Full Description
While Vietnam is usually perceived as an infantry war, with US forces deploying by helicopter, the long supply lines that led to their inland bases had to be traveled by ground vehicles.
The 8th and 48th Transportation Groups were responsible for hauling supplies through the long, dangerous roads of Vietnam, and they often found themselves the target of ambushes, attacks, and sniping. In response to this, vehicle crews began to arm trucks with machine guns and armour them with sandbags. While these proved less than ideal, the concept was considered valid, and more and more "gun trucks" appeared, sporting heavier weapons and armor.
Written by a Vietnam veteran, this book traces the development of these gun trucks from the jury-rigged originals to the powerful armoured vehicles that appeared later in the war.
Contents
Historical background and the need for gun trucks
Organization of transportation units
The Army convoy system
VC convoy ambush tactics
The 2-1/2-ton M35A2 cargo truck
The 5-ton M54 cargo trucks
Gun truck armament
Examples of gun trucks
Quad .50 machine gun trucks
Misc. gun truck vehicles
Gun truck employment and counter-ambush tactics
Landing clearing operations
Counter-mine and mine clearance techniques
Assessment
