Vietnamese WeaponsJoy, John, Teri and Greg

October 2010

Survival In Vietnam

SimonovRussian RifleDeveloped between

1931 and 1936 by the Sergey Simonov

The barrel has a bayonet mount, which can not only hold the bayonet horizontally, but also vertically

Ao-daiThe word Ao Dai

means ‘Long Dress’Two parts, the under

layer is a pair of pants and the top layer is a long dress that is tight, but is long sleeved and high collard

Is known as “cover everything, but hide nothing”

Other Standard issued NVA GearAK-47, a gas-

operated gunPPSh-4

Submachine Gun

Other Standard issued NVA GearSKS Rifle, Semi-

automatic rifleRPG 7 and RPG 2 Punji Stick or

Punji Stake(Not really SI)

NVA-North Vietnam Army

Shirts and trousers or shorts

Dark Green, khaki, blue, gray

Trousers had three pockets: two side and one at the rear

NVA combat shoe Sun Helmet and Bush

Hat(green, tan, brown)

Black cotton “pajama” type trousers and shirts.

Floppy “Jungle Hat” in Khaki or Green

Canvas low boots(black) or sandals

Uniforms of VietnamVC-Viet Cong

Vietnamese “Cargo” Bikes Viet Cong used bicycles to carry supplies down the Ho Chi

Minh trail(ex. Rice). Bamboo would be attached to make the ride easier. There were camps where the carrier could get some rest

and medical treatment. The Americans tried to set up mines and lay barbed wire on

the trail but the soldiers were killed while they were setting up the traps.

Bicycles

AK-47

• Killed over 60,000 U.S. troops. Left thousands of others

with disabilities.• Lighter, faster, and more

reliable then the U.S. issued M-16s.

• Remained operational when fouled with mud and sand.

• Can be used through moderately severe overheating.

MiG• NVA aircraft. Used as a

fighter and matched up with the American F-105 thunderchief.

• It was far less advanced than its counterpart, but it successfully shot down many American planes.

• China trained the pilots, while the USSR supplied the NVAF with the planes and ammo.

RPG-7Muzzle loaded,

shoulder fired anti-tank grenade launcher.

Used against vehicles, personnel, defensive positions, and helicopters.

Effective for its shock and disruption value as a compact weapon.

Mauser-98A bolt-action rifle

produced in Germany during WW2.

It was a good infantry weapon and it could also be used as a sniper rifle when equipped with a telescopic sight.

Many Viet Cong used it because of how cheap it was to produce.

ZSUsAnti-aircraft twin

auto-cannon equipped tank.

Used by the NVA against U.S. aircraft. Proved more

effective against ground targets.

• U.S and South Vietnam had also used captured ZSUs against the NVA.