Light-itis in Vietnam: what WRONG looked like

[dao3rd123]

As far as rifle go, I had the M-14 which was highly dependable . Very accurate for long distances too. I refused to take that plastic toy M-16 which constantly jammed.

[myhoangsa]

look good. kill more vc.

[USmarinecolonel1]

actual they arnt as good as you think america could not fire unless fired at since congress did not premote war so we had all these advantages thrown away because they want fire unless they see us so that ruled out the element of surprise then they waited and ambushed using jungle warfare tactics which are men were not trained for

[horror11]

"no vietnamese ever called me a nigger" muhamad ali

[JustinAndrews74]

Viet Nam Forever

[dynmicpara]

Muleagain writes:

"Welcome home to all you brothers and sisters no matter what you rode in or on."

C Btry 6/27th FA

II Field Force

1970

[christof139]

They still served on in Europe though, and they were dangerous to be in and around because their rubber band tracks frequently broke and went flying and did kill a few people (saw it dihappen directly in front of me but the troopie survived).

[dynmicpara]

The M114 had hull overhang in front of its tracks that lead to it getting stuck in rice paddy dikes.

[christof139]

The M113 also had tread skirts/overhang & fenders. I know because I drove one. The M114 had many problems that I already stated, & it was because of those problems that they were quickly withdrawn from Vietnam. The ones given to ARVN were not liked by them, & they were withdrawn by ARVN from 1st line units & relegated to 2nd line units operating on roads.

[dynmicpara]

A flimsy M113 Gavin SIDE skirt for mud and water traction isn't the same as a huge piece of METAL (your hull nose) in front of your tracks that digs into the uneven ground ahead like the M114 had.

[christof139]

D Troop 17th Cav was lightly mechanized since it had only M113's and M114's. If this fellow was with it when it had M114's (shit cans actually) than he was there early on, because the M114 was quickly phased out of Vietnam because it was too low etc., and even ARVN stopped using them after awhile.

[christof139]

elmosmidlap, Why 58,000 USA dead? Because of the Cold War that was due to Stalin's policies during and after WWII. Cold War paranoia and resulting politics. It's a long story.

[obifongkenobi]

that looked like a 40 mm duster at the end?

[TheNotwendigkeit]

german weapons are the best . !

[NuclearActiveGuy]

altough i have to agree ak47 was better in vietnam,

todays m16 is much more advanced than the modern ak47, things change ppl

[elmosmidlap]

Been to Vietnam three times over the last two years..traveling north central and south. Beautiful country and very nice people. Don't know why the average US soldier just did not turn around and come home. Bombing and killing people thousands upon thousand of miles from teh USA was straight bullshit. I think about the huge lost of life (my uncle and a neighboor) all for no reason that could not have been politically worked out anyway. Vietnam now a most favored trading partner. 54k US dead. Why?

[Alex1987swe]

I dont think desertion would have been such a great option, you cant just bail on the army in the middle of a war and not think there will be consequenses. And no the war was a waste of life, nothing but a war created out of fear of communism spreading. Its always the common man that suffers for the politicians actions

[ratrare]

Millions & millions dead in WW1&2....Why?

[thestingerdunne]

just How the shitty World Works

[clintonWORLDFAT]

It's easy to say just turn around and go home.

[dynmicpara]

Exactly why its high time we LEARN how to stop closed terrain infiltration!

[Drummeralex31]

cute puupy

[shammybeatdrum]

Of course it also depends on where you're fighting. There are some places even light armor can't go without holding you back, like thick jungle, mountainous terrain, and soft or soggy ground.

The AK vs. M16 argument has been beaten to death over and over. Both weapons have strengths and weaknesses that outweigh each other in different situations. Ultimately what really matters is that they kill people when necessary, which both do very well.

[dynmicpara]

hoopiejohn writes:

"I was in the 199th. And our "D" Troop 17th Cav had M113s & M114s. But there's places they couldn't go, like up that tidal mud bank you saw the soldier being helped out of. And I didn't see in this video, anyone getting their asses kicked. I saw daylight foot patrols, kind of laid back really, to establish control and a presence, and familiarize with the terrain and villages in an operatonal area. All the shit happened at night anyway."

[dynmicpara]

One troop with M113 Gavins does not mechanize the entire 199th BRIGADE.

Your unit suffered excessively high casualties in Vietnam compared to units that were light mechanized.

If in contrast, your entire brigade was in M113 Gavins roaming around during the day, night ambush patrols could be easily dropped off under this "cover" of noise so the enemy gets no rest.

[TIgor79]

The short M16 and the non far-east looking vilage this is 2 fings that looks wrong.

[TehxVideoxMaster]

conventional warfare isnt going to work in the future.

[captcaveman46]

Hopefully in the future we would have learned, war doesnt work, period. Ex British light infantry.

[SturmTrooper666]

i have a lot of respect for vietnam vets. the shit they saw over there and the shit they put up with when they got back from our own people

[dynmicpara]

That's great for being a victim on the Oprah Winfrey show; but WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LEARN from their experiences is what's most important....

[doughborne]

All the way everyday ah ha ! Pro Patria doughboy

C Company 3rd Platoon 3rd Squad B-Team 1/31st Infantry Mechanized 2nd ID Korea 11/75-11/76

[DVincentW]

Good video.*****