Weapons of the Vietnam War

Vietnam era rifles used by the US military and allies

This article is about the weapons used in the Vietnam War, which involved the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) or North Vietnamese Army (NVA), National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (NLF) or Viet Cong (VC), and the armed forces of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), United States, Republic of Korea, Philippines, Thailand, and the Australian, New Zealand defence forces, and a variety of irregular troops.

Nearly all United States-allied forces were armed with U.S. weapons including the M1 Garand, M1 carbine, M-14 and M-16. The Australian and New Zealand forces employed the 7.62 mm L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle as their service rifle, with the occasional US M16.

The PAVN, although having inherited a variety of American, French, and Japanese weapons from World War II and the First Indochina War (aka French Indochina War), were largely armed and supplied by the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and its Warsaw Pact allies. In addition, some weapons—notably anti-personnel explosives, the K-50M (a PPSh-41 copy), and "home-made" versions of the RPG-2—were manufactured in North Vietnam. By 1969 the US Army had identified 40 rifle/carbine types, 22 machine gun types, 17 types of mortar, 20 recoilless rifle or rocket launcher types, 9 types of antitank weapons, and 14 anti-aircraft artillery weapons used by ground troops on all sides. Also in use, primarily by anti-communist forces, were the 24 types of armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery, and 26 types of field artillery & rocket launchers.

Communist forces and weapons

Captured PAVN weapons

Communist forces were principally armed with Chinese and Soviet weaponry though some VC guerrilla units were equipped with Western infantry weapons either captured from French stocks during the first Indochina war, such as the MAT-49, or from ARVN units or requisitioned through illicit purchase.

US weapons

The American M16 rifle, which replaced the M14, was lighter and considered more accurate than the AK-47 but was prone to malfunction. Often the gun suffered from a type II malfunction known as failure to extract or "brass low", which meant that a spent cartridge case remained lodged in the chamber after a bullet flew out the muzzle. According to a congressional report, the malfunction was caused by a change of gunpowder in the ammunition, which was done without adequate testing and by a money saving policy, headed by Pat McNamara, to not issue adequate cleaning kits to soldiers. This led to a myth of a self cleaning gun. These decisions were made without regard to the safety of soldiers and resulted in many deaths.

The heavily armored, 90 mm gun M48A3 'Patton' tank saw extensive action during the Vietnam War and over 600 were deployed with U.S. forces. They played an important role in infantry support though there were few tank versus tank battles. The M67A1 flamethrower tank (nicknamed the Zippo) was an M48 variant used in Vietnam. Artillery was used extensively by both sides but the Americans were able to ferry the lightweight 105 mm M102 howitzer by helicopter to remote locations on quick notice.^[1]^[2] With its 17-mile (27 km) range, the Soviet 130 mm M-46 towed field gun was a highly regarded weapon and used to good effect by the PAVN. It was countered by the long-range, American 175 mm M107 Self-Propelled Gun.^[3]

The United States had air superiority though many aircraft were lost to surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery. U.S. airpower was credited with breaking the siege of Khe Sanh and blunting the 1972 Easter Offensive against South Vietnam. At sea, the U.S. Navy had the run of the coastline, using aircraft carriers as platforms for offshore strikes and other naval vessels for offshore artillery support. Offshore naval fire played a pivotal role in the Battle of Huế in February 1968, providing accurate fire in support of the U.S. counter-offensive to retake the city.^[4]

The Vietnam War was the first conflict that saw wide scale tactical deployment of helicopters.^[5] The Bell UH-1 Iroquois nicknamed "Huey" was used extensively in counter-guerilla operations both as a troop carrier and a gunship.^[2] In the latter role it was outfitted with a variety of armaments including M60 machine guns, multi-barreled 7.62 mm Miniguns and unguided air-to-surface rockets.^[2] The Hueys were also successfully used in MEDEVAC and search and rescue roles.^[2]

Weapons of the ARVN, U.S., South Korean, Australian, and New Zealand Forces

Hand combat weapons

The KA-BAR knife was the most famous edged weapon of the war.

M1917 bayonet - used on various shotguns.
M1 Bayonet - used on the M1 Garand.
M4 bayonet - used on the M1 and M2 Carbine.
M5 bayonet - used on the M1 Garand.
M6 bayonet - used on the M14.
M7 Bayonet - used on the M16.
Ka-Bar Utility/fighting Knife - used by the US Navy and Marine Corps.
Gerber Mark II U.S. Armed Forces

Pistols and revolvers

Colt M1911A1 – standard US and ARVN sidearm.
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless – carried by US military officers. Replaced by the Colt Commander in the mid-1960s
Colt Commander – replaced the Colt M1903 as an officer's sidearm in the mid-1960s.
Browning Hi-Power – used by Australian and New Zealand forces. Also used on an unofficial basis by US reconnaissance and Special Forces units.
Ingram MAC-10 – automatic pistol used by US special operations forces.^[6]
M1917 revolver – .45 ACP revolver used by the South Vietnamese and US forces during the beginning of the war alongside the Smith & Wesson Model 10. Used rather prominently by Tunnel Rats units.
Smith & Wesson Model 10 – .38 Special revolver used concurrently with Colt and S&W M1917 revolvers.
Smith & Wesson Model 12 – .38 Special revolver carried by US Army and USAF pilots.
Smith & Wesson Model 15 – .38 Special revolver carried by USAF Security Police Units.
Smith & Wesson Model 27 – .357 Magnum revolver carried by MACVSOG.
Smith & Wesson Mark 22 Mod.0 "Hush Puppy" – Suppressed pistol used by US Navy SEALs and other U.S. special operations forces.^[6]
High Standard HDM – Integrally suppressed .22LR handgun, supplemented by the Mark 22 Mod 0 in the later stages of the war.^[6]

Infantry rifles

Vietnamese Rangers with M16 rifles in Saigon during the Tết Offensive

L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle – used by Australian and New Zealand soldiers in Vietnam

A U.S. soldier with an M14 watches as supplies are dropped in Vietnam, 1967.

M1 Garand – used by the South Vietnamese, South Koreans and Laotians. Limited numbers were carried by early U.S. advisors and USMC troops.
M1, M1A1, & M2 Carbine – used by the South Vietnamese Military, Police and Security Forces, U.S. military, and Laotians supplied by the U.S.

South Vietnamese Popular Force militiawomen with M1 carbines

M14 rifle - issued to most U.S. troops from the early stages of the war until 1967-68, when it was replaced by the M16.^[7]
M16, XM16E1, and M16A1 – M16 was issued in 1963, but due to reliability issues, it was replaced by the M16A1 in 1967 which added the forward assist and chrome-lined barrel to the rifle for increased reliability.^[8]
CAR-15 – carbine variant of the M16 produced in very limited numbers, fielded by special operations early on. Later supplemented by the improved XM177.
XM177 (Colt Commando)/GAU-5 – further development of the CAR-15, used heavily by MACV-SOG, the US Air Force, and US Army.^[6]
Stoner 63 – used by US Navy SEALs and USMC.^[6]
Heckler & Koch G3 – used by Thai forces
Heckler & Koch HK33 – used by Thai forces that were not armed by the United States. It was chambered for the same cartridge as the M16
- T223 – a copy of the Heckler & Koch HK33 built under license by Harrington & Richardson used in small numbers by SEAL teams. Even though the empty H&R T223 was 0.9 pounds (0.41 kg) heavier than an empty M16A1, the weapon had a forty-round magazine available for it and this made it attractive to the SEALS.^[6]
M1917 Enfield
Type 56 Captured rifles were used by South Vietnamese and U.S forces.

Sniper/marksman rifles

M1C/D Garand – Approximately 520 were supplied to the ARVN by the United States.
M1903A4 Springfield – used by the USMC early in the war, replaced by the M40.
Winchester Model 70 – used by the USMC and on a much more limited basis by the US Army.
M21 Sniper Weapon System – sniper variant of the M14 rifle used by the US Army.
M40 – bolt-action sniper rifle meant to replace the M1903A4 Springfield rifle and Winchester Model 70; used by the USMC and ARVN.

Submachine guns

Thompson submachine gun – used often by South Vietnamese troops, and in small quantities by US artillery and helicopter units.
M3 Grease gun – standard U.S. military submachinegun, also used by the South Vietnamese^[6]
Carl Gustav M/45 – used by Navy SEALs in the beginning of the war, but later replaced by the Smith & Wesson M76 in the late 1960s. Significant numbers were also utilized by the South Vietnamese,^[6] and limited numbers were used in Laos by advisors, and Laotian fighters.
Smith & Wesson M76 – copy of the Carl Gustav M/45, replacing it in 1967.^[6]
Madsen M-50 – used by South Vietnamese forces, supplied from Denmark.^[6]
Owen Gun – standard Australian submachine-gun in the early stages of the war, later replaced by the F1.
F1 submachine gun – replaced the Owen Gun in Australian service.
Sterling submachine gun – used by Australian Special Air Service Regiment and other special operations units.
Sten submachine gun – used by US special operations forces, often with a suppressor mounted.
Uzi – used by special operations forces, supplied from Israel.
Beretta M12 – limited numbers were used by U.S. Embassy security units.^[9]
MAT-49 submachine gun – captured models were used in limited numbers^[6]
M50/55 Reising – limited numbers were used by MACVSOG and other irregular forces.^[6]

Shotguns

Ithaca 37

Shotguns were used as an individual weapon during jungle patrol; infantry units were authorized a shotgun by TO&E (Table of Organization & Equipment). Shotguns were not general issue to all infantrymen, but were select issue weapons, such as one per squad, etc.

Browning Auto-5 - semi-automatic shotgun used by ARVN forces
Ithaca 37 – pump-action shotgun used by the United States and ARVN.^[6]
Remington Model 870 – pump-action shotgun primary shotgun used by Marines after 1966.^[6]
Remington 7188 – experimental select fire shotgun, withdrawn due to lack of reliability.Used by US Navy SEALs^[6]
Special Operations Weapon - A modification for a Remington 1100 which made it fully automatic.
Winchester Model 21 - used by ARVN forces.
Winchester Model 1200 – pump-action shotgun used by the US Army.
Winchester Model 1897 – used by the Marines during the early stages of the war, but later replaced by the Remington Model 870.
Stevens Model 77E – pump-action shotgun used by Army and Marine forces. Almost 70,000 Model 77Es were procured by the military for use in SE Asia during the 1960s. Also very popular with the ARVN because of its small size.
[[Stevens Model 520/620|

Machine guns

M60 machine gun – standard General-purpose machine gun for US, ANZAC, and ARVN forces throughout the war.^[6]

US Marine fires his M60 machine gun at an enemy position during the Battle of Huế.

Colt Machine Gun – experimental light machine gun deployed by SEAL Team 2 in 1970.^[6]
M1918A2 – used by the ARVN during the early stages of the war, as well as many that were airdropped into Laos and used by Laotian fighters.
Stoner M63A Commando & Mark 23 Mod.0 – used by Navy SEALs and tested by Force Recon.^[6]
Heckler & Koch HK21 – used by Thai forces.
M1917 Browning machine gun – .30cal heavy machine gun issued to the ARVN and also in limited use by the U.S. Army.
M1919 Browning machine gun – vehicle and helicopter mounted machine gun. Also fitted to Australian M113 Light Reconnaissance Vehicles.^[6] Meanwhile, still of use by many South Vietnamese and Laotion infantry forces.
Browning M2HB .50cal Heavy Machine Gun^[6]
Stoner 63

Grenades and mines

Claymore anti-personnel mine in use in Vietnam

Mark 2 fragmentation grenade
M26 fragmentation grenade and many subvariants
M67 fragmentation grenade
Mills Bomb - Used by ANZAC forces.
M6/M7-series riot control grenades - Used to clear NVA/VC out of caves, tunnels and buildings.^[10]
AN/M14 TH3 thermate grenade - Incendiary grenade used to destroy equipment and as a fire-starting device.
M15 and M34 smoke grenades - filled with white phosphorus, which ignites on contact with air and creates thick white smoke. Used for signalling and screening purposes, as well as an anti-personnel weapon in enclosed spaces, as the burning white phosphorus would rapidly consume any oxygen, suffocating the victims.
M18 grenade Smoke Hand Grenade - Signaling/screening grenade available in red, yellow, green, and purple.
XM58 riot control grenade - A miniature riot control grenade used by MACVSOG and Navy SEALs.^[11]
M14 mine - anti-personnel blast mine
M16 mine - bounding anti-personnel fragmentation mine
M18/M18A1 Claymore - command-detonated directional anti-personnel mine

Grenade and Rocket Launchers

M1/M2 rifle grenade adapters - used to convert a standard fragmentation grenade (M1) or smoke grenade (M2) into a rifle grenade in conjunction with the M7 grenade launcher.
M7 grenade launcher - rifle grenade launcher used with the M1 Garand, used by the South Vietnamese soldiers. Could fire the M9A1 HEAT, M22 smoke, and M31 HEAT rifle grenades.
M31 HEAT rifle grenade – Used primarily by the U.S. Army before the introduction of the M72 LAW. Fired from the M1 Garand and M14 Rifle.
M79 Grenade Launcher - primary U.S. grenade launcher used by all branches of the US military, as well as ANZAC forces and the ARVN.^[6]
China Lake Grenade Launcher - pump action weapon used in very small numbers.^[6]
XM148 - experimental underbarrel 40mm grenade launcher that could be attached to the M16 rifle or XM177 carbine. Withdrawn due to safety reasons.^[6]
M203 grenade launcher - single-shot 40mm underslung grenade launcher designed to attach to a M16 rifle (or XM177 carbine, with modifications to the launcher). First tested in combat April 1969.^[6]
Mark 18 Mod 0 grenade launcher - Hand-cranked, belt-fed, 40x46mm grenade launcher used by the US Navy.^[12]
Mark 19 grenade launcher - Automatic, belt-fed, 46x53mm grenade launcher.^[13]
Mk 20 Mod 0 grenade launcher - Automatic, belt-fed, 40x46mm grenade launcher. Primarily used by riverine crews but also used by Air Force Special Operations.^[13]
XM174 grenade launcher - Automatic, belt-fed, 40x46mm grenade launcher used mainly by the US Air Force.
Bazooka - The M1A1, M9, and M9A1 variants were used by the ARVN until the late 1960s, while the M20 "Super Bazooka" was used by the USMC until the introduction of the M72 LAW.
M72 LAW – 66mm anti-tank rocket launcher.
XM191 - experimental four-shot 66mm incendiary rocket launcher.
FIM-43 Redeye MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defence System) – shoulder-fired heat-seeking anti-air missile, used by the US Army and USMC.

Flamethrowers

M2A1-7 and M9A1-7 flamethrowers

Infantry support weapons

A US soldier carries an M67 recoilless rifle past a burning Viet Cong base camp in Mỹ Tho, South Vietnam, 1968

M18 recoilless rifle - 57mm shoulder-fired/tripod mounted recoilless rifle, used by the ARVN early in the war.
M20 recoilless rifle - 75mm tripod/vehicle-mounted recoilless rifle, used by US and ARVN forces early in the war.
M67 recoilless rifle - 90mm shoulder-fired anti-tank recoilless rifle, used by the US Army and Marine Corps.
M40 recoilless rifle 106mm tripod/vehicle-mounted recoilless rifle.
M2 mortar - 60mm mortar, used in conjunction with the lighter but less accurate and lower-range M19 mortar.
M19 mortar - 60mm mortar, used in conjunction with the older, heavier M2 mortar.
M29 mortar - 81mm mortar, used by US and ARVn forces.
M30 mortar 107mm mortar (Often referred to as the "four deuce", in reference to its 4.2-inch diameter.)

Optics

Colt Scope - Colt-manufactured 3x-magnification scope mounted on the carrying handle of the M16 and CAR-15 family.
Adjustable Ranging Telescope - a 3-9x adjustable magnification scope that served as the primary optic of the XM21 sniper rifle. Also mounted on the Model 655 and 656 sniper variants of the M16.
M82/M84 - 2.2x-magnification scope used on the M1C and M1D Garand sniper rifles.
Weaver Model 330/330C - 2.75x-magnification scope used on the M1903A4 sniper rifle. Also designated as the M73/M73B1 scopes.
Redfield Accurange - Redfield-manufactured 3-9x adjustable magnification scope that served as the primary optic of the M40 sniper rifle.
Unertl 10x - Unertl-manufactured 10x-magnification scope that served as the primary optic of the M40A1 sniper rifle.
Unertl 8x43 - Unertl-manufactured 8x-magnification scope that served as the primary optic of the Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle.
Single Point - a primitive occluded eye gunsight meant to be mounted on the M16 and CAR-15 family. The predecessor of the modern red dot sight.
AN/PAS-4 - Infrared scope mounted on the M14 rifle.
AN/PVS-1 Starlight Scope - night-vision scope used for night operations; replaced the AN/PAS-4. Typically mounted on the M14 rifle.
AN/PVS-2 Starlight Scope - successor to the AN/PVS-1. Typically mounted on the M16 rifle, but could also be mounted on the XM21 sniper rifle.
AN/PVS-3A Starlight Scope - successor to the AN/PVS-2. Like the AN/PVS-2, it could be mounted on the M16 and XM21.

Artillery

Self-propelled Howitzer M109 in Vietnam

105 mm Howitzer M2A1
105 mm Howitzer M102
155 mm Howitzer M114
M53 Self-propelled 155mm gun
M55 Self-propelled 8-inch howitzer
M107 Self-propelled 175mm gun
M108 Self-propelled 105 mm howitzer
M109 Self-propelled 155 mm howitzer
M110 Self-propelled 8-inch howitzer
75mm Pack Howitzer M1
L5 pack howitzer 105 mm pack howitzer used by Australia
MIM-23 Hawk - medium-range surface to air missile used in very small quantities by the US Marines.^[14]

Artillery ammunition types

Beehive flechette rounds - Antipersonnel rounds.
Canister - Antipersonnel rounds.
White phosphorus - Used for screening purposes.
HE (High Explosive).

Aircraft

(listed alphabetically by modified/basic mission code, then numerically in ascending order by design number/series letter)

A-1 Skyraider - ground attack aircraft
A-3 Skywarrior - carrier-based bomber
A-4 Skyhawk - carrier-based strike aircraft
A-6 Intruder - carrier-based all weather strike aircraft
A-7 Corsair II - carrier-based strike aircraft
A-26 Invader - light bomber
A-37 Dragonfly - ground attack aircraft
AC-47 Spooky - gunship
AC-119G "Shadow" - gunship
AC-119K "Stinger" - gunship
AC-130 "Spectre" - gunship
AU-23 Peacemaker - ground attack aircraft
AU-24 Stallion - ground attack aircraft
B-26 Marauder - medium bomber
B-52 Stratofortress - heavy bomber
B-57 Canberra - medium bomber
B-66 Destroyer - medium bomber
Canberra B.20 - Royal Australian Air Force medium bomber
C-1 Trader - cargo/transport aircraft
C-2 Greyhound - cargo/transport aircraft
C-5 Galaxy - strategic lift cargo aircraft
C-7 Caribou - tactical cargo aircraft, used by the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force
C-46 - cargo/transport aircraft
C-47 - cargo/transport aircraft
C-97 Stratofreighter - cargo/transport aircraft
C-119 Boxcar - cargo/transport aircraft
C-123 Provider - cargo/transport aircraft
C-124 Globemaster II - cargo/transport aircraft
C-130 Hercules - cargo/transport plane
C-133 Cargomaster - cargo/transport aircraft
C-141 Starlifter - strategic cargo aircraft
CA-27 Sabre - fighter jet used by the Royal Australian Air Force
E-1 Tracer - carrier-based airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft
E-2 Hawkeye - carrier-based airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft
EA-3 Skywarrior - carrier-based tactical electronic reconnaissance aircraft
EA-6B Prowler - carrier-based electronic warfare & attack aircraft
EB-57 Canberra - tactical electronic reconnaissance aircraft
EB-66 - tactical electronic reconnaissance aircraft
EC-121 - reconnaissance aircraft
EF-10 Skyknight - tactical electronic warfare aircraft
EKA-3B Skywarrior - carrier-based tactical electronic warfare aircraft
F-4 Phantom II - carrier and land based fighter-bomber
F-5 Freedom Fighter - light-weight fighter used in strike aircraft role
F-8 Crusader - carrier and land based fighter-bomber
F-14 Tomcat - carrier-based fighter, made its combat debut during Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, in April 1975
F-100 Super Sabre - fighter-bomber
F-102 Delta Dagger - fighter
F-104 Starfighter - fighter
F-105 Thunderchief - fighter-bomber
F-111 Aardvark - medium bomber
HU-16 Albatross - rescue amphibian
KA-3 Skywarrior - carrier-based tactical aerial refueler aircraft
KA-6 Intruder - carrier-based tactical aerial refueler aircraft
KB-50 Superfortress - aerial refueling aircraft
KC-130F Hercules - tactical aerial refueler/assault transport aircraft
KC-135 Stratotanker - aerial refueling aircraft
O-1 Bird Dog - light observation airplane
O-2 Skymaster - observation aircraft
OV-1 Mohawk - battlefield surveillance and light strike aircraft
OV-10 Bronco - light attack/observation aircraft
P-2 Neptune - maritime patrol aircraft
P-3 Orion - maritime patrol aircraft
QU-22 Pave Eagle (Beech Bonanza) - electronic monitoring signal relay aircraft
RA-3B Skywarrior - carrier-based tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RA-5C Vigilante - carrier-based tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RB-47 Stratojet - tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RB-57 Canberra - tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RB-66 - tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RF-4 Phantom II - carrier and land-based tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RF-8 Crusader - carrier-based tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
RF-101 Voodoo - tactical photographic reconnaissance aircraft
S-2 Tracker - carrier-based anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft
SR-71 Blackbird - strategic reconnaissance aircraft
TA-4F Skyhawk - fast forward air controller
TF-9J Cougar - fast forward air controller
T-28 Trojan - trainer/ground attack aircraft
U-2 - reconnaissance aircraft
U-6 Beaver - utility aircraft
U-10 Helio Courier - utility aircraft
U-17 Skywagon - utility aircraft
YO-3 Quiet Star - light observation airplane

USS Garrett County at anchor in the Mekong Delta with two UH-1B Iroquois helicopters on deck.

Helicopters

(listed numerically in ascending order by design number/series letter, then alphabetically by mission code)

UH-1A/B/C/D/E/F/H/L/M/P Iroquois "Huey" - utility transport and gunship helicopter
AH-1G HueyCobra - attack helicopter
AH-1J SeaCobra - twin-engine attack helicopter
HH-1K Iroquois - search and rescue (SAR) helicopter
UH-1N Iroquois - twin-engine utility helicopter
SH-2 Seasprite - carrier-based anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter
UH-2 Seasprite - carrier-based utility helicopter
CH-3 Sea King - long-range transport helicopter
HH-3 "Jolly Green Giant" - long-range combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter
SH-3 Sea King - carrier-based anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter
UH-3 Sea King - carrier-based utility helicopter
OH-6A Cayuse "Loach" (from LOH - Light Observation Helicopter) - light transport/observation (i.e., scout) helicopter
OH-13 Sioux - light observation helicopter
UH-19 Chickasaw - utility transport helicopter
CH-21 Shawnee - cargo/transport helicopter
OH-23 Raven - light utility helicopter
CH-34 Choctaw - cargo/transport helicopter
CH-37 Mojave - cargo/transport helicopter
HH-43 Huskie -firefighting/rescue helicopter
CH-46 Sea Knight - cargo/transport helicopter
CH-47 Chinook - cargo/transport helicopter
CH-53 Sea Stallion - heavy-lift transport helicopter
HH-53 "Super Jolly Green Giant" - long-range combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter
CH-54 Tarhe "Sky Crane" - heavy lift helicopter
OH-58A Kiowa - light transport/observation helicopter

Aircraft ordnance

GBUs
CBUs
BLU-82 Daisy cutter
Napalm
Bomb, 250 lb, 500 lb, 750 lb, 1000 lb, HE (high explosive), general-purpose
Rocket, aerial, HE (High Explosive), 2.75 inch

Aircraft weapons

A minigun being fired from a gunship in Vietnam

M61 Vulcan - 20 mm (aircraft mount)
M39 cannon - 20 mm (aircraft mount)
AN/M3 cannon - 20 mm (aircraft mount)
Minigun - 7.62 mm (aircraft and helicopter mount)
M197 Gatling gun - 20 mm
M60 machine gun - 7.62mm (helicopter mount)
AIM-4 Falcon
AIM-7 Sparrow
AIM-9 Sidewinder
AGM-12 Bullpup
AGM-62 Walleye
AGM-45 Shrike
AGM-78 Standard ARM

Chemical weapons

Agent Orange – While not developed to be used as a weapon against infantry, it was later revealed that it had the potential to cause cancer and other diseases in those who came in contact with it.
Napalm
CS Riot Gas - Used in grenades, cluster bomblets, and used by MACVSOG in powder form.

Vehicles

In addition to cargo-carrying and troop transport roles, many of these vehicles were also equipped with weapons and sometimes armor, serving as "gun trucks" for convoy escort duties.

M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1/2 Ton, 4X4 - Commonly called a "Mechanical Mule"
Land Rover (short and long wheelbase) – Australian and New Zealand forces.
Willys M38A1 - 1/4 ton jeep.
M151 - 1/4 ton jeep.
M76 Otter - amphibious cargo carrier used by USMC.
Dodge M37 - 3/4 ton truck.
Kaiser Jeep M715 - 1¼ ton truck.
M35 series 2½-ton 6x6 cargo truck
M135 2 1/2-ton truck
M54 5-ton 6x6 truck
M520 Goer - 4x4 8-ton cargo truck.

Combat vehicles

Tanks

M24 Chaffee – light tank; main ARVN tank early in the war, used at least as late as the Tet Offensive.
M41 Walker Bulldog – light tank, replaced the M24 Chaffee as the main ARVN tank in 1964-1965.
M48 Patton medium tank – main tank of the US Army and Marines throughout the war, and also used by ARVN forces late-war.
M67 "Zippo" – flamethrower variant of the M48 Patton.
M551 Sheridan – Armored Reconnaissance Airborne Assault Vehicle/Light Tank, used by the US Army from 1969.
Centurion MK.V Main Battle Tank – used by the Australian Army.

Other armored vehicles

M113 - APC (Armored Personnel Carrier)
M113 ACAV - Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle
M163 Vulcan - self-propelled anti-aircraft tank
M114 - reconnaissance vehicle
M2 Half Track Car
M3 Scout Car - used by South Vietnamese forces early in the war.
M3 Half-track - used by South Vietnamese forces early in the war.
M5 Half-track
M9 Half-track
M59 (APC)
M75 (APC)
LVTP5 (aka AMTRACs) - amphibious tractors/landing craft used by USMC
Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando
M8 Greyhound Used by ARVN forces early in the war.
M56 Scorpion
M50 Ontos - self-propelled 106 mm recoilless rifle carrier used by the USMC until 1969. Some were later transferred to ARVN forces.
M42 Duster - M41 based hull, with a twin 40 mm antiaircraft gun mounted on an open turret
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle - modified M60 Patton tank equipped with dozer blade, short-barreled 165mm M135 Demolition Gun, and A-Frame crane.
M60 AVLB - armored vehicle launched bridge using M60 Patton chassis.
M88 Recovery Vehicle - armored recovery vehicle based on M48 and M60 chassis.

Naval craft

Fast Patrol Craft

Tango, LCM - Monitor, heavily gunned riverine craft
Swift Boat - Patrol Craft Fast (PCF)
ASPB - assault support patrol boat, (known as Alpha boats)
PBR - Patrol Boat River, all-fiberglass boats propelled by twin water jets, used by the US Navy
LARC-LX
BARC
LCVP - Landing craft vehicle personal
LCM - Landing craft mechanised

Communications

Soldier using an AN/PRC-77 radio transceiver with the KY-38 secure voice encryptor (below), part of the NESTOR system.

Radios

The geographically dispersed nature of the war challenged existing military communications. From 1965 to the final redeployment of tactical units, numerous communications-electronics systems were introduced in Vietnam to upgrade the quality and quantity of tactical communications and replace obsolete gear:^[15]

AN/PRT-4 and PRR-9 squad radios - replaced the AN/PRC-6.
AN/PRC-25 and 77 - short-range FM radios replaced the AN/PRC-8-10.
AN/VRC-12 series - FM radios replaced the RT-66-67-68/GRC (including AN/GRC 3-8, VRC 7-10, VRC 20-22, and VRQ 1-3 sets).
AN/GRC-106 - AM radios and teletypewriter replaced the AN/GRC-19.

Encryption systems

Encryption systems developed by the National Security Agency and used in Vietnam included:^[16]

NESTOR - tactical secure voice system, including the TSEC/KY-8, 28 and 38 was used with the PRC-77 and VRC-12
KW-26 - protected higher level teletype traffic
KW-37 - protected the U.S. Navy fleet broadcast
KL-7 - provided offline security
A number of paper encryption and authentication products, including one time pads and the KAL-55B Tactical Authentication System

Weapons of the PAVN/NLF/North Korea/Soviet Union/China

The NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and the Southern communist guerrillas, the NLF, or Viet Cong as they were commonly referred to during the war, largely used standard Warsaw Pact weapons. Weapons used by the North Vietnamese also included Chinese Communist variants, which were referred to as CHICOM's by the US military. Captured weapons were also widely used; almost every small arm used by SEATO may have seen limited enemy use. During the early 1950s, US equipment captured in Korea was also sent to the Viet Minh.

Small arms

Vietcong guerrilla stands beneath a Vietcong flag carrying his AK-47 rifle.

A U.S. Army M.P. inspects a Soviet AK-47 recovered in Vietnam in 1968.

PAVN troops with PPSh-41

NLF soldier with SKS