I am building the Revell 3029 kit, the M34 truck (it comes with the Willys jeep). The manual says there are markings for a Vietnam battalion, but I guess the M34 didn't reach the campaign, it was used in Korea only.

Any help with this doubt?
Thanks
Regards
Robert

Yes, M34s were used by Engineer Bns in Vietnam.

Here is a post reply from Dave "animal" Willett

Question,




Answer,

So, if the M34 was used in engineers battallions, is it right to build one towing a 105, 155 or any towed artillery?

5 tons normally towed 155 howitzers. Doubtful an M34 would be towing a 105 howitzer since artillery units are high on the list for getting new stuff like the M35 and the M34 would be given to lower priority units.

So, it would be right to see a M34 towing a (small) fuel or water tank, or a portable kitchen, or something useful in logistics, ok?

Yes it could be used for this purpose. But mostly for transporting personnel. The ARVN's would haul the water buffalo behind them to fire bases.

As far as artillery goes the majority were transported by helicopter. Wheeled vehicles for the most part could not get to some of the arty sites. The only way these units were resupplied was by air.

Most trucks in the Korean War would have been GMC CCKW-353 2 1/2 ton trucks left over from WW2. The Reo M34 was just entering production as the war wound down, and Europe was regarded as the "real" front line in the Cold War, so it had priority for new equipment. The M34 and M35 were in production concurrently in the early 1950's, but the Army decided to procure only the M35 in later production batches, and the M34 didn't receive the new engine upgrades. The M34 had single wheels in back, which is theoretically better in off-road conditions, as the rear axles don't have to break fresh track. However, it had to have cutouts in the load bed to accommodate the increased travel of the larger rear wheels, and that made it less useful as a cargo truck.
As others pointed out, it remained in service in dwindling numbers in the late 1960's. There are a few photos of it in service in Vietnam, but the M35A1 predominated. The ARVN had some US trucks, but mostly they operated Nissan and other Japanese deuce-and-a-half trucks, as MACV decided parts were easier to get from Japan.
If you want to improve the Revell kit (originally a Monogram release from 1957), the Eduard photoetch set for the AFV Club M35 kits has a lot of parts you can use. If money is no object, you can kitbash the two truck kits together (basically, mate the Revell load bed and wheels to the AFV Club Gun Truck's everything else).