Hi,
What was the most common cargo truck used in Vietnam?
Was it the M35 or perhaps the M54?
All help & info on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
Joe.

Both, although by that time, it was mainly the diesel variants. The M35 series was rated at 2.5 ton, the M54 was 5 ton. Very few M34 are seen (they were dwindling in numbers, as the Army preferred the M35's dual wheels in back and no cut out in the cargo bed). Japanese 2.5 ton trucks (mainly Nissan and Toyota) were procured by MACV for the ARVN forces, and a few of these ended up in US motor pools as well.
Of available 1/35th scale kits, best bet is AFV Club M35A1 (they sell it as a gun truck). Revell Germany has rereleased the Monogram M34, but it's a 50 year old kit with crude details. For an M54 series truck, you'll need a resin conversion for the Italeri M923/925 kits.

Japanese 2.5 ton trucks (mainly Nissan and Toyota) were procured by MACV for the ARVN forces, and a few of these ended up in US motor pools as well.

I am pretty sure the ARVN received a number of actual M35s and M54s in the 1970s as part of the last equipment deliveries before the ceasefire agreements though.

Hi Gerald,
Thanks for the info.
I have an AFV Club M35A1 gun truck & M35A2 cargo truck. I want to make a cargo truck so what are the major differences between the two?
I've also noticed this evening that Real Models do a very beautiful M54 - but at a very "beautiful" price, too!
Joe.

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Both, although by that time, it was mainly the diesel variants. The M35 series was rated at 2.5 ton, the M54 was 5 ton. Very few M34 are seen (they were dwindling in numbers, as the Army preferred the M35's dual wheels in back and no cut out in the cargo bed). Japanese 2.5 ton trucks (mainly Nissan and Toyota) were procured by MACV for the ARVN forces, and a few of these ended up in US motor pools as well.
Of available 1/35th scale kits, best bet is AFV Club M35A1 (they sell it as a gun truck). Revell Germany has rereleased the Monogram M34, but it's a 50 year old kit with crude details. For an M54 series truck, you'll need a resin conversion for the Italeri M923/925 kits.

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boy that's a new one on me! I never knew there were any Japanese built trucks in country with the exception of the Toyota and Nissan style mini trucks. I did see a lot of Desoto badged trucks in civilian use over there.
gary

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Both, although by that time, it was mainly the diesel variants. The M35 series was rated at 2.5 ton, the M54 was 5 ton. Very few M34 are seen (they were dwindling in numbers, as the Army preferred the M35's dual wheels in back and no cut out in the cargo bed). Japanese 2.5 ton trucks (mainly Nissan and Toyota) were procured by MACV for the ARVN forces, and a few of these ended up in US motor pools as well.
Of available 1/35th scale kits, best bet is AFV Club M35A1 (they sell it as a gun truck). Revell Germany has rereleased the Monogram M34, but it's a 50 year old kit with crude details. For an M54 series truck, you'll need a resin conversion for the Italeri M923/925 kits.

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boy that's a new one on me! I never knew there were any Japanese built trucks in country with the exception of the Toyota and Nissan style mini trucks. I did see a lot of Desoto badged trucks in civilian use over there.
gary

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Fred Crismon documents the Japanese deuce and a half trucks in his massive photo book, "US Military Wheeled Vehicles." Apparently they were built to a standardized design for the JGSDF, as there doesn't appear to be any visible difference between the various makes. As said, MACV wanted to economize, and they were intended for the ARVN only--any US use was sporadic (and possibly off the books). The Japanese trucks were cheaper to buy and maintain.

Hi Dus,
Thanks mate. I'll get on to that in a bit. I noticed that realmodel do a few conversion kits for the Italeri M923 Big Foot to convert into M54 gun trucks. Apparently the Italeri kit is the correct base model. The conversions build into specific trucks that were in theatre during the war. They look like awesome bloody things! Was the M54 the Guntruck of choice in Nam? Although they were laden with armour plate & tooled up with a vast array of firepower I still wouldn't want to drive up & down Thunder road for a living! I bet it was a ride & a half!
Thanks also to everybody else who has contributed to this thread. Its really interesting listening to you guys. I shouls have joined armorama ages ago!
Joe.

hey must have used them down south mostly, as you didn't see Arvn's in trucks very often up north. They pretty much flew everywhere they went

Hi Dus,
Thanks mate. I'll get on to that in a bit. I noticed that realmodel do a few conversion kits for the Italeri M923 Big Foot to convert into M54 gun trucks. Apparently the Italeri kit is the correct base model. The conversions build into specific trucks that were in theatre during the war. They look like awesome bloody things! Was the M54 the Guntruck of choice in Nam? Although they were laden with armour plate & tooled up with a vast array of firepower I still wouldn't want to drive up & down Thunder road for a living! I bet it was a ride & a half!
Thanks also to everybody else who has contributed to this thread. Its really interesting listening to you guys. I shouls have joined armorama ages ago!
Joe.