Just a comment on armour in Vietnam.. Yes, use was limited on the US side by the very assumption that the terrain was unsuitable, and on the NVA side by lack of equipment, however... The research I've done indicates that the following armoured vehicles & static anti-armour were in use in Vietnam by NVA (dates provided if I have them)
Static:
Soviet 57mm AT gun (to 1966)
PAK40 AT gun (to 1966)
75mm SR AT gun (from 1966)
37mm AA gun (throughout)
57mm AA gun (throughout)
SA-7 (A-12) AA SAM (throughout)
Vehicles:
PT-76 Soviet Recon Tank (1959 onwards) - Fully amphibious
T34-85 Soviet early WWII MBT (1959 onwards)
T54 Soviet post WWII MBT (1959 onwards)
SU-76 Soviet WWII SPG (1959 onwards - training tank)
BTR-50PK APC - Soviet
Type 59 Tank - Chinese
K-63 APC - Chinese : This was the NVA's favourite APC
Type 63 Tank - Chinese
BTR-40A AA - Twin MG variant BTR-40 (Soviet)
ZSU-57-2 AA - Soviet (1972 onwards)
ZSU-57-4 AA - Soviet Shilka (1975 onwards)
BTR-60PB APC - Soviet (1973 onwards)
ISU-122 Soviet SPG - Heaviest NVA tank (1973 onwards)
Captured Vehicles Used:
M41, M113
A surprisingly long list, no?
Between the lack of US armour in the country (and flaws in the armour that was there, such as problems with the Sheridan), NVA armour was used to great effect on many occasions - such as Lang Vei. On other occasions, US air power revealed the weaknesses of tanks against aircraft.
From the start, NVA armoured doctrine emphasised camouflage training and combined assaults with tanks providing supporting fire for large infantry assaults timed with attacks from VC infiltrators and sappers.
Further, their doctrine stated that tanks would only be employed where that would significantly reduce infantry casualties, and that the *minimum* required number of tanks would be deployed. They were very careful with what they had.
Remember, the NVA had no choppers and few planes. Their armoured vehicles were their strongest asset, able to travel hundreds of miles in complete concealment. The most notable is the PT-76, which, though light, was fully amphibious and therefore could more easily traverse the river valleys of the jungle.
Another factor was the unreliablity of US light AT weapons - such as the LAW. While the recoiless rifles were used to great effect, there were many cases of LAWs simply 'bouncing off' a tank that could technically be penetrated by a .50 caliber AP round.
The US did change their view on armour in the jungle later in the war. The fact is that the jungles do not prevent armour being effective - they merely require radically different methods of strategic and tactical deployment.
*thus endeth the lecture*.. ;D
That ended up much longer than I expected.. *L*
And I was surprised to hear about sound-suppressed weapons in Vietnam.. never knew that...
If anyone is interested in modelling any of the tanks above, I have pics of some and O2 suitable plans of others. The T-54, in fact, is not all that different in appearance from the T-55.
Cheers,
CareyBear
Topic: SEB Nam Pack 2.0 (Read 185300 times)