I have been slowly working on Academy's M163. I know it was developed during the Vietnam/Cold War. The kit comes with markings for Vietnamese service. I want create a base with a M151A2 Mutt and M113 weapons carrier travelling down a road in Vietnam, passing by the M163. My question is, was the SPAAG ever fielded in Vietnam? If so, would the M113 weapons carrier have ever been close enough to possibly see a M163 off base?

Matt,
You can use the M163 as others have pointed out but you can't use an M151A2 it would have been the M151A1 so if you have the Tamiya kit it would need back dating. Academy do an M151A1 kit in a few different variants that would be suitable.
Regards
David

Another query, what was the typical cargo truck used in Nam? Was it the M35A2?

Another query, what was the typical cargo truck used in Nam? Was it the M35A2?

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Another query, what was the typical cargo truck used in Nam? Was it the M35A2?

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The M44 2.5-ton truck series (including the M35 cargo truck) and the M39 5-ton truck series (including the M54 cargo truck) would have been the most common. Various types of semi-trailers (pulled by 5-ton tractors) were also common. Transportation and other units also had M37s and M151A1s, and there were tests of the GOER series of trucks and other vehicles as well. The M715 was also adopted by the US Army in the late 1960s, but I'm not sure how many made it to Southeast Asia with the US Army. I know they were used by the USAF for base defense though.

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Another query, what was the typical cargo truck used in Nam? Was it the M35A2?

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The M44 2.5-ton truck series (including the M35 cargo truck) and the M39 5-ton truck series (including the M54 cargo truck) would have been the most common. Various types of semi-trailers (pulled by 5-ton tractors) were also common. Transportation and other units also had M37s and M151A1s, and there were tests of the GOER series of trucks and other vehicles as well. The M715 was also adopted by the US Army in the late 1960s, but I'm not sure how many made it to Southeast Asia with the US Army. I know they were used by the USAF for base defense though.

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with a CAV unit the truck you might see on the road would be an M35 series with a winch. They for the most part also had the M2 machine gun and ring mount above the cab (but not always). You rarely saw a Jeep out in the field, as like the trucks were better suited for road use. Arty units used a lot of M54 five tons, and a small amount of M35's. The Cav's motor pool would have at least one M54, and their resupply squads would have them as well. The M54 was better suited for rough country as it had power steering and brakes, but it was still a rare sighting to see one far off the road. M37's were even worse than the trucks, and were prone to braking axels. Once you left the road you resupplied with a track or chopper 90% ofthe time. Actually an M549 might be better yet in a refueling diorama pulling a water tank trailer behind it.
gary

I thin I will stick with the truck that there is a model of.

I have been slowly working on Academy's M163. I know it was developed during the Vietnam/Cold War. The kit comes with markings for Vietnamese service. I want create a base with a M151A2 Mutt and M113 weapons carrier travelling down a road in Vietnam, passing by the M163. My question is, was the SPAAG ever fielded in Vietnam? If so, would the M113 weapons carrier have ever been close enough to possibly see a M163 off base?

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I have been slowly working on Academy's M163. I know it was developed during the Vietnam/Cold War. The kit comes with markings for Vietnamese service. I want create a base with a M151A2 Mutt and M113 weapons carrier travelling down a road in Vietnam, passing by the M163. My question is, was the SPAAG ever fielded in Vietnam? If so, would the M113 weapons carrier have ever been close enough to possibly see a M163 off base?

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I've heard the South Vietnamese did have M-163s, but I'm not sure how many, and I've never seen any photos. Enemy aircraft seldom dared cross the DMZ, so they were probably used to escort ARVN convoys. The PAVN may have used captured Vulcans against the Chinese in 1979, though PLAAF air power played little part in that war. Good luck with your project. Vietnamese subjects are a special interest of mine and I look forward to seeing your finished kit.

I have since purchased a second M163, but will be using it for the Not Your Average M113 campaign.

Jon: Can't help you, there. I wanted a Nam version, but not a specific vehicle. I do look forward to seeing your build.

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I have been slowly working on Academy's M163. I know it was developed during the Vietnam/Cold War. The kit comes with markings for Vietnamese service. I want create a base with a M151A2 Mutt and M113 weapons carrier travelling down a road in Vietnam, passing by the M163. My question is, was the SPAAG ever fielded in Vietnam? If so, would the M113 weapons carrier have ever been close enough to possibly see a M163 off base?

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I've heard the South Vietnamese did have M-163s, but I'm not sure how many, and I've never seen any photos. Enemy aircraft seldom dared cross the DMZ, so they were probably used to escort ARVN convoys. The PAVN may have used captured Vulcans against the Chinese in 1979, though PLAAF air power played little part in that war. Good luck with your project. Vietnamese subjects are a special interest of mine and I look forward to seeing your finished kit.

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They may have been used for infantry support.

For some interesting reading here's the link to the ACTIV report on the 1st Vulcan Combat Team in Vietnam, October 68-April 69.

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/857327.pdf

For photos of the minigun on 113s,check out these galleries. I know I've seen them in there, just not sure which one. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100891020754889610478/albums

As for the 163 in Vietnam, I'm working directly with the National Duster, Quad, Searchlight, Hawk and Vulcan Association's (Vietnam Air Defense) historian to better document the 1st VCT's time in-theater.

The XM163s were different from standard 113s in several aspects, so no, they were not just 113s with stuff stuck on top of them. The ammunition arrangement and turret basket on the inside and the hatch arrangement on the top deck are completely different from a standard 113.

Jon