![]() A two story bar, from which they looted some cases of orange soda, had been destroyed there were some burned out cars and some houses were completely obliterated from the air strike. Then the tanks entered the village without opposition, with guns a blazin’, to survey the devastation, and added to it. The Platoon Sargent called in for an air strike, waited about five minutes for the jets to show up, then another few minutes for the actual bombing during which time the NVA troops evacuated the village. ![]() While moving towards the village, the tanks began to take heavy AK-47 cross fire from unknown locations. On, the 2nd Squadron, the 11th Armored Cavalry entered Snoul, Cambodia (north of Phenom Penh) which was known to military intelligence (S-2) as being a Rest & Recuperation (R&R) center for the NVA. This was the only tank vs tank engagement between US and NVA armor during the Vietnam war. The 202nd was tasked with destroying the camp’s 175mm SP guns. The camp was attacked by the NVA 66th Regiment supported by 4th Battalion, 202nd Armored Regiment. The tank duel ended with 8 of 10 NVA tanks and several APCs retreating across the border into Laos or Cambodia, harassed by USAF fighter-bombers and artillery from nearby fire bases. The second NVA tank exploded a second later. A M48A3 tank gunner took a sight off one of the flashes and then fired the 90mm. It was using the burning tank to cover their muzzle flash. ![]() Then a second NVA tank was spotted on the road behind the burning tank. The second 90mm round fired found its mark and the NVA tank exploded. The NVA tank scored a direct hit on the turret of an M48A3 which killed two crewmen and wounded the other two. The M48A3s opened up with their 90mm guns with only the muzzle flashes to sight on. The NVA tank swung its gun towards the M48A3s and began firing. Then suddenly, an enemy tank detonated a land mine which pinpointed its position only 1200 yards (1097 meters) from their position. The noises were clanking of tracks and heavy engine growl of enemy tanks. Some tank crews were so shaken by multiple hits that crew members were changed as often as once a day.ĭuring the night of 3 March 1969, three M48A3 tank crews of the 1st platoon, Company B, 1-69th Armor was stationed on the hill west of the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) camp at Ben Het (north of Pleiku) had heard noises from unidentified vehicles below their position for about 30 minutes. Although struck repeatedly by RPGs, they continued to fight despite extensive damage, especially to optical equipment and radio antennas. The tanks were in constant demand, often expending their complete ammunition loads within a few hours. The fighting was both sustained and intense. It fired five 90mm rounds into the tower with no noticeable effect. The Marines responded in kind and a Marine M48A3 tank was called forward. While the Marines groped to find weak spots in the enemy line across their front, the NVA soldiers brought RPGs and other heavy weapons to bear. After radio inquiries, it became apparent that the ARVN Airborne battalions had withdrawn from their advance positions during the night and elements of the 6th NVA Regiment had moved into the vacuum. The Marines were stunned to have run into such strong enemy opposition so far behind the ARVN Airborne Task Force’s front line. The Marines took heavy fire and took heavy losses. Heavily armed NVA troops occupied the Dong Ba Gate, tower, and the surrounding wall. As the third Marine stepped across, it started to rain grenades from atop of the wall. The second Marine in the column also crossed in front of the entryway. When the Marine point man reached the base of the Dong Ba Gate and tower, he turned right (southeast) and crossed in front of the entryway. 50 Caliber MG mounted on the commander’s cupola located at the center of the crew compartment roof. A gasoline fueled personnel heater was installed at the right rear of the crew compartment which was not used much in Vietnam. The hoist winch for the boom had a capacity of 50,000 pounds and was mounted below the cab with the cable passing through a cable chute between the floor of the crew compartment and cab roof. The “A” frame type boom was mounted on top of the hull and operated by the driver from his position. The main winch with a capacity of 90,000 pounds was mounted beneath the crew compartment and the cable exited through a hole in the front hull. The spade also could be used for light clearing or leveling. The spade was mounted on the front hull and operated by the driver to anchor the vehicle or to support it when lifting a load with the boom. The recovery equipment consisted of an hydraulically powered and controlled spade, main winch, boom and a hoist winch. The M88 Recovery Vehicle was produced by the Bowen-McLaughlin-York Company (BMY) from 1960 until 1964 with a total output of 1075 vehicles.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |