What were common weapons of the Vietnam war?

Answer 1

Early war:

Communists-SKS carbines

Allies-M1 carbines and M14 rifles

Later war:

Communists-AK47s

Allies-M16 rifles

Early war tanks were:

M24 Chaffee light tanks used by the allies, and PT76 light tanks used by the NVA

Later war tanks were:

M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks used by the ARVN, and T54 medium tanks used by the NVA

Early war aircraft were:

MiG17 jets used by the NVAF, and T28 Trojans and F100 Super sabres by the allies

Later war aircraft were:

MiG19 & MiG21 jets used by the NVAF, and A1 Skyraiders and F4 Phantoms used by the allies

Answer 2

NVA & VC-Used the SKS in the 1960s then transitioned to the AK47 by 1968/69 to the end of the war. The NVA tankers operated PT76 amphibious light tanks armed with 76mm guns and their T54 tanks were armed with 100mm cannons. North Vietnamese MiGs were armed with 23mm cannons.

ARVN (Army Republic of South Vietnam)-Greatly enjoyed the use of the US WWII M1 .30 caliber carbine and the 1950s designed 76mm gunned M41 Walker Bulldog light tank. The South Viets also flew the Douglas A1 Skyraider (propeller driven) dive bomber which was armed with the 20mm cannons. The ARVNs used the M1 carbines all the way up thru their issuance of the M16 rifles. The South Vietnamese military was very comfortable with the M1 carbines, M41 light tanks, and the A1 Skyraider airplane.

Answer 3

1. The UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) was the most common helicopter used in the war.

2. The B52 bomber was the most common heavy bomber used in the war.

3. The M113 APC/ACAV (Armored Personnel Carrier/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle) was the most common armored vehicle in the war.

4. The US Navy Swift Boat was the most common riverine boat to fight on both the inland waterways and along the Vietnamese coastline.

5. The M551 Sheridan tank was the most common US Cavalry tank in Vietnam. The M48 Patton tank was the most common medium gun tank in the armor battalions.

6. The destroyer was the most common bombardment warship used by the USN; 5" guns. There were less cruisers (6" & 8" guns) and only one battleship with 16" guns.

7. The assault rifle (M16 & AK47) were the most common grunt weapons used.

Answer 4

1. The best and most hoped for aircraft for close air strikes was the USN & USAF Douglas A-1 Skyraider; a propeller driven dive bomber (It was designed in WWII but did NOT fight in WWII). Its call sign was "Sandy" and was referred to by GIs as "the Spad" (an age insult as the Spad was a WWI airplane). The "Spad" was favored because it could carry a lot of ordnance and stick around for hours shooting its guns.

2. The second most common aircraft and the best "jet" for close air support was the North American USAF F-100 Super Sabre. GIs loved this jet because of all the jets, the F100 was the only one that seemingly always came in the lowest and provided the closest and most accurate bomb and strafing attacks of the Vietnam War. The Super Sabre is also America's longest combat serving "jet" in history...10 solid years of steady combat (1961-1971). Another words the Super Sabre was firing it's 20mm cannons and dropping bombs steadily for ten years! It paid a price though, 242 were downed during the war.

3. Although the NVAF had MiG17s , MiG19s, and MiG21s in its Air Force, the MiG17 was their most commonly used. Their MiG19 jets were actually Chicom J6 versions of the Russian MiG19. The USSR did not supply North Vietnam with MiG19s.

4. The most common tanks used were the M48 Patton for the US and the T54 medium tanks for the NVA. For light tanks, the US used the M551 Sheridan and the NVA used the PT76 Amphibious light tank; both of these armored vehicle could swim. The Sheridan was America's only tank that could swim.

5. Both armies were equipped with assault rifles: M16 and AK47s.

6. The North Viet Navy used USSR/Red Chinese supplied P4 & P6 torpedo boats (the P6 may have been a patrol boat) and the US utilized the aluminum built PCF-Patrol Craft Fast (Swift Boat) for coastal/inland water operations.

7. Both sides deployed artillery. However the NVA only employed towed guns while the allies used both SPGs and towed pieces. (SPG=Self Propelled Guns).