Small Arms of the Vietnam War
A Photographic Study
With modern military emphasis on whiz-bang weapons technology and the constant quest for things that make a bigger bang on the battlefield, it’s easy to forget that at the dark heart of war stands an infantryman and his individual weapons. Those who understand warfare from research or from personal experience generally realize this about the conflicts that have plagued mankind since the dawn of time. Infantry weapons — often referred to as small arms — have fascinated soldiers and scholars for decades as they are the most personal aspects of combat.
Small arms come into play when contact is close and potentially lethal. This was particularly true during the long, frustrating war in Vietnam, but much of the focus in studying that conflict has been either on aerial weapons — strike aircraft or armed helicopters — or on the originally much-maligned M16 rifle. There were huge numbers of other weapons used by both sides, but they are often ignored and rarely seen being used in combat action. Small Arms of the Vietnam War solves that problem. Divided into easily digestible sections and preceded by cogent discussions of each weapon type, the authors have presented an intriguing collection of photographs that depict the primary small (and not so small) infantry arms most common on Vietnam battlefields. There are rare and stirring images here that depict what it was like to fight in the jungle-covered mountains and in the rice paddies. Viewing these images is like studying a primer about one of America’s longest and deadliest wars.
Excerpted from Chapter 4 RIFLES & CARBINES. . . .
The American-made M16 rifle was redesigned in 1966 to perform better in the wet, dirty conditions that prevailed in ground combat during the Vietnam War, and it became the weapon most commonly associated with U.S. troops in that conflict.
The vast majority of battlefield engagements in Vietnam involved soldiers exchanging fire from rifles of one form or another. The standard issue infantry shoulder-weapon early in the war was the M14 in 7.62mm carried by the Army and Marine units until that venerable weapon was replaced (sometimes forcibly as in the case of the U.S. Marine Corps resisting surrender of the longer-range and heavier-hitting rifle), by the M16 which was classified as an assault rifle owing to its selective-fire capability which allowed the rifleman an option of either semi-automatic or full-auto fire from a 20-round magazine of 5.56mm rounds. There were also bolt-guns carried primarily by trained snipers, and the venerable M1 Garand rifle saw plenty of service in the hands of many ARVN soldiers. By 1966 and throughout the remainder of the war, the M16A1 — an improved version of the original — was the bog- standard infantryman’s weapon of most allied forces in Vietnam. A notable exception was the
It’s unreasonable to consider the M16 — sometimes called the Matty Mattel rifle by critics of its plastic and steel construction and the black-rifle or widow-maker by fans of its light weight and firepower — without some attention to the teething problems of the initial-issue version of the weapon. Infantrymen were encountering excessive fouling of the rifle which resulted in jams and malfunctions at the worst possible times. A major Congressional investigation discovered there were essentially four major problems with the M16 and its issue ammo. These included a high-residue propellant which fouled the action after a magazine or two of fire, a lack of chromed chamber and barrel, and a lack of proper maintenance training and equipment among the troops carrying the weapon in jungle conditions. The Army quickly addressed these problems and came up with the M16Al — plus a blitzkrieg training program and the proper equipment for rifle maintenance — to produce one of the most significant and effective battle rifles of the 20th Century.
A 1st Infantry Division NCO prepares to move his men, all armed with the M14 rifle, against an enemy position in mid-1965.
A Marine armed with an M14 pauses for a smoke while operating with his unit south of Danang in 1965.
A 1st Infantry Division trooper keeps his M14A1 dry while negotiating a stream crossing in 1966. This weapon is a full-auto capable version of the M14 with pistol-grip stock and bipod legs.
A Screaming Eagle from the 101st Airborne pumps out automatic fire from his M16 during Operation Cook in late 1967.
Excerpted from Small Arms Of The Vietnam War: A Photographic Study by Dale A. Dye and Tom Laemlein.
DALE DYE is a Marine officer who rose through the ranks to retire as a Captain after 21 years of service in war and peace. He is a distinguished graduate of Missouri Military Academy who en-listed in the United States Marine Corps shortly after graduation. Sent to war in Southeast Asia, he served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970 surviving 31 major combat operations. Appointed a Warrant Officer in 1976, he later converted his commission and was a Captain when he deployed to Beirut, Lebanon with the Multinational Force in 1982–83. Following retirement from active duty in 1984, he spent time in Central America, reporting and training troops for guerrilla warfare in El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica. Upset with Hollywood’s treatment of the American military, he went to Hollywood and established Warriors Inc., the preeminent military training and advisory service to the entertainment industry. He has worked on more than 50 movies and TV shows including several Academy Award and Emmy winning productions. He is a novelist, actor, director and show business innovator, who wanders between Los Angeles and Lockhart, Texas.
TOM LAEMLEIN is the son of a US 8th Infantry Division veteran who fought in Normandy, Brittany and Germany and has always been fascinated by weaponry. However, it wasn’t until his thirties that he purchased his first carbine which was the start of his collecting career. It also set him on his path as a publisher of specialist titles aimed at weapon collectors and enthusiasts through the creation of Armor Plate Press. His most recent publishing successes have included the highly successful “American Firepower Series”.
