Vietnam War Remnants Museum

[Jose Miguel]

Went to Saigon last year and got a chance to visit this place, the Vietnam War Remnants Museum... I guess it's a mix of captured and abandoned weapons and equipment.

[Bushmaniac]

I want that Huey with the gattling gun!

[Alan Smith]

In the last photo, at the bottom right you can see a funny pump-shotgun type 40mm grenade launcher. I understand that these were custom made for the U.S. Navy "SEAL" teams operating in Vietnam and were of VERY limited production. I think the other item opposite the SEAL grenade launcher is an experimental 40mm grenade launcher.

[603dasc]

I notice all of the equipment is stencilled with US markings. Does anything there show use by the South Vietnamese? Just curious.

[cookie]

The British car show 'TopGear' started their Vietnam Special episode from that Museum. A nice collection.

[Jose Miguel]

Originally Posted by 603dasc

I notice all of the equipment is stencilled with US markings. Does anything there show use by the South Vietnamese? Just curious.

I could be wrong here but I recall reading somewhere that South Vietnamese vehicles had a yellow panel painted on. It can be seen in my pic of the M-113, on the front. The "US ARMY" could have been added after, when it was displayed in the museum. It that case, it isn't actually a M-113 that was "used" by the US Army in Vietnam, but by the South Vietnamese.

[Gil Burket]

I read in another thread that due to the heat and humidity, the aircraft and vehicles that are stored outside are often repainted. It's hard to tell what the original markings on any of these were.

I have some phtos a friend of mine took in the mid 1980's... I'll see if I can find them and if they have anything more authentic on them.

[kammo man]

The SUN is an powerful enemy ...........that anything vintage is the ultimate looser.

If left in the sun.




owen

[Beau Brummel.]

Originally Posted by Alan Smith

In the last photo, at the bottom right you can see a funny pump-shotgun type 40mm grenade launcher. I understand that these were custom made for the U.S. Navy "SEAL" teams operating in Vietnam and were of VERY limited production. I think the other item opposite the SEAL grenade launcher is an experimental 40mm grenade launcher.

I think quite a few "special forces" units trialed the pump action grenade launcher and found it to be lacking due to weight and reload speed. I think the other thing is a "Honeywell" type grenade launcher as far as I can make out which was SEAL specific. These are both very rare weapons so It's a treat to see them, I was a bit suprised to see the here.

Yours, Guy.

[2ndAIF]

Great pics I plan to get there and see it one day myself.

See in the third pic the SLR rifle that has the picture of the Australian tracking team next to it? thats a picture of my uncles section taken in July 1970 they are support company anti tank platoon of 2 RAR/anzac the guy with the dog is Ron Johnson who was (at the time) my aunt's boyfriend.
My uncle was the visual tracker in this team also, my uncle took a trip over there at the end of last year it was the first time he had been back to Vietnam in 40 years since he was evac'ed with serious head wounds and he was really upset with the caption they have on the picture, It was only three words but they cut him to the bone... Australian War Criminals.

Anyway thanks for sharing

Luke.

[Satcong101]

Yeah most of this stuff has been repainted by now. When I was there back in the mid 90's most of the vehicles and planes had their original paint on although clearly looking very weathered in most case's. Some of the various planes and helicopters were weathered that much you could see the original US marking underneath the South Vietnamese Flag that was presumably painted over the top when the equipment was handed over in 73.
One of the Huey's was weathered enough to reveal the 101st ABN Div Tail insignia and a few SVN flags on the M113's.
Got some photo's somewhere.

[angella]

Originally Posted by 2ndAIF

Great pics I plan to get there and see it one day myself.

See in the third pic the SLR rifle that has the picture of the Australian tracking team next to it? thats a picture of my uncles section taken in July 1970 they are support company anti tank platoon of 2 RAR/anzac the guy with the dog is Ron Johnson who was (at the time) my aunt's boyfriend.
My uncle was the visual tracker in this team also, my uncle took a trip over there at the end of last year it was the first time he had been back to Vietnam in 40 years since he was evac'ed with serious head wounds and he was really upset with the caption they have on the picture, It was only three words but they cut him to the bone... Australian War Criminals.

Anyway thanks for sharing

Luke.

Didn't go into the 'propaganda ministry' for that reason........Went to Gloria Jeans for a coffee round the corner instead.

Long tan was awesome - do you wanna see pics?

[2ndAIF]

Originally Posted by angella

Didn't go into the 'propaganda ministry' for that reason........Went to Gloria Jeans for a coffee round the corner instead.

Long tan was awesome - do you wanna see pics?

Yeah Id love to see some pics Hopefully If all goes to plan and my uncles health improves I should be going over there myself to have a look around next year.