US Infantrymen (grunts) carried either
a rifle (M-16)
, or a machine gun (M-60, belt fed), or an M-79 grenade launcher. If the grunt was a radio operator (RTO-Radio Telephone Operator) he also carried a radio ON HIS BACK.
How much ammo did soldiers carry in Vietnam?
During the Vietnam War, Soldiers were issued a semiautomatic rifle with automatic capability and
up to 20 magazines of 20 rounds each
along with fragmentation and colored smoke grenades. Body armor was a newer feature, adding weight as well as protection.
What was the basic weapon of an American soldier in Vietnam?
M16
.
The M16
would become the standard service rifle for U.S. troops during the 1960s, seeing widespread use in Vietnam and largely replacing the M14. The weapon was in many ways revolutionary, though not without problems.
What weapons were used by the US in the Vietnam War?
Nearly all United States-allied forces were armed with U.S. weapons including the
M1 Garand, M1 carbine, M14 and M16
. The Australian and New Zealand forces employed the 7.62 mm L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle as their service rifle, with the occasional US M16.
What was the most common weapon in Vietnam?
One of the most common infantry weapons used by U.S. troops in Vietnam was
the M-60 machine gun
, which could also be used as an artillery weapon when mounted or operated from a helicopter or tank.
What did the Viet Cong uniform look like?
Black with short sleeve shirt with blue and red “flag” pinned to proper left pocket
. Brown wool pants. They used makeshift weapons, had a variety of uniforms, and avoided traditional combat, making it difficult to know who exactly the enemy was. …
Did US soldiers use AK 47 in Vietnam?
While the Soviet Avtomat Kalashnikova has become the iconic weapon of bad guys in Hollywood blockbusters and big-budget video games,
U.S. commandos made good use of the rugged rifles in Vietnam
. … “This resulted in the AK-47 being something of a prestige weapon.”
In the end, the SEALs mostly stuck to Colt’s
30-round magazines
in their M16 rifles and later carbine variants, including the now ubiquitous M-4.
What percentage of Vietnam veterans actually saw combat?
Of the 2.6 million,
between 1-1.6 million (40-60%)
either fought in combat, provided close support or were at least fairly regularly exposed to enemy attack. 7,484 women (6,250 or 83.5% were nurses) served in Vietnam.
Why did the M16 fail in Vietnam?
The harsh jungle climate corroded the rifle’s chamber, exacerbated by the manufacturer’s decision against chrome-plating the chamber. The ammunition that accompanied the rifles sent to Vietnam was incompatible with the M16 and was the principal cause of the
failure to extract malfunctions
.
Who did the US fight with in Vietnam?
The Vietnam War was a long, costly and divisive conflict that pitted the communist government of North Vietnam against
South Vietnam
and its principal ally, the United States.
What started the Vietnam War?
Why did the Vietnam War start?
The United States had provided funding, armaments, and training to South Vietnam’s government and military
since Vietnam’s partition into the communist North and the democratic South in 1954. Tensions escalated into armed conflict between the two sides, and in 1961 U.S. President John F.
What rifle did snipers use in Vietnam?
The sergeant primarily waged war in Vietnam with one of the new
M40 sniper rifles
, a modified version of the Model 700 Remington 7.62mm bolt-action rifle that was first introduced in 1966.
Who gave Vietnam weapons?
Communist forces were principally armed with
Chinese
[2] and Soviet weaponry[3] though some Viet Cong guerrilla units were equipped with Western infantry weapons either captured from French stocks during the first Indochina war or from ARVN units or requisitioned through illicit purchase.
How many bullets were fired in Vietnam?
During World War II it was estimated that 45,000 rounds of small arms ammunition was fired to kill one enemy soldier. In Vietnam the American military establishment consumed
an estimated 50,000 rounds
of ammunition for every enemy killed.
What was the average age of an American soldier in Vietnam?
Fact: Assuming KIAs accurately represented age groups serving in Vietnam, the average age of an infantryman (MOS 11B) serving in Vietnam to be 19 years old is a myth, it is actually
22
. None of the enlisted grades have an average age of less than 20. The average man who fought in World War II was 26 years of age.
