Equipping the US Military for the Vietnam War Quiz

Answer: M14

The M14 is a gas operated, magazine fed 7.62 x 51 mm (.308) rifle that was the standard issue rifle for the US Military from 1959 until it was replaced in 1964. It was long and heavy so not well suited for use in the thick jungle. It also featured a wooden stock which was known to swell and contract in the moist jungle environment.

A variant of this rifle was returned to military service in 2002 as a designated marksman rifle.

Answer: Helicopter

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter was known as a Huey. It was originally called the HU-1 which led to it being called Huey. It was a single engine utility helicopter that went into military service in 1962. It was used in every role that a helicopter could be used from troop transport to medevac to gunship. Due to its widespread use, it has become an iconic image of the war.

Answer: M60

The M60 also called the "Pig" was the standard issue general purpose machine gun. It is a belt fed, gas operated 7.62 x 51 light machine gun. It entered service in 1957 and variants are still in use. Its design was heavily influenced by World War II German machine guns.

The RPD was a machine gun used by the North Vietnamese forces. The Browning Hi Power is a 9mm pistol. The Ithaca 37 is a pump action 12 gauge shotgun.

Answer: Grenade launcher

The M79 grenade launcher (also called the thumper) is a single fire, break action 40 mm grenade launcher that went into service in 1961. Though largely replaced by launchers that mount directly to rifles, the M79 is still in use in certain situations today. Due to its distinctive sound when fired, it was called the "Thumper", "Thump Gun" or "Blooper" by the troops.

It could fire a variety of rounds including explosive, smoke, illumination and anti personnel.

Answer: Helicopter Gunship

The Cobra aka Huey Cobra was a single engine attack helicopter developed using the engine, transmission and rotor system of the Huey. It entered service in 1967 and its modified descendants are still in use by the US Marines. It was thin compared to the Huey to make it less of a target.

It was heavily armed and armored. It had a chin turret that could mount twin miniguns or grenade launchers. It had stubby wings that could mount a variety of weapons including missiles, rockets or gun pods.

Answer: A 4 Skyhawk

The Douglas A4 Skyhawk was a single seat, subsonic, carrier capable attack plane used by the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. It was introduced in 1956 and retired in 2003. It was small and lightweight but could carry the same bombload as a World War II B17.

It is thought that a Marine Skyhawk dropped the last US bomb that landed in North Vietnam. Senator (then Lieutenant Commander) John McCain was flying a Skyhawk when he was shot down by a missile over Hanoi. The other choices could not operate off of carriers.

Answer: Jolly Green Giant

The Sikorsky HH-3E, also known as the Jolly Green Giant, was used for long range combat search and rescue missions. It was capable of mid air refueling and fitted with self sealing fuel tanks, armor and high speed hoist which made it ideal for search and rescue. The Coast Guard used a version that was capable of water landings.
The Orion is a anti submarine warfare airplane.
The Aardvark is the F111 fighter bomber.
The Starlifter was a cargo plane.

Answer: Anti-personnel Mine

The Claymore was an anti-personnel mine that was command detonated and fired steel balls out to 100 meters in a 60 degree arc. So it shot a pattern of steel balls like a shotgun. It contains a layer of C 4 explosive with about seven hundred 3mm steel balls that are propelled out at about 1,200 feet per second. This weapon was introduced in 1960 and is still in use.

Answer: Knife

Ka Bar is the name of a fighting knife that was initially adopted by the US Marines during World War II. It has since also been adopted by the Army and Navy. It was initially supplied by the Camillus Cutlery Company but was manufactured by several other firms during World War II.

The initial version featured a 7 inch Bowie type blade with a stacked leather washer handle. The name Ka Bar supposedly came from a letter sent to the company in 1923 from a trapper that killed a wounded bear with the knife after his gun malfunctioned.

The letter was only partially legible and "ka bar" were the only letters from killed a bear that could initially be made out.

Answer: B 52

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long range bomber powered by eight turbojet engines. It can carry 70,000 pounds of weapons and has a range of 8,800 miles. It was adopted in 1955 and is still in service. It is projected that it will remain in service with the US Air Force into the 2050s. It is rarely called the Stratofortress and is more commonly called the BUFF which stands for Big Ugly Fat Fellow.
The B 29 Superfortress was no longer in service during the Vietnam war.
The CH 47 Chinook is a heavy lift cargo helicopter.
The C 130 Hercules is a cargo plane.