Vietnam Gun Trucks

NEW VANGUARD Series, book No 184: Vietnam Gun Trucks

While Vietnam is usually perceived as an infantry war, with US forces deploying by helicopter, the long supply lines that led to their inland bases had to be traveled by ground vehicles. The 8th and 48th Transportation Groups were responsible for hauling supplies through the long, dangerous roads of Vietnam, and they often found themselves the target of ambushes, attacks, and sniping. In response to this, vehicle crews began to arm trucks with machine guns and armour them with sandbags. While these proved less than ideal, the concept was considered valid, and more and more “gun trucks” appeared, sporting heavier weapons and armor. Written by a Vietnam veteran, this book traces the development of these gun trucks from the jury-rigged originals to the powerful armoured vehicles that appeared later in the war.

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

Author: Gordon L. Rottman

Illustrated by: Peter Bull

Publisher: Osprey Publishing

Description: 48 pages, Paperback, 248 X 184 mm. 

Condition: NEW COPY

Shipping weight: 330 gr.