Osprey Men-at-Arms 143 : Armies of the Vietnam War (2)

On 8 March 1965 the first US combat troops, of 3,500 US Marines, landed in Vietnam at Da Nang to defend the US air base there. On 8 June, following further reinforcements, General Westmoreland authorised his troops to begin 'offensive patrolling'. Shortly afterwards some 800 Australians and a New Zealand artillery battery arrived to join in the war. Later the first 'search and destroy' sweep was made by a combined US, ANZAC and ARVN force. The US 1st Infantry Division landed in July, and troops of the US 101st Airborne Division shortly thereafter. The 1st Cavalry Division [Airmobile] arrived in An Khe in September 1965. Lee Russell's follow-up to Men-at-Arms 104 focuses in finer detail on the uniforms and insignia of the US Army and Marines, the ARVN and the NVA. The book is packed with superbly detailed black and white photographs of the forces in the field, and Mike Chappell's illustrations provide key reference material for the contemporary uniforms and battledress.

Contents

• Introduction
• US Army Uniforms and Insignia
• US Marine Corps Combat Uniforms and Insignia
• ARVN Uniforms and Insignia
• NVA Uniforms and Insignia
• The Plates