Jackie Edwards contacted me after reading my earlier article about Gun Trucks in Vietnam (Link included at the end of this article) and thought it would be interesting to write about the ingenuity of Gun Truck crews to overcome early limitations. This is what he wrote:

As he was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor more than 50 years after saving comrades during a firefight, a Vietnam veteran from South Carolina acknowledged the ingenuity of gun truck crews with whom he had worked to help keep vital supply lines open during the war. Sergeant Deyo had been responsible for maintaining and operating the four homebuilt trucks in his company, and while his team deterred attacks on numerous occasions, one fierce ambush left two of his gunners wounded. Vietnam gun trucks were important assets in protecting military convoys from ambushes and attacks, however, they also had several drawbacks, including vulnerability to small arms fire, susceptibility to breakdowns, and high fuel consumption. Gun trucks were already improvised and makeshift vehicles adapted by desperate soldiers, so it was natural for their homebuilt designs to evolve. Throughout the war, creative solutions were continually implemented to address weak spots and further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of gun trucks.

Protecting Essential Supply Lines

Protecting Essential Supply Lines

From procuring and preparing vehicles for shipping in advance of deployment to conveying vital supplies to individual units, the US Army Transportation Corps provided an essential service during the Vietnam war.  As well as large numbers of vehicles, huge amounts of other supplies including construction materials, maintenance tools and personal items for soldiers were transported across extensive air and sea routes to ports in Vietnam. Once vehicles and supplies arrived at the coastal towns of Cam Ranh Bay and Qui Nhon, they needed to be safely delivered to troops throughout the region, and the concept of gun trucks evolved out of this requirement. The winding roads to remote areas were in poor repair making driving very difficult, but as the cargo trucks slowly made their way down primitive tracks, they were also extremely vulnerable to attack.

To protect themselves, the transportation corps began to improvise shields against bullets initially in the form of wooden sides and sand bags. However, these provided little defense, and added unnecessary weight to the trucks which caused frequent breakdowns and significantly reduced fuel mileage. 

Upgrades to Improve Mobility

The initial designs of the trucks were quite primitive, and desperate but resourceful soldiers used whatever materials that were available to them at the time. While the first gun trucks were converted from 2.5-ton vehicles built from pre-cut steel plating, they struggled on dirt roads riddled with potholes and often experienced mechanical problems. After a few months, switching to five-ton trucks addressed these issues by bringing more power and better handling.  In addition, gun truckers made other smaller upgrades to the design of the vehicles to improve their efficiency.  As well as causing rear suspension failures and other breakdowns the added weight of sandbags and two-by-four timber mounts had increased fuel consumption so these were eventually replaced with more sophisticated armor made from reinforced steel. To enhance overall performance, soldiers modified the technical components of the gun trucks with engine upgrades, improved suspension systems, and the installation of more powerful batteries to support the vehicle’s increased electrical demands.

As better materials became available, spare parts, extra features, and even weapons were scrounged by resourceful soldiers from the Air Force and other supportive services in Vietnam. 

Customized Designs Support Enhanced Gun Mounts

As well as enhancing the 5-ton trucks’ armor with double-walled gun boxes made from steel, soldiers also focused on improving the firepower of gun trucks. This allowed vehicles to respond more effectively to enemy threats and contributed to overall mission success. Gun trucks were increasingly under fire but the larger vehicles offered more room for reinforced gun mounts and ammunition, and crews began to install additional machine guns, grenade launchers, and other weapons to bolster the vehicle’s offensive capabilities.  Once the four-man crew was picked for each truck, a former Lieutenant Colonel remembers how commanders left the men to customize vehicles according to their own designs, adding extra features and machinery to create a more effective weapons platform to protect the convoy. Although only M60s were authorized for use on the trucks, crews used creative methods such as bartering to obtain other weapons, including the heavier M-2.50 caliber machine gun, the M134 minigun, and the M02.50-cal Browning, any of which could be added to the cab.

While painting the trucks black created an ominous and intimidating aesthetic, the dark color also offered effective camouflage and glare reduction which in turn boosted the operational security of individual missions.

By recognizing the limitations of gun trucks in Vietnam, the implementation of creative solutions focused on armor, mobility and fuel efficiency could significantly overcome these drawbacks and enhance the effectiveness of gun trucks in providing convoy security and battlefield support. Through the integration of technology, innovative design, and operational tactics, soldiers addressed the challenges of gun truck design, making them more resilient, versatile and ultimately capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare. These efforts not only increased the survivability and effectiveness of the gun trucks but also reflected the resourcefulness and adaptability of the soldiers in the face of challenging and dynamic combat conditions.

Here is the link to my original article about Gun Trucks:

Gun Trucks of the Vietnam War

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