War Machines- Rumble in the Jungle

[cyberia]

Members of the 5th Mechanical Division ford a river in an M48A3 battle tank,
Can Lo River, south of Con Thien, Vietnam. 1968


An American Navy Hovercraft moves through the water, Vietnam, 1968.
The physical geography surrounding Vietnam with its long coastlines and vast river systems
called for a major commitment of the US naval forces.



A CH-47A Chinook helicopter from the Army's 228 Aviation Battalion lifts a load of ammunition for
1st Cavalry Division airmobile troops in An Khe, South Vietnam, April 11th, 1966



United States 25th Division troops ride on top of M113 Armored Personnel Carriers (APC)
in Ambush Alley, on the Tay Ninh-Dau Tieng road, 1968.

[cyberia]

Sighting the enemy, the door gunner aboard a "Huey" UH-1B opens fire on a target in the Mekong Delta.


An American Navy tango boat on the Sang Haam Luong River, also known as the Lower Mekong River, 1968.


A US army Loach scout helicopter corrals Vietnamese villagers and their livestock near Ba Xoai, 1968.
The OH-6 light observation helicopters nicknamed "loaches" from the acronym LOH.


A US Navy PBR (Patrol Boat, River) gunner en route to Hué, Vietnam, 1968.

[Geek44]

Great pics Paul. Some of them were taken by Tim Page. A British kid who at 19 years old, decided to take his camera to Vietnam to photograph the war. Page's 'hook' was to try to get as close to the front line as was possible and there are a few pics taken by him with LRRP and SEAL units...not many, but they exist. Page was wounded quite seriously in Vietnam when he dismounted a Huey 'slick' (troop ship) and stood on a mine. I piece of shrapnel entered his brain effectively ending his tour and forcing him home to learn how to eat and move again. After having a 'fist-sized' part of his brain removed, he continud hs photography but not quite so 'hands-on'. The pic of the Loach and the guy manning the twin fifties on the boat are Page's pics.
There's also a rumour that the photographer played by Dennis (Psycho) Hopper in Apocalypse Now is based loosely on Page.

[cyberia]

Actually Nick, I think all of these were attributed to Page. The man had talent.

[Geek44]

I don't doubt it mate. I particularly like the M48 in the river.

[cyberia]

An Amtrack loaded with men of Second Battalion, Third Marines heads toward the coast of South Vietnam,
15 miles north of Hue-July 20th, 1967




Gunner of a hovercraft in Hue Lagoon, Vietnam-1968

[Commander Waffle]

Got antihng on 'Spooky'?

[cyberia]

Got antihng on 'Spooky'?

Not yet, Think you can find us something?

[Commander Waffle]

I'll give her a shot.

The AC-47 'Spooky' is a converted C-47 to accomadate 3 MXU-470/A Minigun modules. Which had a rate of frir of about 4,000 round per minute without overheating. The minigun was a down scaled 20mm Vulcan cannon ,seen on fighter planes, to receive the 7.62mm x 51mm round. It was planed in the C-47 near the windows. The aircraft was used to assume roles of colse air support dealing light ot medium supprssive fire. The plane could loiter around the target for hours if needed, surpressing the a target area with the diameter of around 52 yards, and every 2.4 yards would have a round in it after a 3 second burst.

The fire power is magnificant. Remeber, every 5th round is a tracer and at 4,000 rounds a minute. Do the math (because I can't) which is like 13 tracers a second or sometihng like that. The result was you could see the the ammunition from the aircraft to ground making a cone shape, whcih named the plane "Spooky" and "Puff the Magic Dragon".

AC-47 Seen With 2 of the MXU-470/A Miniguns


This is the Modern Day AC-130, But the Cone Seen is Pretty Much the Same as the AC-47


2 of the 3 MXU-470/A Miniguns

[cyberia]

That shot hit dead on. Nice one Trev!!!