Weapons used by the Vietminh

[hoover]

Hi,

we are using some Vietminh-weapons for decoartion in our Command Post on events.

So I thought it would be helpful to list all weapons used by the Vietminh during the FICW.

If you have additions please state if the weapon is proofed by pictures or newsreel.

Rifles
Mauser 98k (captured by the Chinese communists from the Chinese Nationalists and handed over to the Vietnminh by the PR China, also some delivered by the Russians, ex Wehrmacht stocks). Proofed by a lot of pics
Mosin Nagant Rifles and Carbines proofed by pics, but unknown if Chinese or Russian manufactured.
Enfield No. 4 Mk. I proofed by pics, but only rare
Enfield No. 1 Mk. III proofed by some rare pics
Arisaka Rifles leftovers of the Japanese occupation and handed over the Chinese, proofed by pics
Enfield P14 or Winchester P17 found on one single pic, a section equipped with the P14 or P17 (not exactly to identify)
Berthier Mle 07/15 and Mle 16 quite a few pics with the old WW1 vintage rifle in VM hands.



Machine Guns
Czeck ZB 26 and ZB 30 Chinese standard MG and was deliverd by them to the Vietminh. A lot of pics available.
FM 24/29 fur sure captured by the French. Proofed by pics.
M1918 BAR found on a very few pics, maybe captured weapons from Korea
12,7mm DSKh Russian made heavy MG, used as an AA gun promarly




SMG´s
Thompson M1928 and later versions proofed by some pics. Maybe Chinese weapons captured during the Korean war?
MAS 38 proofed by pics, surely captured by French forces
Mat 49 proofed by pics in the later stages of the war, captured by French of course
PPSh 1941 either Russian manufactured or Chinese Model 50

Pistols
MAB D found one pic with the MAB D in VM hands.


Weopons to be discussed
DP 28 never saw pics of Vietminh with the DP28, but Russians and China manufactured them, but did they deliver them?
M3 Grease Gun I remember seeing a pic long ago mentioned a Vietminh soldier. But couldn´t find it again. China produced the Grease Gun as the Model 36 and captured a lot during the Korean War.
.30 M1 Carbine The Vietminh should have captured a big amount, but I never a pic of the Carbine in VM use. Or did I missed it?
PPS 43 The Russians and the Chinese manufactured these, but I dindn´t see them on pics yet.

To be continued

[lew]

Nov 3, 2013 11:41:03 GMT -5 hoover said:

Weopons to be discussed
DP 28 never saw pics of Vietminh with the DP28, but Russians and China manufactured them, but did they deliver them?
M3 Grease Gun I remember seeing a pic long ago mentioned a Vietminh soldier. But couldn´t find it again. China produced the Grease Gun as the Model 36 and captured a lot during the Korean War.
.30 M1 Carbine The Vietminh should have captured a big amount, but I never a pic of the Carbine in VM use. Or did I missed it?
PPS 43 The Russians and the Chinese manufactured these, but I dindn´t see them on pics yet.

On all of these, the answer is "yes".

In addition to what you've listed:

Pistols: P-38, Tokarev TT pistol. Pictures for these ones

Rifles: MAS-36 (captured, only seen regular -36's), Czech VZ-24, Chinese Mausers, M1 Garand. Pictures for all of these.

Chinese Mosin Nagant (Type 53) production didn't start until late 1952, so the vast majority of Mosins would have been Russian.

The thought of outfitting all these arms with parts and ammunition would have been a logistics outfit's nightmare.

[hoover]

Hi Lew,
do you have pics of the Grease Gun in VM use? VC of course, but VM?
Same with PPS43, and I have hundreds of pics watched.

[lew]

Unfortunately, Indochina is tangential to my interest in Algeria, so I rarely save pictures as I come across them. Managing close to 10,000 pictures related to Algeria is enough for me. So, no, I cannot remember where I saw them.

[marsouin]

So far no pic with VM use of Grease gun or PPS-43.Actually you see more type 50 SMG or MAT-49 or MAS 36 in use at the Hands of VM Units.

[Saigon1965]

The Vietminh used everything and anything around - Also made up a few from scratch -