Mike, Tank vs. tank was pretty rare in Vietnam. According to "Armor in Vietnam" these are the key armor incidents.

Lang Vei Special Forces Camp May 1967
PT-76s attacked but repelled in the camp's outer defenses.

Lang Vei Special Forces Camp Feb 1968
Ten PT-76s attacked again and fell despite fire support from Khe Shan. The NVA lost 7 of the tanks, mostly to M27 LAWS.

Ben Het Special Forces Camp March 1969
Eight PT-76s (NVA 202nd Armored Regiment's 16th Co) were stopped by a platoon of M48s (69th Armored Cav). Two PT-76s were lost and one M48 damaged. Only NVA vs. US tank fight int he war.

LAM SON 719 Feb-March 1971
NVA fielded T-54/T-59s and PT-76s. NVA would lose 25 tanks at LZ 31 but still captured the position. Airstrikes would also destroy over 100 medium and light tanks during the operation.

Spring Offensive 1972
T-54s were used to spearhead major attacks. ARVN crewed M48s stopped them at Dong Ha with heavy losses. At An Loch and Kontum NVA armor attacked without infantry and suffered from ARVN defense and airstrikes and ARVN tank killer teams.

NVA Offensive 1975
Again armor was the spearhead. The NVA learned lessons from 1972 in regards to coordinating their armor with their artillery and infantry. The South also lacked the US air support. ARVN defenses crumbled.

Probably other examples. I don't do alot of Vietnam oriented subjects so I am just going by this one book. But there's some good ideas brewing there.

Alex,

All very interesting thanks for that, like you I not really do much surfing or reading of Vietnam stuff either.

Mike, ASU-85 ordered today so ill be ready my friend! Lets do this fellas!!!

Gary

Hi Gary,

Sounds great, you doing it in Astan then with paratroopers?

P.S what is Master Yoda got in mind for the hellcat now??

Mike, No problems. The idea of the ARVN tank killer teams interest me. Maybe take Dragon's old ARVN Rangers figure set, tweak them a bit to fire a LAW, and have them lining up on an approaching T54 or PT-76. Definitely something you don't normally associate with Vietnam.

Gary, Have fun with that one. It'll sound a bit strange but oen of the things I really enjoyed about building it was that you basically use all of the kit's parts. Depending on which version you go with, you'll have some leftover fuel tanks and a few other tidbits. Not alot to toss into the spares though.

Alex,

If you built that as a Diorama I would certainly subscribe for sure!!

Did a little research, couldn't find much about the T-55 Enigma. Nothing I found pointed to the Republican Guard having used the Enigma during either Golf War. So I think I'll do the Lion of Babylon instead? I figure if I'm going to be doing a vehicle from a country I'll likely not represent again, I'd better put their best up.

To add to what Alex said about Vietnam era tank battles. I'm personally unaware of ANY significant AFV engagements though there were likely a few cases. Only know of a few ambush type scenarios that were fairly sporadic and involved only small numbers of vehicles.

Hi Christopher,
According to a build just done in a spainish / English modelling mag called panzer aces the enigma was supposedly sent into Kuwait & also up to the Saudi boarder??
I will really enjoy seeing what & how you do the T72 tho as that is on my I wan'a do list lol

Hey Mike,

I had picked up a US tank crew set and fuils for it originally and i just started thinking about the original plans i had for the M-18, so i decided to choose a different but more reasonable replacement for it. Ive had my eye ont the ASU-85 for some time and it was on sale at Sprue Brothers and with the campaign about to get crackin' it was a perfect time to jump on it! I still have all the Hellcat references you sent and will be utilized for sure.

As far as the ASU-85, a crew memeber or two will be as far as i go with it for now.

Gary

Mike, It's definitely tempting, but right now I am pretty backlogged on projects. I've got some that have been on hold since the mid-90s. I tend to be better at coming up with ideas than actually executing them. Besides, I haven't seen one of those ARVN figure sets in a while.

That said, anyone needing an idea for this campaign is more than welcome to take the idea and run with it.

My Cyber Hobby T-34/85M arrived last week so here is the sprue shot. I will be doing a Serbian or Croatian -34 from the Yugoslavian Civil War. Probably will do some figures with it as well. Looking forward to this campaign and seing everybody's "Street Fighters".

Regards, Ian

Hi Mike,
sorry I´ve just realised that I hadn´t signed in. Well now
I belong to the gang, even if it is getting tight with other builds now.
I´ll do either the M18/T55 frankenstein, or a rubbered
M36 (sorry I can´t show the photo as it is glued into one of my albums), or a crazy T55 from some african nation,or....
As you see it´s a hard choice.
Cheers
Paul

Nice choice Ian, I will be doing a T-34/85

In NVA markings if your not using yours I'll be looking to buy them from ya

Hey Sal.....no plans to use the NVA decals. You are more than welcome to them at no cost. Just PM me with the destination or something, if you want them.


Best wishes, Ian

@ Gary the ASU 85 is a cool looking beastie will look forward to what you do with her!!

@Alex I feel you pain with doing things I am the slowest modeler alive I swear it

@Paul seeing that mixed & matched M18/T55 beast would be cool & as for the african T55 so many choices & awesome paint schemes as I am learning!!

@Ian a serb /croat T34 all done to death sounds cool

@Sal can't wait to see the NVA 85 you have in mind

Here is the project I'm planning to build for this campaign. Accurate Armour's Saladin, mig production burnt out car and middle eastern figures. Planning a simple diorama set in Lebanon during the early 80's.

Chris,

Looks like it will be a fantastic little scene for sure!!

Can't wait to see how it all comes together

Wow, that's why I just write ideas down.

Christopher, will be interesting to see your diorama.

Ian, I'm using the same kit. This will be my first Dragon T-34. I can see my NVA markings finding their way on some captured US/ARVN equipment after the fall of Saigon. I'll save that for the next captured style campaign.

Mike, Speed isn't my problem. I have the attention span of a three year old so I get distracted easily. I'll jump over to another project or get hung up on making a decision. Next thing you know, a few years have passed.

Hey Chris,

Man...im really lookin' forward to your dio buddy! Im likein' the looks of all them goodies there kruppw.

Gary

I can't wait to see what you all do with those tearooms, as I have to get one to do for a future club build, so I am hoping someone may do the AFV Club T34/85 with interior....hint hint lol

Would be good to see the difference between them all

Mike

Mike I also have the AFV club t-34/85 thinking of building for this campaign. Might build it as a turretless serb version so I can add it to my Leopard 1 ARV later.

Chris well I will write Santa & ask him to give you what you need to do both lol

Looks like we will have a good T-34 turnout. Means a lot if dirt, rust, soot, bent fenders and ripped metal. Sweet!!!!!


Regards, Ian

Well the T-34's T-55's were some of the most widely exported tanks around the world. Cheap and easy for anybody with the cash to get heir hands on them. The museum I worked at many years ago we were trying to get our hands on an ex-bosnia M18, but thanks to uncle sam the deal fell through. Either way should be interesting to see everyone's rendition on some of russia old work horses.