What tanks were used in Vietnam?

Answer 1

1. US Armored Cav squadrons used the M551 Sheridan tank. 2. US Armor Battalions used the M48A3 Patton medium tank. 3. US Marine Tank battalions used the M48A3 Patton medium tank. 4. ARVN regiments used the M41 Walker Bulldog Light tank. 5. Australians (1st Armored Regiment) used the Centurion medium tank. 6. NVA used T-54/55 medium tanks & PT-76 Light tanks. Other Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) used were: A. M-42 Duster, twin 40mm guns. B. M-50 Ontos, multible 106mm Recoilless Rifles. C. M-113 APC/ACAV (Armored Personnel Carrier/Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle); one .50 caliber machinegun and two side mounted M60 machineguns. D. V-100 Armored Car, twin machineguns. E. USMC Amphibious tractors (AMTRACS).

Answer 2

The primary US tank in use in Vietnam was the M48 or "Patton". The M-60 (it is an upgraded Patton, 105 mm gun not the 90mm, no blast deflector on the end of the tube) the M-551 Sheridan (not a true tank but had a main gun of something like a 120mm) also around were the M-42 Duster (designed for anti-aircraft with twin 40mm cannons) There were also scout and APC vehicles the M-114 and the M-113. The M551 Sheridan was a light recon tank. High speed. 152mm gun with the ability to fire a missile out of the tube. One battalion was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division to give them some antiarmor capability. From the stories I've read, there were never enough tanks. The USMC, with the Navy controlling their equipment MTO&E, decided they didn't need them. The USMC took to taking an M114 low slung APC and mounting 4 106mm recoiless rifles on the outside. Four shots and then retreat. The vietcong didn't use tanks or APCs. The North Vietnamese waited until the US was almost withdrawn before committing any numbers of tanks. They thought we were gone in 1972 and tried to invade behind 600 T54s, T55s, T34s, etc. We carpet bombed them and they waited three more years. Prior to and during this period (1969-1975) the NVA used small numbers of PT76 tanks to attack isolated camps (think Long Vei). In 1975, the NVa advanced slowly, used their 130mm howitzers to bomb the South Vietnamese (who freaked under artillery bombardment) at longer distances, and there were many cases of 5th columnists coming out of the shadows and betraying vietnamese army units. The conscript army collapsed. At An Loc though, the bad-mouth 18th ARVN division, armed with M72 LAWs and supported by TOW firing helicopters, stopped the NVA attack for 2-3 weeks. Knocked out some 60 tanks.

Answer 3

The Australians had at least a Squadron of "Centurion" (50 tons) tanks in South Vietnam; plus numerous (US) M-113's. However, the Australians put some turrets on some of their M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC's/ACAV's). Not little 1/4" thick steel shields like on our APC's/ACAV's; but full turrets, armed with possibly a 20mm or 37mm cannon.

Addendum: the turrets were ex-Saladin armoured car - 76 mm gun.

Answer 4

The US Army & US Air Force did NOT want to fight a war in Vietnam. They wanted to fight a war in Europe. That is what the Air Force's supersonic fighters & fighter bombers were designed, built and purchased for; and that is what the US Army's Main Battle Tanks were designed, built, and bought for; Fighting against the "Warsaw Pact" in EUROPE!

The US Marine Corps and US Navy didn't mind fighting in Vietnam; they are used to fighting anywhere & they patrolled the pacific anyway; besides, the Marine Corps has traditionally received "Second Hand" equipment from the US Army, so the Marine's hadn't any NEW Hi-Tech tanks or other equipment to justify it's necessity to fight in any particular special place. For the marines...it was simply, "just say where and when, and we'll do it!" And the US Navy would simply transport & provide naval gunfire support; just give the word!

The US Army wanted to save their tanks; for fighting in Europe, and so stated, "that Vietnam's ground is too soft for tanks anyway..."

In 1965 President Johnson sent in the US Marines; when they landed, the news media took pictures of it, and the Politicians in Washington were aghast when they saw photos of US "TANKS" coming ashore in Vietnam. Tanks represent war, and the politicians didn't want to send the wrong messege to the Communist Super Powers. Politicians, as a rule, are not usually very knowledgable amount military affairs. When they get into "hot spot" troubles, they call the military (Generals); and (normally) leave all the details to them.

Politicians did NOT know that when US Marines go some place they (almost) ALWAYS go "combined arms." When marines land, they bring ALL of their weapons with them. Air, Sea, and Land; like their song says, "They will fight their country's battles, on the sea, land and air." Well, when they landed, THEY HAD THEIR TANKS WITH THEM! So, the politicians turned to the army and said, "...I thought you said Vietnam was not tank country?" And the US Army said, "...O---K, we'll send some tanks (but we'll send our older ones, NOT THE NEW ONES-the M-60 Pattons)." So the US Army sent three Armor Battalions to Vietnam; the 1/69th, the 1/77th, and the 2/34 Armor. And each US Armored Cavalry Squadron and one full regiment (the 11th ACR) had M-48A3 Patton tanks. Until 1969, then the Armored Cavalry Squadrons & 11th ACR traded in their Patton's or M-551 Sheridan Tanks.

Tanks worked Excellent! They provided direct fire for the infantry, bullets bounced right off of them; and they survived land mines better than any other war machine built by mankind. And contrary to any "rumors" spread about by historians, Vietnam is just like many other places on earth; It's not ALL wetlands. It's just like parts of California (and California does have swamps & rice fields in the Sacramento Valley).

Answer 5

NVA Armored Regiments in the Vietnam War used the Soviet/Chicom (Chinese Communist) supplied T-54/T-55 (Chicom version T-59) medium gun tanks (100mm main guns) and the PT76 amphibious light tanks (Chicom version T-63). Those machines were used to over-run allied units in tank-infantry attacks.

Allied tanks were the Australian Centurions (84mm main gun), ARVN M41 Walker Bulldog light tanks (76mm main gun) and the US Patton 90mm medium gun tank and the M551 Sheridan light tank (officially designated the Armored Airborne Reconnnaissance Assault Vehicle). Allied tanks were used to support infantry on RIF's (Reconniassance In Force) and sweeps (pushing thru jungle in search of the enemy). They were also used to conduct "Thunder-runs" down dirt roads or paved highways to clear them of enemy mines and ambushes.

Thunder runs were as the name applies, firing all tank guns while moving down the road. Firing ceased when the road ended or the tank ran low on ammo. Another duty for "Strong Point" duty. An extremely boring job of parking your tank off the road and sitting there for 8 hours a day, returning to your firebase when darkness approached. When morning came, you headed back out to your designated "SP" (Strong Point) for another long day. Mission- make sure the highway wasn't ambushed by the NVA/VC.

During certain night times or day times, tanks would sometimes "circle the wagons" (make a circle with all guns pointing outward) and commence a "mad minute". All guns (main gun, .50 calibre, 7.62mm coax) firing as fast as possible for 60 seconds. Next morning, or when daylight came or when necessary or practicle, the outside perimeter was searched for bodies (dead enemy).

Answer 6

The South Vietnamese Army (ARVNs) used the US WWII M24 Chaffee light tank which they inherited from the departing French. For a short time, the old WWII Japanese Type 95 light tank was also available for limited use; again, left over from when the Japanese departed the country.

By about 1965, the US Army replaced the M24 Chaffee light tank with the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank. The ARVNs really did like this tank! It was roomy, fast, dependable, easy maintenance, and had a high velocity main gun (76mm).

The NVA used the Soviet/Chinese Communist T54/T-55/T59 medium gun tanks (100mm) and the PT-76 Amphibious light tank. The "P" stood for a Russian word meaning sea or ocean, the "T" stood for tank, and the 76 was the caliber of the main gun. The NVA had three regiments of armor when the US was still there.

The US Marine Corps & US Army used the M48A3 Patton 90mm gun tank. The "A3" was simply a diesel engined Patton. In January 1969, the brand new aluminum hulled M551 Sheridan tank was fielded in Vietnam; it went to all US Armored Cavalry squadrons (plus individual Troops and one Regiment-11th ACR Blackhorse). In 1969, the official name of the Sheridan was "Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Assault Vehicle." It was OFFICIALLY not a tank.

The Australians sent a regiment of their Centurion medium gun tanks to Vietnam. They were the only allied tanks that were NOT American. The Centurions had gasoline engines (not good), an extra 100 gallon fuel tank attached to it's stern (rear end), bogie wheel suspension (probably not as good as the Patton's torsion bar suspension), it had TWO coax machine guns; one .50 and one .30 caliber. Apparently, the .50 was designed for ranging the main gun (Patton's used coincidence range finders...no lasers back then). The British use the "pound system", therefore the Centurion had a 20 pounder main gun (84mm). The Australians loved their Centurions...Yanks loved their Pattons!

Answer 7

The primary US tank in use in Vietnam was the M48 or "Patton".

The M-60 (it is an upgraded Patton, 105 mm gun not the 90mm, no blast deflector on the end of the tube) the M-551 Sheridan (not a true tank but had a main gun of something like a 120mm) also around were the M-42 Duster (designed for anti-aircraft wit.