ,mgllior. '¢2 in a 'cowboy' style-the Vietnamesc wcrc fasci- 'This man, a local guerilla. wears a mixture of nated by American \Vestern movies. The black silk ci\'ilian dress and old French items. with homemade scarf identifies an ethnic Chinese :\ un~ unit. Each aCCOutrements and the very beginnings of );orth of lhe minority groups participating" in the ClOG Vietnamese aid. His clothing is lhe famous 'black programme had its own colours. p)jama peasant dress of Vielnam: a collarless I n addition to ser\"in~ in their own units, a :\un~ shirt, here \\.;th three open pockets, and elasticplatoon scrved wilh each pecial Forces Camp as a waisted trousers. Footwear is the 'Ho Chi ~1inh security detachment. Bein~ of Chinese descent, sandal', a surprisingly efficient ilem made from old thcir ancient racial prejudices made them in,"ulner- truck tyres and inner tubes; and he wean; an old able to infiltration by the Viet Congo Their pay was French Army bush hat. His canvas equipment belt provided for by lhe SF soldiel~ themselvcs, out of has an excellent CoP) of a US buckle. An'outretheir own poe kets. ments include a homemade ha'Trsack and g-rcnade At this sta~e of the war personal equipment was pouch. the lauer fabricaled from bright green minimal, and here comprises ~I 1956 Pistol Brll, commercial tent cloth; it holds two jun~le workSuspenders, C ni"ersal Pouch and Canteen. The hop' fragmentalion grenade, of different type...\ ClOG tended to ha,"e ~I 1956 equipment. while the knife, handmade from an old CS file. is sluck .\R\;.; itsclf had the older World War 11 Korean lhrough lhe bell. rhe black couon rice bag, worn \\'ar type. The ~1-2 carbine calTied by this man was around the body, is said to hold a month., suppl} of extremely popular among Oriental soldiers, due to grain often infested with vcrmin . His weapon is an its small size. light wcig-ht and fully automatic old French bolt-action MA -36 in calibre 7.5 x capability. Vietnamese-made copies of the French 54mm, lypical of lhose stored away by lhe Viet >8

~linh

for future usc at the end of the IndoChina \\'ar. Fifty rounds of its ammunition are carried in the homemade bandolier; the cloth and bUllons for this item come from an old shirt. Out of siKht on the man '5 left hip is a Chinese-made ranlrrn in a call\'as carner, provided by ~onh Vietnam.

B2: r'i'l Cong .\lain Foret 50Idi", 1!P4 His 'black pyjamas' could be of the ciyilian type or the \'C pallern, \\hich \\as a simplified \"crsion of the -orlh \'jetname;c .\rmy uniform shirt and trou <:f'S. His h("ad~ear is a Chinese-manufactured plastic sun helmet covered with waterproof nylon material. .\round his neck he wears a scarf of L'S pararhute cloth. His rice bag is carried around his neck. AccoutremenLS are a mixture of :'\\',\, Chint~e and jun~le workshop' items. His cquipfirm belt is :\'\'.\ i\Sue, and supports a ChiCom (\H)-pockct ~renade pouch and cameen. Hand ~renades arc of Chinese manufaclUre, copie:') of World War II Japanese models, The Chinese hase also prosided the 7.62mm Type 53 carbine a copy of the Soviet :'\1'g"l4 and iLS ten-pockCl ammunition pouch rig, The pack is a local item, made from CS nylon rain poncho material, with one large and one small companmem and two side pockets. The pick-rnauock entrenching LOol is also a local iH'm, with a bamboo handle and hand-forged iron head. It is attached to the belt by means ofa strip of inner lube. Ho Chi ~1inh sandals complete the soldIer's combat dress.

By "i'l Cong .\lalll Foret .lOlditr, 1!P7 linh Iron rifleman wears the :'\\'A 'expon'

Thi~

khaki uniform and bush hat. Accoutrements com-

pri e a ChiCom chest pouch rig for the K ,:\\,,\ equipment belt, ChiCom two-pocket grenade pouch. a fil'lt-aid or medical pouch and a Chin~c raIHt'l'n in a can\'a.."i carner. His" "\'A rucksark is camouflaged by means of branches insened throu~h a rin~ desice ~linh sandals are worn.

see Plate D•. Ho Chi A ChiCom Type 56 riRe

i carried, distin~i~hed by the charaCleristic spike bayonet. The stick-type fragmentation ~renades arc also of Chin("'o>C origin.

Two Vi~1 Cons prison~rs tak~n by th~ 10181 Airborn~ Div. in 1966 djsplay th~ IWO main types or'black pyjama' hirts: I.b~ coUarl~ civilian Iype (left) and th~ VC uniform Iype (right). (US Army)

CI: US ,Inay Staff S"g,anl, 10151 Airborn, DWlJlon, I!PS The 10 I "It was among the first major units to deploy to Vietnam, and the sergeant's appearance is typical of this period. His M-I steel helmet is ro\"crcd with a reversible camouflag-e cover held in place by an elastic camouRage band; the band also holds a plastic bOllle of insect repellent. He wears the early model jungle uniform, with exposed bUllons and full-colour insignia and nametapes. His newly procured jungle boots are the early pallern, without ankle reinforcement. The li~ht blue infantry branch scarf actually an ascot is a component of the Class A Service Uniform; it \.. . as brieRy wom in the field during the early period \ery briefly nylon is hot! The sergeant's equipment is the ~J 1956 set, comprising Pistol Belt, Belt Suspender., field Pack, twO lJ ni\"CNal Pouch.. and three OD Plastic Canteens in carriers. His First Aid DrC"sing Pouch is auached to his suspenders on the ri~lll side, and an Army issue angle-head Rashli~ht i~ aua('hed to one ammo pouch. His entrenching LOol in its ~1-56 Carrier also incorporate:') pro\-isiol1 for the ~1-7 Bayonet in Scabbard ~18AI as sho"n. The metal snap ring attached to the left side of his harness is used in rappelling from helicopter. and is thus a distinction of Airborne and Air Cavalry

4!9

M.isCf!:Uancous c1oLhmg, ftluipmf!:Dt aDd J>f!:r5onal df«t", ofthf!: NVA soldif!:r, 'Tom Hunt Collf!:cbon

{'ollar added. ,\lthou~h steel hdnll'ls \\('n.' prcfc:'rrcd, thr \'chide's communifations systt'm r('o\"l. (,1: ( \' .lrm)' .I'P1,~lmadirr. 1,.1 Infanl~)' DI1/Jion. I.'liII

troolX'rs, His \"capon is the ne\'•.:ly issued .\1-16, the earl~ modrl with three-prong flash suppn.' sor..\t thi~ ~tag(' of the war, it issue was limited to .\irborJwand \ir Ca\'alry units, (2: {',\ .jm~} lalJA neumalJ. 11th .1rmoud (,n ain

H,,,",,nl. Iftill .\rmour (Tl'\"ml'n III \'ietnam \\Ofl' thl' anw umf(mlh as l'\tT\ one d e. Pc:rsonal {'quipml'!1t \\.t diftatl'd b~ thl' nature of their dutit~, Poor \.j ibilit ~ from in iel(' thl' \l'hides olll'n requin'd the tTl'W to l'XpO (' hl'ad and Uppc.T torso durin~ operation, 0 flak \"l' t \\tTl' ('ommon \"l'
rhlS oldil'f \\t'ars the later-styit.' utili til's made in rip-stop cotton \\ ith an 00 towel as a sw('at rag, His ..\l-,:;h l'quipment hi:L<; some additions reflecting his dutil'S as a g-renadicr. The ~1-79 lomm Grenade Launrher \.. . as a n('\.. . type orinf~lIltry \\-('apoll and its ammunition was orig-inally iSMl{'d in spedal rot ton handolil'T ,earh holding-six rounds in two 'parks' of thr('l' ('arh 'pack' further sl'cur{'d in a plastic holdn 1"11(' oriKinal is'\ue of two bandolieN pron'd t(Hall) inadequate, and furthl'r rounds wen' rarril'd in ammo poudw and empty Claymore mill(' bag, rhlS soldin al 0 rarrie one .\1-18 Colored Smoke Crl'I1~ld(", II ('d lor ignalling- purpo es, I"hn \'l'n' made TIl r('d, g-n'('n, yrllow and ,·iolet. and th(' (010111' of thl' smoke \\ as indicatl"d h~ till' top of thl" gn'nad(' ~lnd al 0 by the marking., Tht, soldier (aITH the- Li~ht\\('i~ht Tropical Ruck. ark. \.. hirh h.ul rcpl.lu'd th(' .\119.i6 Com hat Park in mn I TIlI:lI1tn UJllt b\ thi time Auached to its alummium framt' are a rolled n~ Ion ponrho and rX.IIlcho liner U"l.'et in licu of a slrrpin~ bag in th(' fidd ,ITld four on PI"'tic CanH'ens slun~ on a n,lon l"l)r<1, suppltml'nting t\\O \... orn in normal f~ hUIll on the belt. \n .\llg.p .\lachete in its shrath i lippt'd throu~h a tunnel behind onc pt>cket ofthe lurk ark, In the camoufla~e band of his helmet this

soldier carries several packs of C-Ration matches and a locally-made plastic cigarette case. He a"o wears an Ace-of-Spades playing card, used by some units to ad\"enise their presence throughout their AO .\rea of Operations. He holds a captured ChiCom Type 56 L~lC, a cop' of the Soviet RPD; this was the standard. 'VA and VC ~lain Force L~IC b, this period. Its spare drum carrier lie at the entrance to the tunnel, alon~ide a Chine e copy of the O\;et Sh~l-1 gas mask.

DI: \T.l

Rr.~ular,

Soulh '·itlnam. I!ft/J This. 'YA rifleman wears the standard _'onh \'ietname e uniform of dark ~een . . hlrt and trousef'>. to~ether with caln"as and rubber combat hcX"" Headg-ear i~ the characteristic . ·Y.\ . . un helmet. ~o insi~nia is worn in the South" He IS armed with a Chinese Type 56 assault rifle; this diffef'> from the So,"iet AK-4-7 in pro,-idin~ a trian~ular bayonet. .\mmunilion and ma~azint' are carried in a ChiCom chest pouch. Allaehrd to his equipment belt is a ChiCom four-poeket ~renad(.' pouch with Chinese-made stick g-renades. He also wears an N\'A rucksack. and a CzechosIO\"akian-made haversack, or 'day-pack', on his left hip. A Chinese-made canteen is shlllK over one shoulder, out or sight. The yellow doth worn around the neck is an ~V.-\ field sig-n; lhe colour chang-cd daily. The activities of American Recon and Special Forces made such precautions necessary by this sta~e of the war. The backg-round is an ~\'A ba"iC' camp, typical of {..aos or the sanrtuaries of the Cambodian border. Farililies there could be quite elaborate,

D2: \T.I Rtgular, I'oulh ritlnam, I!ft/J The :\Y.\ ronsidered the RPG launcher a ut'\\sef\Td \\eapon and issued it to three-man team, This man is the actual ~unner. I n addition to hi RPG-l, he carries an SK ' rifle his two as.<.;ist~Hlb "ould haw .\K-H'. In place of a sun helmet he \\tars the alternati'"e :\"YA bu..h hat. HIS trOll l'n, an' ~athlTed at the ankles b, a loop-and-bulton arrangl'mtnt. I"he n)(:ket pack is ajungk workshop itl'm. \\ith pro,j ion for four RPG round and their boo:;t('r charges on the flap, and spare clothing, etc.. within. The standard ChiCom rocket pack \\a" also used. but mo~t RPG teams simpl) carried their flKkets in hag-s or baskets, or stuffed them 'point~-

The NVA un helmet. (TOlD Hunt ColJectioa)

nul first' mto ruck ack pockets and lied up the 100" e tnds \\ ith strinK. On his equipment 1X'1t this soldier \\l'ars a ~n'('n leather cartrid~l' box for hi rifle ammunl1iol1, and a homemade knife in a ,ht'ath. His cantecn is the standard:\\".\ model. of ChiCom manufanllre_ Tucked under the flap of hi.. pat-k is hi folded Jltnl(le hammock and ground,heet. The rin~ dl'\'lfl.' tied to the top is an :\"YA eamouflage holder; branches and folia~e werr slipped throul:{h the rilH~s on till' march. This soldier has elected to \\l'ar his 'colour of the day' a<.; an armband pinned 10 his sle('n'. 1)3: .\1',1 al/ti-ailfraji ,~Ulmtr, South ril'll/tlm, 1.07 This flgun> is based on dcscliption<.; of ;\\',\ antiilirnah troops taken prisoner by th(.' 173nl ,\ir· honll' Bril(ade after lhe ballie of Dakl in lale 1967. He is dn'ssed in the blue cotton :--';Y.\ ~lilitia llnifc)rm. common issue in the. ·orth. but a rarity in South Vietnam; its cut exactly follo\'.."s that of other ,\,"\ uniforms. His belt, with aluminium buckle, is standard ~\'.\ is..'iue for enlisted men; and his steel helmet is of Polish origin. the most commonly seen t}lx·. hlOt"ear is the Ho Chi l\1inh andal, al,o wideh used b) the :\VA. As his duti,., will keep him dose to a ba<.;e camp. he does not need to wear a field "I(n. He hold, an i. ue OfQ/{l'tt Tim, the. ·Y.\ Arm) Il('\\:spaper. one of se'"eral publications distributed amonl( , .\. \ troop' in the South.

°

1,'1

I \. lIarl'lt radioman: Optratiol/ ST.IRUTE. .luguII Ir!J5 Operation ST.\RLlTE, conducled against Ihe 1St \'C Regimelll in the 'Street \\'ithoutJoy' region of I Corps. was the first major ~larine operation of the war. This lance-corporal's uniform and equip-

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The NVA changed the forOl of its rank insignia in Lhe urly 19608 from the collar lab and shoulder strap sequence illustrated on p. 380fMAA 104. /". f Ih I ,I" " II 11'1'. ;, to the c:ollar-only sequcncf' illustrated here; Allied intelligence Dc,"cr bothered co update their identification chart, and to the author's knowledge this is the first time the correct insignia have beftt published. M. Albert Mendez

ment are typical of the period. He wears the ~1arine HBT utilities, or 1950S vinta~c, and the characteristic ~Iarine ulili" capo The ~larine glolx'-andanchor in. ignia is stencilll'd on both. Rank insi~lia arc displayed as metal pin-on dc\;ces on both shirt lapels. In n)rnmOIl \\ ilh mO~1 l:S InK)!> at tht tllne. he has )('1 to f('n,in' jungle boots and sO wears his black leather i!\sue. His rev('rsible helmet camoufla~c co\'cr is worn 'brown side out' 111 the coastal sand dune; a camouna~e hand has been tmpro\;sed from a strip or inner tube His IXTsonal equipment include, the ~I J
Pouch. Also out of sig-ht is an aluminium ,\11910 Canteen and carrier, worn at the left rear ofthe belt. \n \1-6 Ba) one' in Seabbard ~1-8.\, is attached to the bottom of one ammunition pouch. The \. - PRC.- J0 rad,o, an ob ole",oent model da,ing Ii'om the Korean i)\'ar, hut still in use In the ~larine:-.. Althoug-h it hao; iL~ own harness, it was usually rarrie.'d as '\hown, lashed to a fibre packhoard. It is marked with the insignia of the 3rd .\Iarine Di\'ision. Due to the wei~ht of his equipnwnt, thi'\ man has chosen not to wear his Oak \"est. Booby-trap and 'onh Yietname, e anillery will soon deny him this option, His personal weapon is the 7.6:2mm ,\1-11 rine in its standard \'Crsion; \ arianb existcd, and the weapon wali extcnsin'ly lIsl,d by tht.' .\rm~ as \\ell. Due to initial problems \\ ith till' .\1-16, the older rine remained the \\ eapon of ("hoice lor man, .\Iarine:) until late in the war.

E2: US .\farine madllne gllnner; IllIe City. Tel Offensive, Februaryo Jrfi8 ,\dapted from a photograph. ,his \Iarine \1-60 ~unner \\ l'ars an inl('rmediate type ofjung-Ie utilities

with cOIl(.'caled buuons. O\-er this he \\ears a n) Ion CS "a\'j Rain Jackfl, and the :\Iarine :\11953 .\rmor \'e~l. His personal equipment includf"j the :\Ianne Jun~1c Fif\t Aid Kit and IwO aD PlaSiic Cam('('ns 111 ~ 1191 0 Carriers..\s a machin(' ~unll(:r Iw is also issued a. D pistol and a Kabar knife.· in lit·u ora ba)onet. .\11 urthe e arf attached directh to tilt' IXHlOm of the \"c' t, \\ hich ha"i a row of l{romnwls around the bottom for thi"j pUrpo"f. The Kabar's h"ath i ill\{Tled IX'hind Ihe:\1 I
It makfs prO\'ISIOn for an ~119.n [ntn'Il(-hing 1'001 in larril'f on the flap. Beneath LIt(' flap itsdfis a f()lded nylon rain poncho also used h) tht Arm~ Extra ammunition for the ~1-6() is carric.'d in ('vcral way .. One hdt is worn bandolit:r fa.,hion and .1 n:ond j"j earned in a rardlx>ard box \\ Hit Its own strap..\dditional belts would Ix' carried in mt'tal ARVN uad Dil'. oldi~r5 board a UH-ID b~licopt~r of 18gth Alisauh Support H~licopter Company-'Gholitriduli'-in N. vember 1970- The Centra] Highlands could be chilly in certaia s-sons, u indicated by the Am~ricaa crewman's MI9S1 Field Jack~1 and Ihe c10sN doors oflhe Huey. The ARVN troo~rs wear tigbdy.tailorftf copies of the American OG 107 fatigues, and I\1-S6 KfwpmeDt; the arrangement of the latter wit.h two ammo pouches at the front, two at the back a.nd the cantun on the hip" was characteristic of the ARVN. Tw..pocket rucksacks are worn with MG belts, LAW ~ntrenchinK tools, bayonet, Claymore ballS, etc., tied on as 5KUrely a possibJ~. One man hasbi. squad' ri~cookingpot tied upin walerproof n)'lon. 'Assauh' slings ha"e ~ u...prol'ised for tbe M.I6t; from the ta.ndard issue. IUS Army)

'\'l

ammunttlon cans. ~J-60 belb were loaded one-infive with tracer bullcts, but individual unit SOPs Standard Operating Procedures could alter this.

£3: CS Mannt rzjitman, 1St Battalion, 71h .\fanntJ; AIR I, sprillg 1¢9 Starting in latC' 1968, the new 'Leaf-Pattern' Camouflage C niform was adopted by the ~larine Corps. Unlike the Army, the ~larines were allowed to 'mix and match' camouflag:e with re~ular jun~le utilities during the transition period. This rifleman has the modified :\11955 Armor \'cst, with two crude pockets se\..:n on the front. He i equipped only for a short patrol. ~1- 16 ma~azines are carried in a bandolier and an old Claymore bag, and the pockets of the \·est. ,\11910 Canteen Carriers \.. ere be('omin~ scarce b) this time. but this man has found one to carry an OD Plastic Cameen. His Jungle First Aid Kil, attached at the rear of his flak vest, is not visible from trus angle. Graffiti on helmets and flak \·est~ were common, but this man has onIv his name and serial number, as required b) unit orders. His helmet camouflage band is used to hold seswal packets of C-Ration toilet paper against future need. His :\1-16AI Rifle is the later model with 'birdcage' flash suppressor and bolt assist on the ri~ht side of the recei\"er. Fl: Pmalt, RtrO/maiHana BattallOll, ROh- Capilal (' Tig,,') Di11sion, z.# C nlike some other armics, the Republic of Korea provided uniforms and equipment for its Vietnam contingent. This man \.. . ears a Korean-made camouflage suit, originally procured by lhe ROK :\Iarine Corps, but also used by the Arm\ and Special Forces. 115 style is a simplified version or the USMC utilities shown in Plate E I. Korean-made combat boots are worn, although the ROK forces were quick to obtain CS and AR V.. jungle bool5. The helmet is the World War II \e"ion of the ~I-I; its liner has its own leather chinstrap, in addition to the canvas strap or the helmel shell, Black "'eclrical tape holds Ihe ROK camouflage cos'er in plaee. Re~ulations for wear of the didsional shoulder patch were vague and placement could follow US or ARVN practice. Pe"onal equipment is the US Korean War pattern, with ~119+5 Combat Pack and Suspende". 00 Plastic Canteen in :\11910 Carrier, and th,' :\11936 Cartridge Belt issued to

3+

1 9 Cavalry I'«onnaissance troo~rs, NO"·~D1Mr 1970- Tb~

l~ft

hand man wttrs a ·tiK"~r-stripe· Mr'el O'\i~r a canIIOu.fta&~ ba.ndas~ worn ali a headscarf, and a ChiCom ch~SI pouch for his caplured folding.slocli. AK-47. Piled al their feci a.re a Lightw~ighl Rucksack, a m~sh M·79 Grenadi~r'5 V~51, and an

AN PRC-25 radio awaiting iDs~rtioD inlO a rucksack. Tb~ aircraft sb~h~r is Dd.d~ of PSP, a univ~rsa.J enK"inecrins mat~rial in Vietna.m. (US Army)

personnel armed with the M-I Garand rifle. ~11956-typc web ~ear came into Ul\e soon after arri\'al in Vietnam. F2: US .Irmy IIt!ieopl" pilol, Isl/fr,iallOll Bngade, 1970 rhis .\rmy captain, returnin~ from a decoration ceremony. \.. ears the two-piece fI);n~ suit 'Shirt and Trousers, Flyer's, HOl \"cather, Fire Resistant "ylon OG 106' . Especially de\e1oped for Army aviators, it was made of ~omex, a fire-resistant synthetic, and was first issued in late 1969. lee\"c:-. wcre ti~htl) tailored to discourage personnel from rolling them up some did anyway), and it included a multiplicity of pockets. Most of the insignia worn hert' are of subdued pattern, as per reg-ulation. Ihese lIlciude the pilot's nametapes, branch infantry and rank insignia, and the ,\rmy A\·iator's Badge above the left pockct. Full-colour insignia rcserwd for 'best dress' include the shouldcr patch of the 1St .-\s·iation Brigade len shoulder, the 121St A\iation Com pan) on the left pocket, and this unit's R.\ZORn.\CI\.:"I platoon patch on the right. The last two items are examples of unofficial unit insignia. The man also wears the fuIJ-colour patch of lhe +th I nfantl') Di\ision on his right sleeve, indicating a previous combat tour with that Ullilo

His bla('k Stetson hat is an affeuation or some Cavalry and A\"iation units in tht, early 1970s; it \\a'i strioly fbr ceremonial purposes, and was not worn in the field, a"i some film-makers would hav(' us belie\"{'. His personal weapon is a .45cal. ~ 11 ~JI 1 pistol in a Icx'all)-made leather holster and !(Unbd!. Jungle boots are \\'orn, althou~h some aircre\\ prdrrrt'd leathn on(' . Sun1tl~·-.es are .\rm~ .\\'itt.tion i s\lt.' 1"ht, decoration is the Silver Star medal. tht' third hi~hcst .\merican medal. a\\ardt'd "For (tallantl1 in .\oion' ag-ain t the armed enemit' of tilt' L nited Stall',. f): C.S .1m~y htliropll'T cuu'man, HI Cal'alry Dil'HlOn (,lirnlObil').lifJ8 Bd
subdued paleh of the somh :\ alional Police Field Forn' COInpan). and on his \ell lhal oflll(' Capilal Spt'cial Zone. ~Iost :XPFFs wore no insignia, or soml'timr just their Company patt'h suspended in a holder from the rig-ht pocket. His armour \"C'st is a "pedal \TI'ion of the L;S ~1195:l made ('"'pn' Iy fbI' the .\R Y . in small sizes. and dim'rin'( from its L;S countl'rpan in ha\;ng- Yelero c1o~un'~ for the po(:kt·ts and front fly. His \\eb g-ear include two ICKall\-manufanured pouch", (or his \1-3 submachine '(un. ,\Ithou'(h he wears a l'S helmet here, normal hl'adgl'ar .... ould be a blark !x'n't .... ith a il\n bad'(C', (d:

,IRI \ Rang,,; Sa(~oll, T,/ Oifrnsll't F,brua~r

a/ill In tIl(' mid- «)60., the AR \', . Ran'(ers adopted a kaf-pattern camouAa~e uniform to replace earlier t ~ pt's, It wa. also worn by other A R\'•. elitl' forces. For more g"l'nnal details. see below. ('."1- ,I R" I Rallgfl; Saigoll. T,/ 011"""". Frbrllarj' It/ill Larly-\\ar AR\'~ Rangers wore standard utilities. Camouflag-e clothing' was generally a 'tiger-stripe' variant, but other types were also seen, and one of t1WSI i ~hO\....n here. It is ofAmerican ERDL orig-in, one of'sl'\"t'ral patterns procured for the G\'N in thr earl) Ig6os. rhe Vietnamese later produced their Vi~1

CoDg pos~ for a propaganda pholo with AK-47 and RPG-2; boo!il~r charg~s in a 'jungle work hop' rock~1 pack. He wean 'black pyjama' clothing, and his a!isislant S~[J:lS 10 bav~. civilian hin. NOI~ lh~ charaC'l~riSlic floppy, low-erowned bush haiS. (US Army) th~

RPG gunn~r carri~s ~xlra rockelS and

goo,

Polirnnan. R r' I' la/wnal Polier Fi,!d rora, Sar~on. T,/ Oif"/Jl1"'. F,broary 1f158 fhis man .... ears the distincu\·e "leopard' ramouflag-(" unif<)rm of hi, organisation. Its st) Ie i, the mo t common one for Vietnamese camouflag-e uniltlrm, Imilar to the standard fatigues but .... ith added po(:keb 011 the trouser le~. His sleen.\ an: rut hoft and St\\ n to imulate rolled-up kl'\"l'. In ignia placl'nwnt i, unusual. but taken from photoQ;raphs. On hi. ri~ht sleeve he \H'ars the

(,I.

..J 'J'

own copies. \mericans generally called this type of camouflag'e the 'duck hunter pattern'. Th('f(' wefr variations in rolour and styling'. The primary user wa, ,upp",,,d to I,,' Ihe ClOG. bot rxamp"" found their wa} to other units" 'rh(, 4\RV:\ Rang't'rs disting'uished themsd\T b~ <.l flaml)()}<.lnt displa} of bright colours and insignia, ('n'n on combat clothing. The Rangc.:r shoulder patch \\ as im.'\'itabl} displa\ed on the left arm, and C)(T~ ionall} ~l Corp~ patch a red Roman numt'ral on a \\ hit<' eli ( appc.>ared on the right. Battalion and rommemorau\'(" patches wtre worn on the peXkt:h. In the earl~ 1~17o~ a complicated S\ tern of ('olourl'd houldc.'r tabs distinl{uished dinrn.'nt Ran~lT Group~. Prior to this, VS or \'ietname...(.' Rangpr tab~ \\(.'re \\om, One \'jetnamese \"t'rsion I!\ ho\\n here a'l ah\a} , thn(' \\ert' \'ariants! , Ix:arin!{ tht· \\ord'l BIf' f)(J11~ 0JQn Ranger" Brightl~ roloured scaf\-(,~ In company colours wcrc common. .\ maroon berrt with thr Ran~er badge wa"i al!\o worn the .\irborne-qualified gist Rangers had red berth instead. In the field, hrlmets were painted in camouflage colours and prominently marked with the Ranger star-and-black-panther insignia. This soldier, fightin"{ in Saig-on during the Iq()U Tet Ofknsin-, wears an improvised ammo vest (}v('r his umfnrm, made from an old fatig-ue shirt. He carries further mag'azines in a bandolier tied around his \vaist. II is weapon is the .\ I version of the ~1-1 6, \\-hich the ARVr\ bCg'an to receive in large numl)('rs ahout this time. He wears. \R V:'\ 'Goalong' jUIlg'k boots, \\hifh were used alon~ with American Lypes. (, /' .I/a""" R I' ,. 5th .I/a"", Bal/alio". 1.972 rhe fidel uni!()nn of the Vietnamese ~larille Corp wa!'. allothn <"'.ample of the ubiquitous 'lig('rSlripe' Thl' pocket Slyfe is I)pil'al ofthl' Y. '~[C Tht· shouldc'r pat('h is that of the \'ietnanw e ~larill(' Corp a!'. a \\hole; indi\"idual battalion \\{'n'distingui hed b~ the background colour oftlw name tape for the 5th, whitt" letterin~ on blue tap<' . Such de-corations wtre usually omitted in tht· fidd. formal headg('ar \\ as a green beret \\-ith mt"tal \'.. ~IC !(fobe·and-anehor devil'e: in tbl' field. either a 'tigef-!\tripe' ulility cap or jones hat' \\as worn. The arne material \\-as also used for hdmet CO\Ti", as !'.hO\\n. The weapon is an .\m("rican ~1-7'l L.\ \I Li!(ht .\nli-tank Weapon. a di'poable f
A US Marine helicopter pilot holds the remains of his survival radio, "ma"hed by two enemy bullets during a mjssion in 1969. He wears lhe US Navy CS FRP-I Oyin§ suit ('Cover.Us, Flying, Summer, Fire-Resistant. Polyamide) with a black leather namepatch on tbe left breast. This suit replaced the earlier colton Iype shown in the colour plales during the mid_Ig60s, and walt standard issue for all Navy and Marine fixed-wing and helicopeer a.ircrew thereafter. A Marine major's oak1eafis pinned (0 (he utililY cap; personal equipment includes a o4S pisiol and a Pilot's Survival Knife worn on an M19J6 Pistol Ikll, rKognisable by its metal snap. (USMC)

'ba"id>all' hand grenades, smaller and easier to Ihrem than Ihe ~[-,6. LRRP. 74th I"fa,,/~y Dr/achmm/ (,!IrbunlO (LRRP,. /73rd .l/Tbonlr B"gadr. ujjfJ ln all the lon~ history of Amt'rica \ \\ ai"). there \\ as Ill'\"('f anythmg like the LRRPs, the .\rm) \ elite Long' Rang'e Ret'onnai~ ance Patrols. Infiltrat("d in fi\{"-man team into ("oem} l('rritot:, tht'ir mis,ion \\-as the localion of targ-ets for the Air Force and anilkn.. Thn al 0 carried out raids and abota~e a~ain't l'Il('m~ ba" t= camp~ and lines of fommuni<'ation"), but their primal") purpo e remained ob en."allOn, not combat. However, if ('ornen'd. a LRRP Team u,oall) had l'nou!(h firl'po\\l'r and

Iii' ('\.

.trm)

combat experience to defeat much larger ~\'A units and hold offrrinf()rrrments until the)" (ould be rxtracH'd. I'his man wears the AR Y. ~ camoufla~e beret, which alon~ \\ith the ramouna~e 'Jon~ hat' and ~I 195 I Patrol Cap was the usual combal head~('ar of all ,\lIied eli Ie forces, 'Leaf-pallern' camouna~(' utiliue. are \\-orn \\ith ~1 1956 Pistol Belt and Suspmd('" and four C ni,ef'al Pouches, The e hdd a total of 16 ~1-16 ma~azine . and a furth('r 14_ \\-('n.' often carried in two bandoliers tied around the waist. .\t 19 rounds pt'r ma~azine a full 20 mi~ht cau"(" malfunction this ~a\·e a total of jiD rounds for the weaJX)Il in this case an X~I- 1i7. uni,·e"ally known as a CAR-15, This was the S~IG wf'ion of the :\1-16, Four 00 Plastic Canteens in ~1 1967 Carri('f'S are worn on the belt, and four more are allached to the Li~hlwei~hl Tropical Rucksack frame. A )ar~c amount ofwatcr was needed for the special freeze-dried LRRP rations. and lhe :-iVA ,vould normally control all sources offresh water in the \;cinity, Carried on the rucksack were a poncho and liner. 15 feet of rope and Claymore

mmC', Two men per team also had A, • PRC->5 radios. Sl'\Tral t~ IX's of ~renades are tarried ..\n ~1­ :26.\ I Fra'{mentation Grenade is attadltd to the harne s. and laIX'd togelher around one L nin'",al Pouch an' an ~1-34 '\\'illie Peler' \\hte Ph'hphorus and an :\1-18 Colored Smok,' Grmade, Ten lunher 'li'a!(S', lour more \\.p and (',nal dilkn:1l1 ~1-18s went into Ruc~ ark lXx:k(·ts or empl\ Cla,mon' ba~, ,\ pri,·ate purch",(' Randall ~I()dd q \ttack Knife is carried in a custom le~ 1ll"<1th. Other ilems carried mi~ht include ('xplo in' and ckrnocord, spt'cial elenroJllc gtar, c:te.

Korean officers and enlisted tneen oflhe ROK Capital ('Ti~er') Dh.--ision on arrival at !"II'ha Tra.og Airport. Octobe:r '9650 Both plain and catnouftage unifon:DS are in evidence:, both be:ing pauerned in itnitation of 195O!i USMC utilitie • The helmet co,-ers are nur.dee from Korean caJDouBage material. Packs and accoutretneDts are US World War U patterns, with standard US M-17A1 PrOI«ti,-'e Muks in carriers worn !ilung on the leen hip. The four Dearest officers display an interesting col1«tion of Field Dreessing Pouchees-MI942 and MI910 tnodels, and a leather type Wiually issued 10 Military Police:. ~rol1s are correctly fastened around the oUlside edges of MI915 Combat Packs. (US Army)

37

112: SIa.D'Strgeanl, US Army Special Form. RT ;;:ela.

J/ACT-SOG, 1¢8 Rcconnaisanc(' Team Zeta was one of a number of similar teams conducting' coven ero. ~-hordtT 0lx"r-

us

Membus ofa Navy SEAL unit climb aboard .. STAB ('SEAL Teanl An.uh Boat') to ~gin .. combat mission in lace 1!J68. Unifonn are .. m.izture of 'tiger-stripes' and 'Ieaf-pattera' utilities, but the hotgunner and radioman wear instead the SEAL RiBtoman'sJacket. Headgear includes .. beret and 'Jones hau' in 'tigcr-tOtripe I and .. standard OD 'boonie bat'. Minimal accoutrements are worn. The radioman has .. Oot.liOD bladder below hi~ radio; notc also the bending of the antenna under the He for convenience and coDceaLnent----ot.b..i.s did Dot a.fJ'cc:t the radio's pcrfonnance. The bag at the side of the radio holds the long-ra..age antenna. The SEAL acleft, the in.spiratioD for Plate ":It earn« the commercial Ithaca Model)7 shot~ changes in American hunting laws in the early .~ created .. market for hort-ba~Ued sbolp.n.s for d~r hu.nling. aDd • wid~ I"'&DlI;e of t.b~s~ were purchased by various go\.ern.menl agc..acic.s for u_ in VielDaIn, where t.bey supplemented older patterns of rioI gun in the invenlory. Another weapons DOle: 11.1 fll.r ri&ht. !iCC the pinde-moUDtcd 1\1-60 with a Slandard field m0d.i6cation HeD on helicopter. boal aDd vehicle mou.ntini;8 where the gun would be fired by one man withoul • loader: • C. ratiOD can braud below the fccdway! (US Navy)

aLions under the auspices ofthe .\lilitary .\ssistance Command Vietnam's Studi('s and Observation Group ~I.\CV-SOG" It opcr",,'c1 in th,' tnborder re~ion of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam under the direction of Command and Control, Central eee, basrd at Kontum, R V:\. .\ mixlUn.. of indi.e;enous personnel and .\merican Sp,'cial Force, "ere employed. This SI trooper w<:ars a private-purchase 'liger-stripe' camoufla~e uniform; this vcrsion is a Thai paucrn, and wa" proba"" obtained on a Ban~kok R&R. Head~ear is an .\R \S camouflaged jone> hal' "ilh brim f(·mo\Td. .\"i load-lx'aring equipment thi"i man \\ears a 5"1'.\BO ri~, manufactured at the unit In"r! from n)lon aircraft harness. It doubled a') an eXlranion harne. s. Attached are an Air Force "ilrobe li~ht in ils cast and a P.\L RH-3b Knife. The standard ~I "l5(i

X~1203

Pistol Belt, worn as part of the harm'ss. holds four ~11956 L;niversal Pouches and two Two-Quart Canteens. The Pack is an AR \'~ two-pocket

This is the rifleman's model; \'Orsions for

rucksack with integral 'X'-frame. This was preferred by many SF and Recon personnt'1 because it allowed items LO be worn at the back of the belt.

is the aD 'boonie hat', first introduced in 1967.

(The frame of the Lightweight Tropical Rucksack prevented this. The rucksack holds an AN PRC· 25 Radio with a plastic bag fastened around the handset to keep moisture away from components. Two .\1-26..\ I Fragmentation Grenades are ready for instant use at the belt; additional grenades are carried in two Claymore bags slun~ over the rucksack, and two standard canteens are attached at the sides. The weapon is an ~1-16 fillCd with a Human Engineering Laboratories 1\1-4- Silencer

and an AN/PVS'2 Starlite Scope. Reconnaissance Teams \,",ere individually configured for specific missions 'some of unusual nature and the special equipment carried yaried with each.

H3: L'S "0')' SEAL. Dtlathmmt Golf, EAL Ttam 0.' E: Run.~ Sat Sptctal :::'ont. J¢8 The :"ia\'y SEAL Detachments were small, spec· ialised uniLS charged with conduclin~ Special \Valfarc operations in a maritime environment. Their members were UDT qualified personnel I 'frogmen" who had received extensive training in unconvcntional warfare techniques. Five Detachments ofSEAls operated in \'ietnam under control of the Commander. ;\aval Forces. Vietnam CO~I:\A VFORV . They· engaged in several types of missions, mostly intelligence col1eetion, raids and ambushes. They wefe also u'\oo to recover sensitive material from crashed aircraft, and for diving operations of various types. Some of these activities were apparently carried oul in Nonh Vietnam. Detachment Golf, however, had its AO in the nightmare wilderness of the Rung Sat Special Zone. just off the main shipping channel to Saigon--casily the worst terrain in the whole of Vietnam. This SI::.\L is lightly armed for his ovcrni!(ht mission, perhaps to ambush a "iet Con~ courier. His Remin~lon 87osholgun was onc ora numbcrof civilian types procured for R V~ use. He wears an unusual 'lcaf-panern' camouflage jacket, designed especially for the SEALs: it incorporated pockets for ~1-16 magazines, and an internal flotation bladder.

~renadiers

and radiomen also existed. \" CI")' fe\\ of thee garments were apparently produced. His hat Sometimes sneaker-type 'coral shoes' were worn

instead of jun!(le boots.

Select Bibliography Uniforms and

insi~ia:

Hunt, Thomas J. & ~Iendez, M. Albert, I'ittnam Combal Cnifoem" Gateway Hobbies, 62 W. 38th St, 'iY tool8, IgBo. Lulling, Darrel R., Communist ,\filitaria oflht J'ittnam War (RmJtd Edilion), MC, Press, Tulsa, OK 74t05, 1980. Smyth, Cecil B. Jr., Army oj lilt Rtpublic oj Vieillam, Infanlry Ins',~nta, Smyth, Cecil B. Jr., Army oj Iht Rtpublic of Vitillam, Ttrri/onal Forctj Irwgnia, Smyth, Cecil B. Jr., Army oj Iht Rtpublu of r'uillam, Rang" Ins,.~ma, all AR\'·CAT, P.O. Box 3t02, Virginia Beach, \'A, 1976 The Vietnam War: Lewy, Guenter, America rn Vietnam, Oxford University Press, NY, 1978. Palmer, Dave Richard, Summonj qf the Trumpet, U.S.- rietnam 11l Perspective, Presidio Press, San

Rafael, CA, t978. ummers, Harry G. Jr., On Sirattgy, Tht Vitlnam Irar m Con/txt, Superintendent of Documents, L;S government Printing Office, \\'ashingtoll, DC 20402, 1981. Westmoreland, \\'illiam C., A Sold,,, Reports, Doubleday & Co., Garden City, NY, t976. The author also recommends the excellent US Army Vitillam Studlts monographs, available from the US Government Printing Office, Washington DC; and the publications of the History and ~1useums

Division, Headquarter'b, C

Corps, Washin!(ton DC.

~larine

Notes sur les planches en couJeurs

Farbtafrln

AI I \ I m tr n >lllb. rl 11 p ,t..c. ... \:-. brilamllqlll"ll am... ~ue datu '" n rIJ fr~nl;aD Ir I. rt fir dr I rpaulr poche :lrnufirnl &r. lrouprt ropu'1 All (..IplWI d IJ UQlIl" bbQC\tt punanl Ir rlJl;l;llb de' a.mpagnr lI~ndard (x. 't'Il a\'ff l'lU1RJll'" ,tr qualthu.U'1II d N-w'" Irk par.IUII.I 1 mNI(IIr eI, lradr \Wln&ml' not' lot btad~du :atm "('!plOCnt dr' ,~nt tJ! ~n- onl rlr ;110"11" all Ia kmlS(' 04.3 (.nmbinaason \'01 d rl d t'qUlpaKn YUlanI ck' If ,\1<" r.uqllr l"1 bolll"t At I un" tl If ck r.AlllOU~ Igro IlWn us dlSlmC~ au \ m

Aa"

I ... pJupran eta'T1

C'I ('QUI b ....1 rbl " 10 rrlO'I k>r:llus hapr.ll dl" l1unfuJil~ ..... IbI~~UC'p~ tr ubnca n "''' rqwprmo:' I lodr rn IJ&IIdr' parur rh ~ arabilX' hi )IIt)1W' IS]l aUI,..-*laI« m..pnnnp;al.. I( tnuniformr ..Ui til nJQ": t10f1 \ 1,4 U rombi~ d eqUJprmt" \ I { n rb nap a\TC £usa. hi du 1)'pC'

BI

lolIufUtlV1NS

CIRoclnt1taniformrlt npuur~uondaftluJ\UI~1r It' lbutard bIru cit flnfanl nt' n ;lIt pa bnucoup UtillX diUD .., oombats. l. foqu pnnml mmplt \1, fUlil \116 I~ motnqlldoll fiu: i .IIuchl" du hanws n a rapprkT In rudn a parur d h&cnpt1"f't'O. trillt ':;lI'KtIM'lStJqtK' dn ~ ~ ahoportfts C'I cit r.llval
P.IIJT.... n u~ \Tn uandard de' 1.II1'mtt IMW'd \I1IC'CBaINC'n1W fustl Iypo; ~ r1 ~nu.a d npllprllK'nl chmou. 0,.., fhulanb dr' couI r rta!con ponkromtnl"t1p,krwon. . . . 1XI' prm'llOl", D2 ·OIrrlrrUpt.lludl" tJrouC't"'WJc~RI'(• •, Ir llUpwll dcobbnc;auonluc:;akpuur&r.fusrtS I'Or'nT C't in ,h;lrgr1l dr prnpuIIi&.. '::>IC'I it diIposillf a anJk.ll .. .J;« hi ck rn Air W dnIUI du J*lUC'1 dnll~ i lisn , 'Jmoufbv au rwl~ D] Ik lrmpl' 01. In' ~ rotrrnxrll ft'QCnDln-
anr_

\IV co '" I U!llt lIon dt' p1USH'U<'I .... IW~b dco La ~u"mco guC'IT" m IIdl...l, E](.rl.llmoull. m...ufl.. ud~ "tlt,.f.,pU·par Lc:s \I,mlln en l,jlB l.r monb d "lulJ!""..nt I'nmbk MMI punr pill Irs panlt,.lllOllils .1 des l"'lmml! lllc,,1 .1 I.uhlr dl mun 1I0Il3 COl ott ('!II;&1n rnt,!Ic!U.

t." " ".U,

FI ( 1 Ul1lformr ,It, amoufbliit fl.1II \..:ltlr polr In m"rillO RO}, ..I "\lIn umtk d .. Ill.· l.'rqUlprm'·1I1 Iltrwlnn, J ,It fa on, .. 110U amrril aill<' dill' fir 101 I{lu·n.. de{.
\t

l~

hrU\abauc d· ha'lU>Irnlrulnll ml. tUDIl:,hrse \, [ \1 1111 I., nmutt.. und un hlll.r'l ~ huh"roilQ'ru hl"D1Irbt nun, da nil< h Utrl I uftJandrln'l'l'ru handrh All H, ,'" ~IIU rlllrr l';/Inurrmbrll mil O11tLIlrr (I(. '07 \rbriU:kludun,lI<>WlC drn I, T, • ndl RlUllnund ,..~ D,co 'YlnamnuclJMI K.UllllUIll:nJnI ri", \Ii hm dn ~ 1'.ln u: .II,al YTrlrlPlmb IragI rr oI.ur ..km H, d A] '"n Ir' I IIC "mrnrtoYC'r-;l! tid", und :-',id"d dn tlu~ I At I.lnt von II I mmWl n Iml I :nncfru dl.- n ,"ar Ink

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Men-at-Arms Series Titles in Print ANCIENT AJ'roo'D MEDlEVAL 9 :\..\ CIf.\T

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THl. \UDDLl EAST

1" rHr Sn'J-II,\'I;S 70.. «10 Be l~

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16TH AND ITI1i CENTURIES -1111. I. \\DSK;o.;U.IITS Hli '1 lit. CO\Qr IS !\!X)Rf.S 14 L(.I.I~II CIVIl. \\\R ARM[ES llO \U\ \101l1.1. .\R\IY IM5 tiO ,fib S.\\tl'R,\I ,\lOI1I~'; 1550 IbiS

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NAPOLEONIC WARS 87 \.\I'()[J.O:'\'S \I\RSIl.\I~") 1I4 :'\.\I,()l.J.O:'\'S Cl'lRASSII:.RS A;o.;O (:ARABI'\IF.RS 55 :,\.\POI.H),\·S OR.\(;(X):,\S ,\'\0 [..\,\CERS l>8 :'\.\P()U~O'\'S 1.1\1. CH.\SStxRS :,\,\POI.H),\·S Ht'SS-\RS 83 :,\.\POI.H),\·S (;l\RI> G.\\·.\I.R' t41 :'\APOU.O;o.;'s l.I\l.l:'\I,\:'\IRY t4tl :,\.\POU.(),\·S 1.1(.11'I I'\I'A:"TRY I"!] :,\.-\POU.()"'-S Gt .\RIl I:'\I'A'\TRY IhO! \ \PC)U.O,\·:-O Gl".\RD 1't'.\..\ TRY 2 'I" :,\APOU.O:,\·s (,I R\I \;0.; ALLIES 3 leoll \,\POu.o;o.;·:-o GI.R\!.\.\ ALLI~ 4 112 \,\POu.o;o.;·S (.I.R\t.\'\ ,\LLI~ "I 88 \ \J'()1 1.0'\ ':-0 1"1\1.1\'\\\0 \L\POI.IT.\..\ TROO..... 151 PRl":-OI.\;o.; U'\I.I'f.\'\TRY 1"'9_ 815 14'1 PRl SI \.' 1.1(;111 1:'\1,\..\1 RY I 92 81S 1'4 W!:.l.L1\(jTO"'-:-o I\F.\'\TRY I 19 \\l.I.I.I\GTO"'-S I\F\..yrRY " I:z(, \\ t.L1.1\(;l()"'-S LIGHT C-\\'.\I.R' ]0 \\U.I.I'C.IO,\':"! HU\,Y C\\'.\l.RY ojj \R IILI.tRY I.Ql·IP\IL\ I~ (n I HI:. \.\PC)Lf.O\IC \\\RS

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flU. BRITISH AR~IY 191+-18 l Ito III

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11-1l POL.l~H .\RM'I' 1939--·4:1 :\LI.ILO CO.\IM.\.\Of.R!oI OF \\ORLO \\-\R II BRITISH R.\lTLEDRE."i.S 1937--61 L'S \R\IY IQ41 --4'i Rf:.\'ISEO TilE. P,\.;o.;ZF.R OI\"I"'IOV., RE\·ISF.O 1m. \\AH":,\-~ Rf.\I. EO (a.R\! \:'\ \lRooK\t. rROOPS 1939---45 (;LR~I.\:\Y':') ~Tf:R:'\ FRO:'\'T .\LUES 1941 of) GlR\I\:'\Y'S SP.'\:,\I"'H \'OlL~'TEERS 1941 --45 fORf:IC,\ \'OllSl £ERS OF THE WEHR\I.\( 11'I 1941 ...' P.-\RTIS.\'" \\.\RfARE l'+fl 45

MODEIlN WARFARE 131 THE \1.-\["\'1',\\ (:AMPAIGX 1948-60 71 lin. BRITIStl ARMY 1%5---80 lib 1 til, SPECIAL .\lR SERVICE 150 THE ROY.\L \IARI\F~" 195&-84 133 8.-\ n U fOR TIlE f.o\LKLA ....OS I LA\O .'ORU~\ 13-t B.-\nu. '-OR TH}. fALKU,\DS 2 \AVA!.. rORC"I.S Il~ RAnu. '-OR THE f'ALKLA'\DS 13 AIR f'ORO.S 117 rilL ISRAELI ARMY 11'\ TilE MIDDLE F..AST \\'\RS 1"-\ 118 ARAB AR~lIES Of TI-IE MIDDLE lAST WARS 19'H~ 13 WI .\R~IIES 01 THE \"IET\\M WAR 1%2 n .-t'J ARM[ES 01 1111, \"IET\AM WAR 12 .1')''1 (jRL~AI>A Ill83

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GENERAL 52 Till. ROY.\!.. CREE\ JACKETS 107 BRrI lSI! I:'\FA:'IJTRY EQL:IPMf.;-.ITS 1808 [9l18 1Il8 BRIlI:-OIII:,\.'A~1 RY EQLiPME;-.ITS 1908 80 IIA BRITI~H e.'\\".\LRY EQL'IP!\IEN'l'S ISOI} 19-t1 157 FLAK JACKETS Il] I HI. At'STRAUA'\ ARMY AT WAR 1&1'1 lqn ,bl lin. WA:\ISH '-OREIG,\, LECIO;'l;'

Avec anaotac.ions en francais sur les planches en couJeur Mil Aufz.eichnUDsen auf deu~ch ulMer die Farbtafeln