The exigencies of war prompt the development of new, better and more deadly weapons systems. As hostilities escalate, weaknesses in weapons system arise which accelerates the development of new technologies.
An excellent example is German tank development during World War II. The mainstay of the Reich’s tank arm in 1939 was the Panzer Kampfwagen III. The PzKW III went to war with a 37.5 millimeter main gun, narrow tracks and thin armor. The tank soldiers of the Reich achieved incredible results with the reliable PzKW III but its shortcomings were apparent when confronting on the Eastern Front the new generation of Soviet tanks, mainly the T34. These shortcomings led to the rapid development of the Panther and Tiger tanks.
U.S. weapons development also accelerated when the United States entered the World War II. Some of its weapons systems proved reliable and useful well into the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1973.
Here’s a short rundown of U.S. weapons systems that spanned the period between World War II and Vietnam:
C47
The military version of the DC3 airliner was incredibly useful during World War II as a cargo plane and paratroop carrier. It’s reliability and stability made it an excellent choice when the U.S. Air Force needed a gun platform to support U.S. Army infantry in Vietnam.
The C47’s rear cargo door was modified to hold three, .50-caliber miniguns. The C47 pilot would put Puff the Magic Dragon into a 30-degree bank and the gunner would spray a target below. The rate of fire was so rapid that the tracer rounds created a stream of red fire and the guns created an unforgettable hum as Puff slowly circled and fired giving much-needed support to infantrymen below.
A1E Skyraider
Developed for aircraft carrier warfare in World War II, the Douglas Skyraider found new life during the Vietnam War with the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. With U.S. infantry constantly probing and seeking contact with Viet Cong and PAVN forces, on the ground through South Vietnam the demand for accurate ground support from the sky was enormous.
Air Force and Navy jet aircraft were often too fast, burned too much fuel and were not stable enough for truly accurate targeting of enemy infantry. Unfortunately, the “fast movers” were responsible for some terrible friendly-fire mishaps, such as though at the Ia Drang Valley in 1965 and on Hill 875 during the fighting at Dak To in 1967.
Helicopters were modified and developed to fill the role but nothing could compare with the Skyraider’s payload and fuel efficiency, which allowed it to linger over a target area and deliver devastating loads of high explosive bombs, cannon fire, rockets and napalm. Valiant Skyraider pilots braved fierce enemy ground fire to use their multiple weapons systems in support of beleaguered U.S. infantry below, delivering punishing loads of lethal munitions. Pinpoint Skyraider napalm drops were instrumental in breaking up many enemy ground assaults.
M1 Garand
Developed to replace the excellent but aged Springfield, bolt-action rifle, the M1 is the iconic weapon of World War II U.S. infantrymen. Its internal magazine and deadly .30.06 cartridge were easily superior to any rifle either German or Japanese soldiers carried in 1942.
The M1 was made famous (along with the Thompson sub machine gun and the Browning Automatic Rifle) by U.S. infantrymen appearing in the 1960s TV show, Combat! I’ll never forget riflemen Little John and Cage blazing away with their M1s as German soldiers struggled with their bolt-action Ka98s.
Most South Vietnamese Army soldiers were equipped with the M1 during the Vietnam War. Early scenes of the ARVN in action show infantrymen sporting U.S. helmets and M1 Garands. Later as “Vietnamization” accelerated, the M1 was replaced with the M16 in ARVN units. Some would say that was a downgrade.
M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine, another World War II creation, also proved extremely useful during the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Originally designed for support troops, the M1 Carbine proved useful in its own right as an infantry weapon.
As a U.S. Navy Seabee in the Philippines during World War II my father carried an M1 Carbine for self defense against Japanese soldiers. Its light weight and short barrel made it an excellent choice for paratroops while still packing considerable .30-caliber lethality.
During the Korean War many U.S. Marines used the fully automatic version of the M1 Carbine, the M2, in vicious infantry combat against Chinese Communist soldiers. The carbine was generally acceptable but some Marines complained that its small powder charge made it less lethal at longer ranges than its big brother the M1 Garand.
In Vietnam the M1 Carbine was used often early in the war to arm South Vietnamese soldiers and regional forces working with U.S. Army Green Beret advisors. Again, its light weight and smaller cartridge made it an excellent weapon for the close-quarter combat often encountered in South Vietnam.
Military History Topics 