| Mako11 | 01 Oct 2015 2:48 a.m. PST |
I see these being mentioned as used during at least part of the Vietnam War, and suspect in Europe, they may have been kept in inventory for a bit longer, especially in Reserve units. So, I'd like to know the approximate retirement date for this weapon. I'm guessing perhaps around the mid-1970s for active units, and possibly a bit later for Reserve units? Thoughts? I know the Danes kept them on hand through at least the mid-1970s for some of their forces. |
| John Treadaway | 01 Oct 2015 4:10 a.m. PST |
Our cadet (CCF) unit had one in 1975, if that helps! Not sure we had any live ammunition for it, mind you… John T |
| Cold Steel | 01 Oct 2015 4:54 a.m. PST |
The ROKs were still carrying them in 1986. |
 Legion 4  | 01 Oct 2015 5:42 a.m. PST |
I'm pretty sure the US Army never used them in Vietnam. The M72 pretty much was the replacement. And Recoiless Rifles. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazooka From that link > Vietnam War[edit]The M20 "Super Bazooka" was used in the early stages of the war in Vietnam by the US Marines before gradually being phased out of in favor of the M67 recoilless rifle and later, the M72 LAW rocket.[37] While occasions to destroy enemy armored vehicles proved exceedingly rare, it was employed against enemy fortifications and emplacements with success. The M20 remained in service with South Vietnamese and indigenous forces until the late 1960s.
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| skippy0001 | 01 Oct 2015 5:51 a.m. PST |
Still good for plinkin' those fancy-schmancy new-fangled wheeled afv's. |
| Jemima Fawr | 01 Oct 2015 6:12 a.m. PST |
Danish reservists apparently still had them into the 80s. Argentina was using them in the Falklands. |
| troopwo | 01 Oct 2015 9:39 a.m. PST |
Used until the late seventies in Canada.
At least in the reserves. Used in Viet Nam bu the ARVN and especially by the indigenous and RF/PF. The US Army already switched to the 90mm recoilless. I now the South Africans trained on them and then issued RPGs for Angola in the eighties. :ate seventies western europe, early eighties for asia and africa is a good standard. |
 Saber6  | 01 Oct 2015 12:35 p.m. PST |
My Unit Armorer's class in Germany in '79 had a portion for those units that still had these (mostly QM and Signal units) |
| Dennis0302 | 01 Oct 2015 1:43 p.m. PST |
According to Gordon Rottmanns' book Vietnam Airborne the 173rd used them in country.The USMC used them actively in country until 1969. When used by trained crews, they could be absoulutely deadly. See Eric Hammel's "Death Valley."The USMC began to phase them out due to ammunition relaibility issues but they were still used in training as late as 1974.The replacemnt weapons for the 3.5" was the M202 Multi Shot Flame Weapon.One of the worst weapons every palmed off on the American military other than the M-16 and the M9 pistol. The M202 was replaced by the SMAAW. For more on the M202 see link |
| Legion 4 | 02 Oct 2015 6:39 a.m. PST |
Didn't know the 173d ABN used them to that late date. However, it makes sense as it is lighter than a RR. Thanks for the intel. Yes, never was a fan of the M202. It was being phased out when I was going on active duty, in '79. Saw in once fired on a Range. My Unit Armorer's class in Germany in '79 had a portion for those units that still had these (mostly QM and Signal units) Yes, in '88, the CEs in our Mech Bde were still using RR. I think 90mm ? |
| Mako11 | 02 Oct 2015 2:38 p.m. PST |
Thanks for all the replies, guys. I really appreciate it. |
