Full Metal Jacket (1987)

 By far, one of the more intersting Vietnam War films. Stanley Kubrick produced and directed this film, focusing on how the United States Marine Corps go through basic training.

I picked up a DVD copy at a used shop for only 750 yen.

I have since ordered a second copy which is formatted for Canadian DVD players.

An Loc April- July 1972

 ARVN try to keep the NVA at bay, 

This was one of the last ARVN victories before the final invasion of 1975.

Lam Son 719

 February-April 1971

ARVN units begin operating in Laos 🇱🇦 

Largest use of ARVN armour to date.

This will include M48s, M41s, M24s M113s

PAVN armor consists of PT-76, T-34/85, T-55

So far, I have an ARVN Weapons support platoon done up. My PAVN force still needs work.

Tet Offensive, South Vietnam 1968

 I'm going to be working on scenarios for Vietnam with this campaign in mind. I have the figure, and equipment. I will be using Battlefront Minatures NAM rules and cards, but will be using most of my 1/72 figures and kits.

Stay tuned

above shot is representitive of the 40,000 Canadian men who went to volunteer with US forces in South East Asia

Vietnam 1967: ARVN Marines and Airborne take on an NVA jungle bunkers

 

ARVN Airborne and Marine brigade with helicopter and Skyraider support 

The ARVN unit advanced through the jungle, knowing that the NVA had a bunker complex, camp in the area. What they were unaware of was the mortar that the NVA possessed.

The first mortar barrage took put a quarter of the force, the second continued to chop them up as did the bunker with a LMG. 

The first line of NVA added to the carnage. Eventually with a Skyraider support, the ARVN was able to land choppers to withdrawl the rest. The Communists held onto their positions.

NVA Bunkers with 3 infantry companies

People's Army of Vietnam 1963-75

 Since about 1986 when I first got a set of the Esci Vietnamese, I have been using them on the table top but didn't have a good rule set. I was able to get the cards about a year ago but still haven't been able to get them out yet.

This unit is actually a mix of Chinese and North Korean troops but can be used as early NVA. 

This unit is made up of 4 Rifle teams, which in this case are a mix of Mosinant Naigant, SKS Carbines, Ppsh SMGs, there is an LMG fellow with the record player drum magazine but he seems to be in another box.

The next company has 3 Ak-47 rifle teams, 1LMG and a B40 Anti-tank team. The majority of my force is made up as these but are also painted in generic shades in order to be used in so called Third World countries during the Cold war period.

In the coming while I will post about the VC and other units for my force 

Source book Battles of Vietnam

 

Good pictorial book on the conflict, balanced on Nations covered, not just America.

Ive used the battles in this book as the basis of several scenarios I will play once the NAM series from Battlefront Minatures comes back online.

Source books: The Vietnam experience

 I got a new used series free from a local museum that couldn't sell it.

Despite the price tags, I got them free

And another bonus I found. Including the Australians at Long Tan in 1966

Long Tan Phoc Tuy South Vietnam 1966

6RAR attempts to stop NVA 275 Regiment

C Company 6RAR probe forward looking for the baseplates of the VC mortars.

the NVA/VC deploy into the rubber plantation

the Vietnamese forces reinforcement

the units coming in from the base at Nui Dat

Ian is the NVA commander while I'm the Australian

I lost again so I comsoldc myself with a Vietnamese stir-fry

NVA and VC forces 1963-80

VC with newly painted rice straw hats

Mixed uniforms

In black

Several NVA companies

Incoming! NVA take on a US Army base camp 1967

 Ian has really gotten interested in the Vietnam conflict with our figures. Tonight, on one of my few Saturday nights off, he decided to set up an NVA attack on an American camp

The American Lt. has set up his HQ in the local village headmans house.

The camp is being established as a Firebase, the infantry are occupying the area to prepare for the artillery

But the local NVA/VC units have other ideas for the area. They strike while the Americans are without their guns. Already, the main bunker has fallen to RPG fire.

Some Hue action,

 images from the history of Vietnam war (Kamps, 1988, pg 105) 

NVA and VC units are holding a neighborhood of Hue.

A battalion of US Marines have been tasked with trying to retake the area

A company with M60 support begins to move forward

however, the NVA/VC were well dug in and had fortified their positions. With too much heavy fire coming down, the Marines were pinned down, and having lost their radioman, were unable to call in airstrikes or artillery. Eventually, the Marines were forced to withdrawl, without having been able to inflict too many casualties on the Vietnamese, however, they in turn hit the Marines hard. Next time, they will assault with tanks.

Logistics support for my NATO

A good friend of mine gave me about 20 of these. I plan on painting them up for my Cold War armies which used them.
For my games, I will paint them for my armies of:
Canada:

Outside a cabin in Northern Norway perhaps? For my Canadian forces, I shall be painting up at least three as support to my RCHA and RCA batteries plus 33rd Service Battalion which is what LFAA now 5th Canadian Division. 

Denmark:
Italy:
Spain:
British Army: Specifically I will attach one to the heavy gun battery I have with the 175mm gun

Birthday wishes or Christmas presents

Two months to my birthday and I want to see if  can get into Cold War gaming on a limited scale over here. I'll be looking into getting plastic 1/72 figures as well as from Elheim Minatures in the UK. With my impending move back to Canada, I will continuing my war gaming back home!

 This looks tempting! 

 This is the main rule book I will purchase as my previous rule set I had was eaten by mice while in storage.

(All artwork from Osprey Publishing)

Osprey Publishing - Rolling Thunder in a Gentle Land

Osprey Publishing Rolling Thunder in a Gentle Land

 Not sure if I blogged about this book. My Dad got it for me in a book sale a ways back. A good balanced read about this conflict.

I still haven't gotten a picture done up of my copy but I should be able to find eventually