April 18th, 2023
8minute read
We welcome Capt.
Dale Dye, U.S.M.C.
(ret) to TheArmoryLife.com.
M67 “Zippo” flame tanks of the U.S.M.C. 1st Tank Battalion engage the enemy during Operation Doser near Binh Son in the Quang Ngai Province. Image: NARA
His article today talks about the use of tanks in the Vietnam War by the United States Marine Corps.
Tanks and other armored vehicles were used more in Vietnam than many people realize, and Capt.
Dye relates first-hand observations of them in combat.
A U.S. Marine scans the street for enemy snipers during the Battle of Hue City on February 3, 1968. Backing him up is an M48 Patton tank. Image: U.S.M.C.
We were both headed for Vietnam, so those things were important to us.
We might both get blown away, but status while doing so was a greater concern.
What good would big tanks and other armored vehicles be in that kind of fight?
Marines in an M67 Zippo flame tank could dislodge stubborn enemy positions, as shown in this demonstration for U.S. Navy personnel in 1970. Image: U.S. Navy
At this point, I drastically revised my arguments about tankers and close combat.
Marine tanks were all variants of thePatton design designated M48A3.
heavy machinegun either in a cupola atop the turret or hard-mounted pintle on the turret roof.
Leathernecks of 1st Platoon, G Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Marines move up to assault enemy positions during Operation Allen Brook near Da Nang, Vietnam. Image: Cpl.R. J. Del Vecchio/U.S.M.C.
They had shock-effect and firepower, but mobility was a drawback in heavily jungled areas.
And then came Tet 68 and the bloody battle in Hue City.
None of those concerns held up when the defecation hit the oscillation in Hue.
U.S. Marines riding atop an M48 tank cover their ears as the 90mm gun fires during a road sweep southwest of Phu Bai on April 3, 1968. Image: NARA
The NVA trooper hung like a scarecrow that had been dive-bombed to death by swarms of lethal wasps.
Hue was also my first opportunity to see the Marine Corps M50 Ontos in action.
No warning was given about the horrendous backblast and none was needed.
U.S. Marines use an M48 tank as cover as they advance during street fighting in Hue in February 1968. Image: Staff Sgt.Jack L. Harlan/U.S.M.C.
Conclusion
For the most part, the NVA didnt employ much armor during the fight in Vietnam.
But our armor undoubtedly worried them.
Shown is an M42 Duster in a prepared defensive position at Khe Sahn on 8 April 1967. These armored vehicles were armed with twin 40mm guns. Image: U.S.M.C.
AU.S. M42 Dustersupports the 1st Australian Task Force in May 1968.Australian troops battled NVA and VC troopsfor nearly a month during the Battle of Coral. Image: AustralianWar Museum/CC BY-NC 3.0 AU
A U.S. Marine Corps flame tank burns out a VC position while on Operation Elliot on July 7, 1967. Image: NARA
This M50 Ontos and its two Marine crew move forward during Operation Franklin. The Ontos accompanied 1st and 2d Battalion, 7th Marines in the Quang Ngai Province in June of 1966. Image: U.S.M.C.
Marines patrol in the Quang Tin Province of Vietnam during Operation Iowa in April of 1966. Image: U.S.M.C.
During a break in the fighting in Hue City on February 23, 1968, this Marine catches a few minutes of sleep on top of his M50 Ontos. Image: Lance Cpl.D. M. Messenger/U.S.M.C.
