"Gringos 40 NVA again" Topic

Another selection painted up. I have very few NVA figures (it is just me but…….) However I do have a few from this group. I think the painting here is of a much higher standard that I achieved. I love the drab muted colours, so realistic.

Great job and agree it's your best work yet.

Oh this is not my work, let me stress that! I wish!

I have been distracted recently by 1/72 Free French tanks in Paris and various Prussian cavalry in the same scale. I still prefer 28mm, but you can pack more on the table and, for a Waterloo project, that is vital.

Gringo40s NVA rather well painted by Tim from
Table-Top-Tim painting service.

cheers
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

very nice painting style

A new pic through today;

thanks Liam!

cheers
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

and from another artist. NVA from Gringo40s as seen in Hue and photographed by Catherine Leroy;

indeed Liam ..fully rigged ,,
thanks for posting

cheers
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

OK, might not be Hue, but this is a VC nicely painted. Of all "colours", I think we will all agree that pure black or white are the most challenging (the latter especially) but this is nicely highlighted. She does look oriental and with a female face thank goodness. The rifle? Bolt action…an old French one? I am sure the experts will know.

cheers for posting Liam…she is loading a Russian Moisin Nagant.or possibly the ChiCom copy….i had the Russian original made!

regards
Ged
gringo40s.com

Very nice ! 👍👌 Look good enough to call in an airstrike or FA ! Or both !!!! 😁

Two more due shortly I gather.

I really do like the advancing girl. She looks petite and slender rather than a UFC fighter. The hat does give that VC look also.

Both have great oriental features I think;

legion 4

cheers for the input!!

regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
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Seems they are already released Ged tells me and he has asked me to post six more new ones. I do like to see the VN shown as shorter and less well built than US Marines, esp if the former happen to be female. I think the walking girl, in the Coolie hat, is just great, dwarfed by her weapon. Can't wish her well, but she makes a fine model (a miniature I mean);

thanks for posting Liam!

cheers
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

Those VC keep coming (just like the real thing in the wire). This latest Gringo40s figure in 28mm is a VC fighter in the act of throwing a ChiCom grenade…armed with a Moisin Nagant rifle/ Ged tells me not all these grenades went off,,,and the explosive charge was lower than the US ones. I am sure I will soon have a front view to show you;

Now this is more like it. Great painting work

cheers Liam!!

regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

and again some really talented painting here;

First view of one of the new range painted up;

thanks for posting Liam!

regards
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

Great models & great paint jobs ! Too bad they all are going to have die … orders are orders …

Front view long awaited;

Like the earlier one above, but new weapon

thanks Liam foe posting
thought you might like to
know the weapon carried
as mentioned to our friend Legion 4

the PPSH-43 smg (folded stock)
or to redefine even more Chinese
typr43, a popular weapon

cheers
Ged gringo40s.com

Yeah like I said on the the longer thread, it's been a long time since I saw one …

legion4..more pictures to follow of the last post!

regards
Ged
gringo40s.com

Thank you !

This lass does not travel light!

thanks Liam… some serious loads were
carried by the VC..mainly the women VC!
as depicted!

cheers
Ged
gringo40s.com

Very nice work on her knapsack. Highlights and shading are cleverly done;

As I understand, US troops could be burdened with 80-100lbs or more. By comparison, in combat the PAVN/NLF would seldom be carrying more that 10-20kg. Partly because they did not have the ammunition supply and could nearly always dictate the start and end of any engagement. While on the march, they might well have significantly more of course.

Interested in any other sources/data that may be available.

The US ARMY [has?]had what is called a "Fighting Load" about 25 lbs or so. And an "Existence Load" well over 25lbs closer to 85lbs + … Note these loads include the weight of boots, helmet, E-Tool, etc.

The good thing about a tropical environment is you don't have to be burdened with Cold Weather gear.

The average load would primarily be ammo, water and rations. Water + ammo being the heaviest of the items.

Average weight carried by infantrymen in Vietnam was (+-) 85 pounds. Numbers below.

2 Frag grenades – 2 lb.,
2 Smoke grenades – 3 lb.,
1 claymore mine – 3.5 lb.,
Helmet – 5 lb.,
Boots – 2 lb.,
Poncho and liner 3 lb.,
Entrenching tool (shovel) – 5 lb.,
M-16 ammo – 14 lb.,
200 hundred M60 ammo in can – 13 lb.,
Rifle – 7.5 lb.,
Machete – 3lb,.
Sandbags (empty) – 4 lb.,
3-4 days C-rations 6 lb.,
1 1/2 gal. Water – 12 lbs.

Adds up to 79 + pounds.

Additionally a fire team shared equipment to include a full sized shovel, a full sized pick (maybe), starlight scope, LAW and radio batteries, for about another 7 lb.

link

I am mostly going by what Chellini got loaded down with in the 13th Valley – though he was an RTO and was told by an old timer to ditch a lot of it.

I've also read and heard many infantry units had mobility compromised by having too much weight in their packs.

I had, but have lost, some AARs of Airborne units in the Central Highlands. Given the terrain, climate and caution needed, movement rate was 100-200 metres per hour.

David Hackworth also comments on the need to go without resupply/medevac to avoid detection.

A lot depends on your Cdr & NCOs, unit SOPs, etc. … The lighter the better. As I have been told by at least one of my Bn Cdrs in the 101 who served in Vietnam. Priority is Water & Ammo

Having moved thru the jungle of Panama, as an LT with the 101. With most senior NCOs and Officers having served in Vietnam. We travelled light. We generally ran 12-24 hrs ops. Then even up to 48-72 hrs or more. Were resupplied as needed, by Choppers, LCMs and even a USAF Drop.

It felt a lot like they were "refighting" Vietnam, with some lessons learned, etc. We were still using equipment that were leftovers from Vietnam. Even some of the C-Rats.

Humping thru the jungle was no walk in the park, as anyone will tell you.

That's a very useful list Legion, and a staggering amount to carry in 100 degrees F and 100% humidity, over the kind of terrain they had to traverse.

And it would vary with the mission, how much the unit was able/prepared to rely on helicopters to resupply and a host of other factors.

In the 13th Valley [and some other novels based on real experience] the point was made that troops in the field did not always have all the kit they should have. Just because the PS ordered everyone to bring a claymore does not mean everyone has one when needed….people are only human and when many missions fail to make contact it would be tempting to 'forget', or 'mislay', equipment that made your life a misery.

This is a point alluded to in Platoon, where Elias takes some of Taylor's gear off him and tells him not to bring it all next time.

Back to the PAVN/NLF loads. They mostly did not have the ammo supply and other gear available to carry more than a fraction of what the US grunts were given to carry. So I think combat loads were around half what the US had to lug around.

great feedback above.

Here is the same lass now front view;

And it would vary with the mission, how much the unit was able/prepared to rely on helicopters to resupply and a host of other factors.

A USAF C-130, IIRC, in Panama did a supply drop for us. They missed the DZ by only a few seconds. It took us about 4 hours to get to where they made the drop. Much of it uphill. By the time we got there the locals had taken everything. The only thing they left was the 461 lbs. pallet our rations, water, etc., were loaded on.

Hope they enjoyed our rations !

A chopper came by later slung loaded the pallet out, IIRC. As we were sure the locals were getting enough of their "Amigos" to carry it back to where ever.

Later a UH-1H with our Log Officer resupplied us. By hovering low over a small whole in the jungle and used climbing ropes to lower the Cs & water down to us. Some of the C-Rat cans got bent up a little but other than that no problem. IIRC they just chucked our Cs out the door.

They mostly did not have the ammo supply and other gear available to carry more than a fraction of what the US grunts were given to carry. So I think combat loads were around half what the US had to lug around.

At times they had caches of weapons & ammo, etc. Depending on the situation, etc.

The dynamic when the US troops were operating deep in 'Indian Country' would be that the PAVN/NLF forces would either be on a mission which had be carefully planned down to the last round almost OR – it would be a chance encounter and the PAVN/NLF's best option would be to break contact and escape – often to a cave or perhaps tunnel/bunker complex that afforded protection from bombing and artillery. Ergo – the less in their backpacks the better.

Local NLF might have only a weapon, 1-2 spare magazines and a grenade or two. PAVN/Main force NLF would have perhaps 3 magazines plus one in the gun, a few grenades and a small amount of food and water.

Meanwhile, the US knew they would have to fight it out for days on end and resupply could well be impossible due to weather or enemy fire. The pilots often flew in heroically despite weather and hot LZs to take out wounded and drop off ammo. Chickenhawk is a gripping read that recounts many desperate missions like this.

Nice sculpt of a PPS-43 or most likely a Chinese copy. Either it's oversize by about 50% or she is one of the tiny 4'6" women like my ex-wife's grandma.

The dynamic when the US troops were operating deep in 'Indian Country' would be that the PAVN/NLF forces would either be on a mission which had be carefully planned down to the last round almost OR – it would be a chance encounter and the PAVN/NLF's best option would be to break contact and escape – often to a cave or perhaps tunnel/bunker complex that afforded protection from bombing and artillery. Ergo – the less in their backpacks the better.

The US called that "Movement to Contact". In the old days it was referred to "a Recon in Force". In SE Asia it was their backyard. They could come and go as they please. As well as it was heavily jungled. You could almost be on top of someone before you saw them. Especially if they don't want to be seen/found.

Once a US unit makes contact, they do what was called "develop the situation". Which basically means find the enemy location(s), fix them with fire and call in Mortars, FA, CAS or even Naval Gunfire.

Oh, and it was pronounced more like "Ingin Country" by some the troops I talked to. That served in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, the US knew they would have to fight it out for days on end and resupply could well be impossible due to weather or enemy fire. The pilots often flew in heroically despite weather and hot LZs to take out wounded and drop off ammo. Chickenhawk is a gripping read that recounts many desperate missions like this.

Read Chicken Hawk when I was in the ROK. After I left the 101 and assigned to a Mech Bn[M113] of the 2ID. If it was one thing we learned. Avoid forced entry ops, e.g. Hot LZs, beach assaults, etc.

Also recommend reading "A Bright Shining Lie" by Neil Sheehan.

or she is one of the tiny 4'6" women

Many Asian females from that region are a bit small. As we know. Besides genetics, their diet and medical care, may not be the best, either.

BTW, my girlfriend at Ft. Campbell, KY, when I was with the 101. Was 1/2 American and 1/2 Japanese. IIRC she was only about 5' … Her daddy was a USAF MAJ and her "mamassan" was from Osaka.

fascinating narrative chaps…!!

cheers
Ged
gringo40s.com
gringo40s.blogspot.com

Plenty of taller women around now. But also the average is still around 5' and 'petite' build.

Only a few men are over 6', with the average around 5'5".

Back at the time of the American war, I'd say the averages were about 4'10" for women and 5'2" for men. Slightly larger in the North than the South, apparently.

I think it's enough difference from Americans to be visible even in 28mm or 20mm scales.

Yes, all that makes sense … And if I understand this correctly there are/were a large number of Amer-Asians after the war. Asian mother – American Dad. I've heard different stories of how they were treated, being "Half-Breeds" so to speak. Skarper you may know more about this that I do, obviously, since you live there now.

fascinating narrative chaps…!!

Thank you ! Always glad to share my training, experiences, etc. While I was in the ARMY, i.e.: '75-'79 = ROTC, '79-'90 = Active Duty, '91 USAR. For those that are interested especially when it comes to history and painting "Toy Soldiers", etc.

The plight of Amerasians born during the US involvement in Vietnam is indeed rather tragic – like so much of the history of that time.

We don't see many mixed race people in that age group now, even in DaNang, since most were able to emigrate to the US under some special programs. I'm sure a lot perished in the interim 10-15 years.

Korean/Vietnamese people still remain from that time, and they face prejudice and discrimination to this day. I can't tell who might be half Korean, but the locals can and so much paperwork is needed to do anything, it would be hard to cover up being mixed race when applying for a job, getting married or similar.

These mixed race children arose from consensual relationships, commercial relationships but all too often from rape. The Koreans were especially notorious for this, and other warcrimes. Not that the US were innocent. And I'm aware the PAVN/NLF were guilty too.

Just another sad aspect of a tragic period in history.

Interesting … thank you for that information. And yes more tragic events in a war full of tragic events.

BTW, one of the local fingernail places in town are owned and run by, IIRC Hmongs. My ex-girlfriend use to go there. Very hard working and industrious people. Speak pretty good English too.

We also have 2 Vietnamese food places. One called Pho Saigon. Run by some Vietnamese. Probably from the South, who made it here after the war. Pretty good also …

I saw a video on youtube about the time a South Vietnamese general [or something] fled from Vietnam in a light aircraft with his wife and daughters. He wanted to land on an aircraft carrier but the deck was crowded with helicopters. They had to push the helicopters over the side in order to let them land. They would have died otherwise.

Anyway – the girls were looked after onboard the ship by some VIP American woman who had very fancy nails. They were so intrigued that when they got to America they started a nail salon, and started the trend.

As for the Hmong, this is touched on in Gran Torino too. The Hmong were dragged into the war by the CIA and then largely abandoned to their fate. Some Christian religious groups later helped some emigrate to the US.

Quite recently, a large group that had been wandering around the mountainous border regions surrendered and received amnesty after over 30 years!

The younger generation here are quite bored of hearing about the war years, but the over 60s are still shaped or scarred by them. It's not all that long ago to them.

Yes, I remember seeing the footage of Helicopters[UH-1s and CH-47s mostly] being push off the carrier. As they had no place to land any other aircraft. Pretty upsetting all around.

We have a number of Asian owed and operated by Vietnamese, Hmong, etc. Nail Salons here. I know I looked at my former girlfriend's nail when she came back from getting them done. I was impressed by the detail. Very nicely done.

Yes, Grand Torino was a pretty good movie. I like they had the storyline heavily included the Hmong. Again many of the younger generation had little to no idea about the Hmong or even the 1st Cav in the Korean War, etc.

but the over 60s are still shaped or scarred by them. It's not all that long ago to them.

At our staff meeting today. We were told one of our members who flew UH-1s in Vietnam was dying of cancer from Agent Orange. I had not seen in couple of years. I mentioned, "That war still effects many here to this day." …

Yes, I remember seeing the footage of Helicopters[UH-1s and CH-47s mostly being push off the carrier. As they had no place to land any other aircraft. Pretty upsetting all around.

We have a number of Asian owed and operated by Vietnamese, Hmong, etc. I know I looked at my former girlfriend's nail when she came back from getting her nails done. Very nicely done.

Yes, Grand Torino was a pretty good movie. I like they had the storyline heavily included the Hmong. Again many of the younger generation had little to no idea about the Hmong or even the 1st Cav in the Korean War, etc.

but the over 60s are still shaped or scarred by them. It's not all that long ago to them.

At our staff meeting today. We were told one of our members who flew UH-1s in Vietnam was dying of cancer from Agent Orange. I had not seen in couple of years. I mentioned, "That war still effects many here to this day." …

I remember the ARVN helicopter pilot who could not land his Chinook, but dropped his family into the sea at a very low level and they all got onto a USN ship OK.

But he did not stand a chance of surviving a ditching. Except he did get out and made it. The comment at the time was about his incredible skill. A BBC documentary I think.

Anyway, latest painted up from Ged's VC range. that is a flare pistol by all accounts;