As with all the other units that served in Vietnam, the personnel of the 199th LIB were armed with the standard issue of weapons and equipment. Although some of the early Redcatchers may have carried the M-14 rifle into battle on occasion, the vast majority of soldiers were issued the M-16A1 rifle. Despite a rocky start, the weapon proved to be fairly accurate and reliable in the hands of a competent and responsible soldier.

XM177E2, otherwise known as the CAR-15. This was a shortened version of the M-16 rifle with an 11 inch barrel and collapsible butt-stock. These weapons were often favored by officers, helicopter crews, and reconnaissance troopers.

This soldier from B/5-12 at FSB Brown in Cambodia is carrying the M-16A1 combination with M203 grenade launcher. The M203 fired the same 40mm round as the M-79 grenade launcher.

The M-60 machine gun. This magnificent weapon became the primary squad automatic weapon with a cyclic rate of over 500 rounds per minute. Patterned after the infamous German MG42 of WWII, the "Pig" was used in a variety of roles during the war.

Redcatcher sniper from Echo Recon, 3-7th Infantry displaying an M21/M14 rifle at FSB Mace. The M21 was a modified version of the M14, with a WWII vintage M84 scope or Redfield 3x9x40 or ART-I optics. The 199th developed its own sniper program in late 1968. Sniper personnel were known to score hits regularly at 800 meters or longer. More often than not, however, their skills were not utilized and they were treated as another rifleman.

Reid Mendenhall B/5-12

David Clines D/2-3

Soldier from D/2-3 carrying the WWII-vintage M-3A1 “Grease Gun” withattached flash hider. Note the spare 30 rd. magazines in his lefttrouser pocket. This .45 caliber weapon, when fired on automatic, couldput nearly 400 rounds downrange per minute. The weapon, which wasreasonably accurate up to 100 meters, was most likely the simplestweapon ever issued to U.S. soldiers.

The M-79 grenade launcher, otherwise known as the “Blooper” or
“Thumper.” The weapon, which looked like a stubby,
single-barreled shotgun, could put a round further than one could be
thrown and closer than a round being shot out of a 60 or 81mm mortar.
The weapon could also fire a variety of rounds, from HE to buckshot and
tear-gas.

M1911A1 .45 cal pistol. Commonly carried by officer’s and NCO’s,the .45 had been in service since World War I. The weapons reliability and stopping power were highly appreciated by those who carried them.

Used fairly often in Vietnam, the M-67 90mm recoilless rifle was a weapon capable of firing artillery-sized rounds at a range and velocity comparable to that of a cannon. The weapon, although heavy and bulky to carry, was devastating when fired at enemy bunkers and fighting positions.

Troopers from D Troop, 17th Cavalry sporting a 106mm recoilless rifle.

One of the most brutal and effective weapons to be used in combat, theM18A1 Claymore antipersonnel mine fired over 700 steel ball-bearings in a 65 degree radius. The mine was usually detonated by a hand-held detonator, although they were sometimes rigged to blow mechanically.

Soviet 122mm rocket with launching tripod. The 122mm rocket, a favorite of the NVA/VC, was a fin-stabilized artillery piece with a range of 3-5 miles. Sounding like a screeching train when streaking towards its target, the 14.5lb warhead packed a destructive punch upon impact. Hot shards or shrapnel were thrown in a 360 degrees radius as seen in the images below. These images show the impact area of one 122mm rocket (out of 10-15) that hit inside the perimeter of Camp Frenzell-Jones in January of 1970.

Tools of the Trade

Reid Mendenhall B/5-12

David Clines D/2-3