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Contents of a USSF rucksack on operation
Please
note that no two individuals carried the same load and contents
varied enormously according to the type and length of mission, which area
of Vietnam they served and also what year they served.
Mission
length without air re-supply was at the most 7 days as this was the maximum
fighting/subsistence load that individuals could carry, in the jungle of
Vietnam (about 70lb).
(my collection)
The
rucksack shown in the photo above is the CIDG rucksack, locally mass
produced in Vietnam for the Civilian Irregular Defense Group soldiers.
This is a medium size rucksack with 3 outer pockets and map compartment,
it is made of water repellant canvass, has no metal frame, two
version are known to me, early type with canvas straps and the later model
with nylon straps (see photo). This was favored by most SF but the
lightweight, the Tropical Ruck as well as the small RVN two pocket
rucksack was also commonly used.
Rucksacks description thanks to Christopher E. McClure, (Cpt, 5th SFGA 8/1968-1/1970) 241 Co., 4th Bn, II Corps Mike Force -
"Could you tell me if you used on operations the US Army Light weight
Nylon rucksack/ frame, or the US Army Nylon tropical rucksack or the (two
pocket "RVN" "Ranger" rucksack much smaller capacity)."
Neither - we used rucksacks of special design (see photo above), produced
for Special Forces and CIDG use only. The US Army rucksacks were not very
practical. I had one, but rarely used it. The VNSF had the other rucks
that you describe (I have one of those also, that was given to me by a VNSF
Warrant Officer, but I never carried it in combat - it was a souvenir).
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PEASE
NOTE, THIS IS ONLY A GUIDE OF THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT CARRIED
(my collection)
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A-113 patrol crossing the Song Re river north of Gia
Vuc in 1965
You can clearly see the CIDG rucksacks being worn by all member of the
patrol
as well as the M1/M2 carbine which was the main CIDG weapon in 1965.
From this photo you can see how all American advisors were easy to spot
due to the difference in size with the Vietnamese or Montagnards.
I
would like to thank the following SF veterans for their help and support:
Cpt V.R Carter A-113 1st Mike Force, 1966,
SSG D. Klehn A-113 Gia Vuc, 1965
Cpt C. E. McClure, 241 Co, 4th Bn, 2nd Mike Force 1969
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