How where the weapons used in the Vietnam war?

Answer 1

During the air war: US aircraft used were: F-100 Supersabre jet fighter, F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, A-1 Skyraider (propeller driven), A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder (medium attack bomber), A-7 Corsair II, F-4 Phantom, F-8 Crusader, B-57 Canberra Bomber, B-52 Stratofortress Bomber, O-1 Bird Dog Observation airplane, 0-2 Skymaster Observation Airplane, 0V-10 Bronco Observation/attack airplane, C-130 Spectre Gunship, U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird Spy plane. North Vietnamese pilots flew the: MIG-17, MIG-19, MIG-21 jet fighters. North Vietnamese fighter pilots began training in Communist China and the Soviet Union in the late 1950's. See: Mig-17 and Mig-19 Units of the Vietnam War, By Istvan Toperczer, published 2001. Ground units: US used M-48 Patton tanks, M-551 Sheridan tanks, M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC's)/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicles (ACAV's), Gun Trucks (armored cargo trucks with quad .50 caliber machinguns mounted on the rear), 105mm and 155mm towed artillery (field guns), 155mm, 8", and 175mm Self Propelled Guns (artillery), 90mm and 106mm recoilless rifles, M-42 Dusters (twin barreled 40mm cannons), 60mm, 81mm, 4.2 inch mortars, M-72 LAW rockets (Light Anti-armor Weapons, 66mm). M-14 rifle early in the war, M-16 rifle later in the war, .45 pistol, M-60 machingun, M-3 submachingun, claymore anti-personnel mines, M-203 combination rifle/grenade launcher, M-79 grenade launcher (40mm), and hand grenades. US Navy riverine forces (Brown Water Navy): Swift Boats (Patrol Craft Fast-PCF), PBR's (Patrol Boat River), Alpha Boats (ASPB-Assault Support Patrol Boat), Monitors (River Battleships).

Answer 2

The North Vietnamese Air Force used MIG-17, MIG-19, and MIG-21 Jet Fighters.

1. The MIG-17 looked somewhat like the older Korean War MIG-15; but was longer, had three "fences/fins" on top of each wing, verses the MIG-15's two "fences", and the MIG-17's wings extended about two feet directly outward BEFORE sweeping rearward.

2. The MIG-19 was mostly the CHICOM J-6 version and had two engines, placed together in the fuselage like the US F-4 Phantom's engines.

3. The MIG-21 was delta winged, similar in design to our F-102 Delta Dagger, which was the same jet flown by our current President George Bush Jr., when he was serving with the Texas Air National Guard.

The South Vietnamese Air Force used some F-5 Freedom Fighters, today called Tigers, and the old US Navy/US Air Force A-1 Skyraider (depicted in the recent film release: "Rescue Dawn").

1. The F-5 is used as the aggresser when training in the US; The former Top Gun & RED FLAG schools for the USN & USAF.

2. The A-1 was a propeller powered WWII Dive Bomber, that was built and entered service in 1945, but the war ended before it could see action. The A-1's first war was in Korea; it's last war was in Vietnam.

The North Vietnamese Army used Soviet/CHICOM T-54/T-55/T-59 Tanks & PT-76/Type 63 Soviet/Chicom amphibious tanks.

1. The T-54/T-55 have no differences to the un-trained eye.

2. The Type 63 was a Chicom version of the Soviet PT-76.

The South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) used the old US Army M-41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank; and the M-113 APC/ACAV Armored Personnel Carrier/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle.

1. The M-41 Walker Bulldog Light Tanks can be seen in the film "Full Metal Jacket". When the US Marines are walking behind the tanks near the end of the movie, those are M-41's. In reality, the US Marines were using M-48 PATTON TANKS, but the producers of the film were unable to obtain any M-48's for the those scenes. M-41 Walker Bulldogs were NOT used by US Forces in Vietnam. When we left Vietnam, we left behind nearly 400 M-48 Patton tanks to the ARVN. Photographs seen depicting ARVN's in 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 will often show ARVN tank crewmen operating their M-48's. Those are the PATTONs we left behind; for them to continue the war with.

2. The M-113 APC's, were BUILT in 1960 & Sent to Vietnam in 1962. The ARVN's invented the ACAV "sets"; Gun shields for the .50 & two rear M-60 machinguns. Plus alittle belly armor up front for land mine protection. US Forces adopted the ACAV sets in about 1965. US Designers DID NOT intend for M-113's to be used the way they were used. ARVN's turned them into "Tanks", US designers intended them to be "Battle Taxi's". They made the greatest "light tanks!" No one ever (in Vietnam) used them as "Battle Taxi's", except possibly in 1962: See Film "Bright Shining Lie." Based on a true story.

Answer 3

Here is a list of weapons that they used during the Vietnam War: Small arms

Knives/bayonets

M6 bayonet

M7 bayonet

KA-BAR (USMC)

KCB70 bayonet (Limited use with Stoner 63 rifle only)

Pistols & revolvers

Browning High Power pistol - used by Australian and New Zealand forces. Also used on an unofficial basis by US Reconnaissance and Special Forces units.

Smith & Wesson Mark 22 Mod.0 "Hush Puppy" - Suppressed pistol used by SEALs, among others

Colt M1911A1 - It was the main side arm of the US Army and other countries except the ones in the Commonwealth.

Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless - Carried by General Officers, but it was replaced by the Colt Commander in the Mid-60s

Colt Commander - Replaced the Colt M1903 pistol in the mid-60s

Smith & Wesson Model 15 (USAF M15) - carried by USAF Security Police Units

Smith & Wesson Model 12 - Given to helicopter pilots

M1917 revolver - Used by the South Vietnamese and US forces during the beginning of the war alongside the Smith & Wesson Model 10

High Standard HDM - It was replaced by the Smith & Wesson Model 39 as the main suppressed pistol because of its caliber

Walther PPK with suppressor - It was used by Special Forces and spies

Infantry rifles

L1A1 SLR - Used by Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Vietnam

M1 Garand - Was used by the Marine Corps during the early stages of the war. Also used by the South Vietnamese, South Koreans and Laotians

M1 Carbine and M2 Carbine- Were widely used by the South Vietnamese Military, Police and Security Forces, the Viet Cong, and the US Military.

M14 rifle It was issued to most troops from the early stages of the war until the early 1970s when it was used as a sniper rifle.

XM16E1 and M16A1 - Early issue M16 had problems replaced by M16A1. After 1968 were issued to special forces and then infantry a year or two later.

XM177E2 - Shortened version of the M16 rifle very popular with MACV-SOG units

Heckler & Koch HK33 - It was used by Thai forces that were not armed by the United States. It was chambered for the same cartridge as the M16 assault rifle used by American troops.

T223 - which is a copy of the Heckler & Koch HK33 Assault Rifle under license by Harrington & Richardson used in small numbers by Navy SEAL teams. Even though the empty H&R T223 was 0.9 pounds (0.41 kg) heavier than an empty M16A1, the weapon had a forty-round magazine available for it and this made it attractive to the SEALS.

Submachine guns

Thompson submachine gun - It was used in small quantities by artillery and helicopter units. Even though it was replaced in the end of the Korean war after servicing in WW2 and the Vietnam war, it was still used by many American troops and South Vietnamese troops in the Vietnam war. The Viet Cong were armed with the Chinese copy.

M3 Grease gun - The M3 "Grease gun" was issued to troops all over Vietnam was the main submachine gun, but many others were used such as the Thompson which was replaced later on.

Swedish K - It was used by Navy SEALs in the beginning of the war, but was later replaced by the Smith & Wesson M76 in the late 1960s. Many South Vietnamese soldiers were armed with this weapon and used it until the end of the war.

Smith & Wesson M76 - A copy of the Swedish K, it replaced that gun as the main submachine gun of the Navy SEALs in 1967.

Madsen M/50 - It was supplied by mercenaries from Denmark and a lot were bought by the United States for the South Vietnamese Army.

MAC-10 It was supplied to many special forces troops in the mid point of the war. It armed many CIA agents in the field and was never captured by the Viet Cong.

MP40 (CIDG)

UZI (SOG recon teams) The Uzi submachine gun was supplied in from Israel and given to special forces troops in the field.

Owen Gun (Australian submachine gun) It served the Australian Army through WWII, Korea, Malaya and now into the Vietnam War as the main submachine gun. It was later replaced by the F1 submachine gun that resembled it.

F1 submachine gun (Australian, replaced Owen Gun)

L2A1 a variant of the British Sterling used by the SASR for prisoner extraction also used with Suppressor/Silencer.

Shotguns

The shotguns were used as an individual weapon during jungle patrol; infantry units were authorized a shotgun by TO & E (Table of Organization & Equipment). Shotguns were not general issue to all infantrymen, but were select issue, such as one per squad, etc.

Winchester Model 1912 pump-action shotgun was used by the Marines during the early stages of the war.

Ithaca 37 pump-action shotgun replaced every other shotgun in the field and armed the United States Marine Corps throughout the war.

Remington 870 pump-action shotgun used by the Marines

Special Operations Weapon a modification for a Remington 870 which made it fully automatic

Remington 11-48 semi-automatic shotgun used by the Marines in small quantities

Winchester Model 1897 used by the Marines during the early stages of the war, but was later replaced by the Ithaca 37

Stevens Model 77E, pump-action shotgun used by Army and Marine forces in Southeast Asia. Almost 70,000 Model 77Es were procured by the military for use in SE Asia during the 1960s

Machine guns

L2A1 AR - Full-automatic capable version of the L1A1 SLR used by ANZAC forces

Stoner M63a Commando & Mark 23 Mod.0 - used by U.S. Navy SEALs and tested by Force Recon

M60 machine gun GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) It was the main machine gun of the US army at the time and many of them were put on helicopters

M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle - Issued to troops during the early stages of the war, but was replaced by the Stoner 63 and M60 machine guns.

M1917 Browning machine gun - A .30cal heavy machine gun issued to some machine gunners in the South Vietnamese Army and also in limited use by the US Army.

M1919 Browning machine gun - It was usually fit on platforms and boats, but was gradually replaced by the M60 machine gun.

Browning M2HB .50cal Heavy Machine Gun

Grenades and mines

Claymore anti-personnel mine in use in Vietnam

Mark 2 Fragmentation Hand/Rifle Grenade

M61 Fragmentation Hand Grenade

WP M34 grenade White Phosphorus Hand Grenade is a smoke grenade that uses white phosphorus, which, when in contact with air ignites and creates white smoke. The white phosphorus was also a useful way to dislodge the Viet Cong from tunnels or other enclosed spaces as the burning white phosphorus absorbs oxygen, causing the victims to suffocate or suffer serious burns.

M18 grenade Smoke Hand Grenade

Claymore M18A1 - An anti-personnel mine

M67 grenade

[edit]Grenade launchers

M79 grenade launcher

M203 grenade launcher - Used late in the war by special forces.

China Lake Grenade Launcher - A pump-action grenade launcher used by U.S. Navy SEALs

XM148 grenade launcher

Mk.19 Automatic Grenade Launcher

Flamethrowers

M2 flamethrower

M9 flamethrower

Infantry support weapons

M18 recoilless rifle 57 mm,

M20 recoilless rifle 75 mm

M67 recoilless rifle 90 mm

M40 recoilless rifle 106 mm

M19 Mortar 60 mm

M29 Mortar 81 mm

4.2 inch mortar 107 mm commonly referred to as the "four deuce"

M20 Super Bazooka used mainly by U.S. Marine Corps before introduction of M72 LAW

M72 LAW Light Anti-Tank Weapon

FIM-43 Redeye MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defence System)

Artillery

105 mm Howitzer M2A1

105 mm Howitzer M102

M107 howitzer Self-propelled 175 mm howitzer

M109 Self-propelled 155 mm howitzer

M110 Self-propelled 8-inch howitzer

75mm Pack Howitzer M1

L5 pack howitzer 105 mm pack howitzer used by Australia

[edit]Artillery ammunition types

Beehive rounds

White phosphorus (marking round) "Willy Peter"

HE, general-purpose (High Explosive)

Canister

Combat aircraft

A-1 Skyraider ground attack aircraft

A-37 Dragonfly ground attack aircraft

F-5 Freedom Fighter fighter used in strike aircraft role

A-4 Skyhawk carrier borne multirole strike aircraft

A-6 Intruder carrier borne all weather multirole strike aircraft

A-7 Corsair II carrier borne multirole strike aircraft

AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter

AC-47 Spooky gunship (four) with the 1st Air Cavalry Division

AC-130 "Spectre" Gunship

AC-119G "Shadow" Gunship

AC-119K "Stinger" Gunship

B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber

B-57 Canberra medium bombers - used by the U.S. Air Force

Canberra B.20 Royal Australian Air Force medium bomber

F-4 Phantom II carrier and land based fighter-bomber

F-8 Crusader carrier borne fighter-bomber

F-105 Thunderchief fighter-bomber

F-100 Super Sabre fighter-bomber

F-101 Voodoo (RF-101) fighter-bomber/reconnaissance plane

F-102 Delta Dagger fighter

F-104 Starfighter fighter

F-111 Aardvark medium bomber

OH-6 Cayuse Transport/ Observation helicopter

OH-58 Kiowa Transport/ Observation helicopter

OV-10 Bronco, light attack/observation aircraft

UH-1 "Huey" gunship role (various models)

Support aircraft

C-123 Provider tactical cargo aircraft

C-130 Hercules tactical cargo aircraft

C-141 Starlifter strategic cargo aircraft

UH-1 Iroquois helicopters in several configurations

CH-47 Chinook medium lift helicopter

C-5 Galaxy strategic lift cargo aircraft

C-7 Caribou tactical cargo aircraft - used by the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force

CH-46 Sea Knight rescue helicopter

H-2 Seasprite helicopter

H-3 Sea King rescue and recovery helicopter

UH-34 Seahorse Transport/Cargo helicopter

CH-53 Sea Stallion medium lift helicopter

CH-54 Skycrane heavy lift helicopter

H-43 Huskie Transport/cargo helicopter

O-1 Bird Dog, observation aircraft

O-2 Skymaster, observation aircraft

OV-1 Mohawk battlefield surveillance and light strike aircraft

Aircraft ordnance

GBUs

CBUs

BLU-82 Daisy cutter

Napalm

Bomb, 250 lb, 500 lb, 750 lb, 1000 lb, HE (high explosive), general-purpose

Rocket, aerial, HE (High Explosive), 2.75 inch

Aircraft weapons

A minigun being fired from a gunship in Vietnam.

M61 Vulcan, 20 mm (aircraft mount)

Minigun, 7.62 mm (aircraft and helicopter mount)

M197 Gatling gun, 20 mm

M60 machine gun, 7.62mm (helicopter mount)

Vehicles

M38A1 1/4 ton jeep

Ford M151 MUTT 1/4 ton Military Utility Tactical Truck (jeep)

Dodge M37, 3/4 ton truck

Kaiser-Jeep M715 1¼ ton truck

Truck, cargo/troops, 2½ ton (deuce and a half)

Truck, cargo/troops, 5 ton

M520 Goer Truck, Cargo, 8-ton, 4×4

Land Rover short and long wheelbase - Australian and New Zealand forces.

M135 troop/Cargo trucks, 2 1/2 ton

M211 Cargo/troop truck, 2 1/2 ton

Combat vehicles

Tanks

M41 Walker Bulldog light tank - Used by South Vietnamese Army ARVN

M48 Patton medium tank - Used by the US Army, USMC, and ARVN forces

M551 Sheridan airborne reconnaissance assault vehicle/light tank - Used by the US Army

Centurion main battle tank - used by the Australian Army

Other armored vehicles

M113 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier)

M113 ACAV Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle

M8 Greyhound Used by ARVN forces

LVTP5 Landing craft

M50 Ontos Self-propelled 106 mm recoilless rifle carrier used by the USMC

Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando

Mark I PBRs (Patrol Boat River)

LARC-LX

BARC

AMTRAC'S, amphibious tractors used by US Marine Corps

M114 Reconnaissance vehicle

M42 Duster (M41 light tank based hull, with a twin 40 mm antiaircraft gun mounted on an open turret)

LCVP Landing craft vehical personal

LCM Landing craft mecanised

Gun trucks

Often, non-combat logistical vehicles were armored and adopted to carry several machine guns to be used for convoy escort duties

Gun trucks, 2½ and 5 ton cargo trucks with quad .50 cal machine guns mounted in the back

M3 halftracks with quad .50 cal machine guns in the back

Jeeps with mounted M60 machine guns

Land Rovers with single and twin M60 machine guns mounted used by Australian and NZ forces

Naval craft

Fast Patrol Craft

Monitor, heavily gunned riverine craft

Swift Boat, (PCF) Patrol Craft Fast

ASPB, Assault Support Patrol Boat, (known as Alpha boats)

PBR (Patrol Boat River) - All-fiberglass boats propelled by twin water jets, used by the US Navy

APA 27, USS George Clymer. Troop transport.

Artillery

North Vietnamese SAM crew in front of a SA-2 launcher.

ZPU-4 quad 14.5 mm anti-aircraft machine gun

ZU-23 twin 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon

M1939 37 mm anti-aircraft gun

S-60 57 mm anti-aircraft gun

82 mm, 107 mm, and 120 mm mortars

122 mm Katyusha rockets

122 mm guns

Aircraft

MiG-21 jet fighter

MiG-19 jet fighter, used in limited numbers

MiG-17 jet fighter

MiG-15 jet fighter, used in limited numbers

An-2 aircraft

Mi-4 helicopter

Mi-8 helicopter

Small arms

AK-47 and AKM assault rifles (from the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries)

Type 56 assault rifle (from the People's Republic of China)

SKS semi-automatic carbine, also known as Simonov

Vz. 58 assault rifle

SVD-63 semi-automatic marksman rifle, also known as the "Dragunov" sniper rifle

Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifles and carbines (from the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact countries, and the People's Republic of China)

Mauser Kar98k bolt-action rifle (many of the Mausers used by the VPA and the NLF were from rifles captured from the French during the First Indochina War and rifles provided to them by the Soviets as military aid)

Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle (captured by the Soviets during World War II and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)

Tokarev TT-33 handgun

Makarov PM handgun

Nagant M1895 revolver

Mauser C96 handgun

CZ 52 handgun

Type 14 8 mm Nambu Pistol Pistol (Captured From The Japanese) Used By North Vietnamese officers

K-50M submachine gun

PPSh-41 submachine gun (both Soviet and Chinese versions)

MAT-49 submachine gun

Sa vz. 23 submachine gun

RPD light machine gun

Degtyarev DP light machine gun

RPK light machine gun

MG-34 light machine gun (captured by the Soviets during World War II and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)

MG-42 light machine gun (captured by the Soviets during World War II and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)

Uk vz. 59 general-purpose machine gun

DShK heavy machine gun

PM M1910 heavy machine gun

MP40 submachine gun (captured by the Soviets during World War II and provided to the VPA and the NLF as military aid)

PPS-43 submachine gun

Arisaka rifles (Captured from Japanese)

F1 grenade

RG-42 grenade

RGD-5 grenade

Type 63 assault rifle

PK machine gun

[edit]Flamethrowers

LPO-50 Flamethrower (limited use)

Vehicles

Bicycles carried up to 400 pounds of weight and were thus effective transport vehicles.

PT-76 amphibious tank

BTR-50 APC

BMP-1 APC

ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft self-propelled systems

T-34/85 medium tank, used in limited numbers

T-54 main battle tanks

ZSU-57-2 anti-aircraft self-propelled system, fielded in limited numbers.

BTR-60 APC

Bicycles

Substitute standard weapons used by irregular forces

Small arms

Arisaka bolt-action rifles

M1 Garand rifle, semi-automatic

M1 carbines, semi-automatic

Springfield M1903 bolt-action rifles

MAS-36 bolt-action rifles

MAS-49 semi-automatic rifles

MAT-49 submachine gun and local variants

MP40 submachine guns

PPS-43 submachine gun and local variants

Swedish K submachine guns

Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifles and carbines

Mauser Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifles

Type 99 light machine gun Used occasionally by the Viet Cong

Nambu semi-automatic pistol

Colt M1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistol

M72 LAW

Hand combat weapons

M6 bayonet U.S. Used on M-14

M1 Bayonet U.S. and ARVN Used on M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, and M-14

M7 Bayonet U.S. Use with the M-16

Other types of knives, bayonets, and blades.

A wide variety of anti-personnel landmines and booby traps were used in the Vietnam war, including punji stakes.