How many mags did soldiers carry in Vietnam?

During the Vietnam War, Soldiers were issued a semiautomatic rifle with automatic capability and up to 20 magazines of 20 rounds each along with fragmentation and colored smoke grenades. Body armor was a newer feature, adding weight as well as protection.

Did they have 30rd mags in Vietnam?

Growing Popularity. Only around 1,000 30-round mags were deployed in Vietnam. This rusted model was used in the Invasion of Grenada in 1983. No more than about a thousand 30-round AR magazines were issued to American troops before the war ended in Vietnam.

Why is it that you will let the empty magazine drop to the ground?

Dropping the magazine “in place” may give you that “little extra time & attention” you IMMEDIATELY NEED TO, INSTEAD, PUT TOWARDS LOADING A FULL MAGAZINE INTO YOUR WEAPON. The PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES are such that TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO USE IN LOADING A FULL MAG.

Do soldiers throw empty mags?

Generally, no. Empty magazines were not something we were ‘required’ to track. However this varied from unit to unit as some types of weapon systems had more damaging or expensive ‘magazines’. For example with AT-4s we would need to turn in the expended tube to receive more.

What pistol did they use in Vietnam?

Pistols and revolvers Colt M1911A1 – standard US and ARVN sidearm. Colt Commander – used by US military officers and US Special forces. Browning Hi-Power – used by Australian and New Zealand forces (L9 pistol).

Why did they use 20-round magazines in Vietnam?

I was in the Army back in the mid-70’s, just after Vietnam. One reason for the 20-round mags was the ability to fire the rifle easier from a prone position. Firing a 30 rounder prone is harder because the longer magazine gets in the way unless you are firing from some pretty tall sandbags or something.

How many rounds is the M16 in Vietnam?

The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine. In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War….M16 rifle.

What was the main gun used in Vietnam?

The U.S.-made M-16 rifle was redesigned in 1966 to perform better in the wet, dirty conditions that prevailed in ground combat during the Vietnam War, and it became the weapon most commonly associated with U.S. troops in the conflict.

What equipment did medics use in the Vietnam War?

Like other Soldiers, however, medics would be issued a steel helmet, chemical mask, and other personal equipment. During the Vietnam War, Soldiers were issued a semiautomatic rifle with automatic capability and up to 20 magazines of 20 rounds each along with fragmentation and colored smoke grenades.

How did the Vietnam War affect photography?

While the Vietnam War raged — roughly two decades’ worth of bloody and world-changing years — compelling images made their way out of the combat zones. On television screens and magazine pages around the world, photographs told a story of a fight that only got more confusing, more devastating, as it went on.

What was it like for American soldiers returning home from Vietnam?

American soldiers returning home from Vietnam often faced scorn as the war they had fought in became increasingly unpopular. Twenty-one-year-old Steven A. Wowwk arrived as an infantryman in the Army’s First Cavalry Division in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam in early January 1969 to fight in an escalating and increasingly unwinnable war.

Why don’t we have parades for soldiers coming home from Vietnam?

“You don’t have parades for soldiers coming home from a war they lost.” Vietnam veterans hold a silent march down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House here on April 22, 1971. GI benefits were lacking. Celebrations aside, the government also failed to make good on its promises to those who served.