High-Tech: SEALs in Vietnam

On By Hans-Christian Vortisch

The US Navy SEALs used over 200 different weapon systems while deployed in South Vietnam between 1962 and 1972, many of them new and/or experimental designs. I have included many of them in GURPS SEALs in Vietnam. To provide a visual guide to some of these weapons, I examine here the long arms of an entire SEAL Team TWO platoon in Binh Thuy, South Vietnam, c 1967.

SD_SIV

Racked

SD_HT_SEALs in Vietnam

Going from left to right:

  1. Cadillac Gage-Stoner Model 63A light machine gun in 5.56×45mm (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 28) with 150-round belt drum and sling (GURPS High-Tech, p. 156), bipod removed.
  2. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm (High-Tech, p. 117), unloaded, with Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 29).
  3. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, unloaded, with Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR.
  4. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, unloaded, with Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR.
  5. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, unloaded, with Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR and sling.
  6. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, with 20-round magazine.
  7. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, with 20-round magazine.
  8. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm fitted with the retractable stock from a Colt XM177E2 assault carbine (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 27), with 20-round magazine and Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR.
  9. Colt MK 4 MOD 0 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 27) , unloaded, with HEL MK 2 MOD 0 baffle sound suppressor (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 27).
  10. Cadillac Gage-Stoner Model 63A light machine gun in 5.56×45mm with 150-round belt drum and sling, bipod removed.
  11. Remington Model 7188 MK 1 assault shotgun in 12-gauge 2.75” (18.5×70mmR) (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 26).
  12. Cadillac Gage-Stoner Model 63A light machine gun in 5.56×45mm with 150-round belt drum.
  13. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, unloaded, with Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR.
  14. NWC China Lake Pump-Action Grenade Launcher in 40×46mmSR (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 29).
  15. Colt M16A1 assault rifle in 5.56×45mm, unloaded, with Colt XM148 underbarrel grenade launcher in 40×46mmSR.
  16. Cadillac Gage-Stoner Model 63A light machine gun in 5.56×45mm with the folding stock from a Cadillac Gage-Stoner XM23 assault carbine (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 27) and 150-round belt drum and sling, bipod removed.

Conclusion

This 16-man platoon had an awesome amount of firepower consisting of 10 M16A1 assault rifles (at least one a MK 4 MOD 0), one Model 7188 MK 1 assault shotgun, four Model 63A light machine guns, seven XM148 underbarrel grenade launchers, and one Pump-Action Grenade Launcher. The very high ratio of grenade launchers is especially noteworthy; other platoons preferred to carry more machine guns (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 20). Also note the rifle-mounted sound suppressor, probably carried by a point man (SEALs in Vietnam, p. 19).