Description

When US combat units began arriving in Vietnam in mid-1965 they were initially based in coastal cities. Munitions and supplies were delivered by sea at ports to directly supply the newly arrived forces. It was not long before American units began to venture into the countryside to engage the VC in the areas they controlled. Many of these areas were well inland and forward bases had to be established. These bases had to be continuously supplied and required a great deal of tonnage. Supplies had to be transported overland from the coastal ports of Qui Nhon and Cam Ranh Bay at Bong Son, An Khe, Pleiku, Dalat, and Buon Ma Thuot. Later, more inland bases were established and more seaports opened. The logistical efforts expanded and it became a major effort to run convoys to these bases. Discover the history of the little-known but vitally important improvised vehicles, or 'gun trucks', that were developed in-theatre in Vietnam by the vehicle crews themselves to protect convoys from Viet Cong ambushes in this highly-detailed, fully-illustrated title from our popular New Vanguard series.

Table of Contents

Historical background and the need for gun trucks - Organization of transportation units - The Army convoy system - VC convoy ambush tactics - The 2-1/2-ton M35A2 cargo truck - The 5-ton M54 cargo trucks - Gun truck armament - Examples of gun trucks - Quad .50 machine gun trucks - Misc. gun truck vehicles - Gun truck employment and counter-ambush tactics.
Landing clearing operations - Counter-mine and mine clearance techniques - Assessment

Product details

Published Sep 20 2011
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781849083553
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Dimensions 10 x 7 inches
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 184
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Gordon L. Rottman

Gordon L. Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, vol…

Illustrator

Peter Bull

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