Post by Grizzly on Feb 14, 2012 21:41:56 GMT -5
Hey everyone, Grizzly here. As a Vietnam War enthusiast and Namsofter, I've decided to help aspiring Vietnam players build their very own LRRP impression from the Vietnam War.
What is an LRRP?
LRRPs, also known as LRPs, were Army Ranger units formed to conduct Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols deep behind enemy lines, blending into the jungle to outmaneuver, outfight, and out-guerrilla the NVA. Their missions often involved observation, prisoner rescue, blocking, and terrain denial ops usually performed in support of a larger operation. These Ranger teams were usually organized into "light" teams, composed of six men, or "heavy" teams which consisted of twelve men, the latter being used in large ops involving line companies making a large S&D sweep through an AO, with LRRP teams mopping up more obscure areas.
LRRPs are very popular to imitate, because their general load-outs are comparatively cheap when compared to line companies, and their deployments cover all AOs, corps zones, and stages of time in the conflict. Once your LRRP impression is complete, it is sure to catch the gaze of every player at an event.
Uniform
Generally speaking, LRRP teams wore the standard Vietnam-era jungle fatigues, used throughout the military starting in 1966.
Two GIs in fatigues
Tiger Stripes
LRRPs however, would usually use the limited-issue Tiger Stripe pattern introduced to U.S. advisors by South Vietnamese Marines and other ARVN units. This pattern, effective at eliminating its wearer's silhouette, was popular for its ability to keep men hidden even wide out in the open, such as Larry Chamber's account in his memoir Recondo.
ERDL
Another limited-issue pattern popular with Ranger units at the time was ERDL, or leaf pattern. This experimental pattern was effective in underbrush, but did little to conceal its wearer while moving, which condemned it to limited use alongside the more effective Tiger Stripes.
Duck Camo
A rare pattern commonly used by advisers early in the conflict, Duck camo was obsolete and was phased out in favor of more modern patterns, but older veterans of some recon units still wore the pattern even into later stages of the conflict.
An early adviser wears duck camo on patrol. Note early-model AR-15 without bolt forward-assist.
Mixed Patterns
Due to the large number of camo patterns being used in the conflict, it was common practice to wear mixed-matched uniforms in clandestine units such as LRRP teams. If you don't have a complete set of one type of camo, don't sweat it. You just may be able to make it more authentic.
The sets of fatigues worn by Ranger units usually, though not always, consisted of a shirt, noted by its slanted chest pockets, pants, and a jungle hat, also known a a "boonie hat." Some men however, would wear bandanas and headwraps instead, depending on personal preference and the conditions of the team's AO.
Jungle Boots
And of course, where would any GI be without his horrid jungle boots?
Equipment
The standard equipment used by LRRP teams in the Vietnam war was M1956 load-bearing gear, canvas webbing which helped its wearer carry a large load in a rather comfortable fashion.
The equipment consisted of M1956 suspenders, an M1956 pistol belt(with M1912 .45 caliber holster and M1956 pistol mag pouch for team leaders), two to four M56 universal weapon pouches for 2 M14 and later 3 M16 magazines, 2 M1956 canteens with cups and covers for a total of 2 liters of water, an M1961 butt pack(larger than the M56) with an M56 E-tool carrier, and a US GI compass pouch mounted on the left shoulder of the suspenders. All of the webbing was made of canvas, and units ran into considerable problems with the canvas succumbing to jungle rot, leading to the partial adoption of...
M67 Gear
M67 gear is made of moisture-resistant nylon, and was the basis of later ALICE gear. The setup is the same as M56 gear, but it was not issued in complete sets. Most late-war units used mixed web gear containing pieces of the two as the new gear was slowly phased in.
Field Pack
The ruck used throughout the entire conflict was the M56 field pack, made of heavy-wieght canvas. It was often used with a frame.
Weapons
Last but not least is the single most important piece of equipment an LRRP owns, his weapon.
M-16
The most common rifle used by American GIs in Vietnam was the loathed M-16 rifle, usually found in the M16A1 variant. Earlier units used the test-model AR-15, known as the "Black Rifle," or the U.S. Army's XM16E1, a modified AR-15 fitted with the later-standard bolt forward-assist.
There are plenty of airsoft replicas of Nam-era M-16s out there, but there are a few to watch out for. The Echo 1 M-16, which I happen to own and loathe, is in fact a franken-gun, merely an M16A2 with a triangular grip on it, made to fool people into thinking they've bought an M16A1. However, for players such as myself with lower budgets, it is still a decent (I stress decent, not good) option for a cheap Vietnam gun.
In terms of authenticity, hands-down the best M16A1 out there is the G&P, which is darn-tootin' near perfect in every regard to the actual rifle. Another good alternative would be the Classic Army or TM, if you happen to find one in stock by some miracle. All are great guns, just be warned that the CA and TM models are XM16E1s, noted by the three-prong flash hider, and is great for early- to mid-war impressions, but was phased out by '69.
XM177E1/E2
The preferred weapon of LRRP teams in Vietnam, as well as other clandestine units, was the XM177, or CAR-15. It was loved as a status symbol, as well as for its compact size. However, it was an extremely malfunction-prone piece of hardware, and was nearly impossible to unjam thanks to its shortened gas system.
The only airsoft companies I know of who produce replicas of the XM177 are G&P and Classic Army. Both produce great examples, and will not disappoint their owners with their external quality.
Carl Madsen M45
One of the most popular weapons ever fielded by LRRPs was the Carl Madsen M45, also known as the Swedish K. There are no replicas of these made, but Vietnam airsofters should start building pressure to see one released at a reasonable price.
M1928A1/M1A1 Thompson
The Thompson, a relic of the Second World War, was still being used unofficially by clandestine units in Vietnam, and was favored by LRRPs, particularly in the 1st Infantry Division. It was cherished for its reliability, as well as its compact size. It was however, criticized for its heavy weight.
LRRP with M1A1 that appears to be modified with a CAR-15 stock.
CYMA makes an incredible M1A1 replica, and it is my weapon of choice. TM used to make an even better replica, but it is, to my knowledge, discontinued due to Japanese anti-airsoft legislation.
M-79
Known as a "thumper" or "blooper," the M-79 was a force to be reckoned with, basically portable arty when used by LRRPs.
Craft Apple Works makes an outstanding M79, while Kings Arms (re-branded as Echo 1) makes a cheaper one available at a lower cost. Both are authentic, but I'd recommend the CAW.
Conclusion
Well, that's all, folks! I hope you enjoyed this guide as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope to see more Vietnam-themed impressions out there on the field. A last-minute thought would be to check out Larry Chamber's memoir Recondo, as well as his friend Gary Linderer's Eyes Behind the Lines, as they both provide valuable insight as to how LRRP teams operated, as well as equipment they used. They are fun reads, and if you enjoyed this guide, you might be interested. Thanks again.
-Grizzly
What is an LRRP?
LRRPs, also known as LRPs, were Army Ranger units formed to conduct Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols deep behind enemy lines, blending into the jungle to outmaneuver, outfight, and out-guerrilla the NVA. Their missions often involved observation, prisoner rescue, blocking, and terrain denial ops usually performed in support of a larger operation. These Ranger teams were usually organized into "light" teams, composed of six men, or "heavy" teams which consisted of twelve men, the latter being used in large ops involving line companies making a large S&D sweep through an AO, with LRRP teams mopping up more obscure areas.
LRRPs are very popular to imitate, because their general load-outs are comparatively cheap when compared to line companies, and their deployments cover all AOs, corps zones, and stages of time in the conflict. Once your LRRP impression is complete, it is sure to catch the gaze of every player at an event.
Uniform
Generally speaking, LRRP teams wore the standard Vietnam-era jungle fatigues, used throughout the military starting in 1966.
Two GIs in fatigues
Tiger Stripes
LRRPs however, would usually use the limited-issue Tiger Stripe pattern introduced to U.S. advisors by South Vietnamese Marines and other ARVN units. This pattern, effective at eliminating its wearer's silhouette, was popular for its ability to keep men hidden even wide out in the open, such as Larry Chamber's account in his memoir Recondo.
ERDL
Another limited-issue pattern popular with Ranger units at the time was ERDL, or leaf pattern. This experimental pattern was effective in underbrush, but did little to conceal its wearer while moving, which condemned it to limited use alongside the more effective Tiger Stripes.
Duck Camo
A rare pattern commonly used by advisers early in the conflict, Duck camo was obsolete and was phased out in favor of more modern patterns, but older veterans of some recon units still wore the pattern even into later stages of the conflict.
An early adviser wears duck camo on patrol. Note early-model AR-15 without bolt forward-assist.
Mixed Patterns
Due to the large number of camo patterns being used in the conflict, it was common practice to wear mixed-matched uniforms in clandestine units such as LRRP teams. If you don't have a complete set of one type of camo, don't sweat it. You just may be able to make it more authentic.
The sets of fatigues worn by Ranger units usually, though not always, consisted of a shirt, noted by its slanted chest pockets, pants, and a jungle hat, also known a a "boonie hat." Some men however, would wear bandanas and headwraps instead, depending on personal preference and the conditions of the team's AO.
Jungle Boots
And of course, where would any GI be without his horrid jungle boots?
Equipment
The standard equipment used by LRRP teams in the Vietnam war was M1956 load-bearing gear, canvas webbing which helped its wearer carry a large load in a rather comfortable fashion.
The equipment consisted of M1956 suspenders, an M1956 pistol belt(with M1912 .45 caliber holster and M1956 pistol mag pouch for team leaders), two to four M56 universal weapon pouches for 2 M14 and later 3 M16 magazines, 2 M1956 canteens with cups and covers for a total of 2 liters of water, an M1961 butt pack(larger than the M56) with an M56 E-tool carrier, and a US GI compass pouch mounted on the left shoulder of the suspenders. All of the webbing was made of canvas, and units ran into considerable problems with the canvas succumbing to jungle rot, leading to the partial adoption of...
M67 Gear
M67 gear is made of moisture-resistant nylon, and was the basis of later ALICE gear. The setup is the same as M56 gear, but it was not issued in complete sets. Most late-war units used mixed web gear containing pieces of the two as the new gear was slowly phased in.
Field Pack
The ruck used throughout the entire conflict was the M56 field pack, made of heavy-wieght canvas. It was often used with a frame.
Weapons
Last but not least is the single most important piece of equipment an LRRP owns, his weapon.
M-16
The most common rifle used by American GIs in Vietnam was the loathed M-16 rifle, usually found in the M16A1 variant. Earlier units used the test-model AR-15, known as the "Black Rifle," or the U.S. Army's XM16E1, a modified AR-15 fitted with the later-standard bolt forward-assist.
There are plenty of airsoft replicas of Nam-era M-16s out there, but there are a few to watch out for. The Echo 1 M-16, which I happen to own and loathe, is in fact a franken-gun, merely an M16A2 with a triangular grip on it, made to fool people into thinking they've bought an M16A1. However, for players such as myself with lower budgets, it is still a decent (I stress decent, not good) option for a cheap Vietnam gun.
In terms of authenticity, hands-down the best M16A1 out there is the G&P, which is darn-tootin' near perfect in every regard to the actual rifle. Another good alternative would be the Classic Army or TM, if you happen to find one in stock by some miracle. All are great guns, just be warned that the CA and TM models are XM16E1s, noted by the three-prong flash hider, and is great for early- to mid-war impressions, but was phased out by '69.
XM177E1/E2
The preferred weapon of LRRP teams in Vietnam, as well as other clandestine units, was the XM177, or CAR-15. It was loved as a status symbol, as well as for its compact size. However, it was an extremely malfunction-prone piece of hardware, and was nearly impossible to unjam thanks to its shortened gas system.
The only airsoft companies I know of who produce replicas of the XM177 are G&P and Classic Army. Both produce great examples, and will not disappoint their owners with their external quality.
Carl Madsen M45
One of the most popular weapons ever fielded by LRRPs was the Carl Madsen M45, also known as the Swedish K. There are no replicas of these made, but Vietnam airsofters should start building pressure to see one released at a reasonable price.
M1928A1/M1A1 Thompson
The Thompson, a relic of the Second World War, was still being used unofficially by clandestine units in Vietnam, and was favored by LRRPs, particularly in the 1st Infantry Division. It was cherished for its reliability, as well as its compact size. It was however, criticized for its heavy weight.
LRRP with M1A1 that appears to be modified with a CAR-15 stock.
CYMA makes an incredible M1A1 replica, and it is my weapon of choice. TM used to make an even better replica, but it is, to my knowledge, discontinued due to Japanese anti-airsoft legislation.
M-79
Known as a "thumper" or "blooper," the M-79 was a force to be reckoned with, basically portable arty when used by LRRPs.
Craft Apple Works makes an outstanding M79, while Kings Arms (re-branded as Echo 1) makes a cheaper one available at a lower cost. Both are authentic, but I'd recommend the CAW.
Conclusion
Well, that's all, folks! I hope you enjoyed this guide as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope to see more Vietnam-themed impressions out there on the field. A last-minute thought would be to check out Larry Chamber's memoir Recondo, as well as his friend Gary Linderer's Eyes Behind the Lines, as they both provide valuable insight as to how LRRP teams operated, as well as equipment they used. They are fun reads, and if you enjoyed this guide, you might be interested. Thanks again.
-Grizzly