Vietnam War US & Allied Combat Equipments

In Vietnam, infantrymen carried a greater load than in any other regions except for the arctic, and much of this was bulky, a factor as important as weight. It was necessary to carry everything – ammunition, water, rations, and unit equipment – required for the 3–6 days between resupply (“resup” or “log day”) or until mission completion. Service support troops in the many bases across the country followed “by-the-book” configuration of web gear, but “grunts humping rucks in the boonies” rigged theirs very differently. In most units, how they configured equipment and carried necessities was left up to individuals; units might prescribe SOPs, but these had little bearing on reality. There were instances of green lieutenants slavishly insisting that their platoons carry what was prescribed in “the book” (FM 21-15 – see Select Bibliography). Examples included heavy and bulky shelter halves with poles and pins – totally impractical in the boonies or a firebase. Another was mess kits and utensils, completely unnecessary for heated or cold C-rations – which were eaten from the can with a plastic spoon – or in firebases, where paper plates and cups and plastic utensils were provided for sanitation reasons.

The issue of rucksacks caused major changes in what, how, and how much infantrymen carried. The lightweight and tropical rucksacks’ frames extended down over the waist belt, preventing the butt pack, canteens, and other equipment from being attached to the belt’s back. E-tools were attached to the rucksack, as were machetes, canteens, and smoke grenades. The belt was limited to ammunition and first aid pouches, and one or two canteens attached awkwardly at the sides. This was especially a problem for small-waisted men. Many troops eliminated the belt and suspenders altogether and carried everything in and on the rucksack, often haphazardly. Some even deleted the rucksack itself, simply strapping gear to the frame. However, the butt pack still saw use for short patrols, and by mechanized infantrymen and riverine troops who were separated from their APCs and river craft for short intervals.

Troops tended to adjust the belt longer than their waist size to reduce chafing, but if too loose it caused belt equipment to bounce when moving. Since it was supported by suspenders it was common for the belt to be worn unfastened to hang comfortably loose; if running, the buckle could be fastened. Some troops made a 5–6in loop of 550 cord fastened by a cow-hitch knot passed through the buckle’s slot end and hitched around the T-hook; this kept the belt from hanging too widely open, and reduced bouncing.

Seven to nine magazines were inadequate; 18–24 were the usual load, along with 2–4 “frag” grenades. Men carried two to three bandoleers each with 7x M16 magazines or clipped ammunition; one was usually tied around the waist, one or two slung across the chest “bandit-style,” and at least one hung on the rucksack. Compared to brick-like pouches the bandoleers reduced the likelihood of groin injuries when hitting the ground, and made it easier to low-crawl; they wore out quickly, but were replaced with the next ammunition resupply. The 20-rd and 30-rd magazines were loaded with two or three fewer rounds to reduce follower-spring stress.

Besides individual ammunition, soldiers also carried platoon munitions: a bandoleer of either M60 or M79 rounds, a Claymore mine, LAW, smoke grenades, “pop-up” flares, or trip flares – though an individual naturally would not carry all of these. A man armed with an M203 grenade launcher reported carrying 40 rds of 40mm, 11x M16A1 magazines, 3x grenades, a trip flare, and a smoke grenade. A sniper armed with a 7.62mm XM21 carried ten magazines: one in the rifle, four in two pouches, and five in a 2qt canteen cover. Most men in a squad might carry a roughly 60-rd length of M60 belt hung over their shoulders, sometimes protected from rain and mud with a rubber tube cut from a damaged air mattress. Slung belts were carried with bullet-points outwards so as not to gouge the neck, and it was recommended that magazines be inserted in pouches with the bullets pointing away from the body, to avoid an incoming round hitting a magazine and driving them into the body. A 60mm or 81mm mortar round might be carried by each man, to be dropped off at a mortar position.

Weapon slings were often removed. The conspicuously black M16’s shape was sometimes distorted by applying strips and patches of OD or true green duct or gaffer tape – “hundred-mile-an-hour tape,” also good for repairing web gear. Sometimes equipment buckles and hooks were secured with black plastic electrical or fabric friction tape, which also reduced metallic noises.

Water was essential in the heat, and 4–6x 1qt canteens were routinely carried – or even more, during the dry season in areas with few ground-water sources. Canteens were attached to rucksack equipment loops, inserted in the side pockets, or simply hung without covers by the plastic cap straps, sometimes with multiple canteens clipped together by a “snaplink” (carabiner – FSN 8465-360-0228). Two-quart canteens were unpopular, being awkward to carry. Canteens were to be filled with water only, to prevent an aftertaste, but pre-sweetened Kool-Aid sent from home cut the taste of iodine-purified water. (Commercially bottled water, today a military staple, was neither issued nor then in wide civilian use.)

With resups roughly every three days, in theory nine individual combat meals (MCI or “C-rats”) were drawn. Due to the heat, many men had the appetite for only one or two meals per day, but kept one or two in reserve in case weather or aviation mission requirements caused resupply delays. C-rations were “broken down,” i.e. removed from their cartons and packing materials, and unwanted items were traded or discarded to reduce weight and bulk. A common practice to reduce rattling was to put 3–6 C-rat cans in socks (“chow socks”), placed in or hung from rucksacks. LRRP rations were lighter but still bulky, and had to be left in their bags to prevent the dehydrated rations getting wet. Most men carried a plastic bag with leftover C-rat condiments, toilet paper, jam and peanut butter cans, Tabasco sauce, etc. A “major resup” arrived every sixth day, often with hot meals in insulated M1944 Mermite containers, and sometimes with a change of uniform. Ration and ammunition packaging residue was supposed to be carried by the troops until evacuated by “resup choppers,” but often they buried it or tossed it (to be scavenged by the VC).

Collecting Vietnam War combat equipments

Authentic Vietnam War equipment items are relatively inexpensive, and there are virtually no commercial reproductions on the market. However, authentic items are now 40–55 years old, and are becoming scarcer. With age, cotton web gear “tightens up” to become stiffer and may shrink slightly, making it difficult to manipulate (e.g. to insert magazines in pouches). Sunlight and heat degrades nylon and, to a lesser degree, cotton items. Vinyl-coated fabric must also be protected to prevent cracking and deterioration. Cotton items should be inspected regularly; if they show the slightest signs or smell of mildew, this should be soft-brushed off, and the item exposed inside and out to direct sunlight for a few hours. Gear should only be stored in temperature- and humidity-controlled environments, to preserve it for future generations.

Some men carried a spare AN/PRC-25 or -77 battery, since the platoon radio used up 1–4 “bats” a day. The radio with battery, handset, accessories, and harness weighed 24lb 11oz. Leaders carried maps (covered with “sticky acetate,” or in plastic bags) in a trousers cargo pocket; a lensatic compass (6605-846-7618); binoculars (6x30 M13A1, or 7x50 M15A1, M16, & M17A1); a flashlight; a notepad (7510-281-2691); Signal Operating Instructions (SOI, a classified booklet containing daily frequencies, callsigns, authentication table, message formats, and alpha and brevity codes); and air/ground marker aids (signal mirror, strobe light, pen flare gun, marker panel). While a compass (first aid) case was available, most carried their compass in a breast pocket secured to a buttonhole by a “dummy cord;” if the web gear was lost, the compass was retained. A carabiner was often clipped to a suspender loop.

Spare clothing carried was minimal: a couple of pairs of socks, a boonie hat, and in the highlands a sleeping sweater and/or rain jacket. Underwear was seldom worn, much less spares carried. A “drive-on rag” was essential for mopping sweat and padding shoulders: either a 37in x 37in x 52in OD muslin triangular bandage (6510-201-1755), a 20in x 40in OG-107 bath towel, or a 24in x 36in OG-109 knitted cotton neckerchief (8440-935-6374). Toilet articles in a variety of containers included razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap in a plastic box, mirror, hand towel, sunburn paste, chap-stick, foot powder, malaria tablets, etc. Insect repellent was usually kept in a pocket or under the helmet band. Toilet articles, cigarettes, letter-writing materials, a cheap Kodak Instamatic camera, and other items needing to be kept dry were often packed in robust M2A1 or M19A1 ammo cans, which had firmly latched lids sealed with rubber gaskets. Zip-lock plastic bags were then in their infancy, but plastic bags were available from the packaging of radio batteries, medical supplies, etc.

Sleeping gear included a poncho, poncho liner, air mattress, and sometimes a mosquito net. Each man might carry these items, or they might be split between two men, since one man might be sleeping while his buddy was on guard (though both always had ponchos). Two men typically shared an e-tool and rifle cleaning kit.

An important consideration was the medical evacuation (“medevac”) of dead, wounded, ill, and injured. Units new to Vietnam learned the hard way that ammunition, water, rations, and critical items were to be recovered from casualties before evacuation; more than one wounded platoon leader was evacuated still carrying the platoon’s only map and SOI.

H ARVN & INDIGENOUS EQUIPMENT

When armed with M16 rifles and M79 grenade launchers, ARVN, ROK, Thai, and Philippine troops used M1956 gear. The ARVN and early arriving ROK troops armed with M1 rifles, M1/M2 carbines, and BARs were equipped with US WW II/KW gear. In some instances M1956 and WW II/KW items were mixed, being partly compatible.

(1a) The M1945 combat field pack without X-back combat and cargo field pack suspenders, and (1b) with them. Most equipment items typically attached externally to these packs have been omitted to show them unobscured, but a rice-straw sleeping mat is carried rolled under the flap.

(2) From 1964 the M1945 packs were replaced with the ARVN rucksack. An issue 2qt cook pot is attached to this “ranger rucksack.”

(3) The CIDG or “indig” rucksack was also developed in 1963, based on an NVA design. ARVN and indig rucks saw some use by US LRRPs and MACV-SOG; since they looked similar to NVA rucks from a distance, it was hoped to deceive the enemy as to the identity of a fleetingly seen recon team. For a 1qt canteen to fit into one of an indig rucksack’s side pockets a 1½in slit had to be cut in the opening’s top edge; the pockets were actually designed so a canteen would not fit, reserving them for other items. Vietnamese rations in paper or plastic bags included pre-cooked or dried rice, fresh vegetables, and dried salted fish; canned sardines, pork or chicken; hot peppers, and nuoc mam (fermented fish sauce); and the occasional live chicken or duck tied to a ruck. Rucks held rations, poncho, hammock, and a thin cotton blanket or, rarely, a poncho liner.

(4) An ARVN soldier armed with an M1 rifle was equipped with an M1923 cartridge belt (ten pockets = 80 rds); M1910 canteen cover with 1qt metal canteen; M1942 first aid pouch; and combat and cargo field pack suspenders, often with 8-rd M1 rifle clips slipped on. A pocketknife hangs from a grenade arming ring held by the snap of one clip pocket. Many ARVN soldiers carried numerous grenades of mixed types, sometimes up to eight on belts and suspenders.

(5) A common practice was wrapping the hammock, blanket, and possessions into a flat, square bundle covered with a poncho and tied to the suspenders at the back.

(6) The M1936 pistol belt was issued to troops armed with a carbine, SMG, or pistol. Attached to the belt are an M2 carbine magazine pocket for four 30-rd “banana” magazines; a plastic canteen; a first aid pouch; and an old M1 rife-or-carbine cartridge pocket. A sheet of plastic is folded over the back of the belt as a rain cape or groundsheet and held in place with string.

(6a) Typically only one or two plastic canteens were carried, since the Vietnamese needed relatively less water than Americans. The “water only and avoid heat” warning is translated on the canteen, along with the ARVN’s “Q.L.V.N.C.H.” marking.

(7) The three-pocket SMG magazine carrier held three 30-rd magazines for the M1, M1A1, or M3A1 submachine guns.

(8) This RVN-made four-pocket magazine carrier for M3A1 SMG magazines was used by the ARVN and National Police.

(9) The M1937 BAR magazine belt held up to 12x 20-rd magazines, but usually fewer, with one or two pockets used for cleaning gear and personal items. M1956 suspenders are attached, to which a field dressing is taped rather than carried in a pouch; they were also taped to belts and rifle slings.

(10) This partly unrolled “indig hammock” shows its suspension cord, here doubled 550 cord.