The Weapons: Northern Forces
The Soviet Kalshnikov pattern assault rifle was, by 1968, already widely distributed across various conflicts, and would appear in Vietnam in a variety of different models. The term “AK47” is used here as a general term for 7.62x29mm Kalashnikov pattern rifles. The model pictured above is a Soviet AKM, while the most common variant seen in Vietnam was actually the Chinese Type 56, which featured a milled receiver as well as (commonly) a folding spike bayonet. The weapon was reliable in a variety of conditions, as well as easy to operate and maintain by soldiers with limited training in primitive conditions. Its 7.62x39mm cartridge was also more powerful than the 5.56mm rounds fired by the American M16, making up for ballistic performance with penetrating power.
Type: Assault Rifle
Action: Gas Operated Select Fire (SA/FA)
Overall Length: 34.7 inches
Weight: 8.4 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x39mm
Magazine Capacity: 30 Cartridges
Feed System: Detachable Box Magazine
Country of Origin: Soviet Union/China
Year: 1956
Specifications provided for Chinese Type 56
Common Variants
Type 56 - China
AKM - USSR
SKS
The SKS was a semi-automatic carbine designed to equip the Soviet Red Army in the late stages of the Second World War, being issued shortly after the end of the conflict. Despite a short time in service before replacement by the AK47, it was produced in large numbers and like the AK it and its variants were common across the Communist Bloc and around the world. In Vietnam the original Soviet SKS was not as commonly encountered as the Chinese Type 56, which was mainly different in replacing the Soviet blade bayonet with a spike. Firing the same cartridge as the AK47, the SKS made for a slightly more accurate rifle as well as a more traditional weapon, commonly encountered in the hands of both the VC and NVA.
Type: Carbine
Action: Gas Operated Semi-Automatic
Overall Length: 40 inches
Weight: 8.5 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x39mm
Magazine Capacity: 10 Cartridges
Feed System: Charger Clip
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1945
Common Variants
Type 56 - China
SKS45 - USSR
Mosin Nagant
The Mosin Nagant series of bolt action rifle was decidedly obsolete as an infantry weapon by the Vietnam War, but the Vietcong could not afford to be picky in their situation. Large numbers of Mosin Nagants, primarily the Soviet and Chinese carbines, would see service in the conflict. While at a decided disadvantage in traditional street fighting, it was useful at range, with its powerful cartridge and significantly better accuracy than the AK or SKS. The most common variant during the conflict was the Chinese Type 53, a variant of the Soviet M44, which was a carbine with a side mounted folding spike bayonet. The M38 carbine seen above is identical save for lacking a bayonet, and also saw use in Vietnam, albeit in smaller numbers. The longer M91/30 also saw service, especially with the 3.5 power PU scope as a sniper’s rifle.
Type: Carbine
Action: Cock on Open Rotating Bolt
Overall Length: 40 inches
Weight: 7.5 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x54mm
Magazine Capacity: 5 Cartridges
Feed System: Charger Clip
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1891
Common Variants
Type 53 - China
M44 - USSR
M38 - USSR
M91/30 (Sniper) - USSR
PPSh41
Replica Pictured
The Soviet PPSh41 submachine gun was an icon of the Red Army in the Second World War, and had further seen use by Chinese and North Korean forces during the Korean War, where it had gained the nickname “burp gun” amongst the American forces. In addition to the older Soviet weapons themselves, Chinese versions were commonly encountered, as was a locally produced variant with a collapsible stock and shortened barrel jacket known as the K-50M. The weapon had a high rate of fire, and could be fitted with a 71 round drum magazine to allow for a withering barrage of fire at close range.
Type: Submachine Gun
Action: Blowback
Overall Length: 33 inches
Weight: 8 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x25mm
Magazine Capacity: 35/71 Cartridges
Feed System: Detachable Magazine
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1941
Common Variants
Type 50 - China
K-50M - North Vietnam
RPD
Also known as the Degtyaryov after its designer, this was a light machine gun firing the same 7.62x39mm cartridge as the AK and SKS rifles using a belt, often in a drum attached under the receiver. The most common light machine gun in service with both the NVA and the VC during the conflict, it was relatively light and could put down a significant barrage of fire while remaining relatively mobile.
Type: Light Machine Gun
Action: Fully Automatic (650rpm)
Overall Length: 41 inches
Weight: 16.3 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x39mm
Magazine Capacity: 100 Cartridges
Feed System: Belt
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1944
Common Variants
Type 56 - China
DShK
Image from Wikimedia
The 12.7mm DShK was essentially the Soviet counterpart to the American M2 .50 caliber Browning heavy machine gun. Designed shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, they had gone on to see service across the Communist Bloc, and in Vietnam had been encountered as early as the Fall of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. These weapons were primarily used in an anti-aircraft role, where they were reasonably effective against American helicopters and even fixed wing piston power aircraft, and of course they were devastating against soft ground targets.
Type: Heavy Machine Gun
Action: Fully Automatic (600rpm)
Overall Length: 64 inches
Weight: 75 pounds
Cartridge: 12.7x108mm
Magazine Capacity: 50 Cartridges
Feed System: Belt
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1938
Common Variants
Type 54 - China
RPG-2
The Soviet RPG2 rocket launcher was a combination of the German Panzerfaust and the American Bazooka, both of Second World War vintage, resulting in a modern, reusable anti-tank weapon system. A simple weapon, it was ideally suited for use by the VC and the NVA, who deployed it extensively and even mass produced and fielded their own domestic variant, the B40. Despite not being as effective against the more modern American tanks, it remains deadly to the lighter APCs in service as well as ARVN light tanks. In the built up environments of city fighting it would also be very useful, able to penetrate walls as well as creating large amounts of deadly shrapnel.
Type: Rocket Launcher
Action: Single Shot
Overall Length: 47 inches
Weight: 10.25 pounds
Cartridge: 82mm Rocket
Magazine Capacity: Single Shot
Feed System: None
Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Year: 1954
Common Variants
B40 - North Vietnam
Type 56 - China
TT33
The Soviet-designed Tokarev TT33 was among the most common handguns in the service of the NVA, with the Chinese Type 54 being particularly ubiquitous. This was a derivative of the Browning M1903, chambered in a high-velocity 7.62x25mm cartridge. It was a battle-proven design and proved reliable even in the harsh jungle climate of Vietnam.
Type: Service Pistol
Action: Single Action Automatic
Overall Length: 7.6 inches
Weight: 1.9 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x25mm
Magazine Capacity: 8 Cartridges
Feed System: Detachable Magazine
Country of Origin: Soviet Union/China
Year: 1933
Common Variants
Type 54 - China
Type 67 Grenade
The Chinese Type 67 grenade, commonly known simply as the “Chicom” by the Americans was an evolution of the German “Potato Masher” grenades of World War fame. The Germans had supplied these weapons to China in the interwar period, and a simple variation, with varying stick lengths and sometimes with a fragmentation sleeve akin to American designs was produced in huge numbers, with vast quantities being shipped to Vietnamese Communist forces during the conflict. These weapons were quite capable, although had a relatively high percentage of “duds” due to both primitive manufacture and the harsh jungle storage conditions.
Type: Fragmentation Grenade
Charge: TNT
Weight: 16 ounces (apx.)
Fuse Duration: Various, avg. 5 seconds
Blast Radius: 25 feet
Country of Origin: China
Year: 1924
Type 53 Mortar
Image from Wikimedia
A Chinese copy of the Soviet BM37 Battalion Mortar, this 82mm weapon was used heavily by the NVA and the VC before and during the Tet Offensive. The very simple design allowed its effective use in harsh environments by poorly trained irregular forces, and the 82mm shell was deliberately selected so as to allow use of captured American ammunition, while depriving the same luxury to western forces.
Type: Mortar
Caliber: 82mm
Rate of Fire: 25 rpm (Maximum)
Crew: ~5
Range: 3,040 meters
Country of Origin: Soviet Union/China
Year: 1937
Type 63 Rocket Launcher
A Chinese light rocket artillery launcher, the Type 63 is capable of being towed by light vehicles or moved by hand, and was used primarily by the NVA. The weapon could have a varying number of tubes, including single options, and the rockets were also designed to be fired from improvised launchers, such as rails or even sufficiently sized earthen berms. In this capacity it would see widespread use by the NVA and the VC during the conflict, and weapons of this type or similar would fire some of the first shots into Hue as the Tet Offensive opens.
Type: Rocket Artillery
Caliber: 106.7mm
Crew: ~5
Range: 8km
Country of Origin: China
Year: 1961