"Vietnam vehicles." Topic

T-54/55

M113A1 FSV

M47

Centurion

M110

UH-1

CH-47 (somewhat updated)

Caribou

Funny the M47 snuck in there. Mind I always thought that it would have been a pretty good use of it in a secondary theatre. Especially if they gave it the "M" upgrade with the newer diesel version to triple the range and use the space of the empty hull gunner for more ammo stowage.

It could sling HE. HEP, Cannister and WP with the best of them.

The M113 with Saladin turret and Ferret half in shot adjacent the M47 are presumably associated with the Australian contingent in Vietnam, Republic of.

The Centurion (not yet modified to the Mk 5/1) is as well, 42flanker, but that one didn't go to VN and hasn't had the fume extractor and vanes fitted to the barrel. It also has a School of Armour tac plate. I don't think the Ferrets made it outside Oz.

You left out the M42 Duster.

That FSV was my first Tamiya kit. Has anyone gotten the Rubicon vehicles for 'Nam?

Haven't seen an M42, or M48. No Australian armoured cars went to Vietnam; in fact they mostly just ended up as donor vehicles for FSV builds.

M41

Land Rover with recoilless

M114

M113A1 (somewhat updated)

Forgive a dumb question, but the source of these photos? Do they all come from some marvelous event and a fine museum?

No Australian armoured cars went to Vietnam

Thanks for confirming that, mate. BTW, why the black "57" on the tac plate, do you know? I never saw black on an infantry plate, whether ARes or ARA.

but the source of these photos? Do they all come from some marvelous event and a fine museum?

They're all from the Armour and Artillery Museum ( ausarmour.com ) in Cairns, Liam. It's not as big as Bovington, Saumur or Munster, but it's still impressive and an excellent collection. I was finally able to get up there last month.

And, of course, the Centurion ( That didn't go to Vietnam, Republic of)

And the museum, too! Who new?

Centurions surely did go to RVN, with the Aussies, just not the type shown here (not that I would have spotted that, mind you. Shermans in WWII maybe, but anything later I am just bluffing)

Centurions surely did go to RVN, with the Aussies, just not the type shown here

The tank in the museum didn't go to VN, but we did rotate squadrons of tanks through 1ATF. One thing I liked about the museums is that the info plaques are fairly detailed and give the vehicle's history, if known.

@Deadhead: a museum and an event – every year near Fathers Day the Museum hosts AusArmourfest, where they take select vehicles out for a ride all weekend and allow the public to ride (costs extra).
The aircraft are from the last open day at RAAF Garbutt.

I would pay a lot to ride on some of those AFVs. I saw the list of exhibits on the website and it is superb.

Thanks for sharing great photos

Make the trip, mate, you know you want to. As further encouragement, here's a shot of one side of the main hall.

I was just wondering what is that contraption looking like a recoiless rifle that is fastened to the M47's gun barrel?

That is a training system.

They are great photos, esp as they show such close up detail. Just what river counters like me want to see.

That shot of the main hall is brilliant. I think I see a Firefly!

That is not off a phone. What's your camera?

The sunshine gets to me. It is March here and it has been a long damp winter. OK, nothing like as cold as 30 years ago up north. But at last we are seeing the sun for over 12 hours a day.

Nikon Coolpix S33.

It does not handle the sunshine, it washes everything out.