Communist China and Soviet Union Influences Photos

Soviet Equipment

“I learned that Hanoi had persuaded Moscow bloc countries to support its master plan with sophisticated weaponry and supplies. I canned Hungarian goulash, Soviet trucks, tracked vehicles, field artillery pieces, and Bulgarian medicines.”

Beverly Deepe Keever

Keever, 217

During the week of 28 April, U.S. Forces fighting in the A Shau valley have captured various Soviet-built weapons and components from the North Vietnamese. The sophistication of these in firepower that they represent pose a definite increase in the threat to allied forces. In addition, the recovery of these items reflect the continued support of North Vietnam by the Soviet Union.

Soviet Weapon (363-02758)

Soviet 37mm anti-aircraft weapon. This captured weapon was designed in 1939 and probably manufactured around 1945. It is effective against aircraft to a maximum altitude of 19,000 feet and is manned by a crew of five.

Soviet Weapon (363-02759)

Soviet Ammunition (363-02760)

Ammunition of Soviet 76mm Guns. This Soviet 76mm ammunition can be fired from the Soviet 76mm M1942 Field gun or from the 76mm Tank Gun mounted on teh Soviet PT-76 Amphibious Tank. The photograph shows two rounds, One HE and the other APHC-T (Armor Piercing High Explosive-Tracer).

Soviet Machine Gun (363-02761)

Soviet SGM-T 7.62mm Machine Gun. This weapon is a modification of the standard Soviet SGM7-.62mm machine gun. The SGM-T has a cyclic rate of 600 to 700 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 800 meters per second. The SgM-T is equipped with a solenoid so that the gun can be fired electrically. This weapon was mounted co-axially with the main gun on the Soviet PT-76 Tank. The photograph shows the solenoid and electrical connection on the SGM-T.

Infrared Periscopes (363-02762)

Soviet Infrared Periscopes from PT-76 Tank. This device allows the tank to operate and fire its armament during hours of the darkness with ease. The photograph shows the eyepiece on the periscope.

Soviet Ammunition (363-02763)

Soviet 23mm HEI-T ammunition for ZU-23 Antiaircraft gun. The ZU-23 is a light, automatic antiaircraft weapon with twin barrels. The ZU-23 is a replacement for the older series of light automatic antiaircraft weapons like the ZPU series of 14.5 machine guns. The photograph shows a round and the container it is packed in.

Soviet Ammunition (363-02764)

Soviet 37mm M1939 antiaircraft ammunition. The Soviet 37mm AA Gun Fires a 1.6 pound projectile to a maximum AA range of 20,000 feet. The gun uses an optional fire control, manual tracking and elevation, and closely resembles the U.S. 40mm AA Gun of WWII vintage. The projectile is equipped with a point detonating, contact type fuse with a self-destruct element. There is no capability for regulating the height of the burst. This photograph shows a clip holding five rounds.

Soviet Ammunition (363-02765)

Ammunition for the Soviet 122mm Feild Gun. Projectiles and cartridge cases were in the original Soviet packing crates. The Soviet 122mm Field Gun is a light, mobile field fun weighing approximately 18,000 pounds. It is normally towed by a medium tracked artillery tractor. This weapon has a maximum range of approximately 22,000 meters (14 miles). The photograph shows two rounds, on HE and other APHE-T.

Soviet Ammunition (363-02766)

Ammunition for the Soviet 122mm Field Gun. Projectiles and cartridge cases were in the original Soviet packing crates. The Soviet 122mm Field Gun is a light, mobile field gun weighing approximately 18,000 pounds. It is normally towed by a medium tracked artillery tractor. This weapon has a maximum range of approximately 22,000 meters (14 miles) The photograph shows two rounds, one HE and the other APHE-T.

Soviet Anti-Aircraft Weapon (363-02767)

Soviet Mine Detector (363-02768)

This detector is a newly developed portable, lightweight instrument with transistorized circuitry. It uses standard “D” type dry cell batteries as a power source and is more efficient than the Chinese copies previously captured from the enemy. The photograph shows component parts o the detector.