Field Gear | Vietnam War

The items listed below are either personal to my Nam service or have been procured over the last 40-years. Great research has been done for authentication and I will attempt to identify both source procurement and/or written information. Most, if not all, are part of my personal collection and many are brought to military shows and events for display or demonstration.

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED - - INFORMATION PROVIDED IS FROM david.brubakers.us or M38A1Jeep.us Those resources have research, historical data, photographs and related resource links.

Utility Fatigue Shirt
A cotton sateen dyed in olive drab army shade 107. It had two straight chest pockets and exposed buttons on all closures. This shirt was normally worn tucked into the fatigue trousers.

Tropical Jungle Jackets
The Jungle Jacket is an all cotton wind-resistant poplin or Rip-Stop cotton fabric, dyed olive green army shade 107. It has two chest bellows pockets and two lower bellows pockets.

Standard Patterns:
1st Pattern: Manufactured from Poplin it had exposed buttons on angled pockets, jacket closure, shoulder loops, gas flap and side adjustment tabs. Sleeves had adjustable cuffs to allow them to be rolled up. Each pocket has drainage eyelets at the bottom.

2nd Pattern: Manufactured from Poplin it had concealed buttons on the angled pockets and jacket closure. And had the shoulder loops, gas flap, side tabs, adjustable cuffs and drainage eyelets on the pockets.

3rd Pattern: Manufactured in Poplin or Rip-Stop it had concealed buttons on angled pockets and jacket closure. However it had no shoulder loops, side tabs or gas flap.

There are some ‘intermediate’ type jackets which are essentially 3rd pattern but with 2nd pattern fittings.

Jungle Trousers
The trousers were made of all cotton poplin or rip-stop poplin in olive green army shade 107. They had two front pockets, two hip pockets, and two bellows cargo leg pockets. A small pocket inside the left cargo pocket was designed to carry a survival kit. The trouser legs had draw cords at the bottom.

Standard Patterns
1st Pattern: This had exposed buttons, leg ties in thigh pockets, small loops in crotch for the leg ties and came in Poplin only. 2nd Pattern: This had concealed buttons. The rest was the same as 1st Pattern.

3rd Pattern: Concealed buttons, no leg ties or loops, and came in Poplin or Rip stop.

The ERDL jackets and trousers were the same as 3rd Pattern Jungle Jackets and Trousers. Some trousers have a slide fastener fly (zipper) others with a 5 buttoned fly. Sizes range from small to extra large. Larger sizes are hard to find.. Rip-stop poplin trousers appear at around 1968, but there are some early 1967 prototypes around.

These pants were cool and comfortable, but had a tendency to rip, especially at the knee. The front left hand cargo pocket is a sure way to date jungle trousers – – post war ones didn’t have this feature.

Trouser pockets would have a single button – -If two, they are post war. The drawstring would be a ‘rope’ string, not “tape” fabric.

The trousers were made of all cotton poplin or rip-stop poplin in olive green army shade with two front pockets, two hip pockets, and two bellows cargo leg pockets. A small pocket inside the left cargo pocket was designed to carry a survival kit. The trouser legs have draw cords at the bottom.

Combat Boots
Jungle Boot – 1965 – 1968
This pattern had the black leather toe and heal box and green nylon duck upper sides. It had two drainage eyelets in the side of the boot to allow the foot to breathe and allow water to escape after immersions. It looked almost identical to today’s boot, accept that it had the Vibram sole with no angled ankle support panel and no ‘spike protection’ plate in the sole.

Vietnam Headgear
Soft tropical sun hats were used by all forces in Vietnam.  They were made of either cotton poplin or rip-stop fabric.  The hat featured an adjustable chin-strap, foliage loops and ventilation eyelets around the crown. An insect net was issued, but rarely used.

Fatigue Cap
This was a visor baseball style hat made of polyester and rayon gabardine cloth dyed olive green army.  The stitching is a good way to recognize wartime fatigue caps, as they have a double rows of stitching around the visor and cap. Post war caps have two double front rows of stitching.

Helmet – M1
The M1 helmet of the 1960’s has a lower profile than the M1 helmets of WW2, otherwise the design was unchanged. The two-part chin strap was typically fastened up around the rear of the helmet .  There are many of the Vietnam era helmets to be found.  Some things to look out for….. The WW2 helmet’s rim joins at the front, the Korean and Vietnam helmet rim joins at the rear. The helmet strap should have a little anchor insignia on it.  If you are new to reenacting you will find these helmets

M1 Helmet Liner
The liner includes a 6 point suspension system made up of cotton webbing with 3 adjustable web straps. The headband is attached to the suspension webbing. There are also three small buckles attached to the inside of the liner used to attach the nape strap.  The Vietnam liner webbing are attached with rivets, whereas the later ones have a detachable suspension system.

Helmet Cover – Mitchel
The Mitchell leaf pattern was a disruptive camouflage pattern using selected organic dyes and resin bonded pigments. A reversible cover with leaf patterns in greens and brown colors for spring and summer wear, and brown colors for fall and winter operations. For additional camouflage the cover contained small slots for inserting natural foliage. The elastic helmet band could also be used to  hold foliage in place.  It is possible to buy a cover with graffiti written on it. Graffiti on helmet covers was a means of expressing identity and opinion.

According to david.brubakers.us the easier dates to find are between 1970 -1975. 1960’s dated are around but you have to hunt for them.  If you have a twill cotton cover then it was definitely made in the 1960’s. Likewise early Mitchell pattern covers were still marked with FSN. The FSN (Federal Stock Number) marked covers predate the later DSA marked ones, therefore you have a 1960’s date. Many covers were made by the Minneapolis Society for the blind.

Helmet Headband
The headband is a leather covered web strap provided with 6 metal clips and a buckle for attaching and adjusting the headband to the liner.  The clips lock around the webbing that goes around the inside of the helmet.  The open ends of the clips should be pointing up when the band is on your head.  It is easier to adjust the band by fitting it on your head before you put it into the helmet.

Helmet Band Items
An elastic cotton webbing placed around the helmet. It was designed to hold foliage in order to blend the helmet into the surrounding terrain.  In Vietnam, however it was more commonly used to hold personal items such as cigarettes, toilet paper, insect repellent or a spare magazine. Another item was the clear bottle of M16 light weight oil, especially in the late 60’s.

Neckband
The neckband is a web strap with a long adjusting tape sewed to each end and a short adjusting tape sewed to the middle. Designed to be fitted to the 2nd Pattern helmet liner.  This helped to hold the helmet at the back of your head, keeping the thing from pitching forward on your forehead or nose.

Helmet Chin Web Strap
A cotton web strap attached to the sides of the helmet, utilizing a ball and hook type closure (clasped together in this picture). Commonly worn over the back of the helmet.  The ball and hook was designed to release the helmet should undue pressure be exerted on the helmet thus offering some protection from neck injury.

M1967 Web Gear
The M1967 Individual Load Carrying Equipment was a modernized version of the M1956, designed specially for Vietnam. The M1967 LCE did not entirely replace the M1956 equipment. Often M1956 and M1967 equipment were mixed together to form composite webbing, since both types were fully compatible with each other. The new equipment was essentially the same but replaced canvas for nylon, and metal for plastic, which unlike the canvas, was mildew resistant.

Pistol Belt
A pistol belt is what all other web gear hooks to. Attachments to the gear include ammo pouches, first aid or compass pouch, canteen and fanny pack (to name just a few items) to it. Davis belts had a flat metal tab the locked into a slot on the other end of the belt.

Ammo Pouches – M16 – 20 Round
The standard ammo pouch for the M16 magazine. There are carriers either side for attachment of grenades.  The M1956 ammo pouch was introduced in 1957. It was originally designed to carry magazines for the M14 rifle and not M16.  It does carry both types of magazines.  Troops were known to put a bandage from their first aid pouch in the bottom of this pouch so that the M16 magazines would fit to the top of the pouch.

The earliest pouch was made of canvas and had a metal front plate to protect the ammunition from fragments and a grommet through the securing tab. It was replaced in 1962 with a pouch of the same size but without the metal plate and tab grommet. This gives a crumpled appearance when empty.  A smaller size of pouch still made of canvas appeared in late 1967 to early 1968. These were designed for easier access to the shorter M16 20 round magazine. Both types fit the same number of magazines but in the smaller pouch magazines are easier to reach. There is another of the smaller size pouches but made of nylon. This is part of the M1967 webbing.

Fanny or Buttpack
This pattern has wings of canvas that fold inwards. It has a plastic window pocket to put your name. It has two carry straps on the bottom and ALICE clips on the rear to attach to the pistol belt. The suspenders attach to the top of the bag on the back through riveted holes on stitched tabs.  The interior contains a plastic lining.  The 2nd Pattern M1916 butt pack features are identical to the M1956.

Differences between the M1956 & M1961 butt pack as follows :
1. length – M1956 is 4-1/2′ while M1961 is 5-1/2″
2. height – M1956 is 7-3/4″ while M1961 is 8-1/2″
3. width – M1956 is 8″ while M1961 is 9″
4. Flap – M1956 has a simple narrow flap while M1961 has an improved flap that both sides fold down a little bit.
5. M1956 has 2 side extensions that folded over the content while M1961 has waterproof throat around the opening.

Suspenders – 1956
The suspenders are attach to the front of my pistol belt and affixed to the butt pack. They are there to keep the belt up, and distribute the weight more evenly.  They come in three sizes: regular and long and X-long.

Compass Pouch – 1956
A small pouch designed to carry either a lensatic compass or a Field Dressing, the field dressing being the most common content. It can fit on a number of places on the web gear. As a medic, I had two of these as part of my basic kit – – and a medic M-3 bag.

Canteen and Cover
The one quart Nam canteen was made of olive drab polyethylene plastic. Although 1 was required, 2 were usually attached to the rear sides of the web pistol belt between the fanny pack.  It had a felt lined cotton duck water canteen cover.  The felt lining was designed to keep the water cool. Earlier pre-1967 covers had a canvas trim around the edge flaps.  There was also a later fully nylon type (M1967) with a little pouch for purifying tablets.

Dog Tags
These identification metal tags with chains changed over the years. When I served, the Army had the following information:
Last Name: SHANE
First Name + Initial: FRANK T
Social Security Number (That replaced the former Army I.D. number): 987654321
Blood Type: O+
Religion: CATHOLIC

M1967 Tri-folding E-Tool & Case
This tool had a hollow triangular shaped handle and a shovel blade with one edge sharpened for cutting, the other serrated for digging. The blade could be adjusted to different angles in the same way as the M1951 E-Tool. It folded twice for carrying and was stored in a nylon pouch.

M1951 E-Tool
Standard folding entrenchment tool.

M1956 E-Tool Cover
The tool cover utilizes “ALICE” slide clips to fit wherever you want to put it.  It has an attachment to fix your bayonet with M8A1 Scabbard.

M1956 Sleeping Carrier
A complicated set of straps, also called “spaghetti straps”. It was sed to strap your sleeping bag or poncho with liner rolled inside, on to your M1956 suspenders.

Tropical Combat Neckerchief
This Neckerchief was a sweat cloth of highly absorbent dark green cotton in Army shade 409. It is a standard 36″ by 24″ and matches the color of the undershirt. This item became popular for wiping perspiration and dirt from the brow and hands and for cleaning weapons and ammunition. It was worn over or around the head as a bandanna or sweatband.  Some soldiers wore them tied around their necks.  These were very well made and had many uses.

Field Towel
A green towel with single wide band at the end. Often worn around the neck to wipe the face free of sweat and protecting the neck and shoulders from heavy equipment.  The Vietnam era towels are single banded in a OG-107 color. The towels were adapted as a shoulder cushion under straps, especially the RTO wearing a PRC-77.

Socks
One of the more important items.  Clean, dry socks were critical to prevent jungle rot and trench foot.

Canteen Cup and Cover
The canteen cup was made of stainless steel. It fit into the canteen cup and the canteen cover. The plastic 1QT canteen fits into the cup.

Mess Kit and Utensils
Mess kit – Also known as mess tins, mess gear, cook kits for cooking and eating.   They were washed by hanging the lid and utensils on the handle as seen above and dipping them into a succession of hot water cans (AKA – garbage cans) using immersion heaters to bring the water to proper temperature.  You dipped and sloshed in a “dirty” dip can then moved to a cleaner can and then if you were really lucky a third clean water very hot temperature dip to finish.  Failure to do this would result in all sorts of nasty stomach and lower problems.

C-Ration, Meal Combat Individual
A box containing a main meal (such as Pork and beans, spaghetti and meatballs, or worst of all Ham and Eggs, etc.), a B2 unit (crackers, candy, cheese, jelly), a desert (Canned fruit, pound-cake, etc.) and an accessory pack. The accessory pack contained a hot drink mix, gum, matches, toilet paper, salt, sugar, a plastic spoon and a small pack of cigarettes. Helmet bans were used to hold items such as cigarettes, matches . . . toilet paper.

Poncho
A rubber coated fabric poncho with hood. Dyed olive green army shade 207.  Known to become heavy when wet, and the shiny finish gleams in the rain. Two poncho’s can be snapped together to make a shelter.  A must have for its usefulness as a shelter or ground sheet.  It is really hot and sweaty to use as a rain garment.  Users often ended up as wet inside the poncho as they would have been without it.

Shelter Half
A water-repellent mildew-resistant cotton duck dyed olive green army shade 107.  It was one half of a tent panel with triangular flaps that was carried one per individual.  Two of these could be buttoned together to form a complete tent. Each soldier would carry a half tent, one tent pole (That can be split into three sections), and tent pegs.

Flashlight
A olive drab plastic right angled flashlight.  It has a 3 way switch, 0ff-Blink-On.  Inside the battery compartment under the spring is a storage compartment for a spare bulb. The bottom section unscrews revealing a compartment containing colored filters that can be attached to the front of the flashlight, by unscrewing the front ring, placing the filter inside and screwing the ring back on.  The original Vietnam War flashlights don’t have the raised guards on the long sides of the switch.  The reference number MX991/U is written on the left side surrounded by a circle.

Fragmentation Vest
The M1952 was developed during the Korean War and was used right through the Vietnam War.  The vest contained a filler of semi-flexible layers of ballistic nylon cloth with a quarter inch layer of sponge rubber over the ribs and shoulders. This served as a shock absorbing layer to alleviate contusions and fractures from the impact of missiles. The vest closed with a full length zipper and could be adjusted by laced closures at both sides. It had two chest pockets, shoulder straps and two rows of web hangers for grenades etc.

The M1969 vest was an improved version of the M1952.  There are 12 layers in the front and upper back, two in the lower back, and an additional two down the length of the spine. The jacket does not have shoulder loops of the M1952, but incorporated a semi-stiff three-quarter inch color with three layers of ballistic filling, providing protection to the neck.  This can be fairly comfortable to wear, but with your webbing as well, it will get to feeling heavy pretty quick.  These vest also can have Velcro for closing rather than zippers, with dates starting at 1970.

Vietnam Rucksack
The Lightweight Tropical Rucksack was standardized in 1965 and was issued in the following year to replace the unsatisfactory M1956 and M1961 Buttpacks. It consisted of a water resistant nylon bag with one large compartment and three external pockets, the middle outside pocket is slightly bigger than the other two. The pack was fixed to a tubular aluminium frame.   The rucksack eliminated the need to have items from being worn on the back of the pistol belt, thus water canteens and other items are hung on the pack, there are straps on each side to hold the canteens down and stop them from flopping when the soldier is on the move.  A machete was usually mounted using the two eyelets located on the top horizontal strap on the pack frame.  The waist strap is not often seen in photographic evidence of field use.

You can tell an older pack frame from the later versions by the middle horizontal back strap.  The older versions did not have this strap. The later versions had small ears welded to the frame, just like the top strap, that would hold the middle strap in place.

Bayonet – M7
A steel bayonet sharpened on the downside and partially on the upper side. It has a large barrel ring that fits over the flash hider of the rifle.  It has plastic Handles. The attachment to the rifle is at the butt of the bayonet.

M8A1 Bayonet Scabbard
A self sharpening scabbard with attachment to hang from webbing.

M16A1 Rifle
Much the same as the M16, but the M16A1 featured slight improvements, namely the addition of a forward assist and the ‘birdcage’ flash suppressor as opposed to the tri-pronged. The forward assist was a device to counter the bolt jamming.  The device was a plunger that engaged with corresponding notches on the bolt, driving it forward if it stuck. The birdcage flash suppressor was a simple fix to the problem of the open tri-pronged suppressor snagging on foliage.

M16/M16A1 Rifle Sling

Platoon Leader
The Platoon Leader is the most senior leader in the platoon.  He is the person everyone else looks to for orders and sets the uniform standards.  This makes him a target, so he should appear very much like a rifleman.  The differences are very subtle, and the only way you should be able to identify him is by the RTO’s surrounding him.

A platoon leader would have maps to triangulate coordinates. A military issued watch watch would be strapped to his wrist or fatigue shirt/jungle fatigue jacket – – he would have his Radio Telephone Operator – RTO – nearby.  On his back would most likely be a lightweight rucksack and frame with the rucksack is hung in the lower part of the rucksack. Under the webbing strap, a poncho liner could be rolled up and tucked underneath. A M1942 machete was an option to be worn on the rucksack. The frame sides could have a a coil of rope and canteens. A platoon leader could have a 7 pocket M16 bandoleer over his shoulder loaded with magazines. Off the webbing, M18 smoke grenades could be attached.

Load & List of Equipment – Platoon Leader

Uniform – Jungle jacket, trousers, M1 helmet with cover, T-shirt, socks, boxer shorts, combat boots.

Web Gear – standard system M1956 or M1967 webbing:  This is belt, suspenders, two ammo pouches, two canteens with covers, buttpack (Optional),     compass pouch, E-tool and cover.

Optional additional system equipment – 5 QT canteen, bayonet, machete

Existence Equipment – poncho and/or pup tent, poncho liner, mess tin and C-rations

Firearms & Accessories – Colt M16, M16A1 or XM-177 and at least three loaded cotton bandoliers, M1911A1 pistol, .45 magazine case with two magazines, M1910 holster or shoulder holster, fragmentation grenades, smoke grenade

Additional equipment – 1 claymore mine bag (to carry your extra goodies), map case, Army issue compass, Army issue binoculars and case, Army issue wrist watch, lightweight rucksack w/frame, 550 parachute cord, M1952 or M1969 flak jacket.

Squad Leader
The general appearance is of a rifleman and the differences are very slight.  If you were the enemy spying on a squad, the leader would be the person directing other soldiers, perhaps with arm signals or verbal communication, he might be using a RTO’s radio or reading maps.  But otherwise he would be no different.  Most Squad Leaders prefer to carry the small CAR-15 which is easier to carry when doing other things like talking on the radio, but remember they were not always available to all those who wanted them.  Squad Leaders, being NCO’s, were entitled to carry an M1911A1 automatic pistol.

Rifleman
The rifleman would typically wear a OD green t-shirt under his poplin jungle jacket which is loosely worn. Webbing would consist of M1956 suspenders and a vertical weave Davis belt.  M26 grenades would hang either side of two M1956 ammo pouches and a M1956 canteen with cover sits on the hip.  Secured next to an ammo pouch could be a  compass pouch with first aid dressing.  On the back of the suspenders could be a rolled up poncho, probably secured by paracord to the back pad. In addition to the ammo pouches there could be loaded seven pocket cotton M16 bandoleers with 20 round magazines inserted.

Medical Corpsman – Medic
The basic rifleman’s equipment load (Modified)

Medic and Field Equipment:
M3 Aid bag – M3/M5
M5 Aid bag (typically preferred due to larger amount of medical contents)
Surgical Kit (both bags)
M1911A1 .45 automatic pistol (preferred over M16)
M1911A1 .45 pistol holster on web gear belt. (Typically black)
M16 (optional – usually only if M1911A1 pistol not carried)
Flare(s)
Fanny or Buttpack (Depending on A3 or A5 medical aid bag)
M1956 Canteen(s)
Flashlight – olive drab plastic right angled

List of Medical BagContents: Depending on Medic bag M3/M5)

SURGICAL SHEET WITH THE MEDICAL CADUCEUS
JACKSON SIZE 3 TRACHEOTOMY CANNULA
1 MINOR SURGERY FIELD INSTRUMENT
8 GAUZE PETROLATUM DRESSINGS
2 – 11 3/4 INCH SQUARE DYED FIRST AID FIELD DRESSINGS
1 FIELD EYE DRESSING KIT
2 ARMY TOURNIQUETS
1 BOX OF COTTON SWABS ON A WOODEN STICK
1 TIN OF REXALL SURGICAL POWDER
2 BOTTLES OF WATER PURIFICATION TABLETS
1 TIN OF SUNBURN PREVENTITIVE CREAM
4 TONGUE DEPRESSORS
1- 4 INCH COTTON ELASTIC BANDAGE
2- 3 INCH COTTON ELASTIC BANDAGES
1- 3 INCH X 10 YARDS CAMOUFLAGED GAUZE BANDAGE
3 TRIANGULAR BANDAGES
4 ROUND CONTAINERS OF 1 INCH X 6 YARDS GAUZE ROLLER
1- 24 X 72 INCH GAUZE COMPRESS
1 INDIVIDUAL FIRST AID FIELD DRESSING
1- 3 INCH X 6 YARDS CAMOUFLAGED GAUZE BANDAGE
3 BOXES OF FIELD BAND-AIDS
1 TIN OF REXALL QUIK-BANDS BAND-AIDS
2 BOXES OF 1 INCH X 6 YARDS GAUZE
1 BOX OF 3 INCH X 10 YARDS GAUZE ROLLER PLAIN
1 BOX OF 10 MERTHIOLATE SWABS
1 BOX OF 10 AMMONIA INHALANTS
1 TUBE OF TANNIC ACID JELLY BURN COMPOUND
1 FIELD DRESSING IN A BROWN WRAPPER
1 TUBE OF PETROLINE BACITRACIN OINTMENT
1 TUBE OF OPTHALMIC OINTMENT FOR EYE INFECTIONS
1 PACKAGE OF 4 – 2X2 CAMOUFLAGED COMPRESS AND BANDAGE

RTO (Radio Telephone Operator)
Outfitted like a rifleman accept the RTO would have a PRC77 or PRC77 radio strapped to his back with either the radio carrier or packframe with shelf.  RTO’s were targets!  They often tried to hide the radio a bit.  You often see claymore mine bags tied to the radio, used to carry spare batteries, flares, etc..  A radio assecories bag would also be attached to the straps holding the radio in place, this would contain antenna components, maybe a spare handset.  A buttpack could be strapped below the radio.  The RTO would keep his radio well masked, and in doing so would  keep his profile down. RTO’s were easy targets to VC with their antenna acting like a flag.  Take out the radio and you would take out a valuable platoon resource.

This RTO would carry flares, smoke grenades, an areal ID panel, map, radio accessories bag, machete and a pink flashlight.

Bug -Juice (Insect Repellent) Type II A
There are three varieties: (1) clear bottle with paper label, (2) clear bottle with printing directly on the bottle and (3) green bottle also with printing directly on the bottle.

C-Ration Spoon
White plastic spoon that came with the C-Rations accessory pack.

C-Ration P-38 Can Opener
A small metal device for opening cans.  When soldiers had C-rations, the P-38 was your access to food, that made it a high priority.  Soldiers discovered the tool acquired its name from the 38 punctures required to open a C-ration can, and from the boast that it performed with the speed of the World War II P-38 fighter plane.  Never in its 52-year history has it been known to break, rust, need sharpening or polishing.  The P-38 was an extremely simple, lightweight, multipurpose tool.  In warfare, the simpler something is and the easier access it has, the more you’re going to use it. The P-38 had all of those things going for it.  The P-38 is one of those tools you keep and never want to get rid of because you can use it as a screwdriver, knife, anything.  Perhaps that is why many soldiers, past and present, regard the P-38 C-ration can opener as the Army’s best invention.

Gun Oil – LSA (Light Small Arms)
A plastic bottle containing LSA gun oil.  Sometimes seen in the helmets.

Matches
A cardboard packet of damp resistant matches that comes with the C-Rations accessory packet.  Nice to have but damp resistant is a relative term.  Usually mush and useless if there is any sort of moisture in the air.

First Aid Packet 4 x 7 Inch
A small first aid packet sealed in plastic wrapping containing a sterilized cotton gauze.  Normally kept in the Compass Pouch, but also seen kept in the helmet band, especially by Medics.  Be sure to keep an eye out for dates on these packets.

Medic Head gear on M1 helmut band
First aid packet (4 x 7 Inch
(Typically aid pack on helmet headband or in compass pouch)
Insect Repellent

M1956 Sleeping Carrier

Boxer Shorts
Socks

Field Jacket – M151
Field Jacket – M65

M16 Jeep Vehicle Rifle Holder

Helmut Band optional items (Typically 1 0r 2 items)
Insect Repellent – Type II A (“Bug Juice)
Rifle light weight oil (white plastic bottle)
Cigarettes (from C-Ration)
Matches
Ace Death Card
Ammo Clip
C-Ration can opener (Had multiple uses)
C-Ration spoon (white)

BEER 
Schlitz Beer (“The Beer that made Milwaukee famous”
Beer Opener
C-Ration Can Opener

CIGARETTES (typical from C-Ration)
Marlboro
Salem
Camel

Maps

Photos (personal)
Letters (personal)

Watch
Bulova or Hamilton (Depending on issue year)
(Additional details provided in a separate article and blog)

Watch Band – Nato or modified

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED - - INFORMATION PROVIDED IS FROM david.brubakers.us - M38A1Jeep.us - - Those sources have research, historical data, photographs and related resource links.

M16A1 Rifle | M7 Bayonet

[9][10][n 1] The original M16 was a select-fire,5.56×45mm rifle with a 20-round magazine.

In 1964, the M16 entered American military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War.[1] In 1969, the M16A1 replaced theM14 rifle to become the U.S. military’s standard service rifle.[13][14] The M16A1 improvements include a bolt-assist, chrome plated bore and a new 30-round magazine.[1] In 1983, the USMC adopted the M16A2 rifle and the U.S. Army adopted it in 1986. The M16A2 fires the improved 5.56×45mm NATO (M855/SS109) cartridge and has a new adjustable rear sight, case deflector, heavy barrel, improved handguard, pistol grip and buttstock, as well as a semi-auto and three-round burst only fire selector.[15][16] Adopted in 1998, the M16A4 is the fourth generation of the M16 series.[17] It is equipped with a removable carrying handle and Picatinny rail for mounting optics and other ancillary devices.[17]

The M16 has also been widely adopted by other militaries around the world. Total worldwide production of M16s has been approximately 8 million, making it the most-produced firearm of its 5.56 mm caliber.[18] The U.S. Army has largely replaced the M16 in combat units with the shorter and lighter M4 carbine,[19] and the U.S. Marine Corps approved a similar change in October 2015.[20]

Background

After World War II, the United States military started looking for a single automatic rifle to replace the M1 Garand, M1/M2 Carbines, M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, M3 “Grease Gun” and Thompson submachine gun.[21][22] However, early experiments with select-fire versions of the M1 Garand proved disappointing.[23] During the Korean War, the select-fire M2 carbine largely replaced the submachine gun in US service[24] and became the most widely used Carbine variant.[25] However, combat experience suggested that the .30 Carbine round was under-powered.[26] American weapons designers concluded that an intermediate round was necessary, and recommended a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge.[27]

However, senior American commanders having faced fanatical enemies and experienced major logistical problems during WWII and the Korean War,[28][29][30][31][32] insisted that a single powerful .30 caliber cartridge be developed, that could not only be used by the new automatic rifle, but by the new general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) in concurrent development.[33][34] This culminated in the development of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge and the M14 rifle[33] which was an improved M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine and automatic fire capability.[35][36][37] The US also adopted the M60 general purpose machine gun (GPMG).[33] Its NATO partners adopted the FN FAL and HK G3 rifles, as well as the FN MAG and Rheinmetall MG3 GPMGs.

The first confrontations between the AK-47 and the M14 came in the early part of the Vietnam War. Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammo to maintain fire superiority over the AK-47.[35][38] And, while the M2 carbine offered a high rate of fire, it was under-powered and ultimately outclassed by the AK-47.[39] A replacement was needed: a medium between the traditional preference for high-powered rifles such as the M14, and the lightweight firepower of the M2 Carbine.

As a result, the Army was forced to reconsider a 1957 request by General Willard G. Wyman, commander of the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) to develop a .223 caliber (5.56 mm) select-fire rifle weighing 6 lb (2.7 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.[21] The 5.56 mm round had to penetrate a standard U.S. helmet at 500 yards (460 meters) and retain a velocity in excess of the speed of sound, while matching or exceeding the wounding ability of the .30 Carbine cartridge.[40]

This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of the Armalite AR-10, called AR-15 rifle.[8][9][41] However, despite overwhelming evidence that the AR-15 could bring more firepower to bear than the M14, the Army opposed the adoption of the new rifle.[8][35] In January 1963, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara concluded that the AR-15 was the superior weapon system and ordered a halt to M14 production.[8][35] At the time, the AR-15 was the only rifle available that could fulfill the requirement of a universal infantry weapon for issue to all services.

After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[9] the new redesigned rifle was subsequently adopted as the M16 Rifle and went into production in March 1964.[1][8] “(The M16) was much lighter compared to the M14 it replaced, ultimately allowing soldiers to carry more ammunition. The air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle was made of steel, aluminum alloy and composite plastics, truly cutting-edge for the time. Designed with full and semi-automatic capabilities, the weapon initially did not respond well to wet and dirty conditions, sometimes even jamming in combat. After a few minor modifications, the weapon gained in popularity among troops on the battlefield.”[35][42][43]

Adoption

In July 1960, General Curtis LeMay was impressed by a demonstration of the ArmaLite AR-15. In the summer of 1961, General LeMay was promoted to United States Air Force, Chief of Staff, and requested 80,000 AR-15s. However, General Maxwell D. Taylor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President John F. Kennedy that having two different calibers within the military system at the same time would be problematic and the request was rejected.[44] In October 1961, William Godel, a senior man at the Advanced Research Projects Agency, sent 10 AR-15s to South Vietnam. The reception was enthusiastic, and in 1962, another 1,000 AR-15s were sent.[45] United States Army Special Forces personnel filed battlefield reports lavishly praising the AR-15 and the stopping-power of the 5.56 mm cartridge, and pressed for its adoption.[35]

The damage caused by the 5.56 mm bullet was originally believed to be caused by “tumbling” due to the slow 1 in 14-inch (360 mm) rifling twist rate.[35][44] However, any pointed lead core bullet will “tumble” after penetration in flesh, because the center of gravity is towards the rear of the bullet. The large wounds observed by soldiers in Vietnam were actually caused by bullet fragmentation, which was created by a combination of the bullet’s velocity and construction.[46] These wounds were so devastating, that the photographs remained classified into the 1980s.[47]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara now had two conflicting views: the ARPA report[48] favoring the AR-15 and the Army’s position favoring the M14.[35] Even President Kennedy expressed concern, so McNamara ordered Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance to test the M14, the AR-15 and the AK-47. The Army reported that only the M14 was suitable for service, but Vance wondered about the impartiality of those conducting the tests. He ordered the Army Inspector General to investigate the testing methods used; the Inspector General confirmed that the testers were biased towards the M14.

In January 1963, Secretary McNamara received reports that M14 production was insufficient to meet the needs of the armed forces and ordered a halt to M14 production.[35] At the time, the AR-15 was the only rifle that could fulfill a requirement of a “universal” infantry weapon for issue to all services. McNamara ordered its adoption, despite receiving reports of several deficiencies, most notably the lack of a chrome-plated chamber.[49]

After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[9] the new redesigned rifle was renamed the Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16.[1]</ref>[8] Inexplicably, the modification to the new M16 did not include a chrome-plated barrel. Meanwhile, the Army relented and recommended the adoption of the M16 for jungle warfare operations. However, the Army insisted on the inclusion of a forward assist to help push the bolt into battery in the event that a cartridge failed to seat into the chamber. The Air Force, Colt and Eugene Stoner believed that the addition of a forward assist was an unjustified expense. As a result, the design was split into two variants: the Air Force’s M16 without the forward assist, and the XM16E1 with the forward assist for the other service branches.

In November 1963, McNamara approved the U.S. Army’s order of 85,000 XM16E1s;[35][50] and to appease General LeMay, the Air Force was granted an order for another 19,000 M16s.[51][52] In March 1964, the M16 rifle went into production and the Army accepted delivery of the first batch of 2,129 rifles later that year, and an additional 57,240 rifles the following year.[1]

n 1964, the Army was informed that DuPont could not mass-produce the IMR 4475 stick powder to the specifications demanded by the M16. Therefore, Olin Mathieson Company provided a high-performance ball propellant. While the Olin WC 846 powder achieved the desired 3,300 ft (1,000 m) per second muzzle velocity, it produced much more fouling, that quickly jammed the M16s action (unless the rifle was cleaned well and often).

Front cover – The M16A1 Rifle – Operation and Preventive Maintenance by Will Eisner

In March 1965, the Army began to issue the XM16E1 to infantry units. However, the rifle was initially delivered without adequate cleaning kits[35] or instructions because Colt had claimed the M16 was self-cleaning. As a result, reports of stoppages in combat began to surface.[35] The most severe problem, was known as “failure to extract”—the spent cartridge case remained lodged in the chamber after the rifle was fired.[35][53] Documented accounts of dead U.S. troops found next to disassembled rifles eventually led to a Congressional investigation.[35][54]

We left with 72 men in our platoon and came back with 19, Believe it or not, you know what killed most of us? Our own rifle. Practically every one of our dead was found with his (M16) torn down next to him where he had been trying to fix it.

— Marine Corps Rifleman, Vietnam.[54][55]

In February 1967, the improved XM16E1 was standardized as the M16A1.[51] The new rifle had a chrome-plated chamber and bore to eliminate corrosion and stuck cartridges and other, minor, modifications.[35] New cleaning kits, powder solvents and lubricants were also issued. Intensive training programs in weapons cleaning were instituted including a comic book-style operations manual.[56][57] As a result, reliability problems diminished and the M16A1 rifle achieved widespread acceptance by U.S. troops in Vietnam.[35][43]

In 1969, the M16A1 officially replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military’s standard service rifle.[13][14] In 1970, the new WC 844 powder was introduced to reduce fouling.[58]

Reliability

During the early part of its career, the M16 had a reputation for poor reliability and a malfunction rate of two per 1000 rounds fired.[59] The M16’s action works by passing high pressure propellant gasses tapped from the barrel down a tube and into the carrier group within the upper receiver, and is commonly referred to as a “direct impingement gas system”. The gas expands within a donut shaped gas cylinder within the carrier. Because the bolt is prevented from moving forward by the barrel, the carrier is driven to the rear by the expanding gasses and thus converts the energy of the gas to movement of the rifle’s parts. The bolt bears a piston head and the cavity in the bolt carrier is the piston sleeve. It is more correct to call it an “internal piston” system.”[60] This design is much lighter and more compact than a gas-piston design. However, this design requires that combustion byproducts from the discharged cartridge be blown into the receiver as well. This accumulating carbon and vaporized metal build-up within the receiver and bolt-carrier negatively affects reliability and necessitates more intensive maintenance on the part of the individual soldier. The channeling of gasses into the bolt carrier during operation increases the amount of heat that is deposited in the receiver while firing the M16 and causes essential lubricant to be “burned off”. This requires frequent and generous applications of appropriate lubricant.[21] Lack of proper lubrication is the most common source of weapon stoppages or jams.[21]

The original M16 fared poorly in the jungles of Vietnam and was infamous for reliability problems in the harsh environment. As a result, it became the target of a Congressional investigation.[61] The investigation found that:[1]

  1. The M16 was billed as self-cleaning (when no weapon is or ever has been).
  2. The M16 was issued to troops without cleaning kits or instruction on how to clean the rifle.
  3. The M16 and 5.56×45mm cartridge was tested and approved with the use of a DuPont IMR8208M stick powder, that was switched to Olin Mathieson WC846 ball powder which produced much more fouling, that quickly jammed the action of the M16 (unless the gun was cleaned well and often).
  4. The M16 lacked a forward assist (rendering the rifle inoperable when it jammed).
  5. The M16 lacked a chrome-plated chamber, which allowed corrosion problems and contributed to case extraction failures. (This was considered the most severe problem and required extreme measures to clear, such as inserting the cleaning-rod down the barrel and knocking the spent cartridge out.)

101st Airborne trooper carrying an M16A1 during the Vietnam War (circa 1969).  Note: 20-round magazine.

When these issues were addressed and corrected by the M16A1, the reliability problems decreased greatly.[51] According to a 1968 Department of Army report, the M16A1 rifle achieved widespread acceptance by U.S. troops in Vietnam.[43] “Most men armed with the M16 in Vietnam rated this rifle’s performance high, however, many men entertained some misgivings about the M16’s reliability. When asked what weapon they preferred to carry in combat, 85 percent indicated that they wanted either the M16 or its [smaller] submachine gun version, the XM177E2.” Also “the M14 was preferred by 15 percent, while less than one percent wished to carry either the Stoner rifle, the AK-47, the carbine or a pistol.”[43] In March 1970, the “President’s Blue Ribbon Defense Panel” concluded that the issuance of the M16 saved the lives of 20,000 U.S. servicemen during the Vietnam War, who would have otherwise died had the M14 remained in service.[62] However, the M16 rifle’s reputation continues to suffer.[51][63]Currently, the M16 is in use by 15 NATO countries and more than 80 countries worldwide.

Design

The M16 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle, with a rotating bolt. The M16’s receivers are made of 7075 aluminum alloy, its barrel, bolt, and bolt carrier of steel, and its handguards, pistol grip, and buttstock of plastics.

The M16A1 was especially lightweight at 7.9 pounds (3.6 kg) with a loaded 30-round magazine.[77] This was significantly less than the M14 that it replaced at 10.7 pounds (4.9 kg) with a loaded 20-round magazine.[78]

Barrel

Early model M16 barrels had a rifling twist of 4 grooves, right hand twist, 1 turn in 14 inches (1:355.6 mm) bore – as it was the same rifling used by the .222 Remington sporting round. This was shown to make the light .223 Remington bullet yaw in flight at long ranges and it was soon replaced. Later models had an improved rifling with 6 grooves, right hand twist, 1 turn in 12 inches (1:304.8 mm) for increased accuracy and was optimized for use with the standard U.S. M193 cartridge.

 Magazines

Vietnam era 20-round magazine (left) and Current issue NATO STANAG 30-round magazine (right)

The M16’s magazine was meant to be a lightweight, disposable item.[112][113] As such, it is made of pressed/stamped aluminum and was not designed to be durable.[112] The M16 originally used a 20-round magazine which was later replaced by a bent 30-round design. As a result, the magazine follower tends to rock or tilt, causing malfunctions.[113] Many non-U.S. and commercial magazines have been developed to effectively mitigate these shortcomings (e.g., H&K’s all-stainless-steel magazine, Magpul’s polymer P-MAG, etc.).[112][113]

Production of 30-round magazine started late 1967 but did not fully replace the 20-round magazine till the mid 1970s.[113] Standard USGI aluminum 30-round M16 magazines weigh 0.24 lb (0.11 kg) empty and are 7.1 inches (18 cm) long.[114][115] The newer plastic magazines are about a half inch longer.[116] The newer steel magazines are about 0.5 inch longer and four ounces heavier.[117] The M16’s magazine has become the unofficial NATO STANAG magazine and is currently used by many Western Nations, in numerous weapon systems.[118][119]

M7 Bayonet

The M7 bayonet is based on earlier designs such as the M4, M5, & M6 bayonets, all of which are direct descendants of the M3 Fighting Knife and have spear-point blade with a half sharpened secondary edge.

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