Dirtyshirt Posted January 26, 2018 Share #101 Posted January 26, 2018 The CO of our company, (Support Co, 3rd Engr. Bn. RVN), carried a grease gun. The only one I ever saw incountry. One of our squad leaders had a m1A1, I had a AK47, tried to bring it home..no luck, sold it for 75.00 to another Marine. DS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormrider59 Posted January 27, 2018 Share #102 Posted January 27, 2018 What an interesting topic, it is really neat to see that the M3 has held on as long as it has. Go Go Grease Gun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 14, 2018 Share #103 Posted May 14, 2018 Think this is a Marine, date and unit unknown. A GI of the 3rd Squadron 5th Cavalry, a Tank Crewman, Operation Comanche Falls III November 1968, squadron at this tme was detached from the 9th Infantry Division and attached to the 1st Cavalry Division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Jack Posted May 15, 2018 Share #104 Posted May 15, 2018 The position I held allowed me to travel all over the III Corps area. I saw a vast array of foreign weapons. My SVN counter-part had a beautiful mint MG38/40 hanging behind his desk in Saigon. The most breath taking weapon that I saw in a large area strewn with captured weapons was a brand new FG42--the WWII German Paratroop machine gun. I lusted after this weapon, and could have had for the asking, but the risk was to great. Thus, it became a memory for me. In spite of its weight, my weapon of choice was the Thompson or the Model 70 when I was sniping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blu1989 Posted May 17, 2018 Share #105 Posted May 17, 2018 My dad's captain brought home a grease gun and an ak47 from Vietnam when he finally made it back stateside in 1970. The grease gun was stolen and then used in a robbery ten years later. The police confiscated it and never gave it back to my dad's captain, despite the paperwork he had saying it was his war trophy. I got to see and handle the ak though which was really cool since it had a large gouge in the butt from where shrapnel chewed into it as well as some painted Vietnamese writing on the magazine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 1, 2018 Share #106 Posted October 1, 2018 Wow just discovered this, did you know that the CHICOM's made a copy of our M3 SM during the Korean War? Turns out they did, called a Type 36. Wouldn't be surprised if they didn't ship some of these down to the Viet Cong to use, and that we, got a hold of some we captured, with we, using them. http://www.koreanwaronline.com/history/Enemy%20Weapons/Frames/37.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USARV72 Posted October 1, 2018 Share #107 Posted October 1, 2018 Just saw thread. Our unit had the last GI operated M-88 in RVN. Had at least 2 Grease guns on board. Had an Ord. section in unit so there were all kinds of weapons. GIs had all sorts of “ private purchse” weapons, one had an RPD, AKs were common even though unauthorised . Had both RPG launchers, asked about cutting them in half Longways, mounting on board, no dice. Wish had just cut them in pieces and sent home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Iron Brigade Posted October 1, 2018 Share #108 Posted October 1, 2018 Silenced M3's could be found with SF, SEAL, Marine Recon/Force Recon and LRRP units in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2AD_Vet Posted December 31, 2018 Share #109 Posted December 31, 2018 Some US tankers still had M3A1's issued in their vehicles up until the mid 1990's, some are even reported after 2000. I carried one in 1978 while in Germany as I drove a tracked vehicle and they didnt issue .45's to enlisted. The M16 was to hard to get in and out of the drivers hatch with. Most of the 2AD units had these in inventory back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted January 1, 2019 Share #110 Posted January 1, 2019 I carried one in 1978 while in Germany as I drove a tracked vehicle and they didnt issue .45's to enlisted. The M16 was to hard to get in and out of the drivers hatch with. Most of the 2AD units had these in inventory back then. Where you a Tank Crewman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccyooper Posted January 1, 2019 Share #111 Posted January 1, 2019 I carried one while I was with 2AD at hood 81-83. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2AD_Vet Posted January 1, 2019 Share #112 Posted January 1, 2019 Where you a Tank Crewman? I was a mechanic and I drove a 578 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted January 1, 2019 Share #113 Posted January 1, 2019 I was a mechanic and I drove a 578 Roger, same with our mechanics in our mech inf bn in The Cav, some of them carried the greaser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 7, 2019 Share #114 Posted October 7, 2019 While not a photo taken in Vietnam, it is one of Reserve Special Forces Groups at a Drill at Ft Meade Maryland, 1965, probably of the old 11th Special Forces Group, and shows that the Grease Gun was still in the inventory for SF Groups in the States, at least the Reserve Components at any rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbokidd Posted October 17, 2019 Share #115 Posted October 17, 2019 I’m loving this thread, with the vintage photos and all the stories. Please keep it going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted October 17, 2019 Share #116 Posted October 17, 2019 Wow just discovered this, did you know that the CHICOM's made a copy of our M3 SM during the Korean War? Turns out they did, called a Type 36. Wouldn't be surprised if they didn't ship some of these down to the Viet Cong to use, and that we, got a hold of some we captured, with we, using them. http://www.koreanwaronline.com/history/Enemy%20Weapons/Frames/37.htm Here's a saved image of the CHICOM Type 36 just in case that site in link goes down for some unknown reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easterneagle87 Posted October 17, 2019 Share #117 Posted October 17, 2019 I was a ROTC cadet in the summer 0f '86 and SMP with the WA Nat Guard, HHC 161st. They needed people to ride armor, so I hooked up with a Univ of Idaho grad branched armor and I rode with his M-60. They were issued grease guns. I thought it was an odd relic of a weapon, but like earlier posted, easier to get out of the turret/hatch with one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted November 17, 2019 Share #118 Posted November 17, 2019 I'm late to the party I guess but here a few things I can add to the thread. This is a copy of a photo taken of my friend Henry Labombard, 88th MP Co- K9 who was in Vietnam in 65-66. The second thing I wanted to add was from this old but awesome work on the history of Civil War relics. There was a small paragraph in there I saw years ago but never forgot that totally relates to this thread and the variety of weapons seen in Vietnam and Cambodia in this period.... ... The book this was in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 18, 2019 Share #119 Posted November 18, 2019 Thanks for the addition, as an aside, we're seeing a MACV patch there, the 88th MP Co in 1965-66 was directly assigned to MACV it reassigned to the newly activated 18th MP Bde when it sets up shop later in 1966. Weird the VC used such relics LOL, wonder if the 1853 carbine was ever fired in anger at our boys LOL. Martini Henry's Anybody LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warbird15 Posted November 18, 2019 Share #120 Posted November 18, 2019 The other week ago at an estate sale I met a 1st Cav Vet who said he knew someone who brought a grease gun home in his duffle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker1 Posted November 21, 2019 Share #121 Posted November 21, 2019 In Vietnam we had two on every tank, and the VTR crew also had a couple. We also carried a grenade launcher and a M16 on the tank. They were used in tank units into the 80s as I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 21, 2019 Share #122 Posted November 21, 2019 547871_569814083040222_1440081075_n_edited.jpgIn Vietnam we had two on every tank, and the VTR crew also had a couple. We also carried a grenade launcher and a M16 on the tank. They were used in tank units into the 80s as I remember. Hey Welcome Back Tanker1, you been missed. Great First Hand Photo as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccyooper Posted November 22, 2019 Share #123 Posted November 22, 2019 As Tanker1 mentions in his post, I was in 2AD 81-83 and I carried a M3 in my APC during that period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rats of Tobruk Posted December 12, 2019 Share #124 Posted December 12, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triplecanopy Posted December 13, 2019 Share #125 Posted December 13, 2019 On 8/25/2017 at 5:15 PM, patches said: And one being used by the 101's Lima Ranges, 1970. grease-gun-in-vietnam 101.jpgimages 101.jpg REF: L Co Ranger Photos in post #94 Those photos were taken at Camp Eagle near Hue in April 1971. We were conducting a familarization class with captured NVA/VC weapons and of course those included a few older US weapons. None of our guys ever carried either the M3 or M3A1 on a patrol. We also had a few Thompsons and fired them out there in Bravo sector as well. The only guys I encountered who liked the M3 Grease Gun in our area (Northern I Corps) were a few of the helicopter pilots. Those things are heavy, slow firing and short range. Helicopter pilots who normally were armed only with a revolver liked them and kept them handy in case of emergencies. They didn't have to hump them. BTW, we fired everything we could get ammo for including the AK's, RPD's, DSHK 12.7mm, SGM, RPG's and many other captured weapons. Since this is US only I won't go on... RLTW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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