Walker Bulldog vs T-54 by Chris McNab

Author:Chris McNab
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472836113
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2019-02-25T16:00:00+00:00

ARVN

Understanding the ARVN soldier as a military professional is inseparable from the relationship between South Vietnam and its sponsor, supporter, and co-combatant, the United States. Between 1957 and 1959, 16 US Army advisors were attached as armor advisors to the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam (MAAGV). General Donn A. Starry, a former armor commander and advisor in Vietnam, noted that despite the operational experience mechanized units were gaining, the contribution armor was making was largely ignored by the US military as whole, and thereby neglected. Yet from 1962, and the formation of MACV, the way in which ARVN forces developed, including the armor units, was inextricably linked to US doctrine and advisors, who increased in number and quality. Each ARVN armor unit received a small advisory detachment.

The job of the advisors was often a trying one, as they attempted to surmount cultural, linguistic, and political barriers, while also struggling to represent their role to higher US military authorities, which could be disdainful of ARVN efforts. Yet most advisors grew to respect the ARVN armor crews, and developed meaningful dialogues with them. Starry makes an important point about the general impression the ARVN armor crews made on the US advisors:

Most armor advisers were impressed by the technical proficiency of their Vietnamese units. In the maintenance of weapons and equipment, the Vietnamese armor crewman was outstanding; his innovations often extended to making repairs with chewing gum, bailing wire, and even banana stalks. In tactics and the coordination of fire support, South Vietnamese armored units had much to learn in the early years from American advisers. The exchange of information between adviser and unit gave a better understanding of Vietnam’s particular problems and was indirectly useful in helping to prepare American units for service in Vietnam. (Starry 1978: 21)

M41A3 TURRET

1. 76mm M32A1 rifled cannon

2. 76mm M32A1 breechblock

3. M97 telescopic sight

4. Gunner’s M20A1 telescopic sight

5. Gunner’s power-traversing control handwheel

6. Commander’s M20A1 telescopic sight

7. Turret control box

8. Commander’s power control handle

9. Forward 76mm ammunition rack

10. Gunner’s seat

11. M31 azimuth indicator

12. Gunner’s C375 VRC control box

13. Gunner’s traversing hand drive handle

14. Gunner’s elevation handwheel

15. Commander’s seat

16. Breechblock shields

17. Loader’s seat

18. Breech operating lever

19. 76mm ammunition ready racks

20. Loader’s C375 VRC control box

21. Loader’s safety switch

22. Loader’s M17 periscope

23. 30-caliber coaxial machine gun

24. Driver’s seat

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