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Vietcong / NVA Vietnam Guide


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VIETCONG / NVA VIETNAM GUIDE

 

WEAPONS

Many of the weapons used by the NVA and VC were copies of these soviet weapons

 

AK-47

Although the AK-47 (Avtomat Kalashnikov 1947) assault rifle is a soviet weapon, many AKs used by the NVA and Vietcong were Chinese and other copies. The AK-47 is a gas operated, 7.62mm, selective fire (semi and full auto), assault rifle which uses a detachable 30 round magazine. Due to its simple design, it was very reliable and durable and there are even accounts of U.S. soliers ditching their M16s for a AK-47s.

 

RPD

Somewhat similar in appearence to the later RPK, the soviet RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova) was the Vietcong and NVAs main light machine gun. It fired 7.62mm bullets from a 100 round belt usually contained in a drum under the weapon. The RPD was a gas operated, full auto only weapon.

 

Simonov SKS

The SKS (Samozaryadnyj Karabin Simonova) is a 7.62mm, semi-automatic, carbine rifle. Most have a integral folding bayonet under the barrel and use a integral 10 round magazine. The SKS was used extensively by the Vietcong.

 

PPSh41

The PPSh41 (Pistolet Pulemjot Shpagina 1941) is a fully automatic, select fire, 7.62mm, sub machine gun. Used extensivly by the Russians in World War II, the PPSh41 used 71 round drum magazines, which after a while had feeding problems and were time consuming to reload. 35 round magazines were availible but most VC and NVA soldiers used the 71 round ones.

 

MAT-49

The MAT-49 (Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle 1949) was a compact French sub machine gun used against the VC and NVA in the Indo-China war and later found their way into the hands of the vietnamese. The weapon was developed in the 40s but adopted by the French army in 1949. Originally fireing 9mm parabellum rounds, the vietnamese modified it to fire the soviet 7.62mm x 25P ammunition, lengthened the barrel, increased the ROF and replaced the 32 round magazine with a 35 round one. A unique feature of the MAT-49 was the folding mag well, which folded along the barrel for easier carrying. The MAT-49 also had a grip safty similar to the one on the Colt M1911.

 

RPG-7

The RPG-7 is a soviet muzzle loading, smoothbore, shoulder fired, 40mm recoilless anti-tank laucher. Used by the NVA and VC to take out helicopetrs, armored vehicles and soldiers, the RPG-7 was a succesfull weapon that explodedn either on impact or at its maximum range of 920 meters.

 

Tokarev TT33

The Tokarev is a soviet semi-auto pistol weighing 2.2 pounds that was developed in the 1930s and fired 7.62mm bullets. Used extensivly by the Russians in World War II, the Russians stopped production of the pistol in 1954 but was still built by other communist countries such as the Chinese who built the TT33 copy, Type-54. It had no safety and the magazine held 8 rounds but the pistol was still very popular among VC and NVA officers.

 

 

UNIFORMS & GEAR

 

NVA Uniform

The NVAs cotton khaki uniform sometimes had epaulettes and usually had two pockets. Most NVA uniforms were made locally and not issued so they differ significantly. Red rank patches were often sewn onto the colar.

 

NVA Canteen

The most popular canteen used by the VC and NVA was a 1 qt. brown colored aluminum canteen held in a canvas harness with a carrying strap.

 

NVA Pith Helmet

The pith helmet was used by some NVA and VC soldiers. Many soldiers put cloth covers over their helmet. Many NVA did not wear one partly because they were not enough for every soldier.

 

Vietcong / NVA Grenade Carrier

This NVA or vietcong grenade carrier held two German "potato masher" style stick grenades. It has straps for easy carrying.

 

Vietcong / NVA Snadals

Many NVA and vietcong soldiers wore sandals which were easy to make and were what they wore as civilians.

 

AK-47 Chest Pouch

The AK-47 chest pouch usually had three pouches for AK-47 magazines and four small pouches for rice and accessories. Chest pouches were worn by many NVA and vietcong soldiers. They were also very easy to produce.

 

SKS Chest Pouch

The SKS chest pouch usually had 10 pouches for SKS stripper clips and were able to carry up to 200 rounds of 7.62mm SKS ammunition. Chest pouches were easy to make and worn by many NVA and vietcong.

 

Drum Magazine pouch

The drum magazine pouches were used to carry drum magazines for the PPSh41 and the RPD. They were also used to carry other things such as personal items.

 

NVA Boonie Hat

Popular among the NVA soldiers, boonie hats were made by villagers or in the field and often had a communist star on it.

 

NVA / Vietcong Belt

Worn by many NVA and VC to keep their pants from falling down, almost all had a communist star on the buckle.

 

NVA Rucksack

Worn by some NVA soldiers to carry their personal items, NVA rucksack were very simple in design so many could be produced by NVA "factories" in the jungle.

 

NVA / Vietcong RPG Pouch

Used to carry RPG rockets, the RPG pouch also usually had extra pouches for personal items.

 

Machete

Used by VC and NVA to hack their way through the thick jungles of Vietnam, the machete was also used for fighting.

 

NVA Belt Pouches

NVA soldiers sometimes carried things in pouches attached to their belt. Although many perfered the pouches with straps.

 

Rice Bowl

Used by just about every single VC or NVA soldier, the rice bowl was used for eating out of. Note the loop on the bowl, it was put on so it can be hung off a pack or pouch.

 

Vietcong Black Pajamas

Worn by many VC the "Black Pajama" uniform consisted of the shirt and a scarf. The color combination of the scarf indicated the unit the wearer was attached to. Scarfs were often givin as awards for bravery in battle.

 

NVA Field Shoes

These NVA field shoes were NVA issue.

 

Scarf

Scarfs were often givin as award for battlefield accomplishments and came in many different combinations of colors.

 

NVA Medical Pouch

This NVA medical pouch held bandages and some medicine for wounds.

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Hey M14, I hope you dont mind me adding a couple of items - from my visit to Nam 2 years ago...

 

NVA pith helmet (one size fits all) :

 

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VC scarf - worn specifically by the locals in and around the CU CHI tunnel network (South Vietnam) - spent a morning there looking around.

 

Airsoft002-1.jpg

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Few points of interest:

 

 

The NVA called themselves the PAVN – People’s army of Vietnam and the VC - National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam both the NVA and VC were US terms.

 

NVA uniforms were originally khaki but they standardised to green later in the war – they were vat dyed so as said they varied quite a bit – the journey south also took their toll so by the time the NVA got into the combat zone the sun had faded the kit quite drastically

 

While the canvas slung canteen pouch was popular the canvas belt pouch was issued to all NVA units - US water bottles were also considered a prize. - The canteens themselves were painted green, they soldiers would add their own drawings, slogans etc in the same way US soldiers would their helmet.

 

Pith helmets were issued to all NVA there just wasn’t a supply line south to restock when they got damaged/lost shot off etc.

 

There was a 4 grenade carrier as well as the two. although the VC/NVA employed a lot of foreign grenades Russian, French, Japanese and US as well as making their own version so they carried them in various jungle made pouches.

 

The ho chi minh sandles were made out of old truck tyres and replaced the NVA’s canvas boots when the trail down south had worn them out they are actually surprisingly comfortable but i would recommend skirmishing in them.

 

The AK and SKS pouches were Chinese communist in origin but the VC did make their own. The NVA would also use soviet style satchel mag pouches. The AK was rarely in VC hands early on. And even the SKS was only seen when they were shipped south after the NVA standardised to the AK (VC used a lot of cast offs making a lot of WW2 kit acceptable for portraying VC local and main force troops, P38 pistols, Kar98, M1 Carbines, BAR’s anything they sold off the US to name a few)

 

Its also worth noting the VC as was were largely destroyed as an effective fighting force and a high percentage of the ‘VC’ were actually north Vietnamese attached to main force units (one of the reasons the NVA kit started making its way down south)

 

Boonie hats (NVA at least) were standard issue and largly main in the north/ other Asian contries – biggest distinguishing feature is they have a domed top rather than flat (as the US/western ones did) The NVA would also camoflague these with US parachute material

 

 

Camoflague cape/Scarf - made out of US parachute material - this was very popular - not 100% where they got it from cant imagine they shot down enough pilots during the war to kit out the numbers who seemed to have them.

 

Camouflague face paint - not used my regulars but often used by Sappers.

 

The Star belt was again standard issues changing from khaki to green canvas during the war – generally two sizes – small for the regulars as it was used as a trouser belt and thicker (similar to the US pistol belt) for the officers as their shirt was 4 pocket and not tucked in. there is some debate as to whether the star buckle was coloured red by the owner – they weren’t issued red but they have been seen red on the second hand/collectors marked – some say the soldiers did it themselves some say the seller did it to add to the communist authenticity.

 

PAVN/NVA rucksack was again standard issue for the NVA – made in other Asian countries and imported – similar in design to the one the south Vietnamese used but a different colour – started out green but again faided by the sun came in a 2 0r 3 outer pocket style.

 

Belt pouches particularly those used by the VC were jungle made, soviet in origin or stolen from US supplies – seen a few French and WW2 German in use though

 

Even the NVA had a set of these – standard civilian clothing – makes blending in with the civilian population easier – also very comfy round the camp fire.

 

Not read anywhere saying Scarf’s were given as an accomplishment – they tended to issue pens with encouraging slogans – to the officers at least – a surprising number had a basic but pretty good education – particularly if they came from the north. The scafs were more often than not used for unit recognition - also cam in hands to carry stuff and as a makeshift belt

 

This NVA medical pouch held bandages and some medicine for wounds – looked very similar to the us Jungle pouch – been trying to track one of these down for a while -

 

 

Alot of the kit avalible through retailers like Sampan imports etc are actually 1980's issue rather than war dated- gear hasn't changed for years

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Other, less common, weapons used by the VC are as follows:

K98k, MG34, Bren etc.

 

Of course they used all the battlefield pickups from the Americans.

 

M14,

The pic you have posted for the AK47 is actually a 1st model AK47. In total there are three models of AK47, the 3rd being the most widely used and recognised.

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I've got a pic in a ye olde book from the Seventies. It shows a group of Viet Minh/VC(all in civvies, nothing distinguishing) sat listening to instruction and next to one of them is a Bren.

I'll try and find the book and get a scan done.

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From memory the book is called 'Vietnam, Vietnam' and was in print, at a guess, in the late 70's. Searched the internet to see if I'm remembering the name right but with no success.

You'll have to hang on for any confirmation because the book is at my girlfriend's mom's house.

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What is going on with that PPsh41 pic..

That must be some US compliant one... normal one does not have such a long barrel shroud..

 

Adding the RPG2 would be handy too.. used a lot as well, and is easier to build for adventurous people.. :)

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Oh and how would I go about for having mags for a Vz.61 scorpion be held? Like what pouch? Also could you put into any future great post of yours pics of soldiers or marines in their gear/ VC and VA in their gear to so I could get an idea on what to look like? Thanks dude.

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