Vietnam Gun Trucks

by Gordon L. Rottman, Peter Bull (Illustrator)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849089449
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	09/20/2011
Series:	New Vanguard , #184
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	651,971
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Gordon L. Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969–70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. He was a Special Operations Forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas.
Gordon L. Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969–70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments before retiring after 26 years. He was a Special Operations Forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas.

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

Editorial Reviews

...provides a good overview of an important innovation developed during the Vietnam War. I highly recommend it for both its narrative and for the large variety of the clear photographs and excellent illustrations.” —Jeff Leiby, IPMS/USA

From the Publisher