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Most of the vietnamese equipment was purchased from China (or Russia), or simply "donated" as part of their proxy war efforts before the border wars (during the US based Vietnam era) so it makes sense that you would find similiar equipment. Chinese made steel helmet in vietnam, chinese uniforms with vietnamese labels sewed on, chinese AK's, chinese artillery, some russian MIGs, makes perfect sense.
Most of the vietnamese equipment was purchased from China (or Russia), or simply "donated" as part of their proxy war efforts before the border wars (during the US based Vietnam era) so it makes sense that you would find similiar equipment. Chinese made steel helmet in vietnam, chinese uniforms with vietnamese labels sewed on, chinese AK's, chinese artillery, some russian MIGs, makes perfect sense.
One would also find a lot of equipent that a Vietnam War Vet would recognize like UH-1 helicopters, M-48 tanks, C-130s, F-5s and F105s, A-26s and M-113 armored personnel carriers, and small arms. The only thing was they mow have the yellow outlined red star painted on them. When the North Vietnamese captured the south in 1975 they gained possession of all the equipment we left in South Vietnam when we pulled out several years earlier. South Vietnam actually had a larger fleet of helicopters than our ally the British!
So when North Vietnam moved to knock out the Chinese ally Democratic Kampuchea there are pictures of NVA forces entering Phnom Penh in Hueys and M-113s. The same happened when the Chinese tried to express their displeasure to this act by the Vietnamese ad were beaten back in 1979.
One would also find a lot of equipent that a Vietnam War Vet would recognize like UH-1 helicopters, M-48 tanks, C-130s, F-5s and F105s, A-26s and M-113 armored personnel carriers, and small arms. The only thing was they mow have the yellow outlined red star painted on them. When the North Vietnamese captured the south in 1975 they gained possession of all the equipment we left in South Vietnam when we pulled out several years earlier. South Vietnam actually had a larger fleet of helicopters than our ally the British!
So when North Vietnam moved to knock out the Chinese ally Democratic Kampuchea there are pictures of NVA forces entering Phnom Penh in Hueys and M-113s. The same happened when the Chinese tried to express their displeasure to this act by the Vietnamese ad were beaten back in 1979.
Yeah, they would use them until they break, and then...oops, no parts, or they scavenge the parts from existing equipment.
A similiar event happend during the mid 80's Iran/Iraq war. Iraq, as a former USSR sattelite state, was using Russian weapons, particularly tanks. Iran, as a former ally under the Shah, was using aging US weapons including tanks and some jets, until they broke down and then they resorted to human wave attacks. Ironically, the US was supporting the russian-equiped Iraq, at least to such an extent that it maintained the status quo (giving them just enough info to keep them from being overrun).
Yeah, they would use them until they break, and then...oops, no parts, or they scavenge the parts from existing equipment.
A similiar event happend during the mid 80's Iran/Iraq war. Iraq, as a former USSR sattelite state, was using Russian weapons, particularly tanks. Iran, as a former ally under the Shah, was using aging US weapons including tanks and some jets, until they broke down and then they resorted to human wave attacks. Ironically, the US was supporting the russian-equiped Iraq, at least to such an extent that it maintained the status quo (giving them just enough info to keep them from being overrun).
The international arms market particularly the black market is bigger than you think! Geting parts or ammo for US weapons from the 60s or 70s era is easy with all our great friends like Israel or Venezeula or Pakistan or how about the Phillipines. Iran kept some if its F-14s operating using spare parts laundered through an Israeli vendor. Why a US company would sell an Israeli F-14 parts or spares is confusing since they don't operate the F-14 in the IDF! The Israelis are a piece of work since they brokered that little deal the Reagan Administration used to raise funds for the Nicaraguan contras which you guessed it involved selling American military stores to Iran which was authorized by US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Democratic Republic of Vietnam did the same thing and since we have been slowly cozying up to Vietnam over the last 20 years they have been able to buy stuff directly from the USA. I saw a piece in the Washington Post that we are working with Vietnam and a few other SE Asian nations to use our old bases again (e.g. Cam Ranh Bat, DaNang or Tan Son Nut Airbases) , Subic Bay and Clark AFB in the Phillipines and the big B-52 base in Thailand (Udorn). Something about a new focus on Asia. How the great wheel in the sky keeps on turning.
The international arms market particularly the black market is bigger than you think! Geting parts or ammo for US weapons from the 60s or 70s era is easy with all our great friends like Israel or Venezeula or Pakistan or how about the Phillipines. Iran kept some if its F-14s operating using spare parts laundered through an Israeli vendor. Why a US company would sell an Israeli F-14 parts or spares is confusing since they don't operate the F-14 in the IDF! The Israelis are a piece of work since they brokered that little deal the Reagan Administration used to raise funds for the Nicaraguan contras which you guessed it involved selling American military stores to Iran which was authorized by US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger. Democratic Republic of Vietnam did the same thing and since we have been slowly cozying up to Vietnam over the last 20 years they have been able to buy stuff directly from the USA. I saw a piece in the Washington Post that we are working with Vietnam and a few other SE Asian nations to use our old bases again (e.g. Cam Ranh Bat, DaNang or Tan Son Nut Airbases) , Subic Bay and Clark AFB in the Phillipines and the big B-52 base in Thailand (Udorn). Something about a new focus on Asia. How the great wheel in the sky keeps on turning.
True, but one of the reasons the Iran/Iraq war bogged down and lasted so long, ending up with WWI tactics of trench and human wave attacks, was that both countries just couldn't fix their high tech equipment anymore. The support (new parts, new equipment) was carefully controlled by the world. Both sides lost tactical air and armored support. After that you are just left with men with assault rifles and maybe some artillery.
The Iran/Iraq conflict was like a carefully orchestrated ballet controlled by everyone BUT Iran and Iraq. As in "let's give them just enough support for Saddam and Ayatollah to kill each other, but not win". Actually, as machivalian as it was, it was a wise policy - no one wanted either of those two countries with their madman regimes to gain regional control. After awhile they finally got tired of killing each other and called it a draw. Arms dealers can play it both ways - give countries support, or withold support, or give partial support. Look how Russia and China are supporting Iran and Syria right now. Why - Russia needs money and will sells their own mothers for it, and China needs to retain it's regional influence in the area (for oil, obviously).
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