Vietnam War US & Allied Combat Equipments

The US conducted extensive studies to determine criteria for equipment suitable for Asian troops. Their light weight and short stature meant that simply issuing smaller-sized US equipment items was inadequate. At age 20 the average Vietnamese was 5ft 2½in tall and weighed 108lb; a Thai was 5ft 4½in, at 120lb; South Koreans averaged 5ft 8½in and 128lb 5oz; and the average American was 5ft 8½in and weighed 152lb 8oz. The rule of thumb that a soldier should carry a combat load of no more than one-third his body weight translated to 50lb for an American and 30–35lb for an Asian – but that was unachievable, since it was impossible to reduce the weight of weapons, ammunition, water, and most equipment. Small-size belts and suspenders were issued, and the smaller frame and waist size prevented the same numbers and types of equipment being attached – but a 100-rd belt of M60 ammunition still weighed 6lb 12oz, whoever was carrying it. While WW II/KW and M1956 gear were not recommended for Asian use, those were the equipments available (M1967 nylon gear was not issued). Asian rations were slightly lighter and the soldiers required less water, but the overall burden on Asian soldiers was reduced by only a few pounds at best.

The end of WW II found the US Army with vast stocks of unissued web gear, and additional equipment was produced from 1951. Korean War equipment was essentially the same as WW II items, with some retaining old QM stock numbers and never assigned FSNs; later production items had minor specification changes over the pre-1951 gear, and most received FSNs. This equipment was made of OD No. 7 cotton webbing and duck, though some older gear in lighter OD No. 3 and OD No. 9 (tan) occasionally surfaced in Vietnam. The M1910 double-hooks fitted the M1956 equipment belts. M1956 ILCE items with slide-keepers would fit on the M1936 pistol belt, as would M1956 suspenders on the M1923 cartridge, M1936 pistol, and M1937 BAR belts. Most items used LTD fasteners. This equipment was issued to ARVN, RVN paramilitary, and ROK forces armed with WW II/KW-era weapons. Occasionally, old French leather and web gear were seen.⁶

6For more complete descriptions see Elite 210, World War II US Army Combat Equipments, and Men-at-Arms 458, Army of the Republic of Vietnam 1955–75.

Some items were used by US forces. TV footage shows paratroopers with President Lyndon Johnson during a late 1967 visit to Cam Ranh Bay wearing M1956 butt packs and M1945 combat packs with X-back suspenders, no doubt in an effort to provide more load-carrying capacity.

The Counterinsurgency Support Office (CISO) was established by Headquarters, US Army, Ryukyu Islands on Okinawa in 1963. It developed, contracted, and forwarded to Vietnam lightweight, low-cost clothing and equipment for the CIDG and MACV-SOG. The scores of Special Forces A-camps with battalion-sized CIDG strike forces, and the five regimental-size MIKE Forces, were supplied from the Logistical Support Center at the 5th SF Group HQ, Nha Trang, through five Logistical Support Points. CISO equipment was not issued to the ARVN, which received US equipment through the ARVN Central Logistics Command.

Popular Force militiamen armed with M1 rifles, M2 carbines, and a BAR (súng trung liên, “rifle, medium rapid fire”) board a sampan for a local patrol of the canal passing beside their Mekong Delta village. The foreground man armed with a Garand rifle carries an ARVN rucksack, and below it note the M1 rifle clips slipped onto a web belt around his waist by forcing the strap between the two rows of cartridges.. (Tom Laemlein/Armor Plate Press)

A US advisor checks an ARVN soldier’s .30cal M2 carbine with two 30-rd “banana” magazines taped together. The linh wears an M1923 cartridge belt for M1 rifle clips, but 10-rd carbine charging clips could be fitted in the pockets. The carbine is fitted with an M3 flash hider; this suppressed muzzle flash to a degree, and also helped keep rice-paddy mud from entering the muzzle. A field dressing is held under the “stretchy” mesh camouflage net of the helmet. (Tom Laemlein/Armor Plate Press)

The US Marine Corps’ Combined Action Program (CAP) combined 13-man Marine rifle squads augmented by a Navy corpsman with 20- to 30-man Vietnamese Popular Force platoons, for local village security. Here a marine and a corpsman (wearing a USMC “cover,” and carrying an M18 smoke grenade) discuss their patrol plan. The PF soldier at left, armed with an M2 carbine, carries a bandoleer of 37mm signal flares, and an AN-M8 pyrotechnic pistol in a special canvas holster on his left front. (US Marine Corps History Division)

Popular Force troops, whose uniforms include OD, camouflage, and black outfits, assemble VC suspects. The black-clad M79 grenadier at right center has an M1937 BAR belt, which could hold four 40mm rounds in each of its six pockets. Most wear M1956 suspenders; the man in the OD uniform at left, kicking at a prisoner, is armed with a .45cal M3A1 “grease gun.” (US Marine Corps History Division)

The CIDG or “indig” rucksack (pronounced “sidge” and “indidge”) was developed by the CISO based on an NVA design. It cost US$2.80, and was made on Okinawa. It consisted of a main compartment closed with a plastic drawstring and large flap, and three external pockets. The unpadded shoulder straps were crude and attached to buckles by knotting the ends, and a little-used map pocket was positioned against the wearer’s back. Most were made of greenish-gray stiff waterproofed fabric with OD straps and edge-binding, but some of OD duck. They were used by USSF personnel, and saw some use by US LRRP companies and other reconnaissance units lacking US rucksacks.

The ARVN or “ranger” rucksack (8465-782-3133) was developed by Natick Laboratories in 1963 to replace the M1945 combat field pack, which carried an inadequate load and was too heavy. Thai-made prototype rucksacks with rattan frames were tested by the ARVN Airborne and Marine brigades, but they were called “ranger rucks,” since they were initially seen carried by ARVN Rangers. The rattan frame was unacceptable, and a dark OD X-back frame was used in the production run. The ARVN ruck was made of non-waterproof OD duck, with a large main compartment secured by a drawstring and large flap, two large external pockets, an e-tool tab on large flap, and equipment fastening loops on the sides. It was widely used by RVN forces. Radio operators carried their AN/PRC-25 inside the CIDG and ARVN rucksacks. Although designed for small-framed soldiers they were frequently used by US troops, especially LRRPs, who traded for them or acquired them through the supply system.

Men of 1st Bn/508th Infantry, 3rd Bde, 82nd Abn Div load out for a patrol. The red splotch seen on some of the helmet covers is a painted devil’s face representative of the 508th Infantry, the “Red Devils.” The foreground soldier has a poncho liner rolled up in the poncho strapped under his butt pack. Note the M7 bayonet in an M8 scabbard. (Tom Laemlein/Armor Plate Press)

The 1qt plastic canteen was made in both the US and RVN with the “water only and avoid heat” warning translated: “CHI DE DUNG NUOC/TRANH NGON LUA VA VI LO NONG” (diacritical marks not included here – see Plate H6b).

A low-cost M3A1 “grease gun” magazine carrier saw use by the ARVN and National Police (a paramilitary security force working closely with the ARVN). It had four pockets for 30-rd magazines, under a single flap secured by two snaps; usually worn on the chest, it had both neck and waist straps.

The US-made lightweight ARVN poncho was similar in design and materials to the US type, but measured 60in x 82 in. The “indig poncho” was of the same style, but made of a light gray-green vinyl-coated fabric, and measured 43in x 72in; it had four snaps on each long side. It possessed a hood, but this was often cut out and the camp tailor sewed an oval patch over the opening; this proved more effective as a rain-fly, though in practice this poncho was seldom worn as a rain garment. Cords or strings 3–6ft long were tied in buttonhole slits at the corners and midway on the sides and ends, allowing it to be rigged low over a hammock. The 49in x 75in “indig poncho liner” was made of light gray-green nylon with polyester batting. (In practice, the dimensions of indig ponchos and liners varied.)

Hammocks were the customary bedding for indigenous civilians, and the “indig hammock” was a 32in x 70–72in dark OD nylon panel with tunnel seams on both ends. Ropes or cords including 550 cord were threaded through the tunnels as suspension lines; spreader bars (sticks) were not used. It seems that this hammock was also issued to the ARVN, and is sometimes misidentified as a “groundsheet.” USSF personnel had one end tunnel cut off and an 18–24in length of the end from another hammock sewed on to accommodate their height. Dead and wounded were carried out in hammocks slung from 10ft or longer poles.

The “indig sleeping bag” measured 34in x 65in, and was made of OD vinyl-coated nylon lined with brown, tan, or gray felt. The right edge and foot end were secured by eight or nine, and three or four snaps, respectively. It was issued in northern mountainous areas, and a poncho liner could be inserted for increased warmth.