Ultimately, in combat operations, the Viet Cong were a light infantry force.
They wereequipped with a variety of small arms.
Additionally, theVC became quite adept at using booby trapsagainst their opponents.
A Czech-made ZB vz. 26 light machine gun (7.92x57mm) in a Viet Cong AA position. Many were provided from Chinese stocks. Image: Author’s collection
At that point, there were only 23,000 American servicemen in Vietnam.
The RAND Corporation think tank interviewed hundreds of Viet Cong prisoners between 1964 and 1969.
Their findings revealed the VCs increasing need for heavier weapons, particularly to counter American airpower and armored vehicles.
A French colonial holdover: A Reibel MAC mle 31 machine gun captured from the Viet Cong on the Ca Mau Peninsula during 1964. Image: Author’s collection
Helicopter rockets, on the other hand, were regarded as not very effective.
USAF bombing raids and U.S. Army helicopter gunships began to interrupt VC supply lines and strafed VC troop concentrations.
The interviews report, however, a steady increase in the availability of anti-tank weapons of Chinese origin.
In front is a belt-fed Soviet RP-46 (or Chinese Type 58,) whileRPD LMGsoccupy the background. They were captured by U.S. forces at Nui Dat. Image: NARA
The new anti-tank weapon was theSoviet-designed RPG-2(and its Chinese variant, the B40).
It was particularly effective against the aluminum alloy armor (44mm max) on the M113 armored personnel carrier.
More importantly for the VC, the RPG-7 offered a high explosive/fragmentation round, giving them effective man-portable artillery.
A Chinese Type 53 machine gun chambered in 7.62x54mmR. It was captured and displayed by the USMC during March 1966. Image: NARA
The quality of the training is good, and all indications are that it is improving.
The NVA/VC emphasize that any weapon can shoot down an aircraft if properly employed.
But the war in Southeast Asia was rooted in the deadly practical mechanics of an infantry war.
These soldiers examine a damaged RPG-7 that was captured from the VC during the Tet Offensive in February 1968. Image: NARA
U.S. helicopters, however, were quite a different story and posed a serious and immediate threat.
The VC learned that many of their infantry weapons could be used against helicopters at close ranges.
As more SKS and AK-47 rifles became available to the Viet Cong, this tactic became more effective.
The RPG-2 gave the Viet Cong a potent anti-tank weapon. The RPG-2’s HEAT round could penetrate up to 7″ of armor. Image: NARA
New and heavier weapons began to arrive in VC hands during 1966.
One particularly effective MG was the DShK 12.7mm (12.7x108mm) heavy machine gun.
This is a Soviet-designed weapon, weighing in at nearly 75 lbs.
The more potent RPG-7 fired a wide range of munitions, including a high explosive charge. This example was captured from the VC during July 1967. Image: NARA
for the gun alone.
It is not the equal of theU.S.
All indications are that they are improving.
Helicopter killer: The business end of a 12.7mm DShK HMG, captured from the Viet Cong in March 1966. Image: NARA
Squad Automatics
The Viet Cong happily accepted any light machine guns or automatic rifles into their arsenal.
Their combination of light weight and high firepower were the right mix for VC hit and run tactics.
The earliest squad automatic weapons available to the VC seemed more like pieces from a military history museum.
A captured Chinese Type 53 MG displayed with an AA ring sight. The SG-43/Type 53 gave the VC a more powerful weapon to use against U.S. helicopters. Image: NARA
TheMG34 (7.92x57mm) was a very well-made weaponoffering a high rate of fire (900 rpm).
These were often fed by a 250-round linked belt, or with the drum-like 50-round belt carrier.
French FM 24/29:The FM 24/29 was a holdover from the Vietnamese war with the French.
The 12.7x108mm DShK heavy machine gun gave Viet Cong units an effective weapon against American helicopters. Image: NARA
Chambered in 7.5x54mm French, the FM 24/29 was fed by a 25-round, top-mounted box magazine.
A handy weapon (just 20 lbs.)
ZB26:The vz.
The Discovery of a large cache of VC weapons yielded German MG34s, French FM 24/29s, and at least one U.S. M60 machine gun. Image: Author’s collection
The Czechs were also very successful in selling the vz.
26 (chambered in 7.92x57mm) in the international market, particularly in China.
Even after long service with the Chinese, many vz.
Thousands of machine guns like this German MG34 were captured by the Soviets during WWII and then provided to communist satellite nations. Image: Author’s collection
were passed on to the Viet Cong.
SG-43/SGM Goryunov Medium MG:TheSG-43was an intermediate design that leveraged a particularly dense air-cooled barrel.
Chambered in 7.62x54mmR, the SG-43 (30.4 lbs.)
AFrench FM 24/29 light machine guncaptured from VC forces during 1966. Many of these LMGs were captured from the French during the first Indo-China War. Image: NARA
was normally attached to a wheeled mount (90.3 lbs.).
While it was a reliable weapon, the great weight greatly restricted from VC offensive operations.
It provided a steady base of fire with an economical cyclic rate of 650 rounds per minute.
AnAustralian soldierdisplays an RPD LMG captured from the VC during 1968. Image: NARA
The final advance in VC offensive heavy weapons was represented in a group of unguided artillery rockets.
The rockets became a simple, easily transportable weapons for the Viet Cong.
A Soviet-made RPD or Chinese Type 56 LMG chambered in 7.62x39mm. The RPD was the standard LMG of the Viet Cong by 1968. Image: Author’s collection
The Soviet-made M-14 140mm rocket was a high explosive fragmentation weapon containing eight pounds of TNT. It was a simple weapon. Image: NARA
