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What role did tanks play in Vietnam?
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 a few tank versus tank battles.
What tanks did Vietnam use in the Vietnam War?
Despite the jungle nature of warfare in the Vietnam Conflict, the tank still held some tactical value for both sides.
- 1945. Centurion (A41)
- 1944. M24 Chaffee (Light Tank, M24)
- 1951. M41 Walker Bulldog.
- 1952. M48 Patton.
- 1968. M551 Sheridan.
- 1960. M60 (Patton)
- 1959. NORINCO Type 59.
- 1963. NORINCO Type 62 (WZ131)
What controversial military tactics were used in the Vietnam War?
They would frustrate the Americans by simple tactics: retreating when the enemy attacked; raiding enemy camps; attacking the enemy when they were tired and pursuing the enemy when they retreated.
Why were tanks not used in Vietnam?
Tanks seldom engaged other tanks, but their guns could crack enemy bunkers or use beehive rounds (steel darts) to devastate enemy infantry. A latecomer in using armor, the North Vietnamese Army initially fared poorly.
Did they use tanks in the Vietnam War?
Due to Vietnam’s soggy jungle terrain, tanks were not used extensively in combat during the Vietnam War. Armored personnel carriers such as the M-113 transported troops and performed reconnaissance and support functions.
Does the US still use M60 tanks?
The United States retired the M60 from front-line combat after Operation Desert Storm, with the last tanks being retired from National Guard service in 1997.
What kind of tanks were used in the Vietnam War?
T-54 and T-55 main battle tanks have been among the most widely used tanks in the world. The USSR supplied the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong with T-54 and T-55 tanks during the Vietnam War.
Why was the M60 used in the Vietnam War?
The US military would have loads of HE ammo for the guns of the M48, and HE is what they would have needed the most, not AP, since the tanks were mostly used for fire support, not fighting other tanks. The M60 was a somewhat newer tank, dedicated to facing off against Soviet and Warsaw Pact targets in Europe.
What was the M48 tank used for in Vietnam?
The M48 is best remembered for its service as the main U.S. tank in the Vietnam War. As many as six hundred M48’s were deployed in Vietnam, mainly filling infantry support roles. They were one of the few pieces of U.S. armor in Vietnam that offered adequate protection against mines.
What did the US use in the Vietnam War?
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.