Vietnam LRRP loadout . . .

[Moose-Knuckle]

I stumbled upon this tonight on Vintage Operator's Gear FB page and thought some of you would find it as cool as I did. In fact, their whole page is filled with awesomeness!


(note the para-cord pull tabs on some of the 20 rounders base plates)

Vietnam era LRRP load out:
XM117, BAR belt holding eighteen 20rd mags, M18 Claymore, V40 mini grenades, M67 Frags, smoke grenades, small ruck, 1 & 2 quart canteens, rations, pen flares and launcher, secure comms, C-4 w/ Det. cord and blasting caps, strobe light, signaling mirror, knife, 1911 Pistol, compass, watch, whistle, and extras.

Everything you need to bad things to bad people and come back home.

I had heard before that the BAR belt was a much sought after and highly coveted piece of kit with SOF personnel in Southeast Asia as they would hold 20rd M16 mags without any modification to the pouches.

[Plumber237]

I think these pictures may have been out of a book by James Donahue, an SF medic who wrote a couple books about some of his hairier missions. Blackjack-34, which I've read, is the one that these pictures are from. I have yet to read Blackjack-33, it's on my Amazon wish list. If I remember 34's storyline, he wished he would have had even more 20 rounders in his kit...they were in a pretty big shitstorm.

[Moose-Knuckle]

I think these pictures may have been out of a book by James Donahue, an SF medic who wrote a couple books about some of his hairier missions. Blackjack-34, which I've read, is the one that these pictures are from. I have yet to read Blackjack-33, it's on my Amazon wish list. If I remember 34's storyline, he wished he would have had even more 20 rounders in his kit...they were in a pretty big shitstorm.

I believe you are correct. I have seen the pic with the BAR belt on the Soldier in tiger stripes before. Funny thing, your post reminded me of a quote from one of our very own SME's Docsherm who also happens to be a former 18 Delta; "I have never heard anyone say after a firefight that I wish that I had not taken so much ammo."

[Caeser25]

There's a 3 book series called eye of the eagle that was really good.

[ABNAK]

While most of MACV-SOG was drawn from Army Special Forces there were some who were recruited from LRRP teams too.

[Sam]

There's a 3 book series called eye of the eagle that was really good.

Was it by Gary Linderer? I read his, really great stories.

[SilverBullet432]

I want dat watch... ��

[Mr.Anderson]

Love that Tiger Stripe

[Caeser25]

Was it by Gary Linderer? I read his, really great stories.

Yes it was.

[SteyrAUG]

I soooooo need a XM117. The BAR mag pouch with 20 rounders is a neat trick.