The Vietnam War was a brutal and complex war in history, which lasted for more than a decade and ended with the defeat and withdrawal of American troops. However, the war left a rich legacy in Vietnam, especially the large amount of military equipment. This legacy of equipment played an important role in Vietnam's post-war development. This article will focus on the "wealth" left behind by the United States, especially in terms of equipment. According to the data report, the Vietnamese army captured a large number of American** during the war, including *** transport aircraft, fighter jets and rifles, etc. These pieces of equipment are still being fully utilized by Vietnam today, both as a collector's value and as a practical military support for Vietnam.
The Vietnam War began as a game between the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. In the mid-50s of the last century, the United States recognized the importance of Southeast Asia and intervened in the war with the support of South Vietnam. However, complex international factors led the United States into the quagmire of war. While the war was underway, the United States used large-scale military operations, but the North Vietnamese used guerrilla tactics with good results. The rise of anti-war sentiment and anti-war movements in the United States forced the United States to change its strategy. Eventually, the United States hastily withdrew from Vietnam after signing the relevant agreement, and the war ended in defeat for the United States.
Before the end of the Vietnam War, the United States left a large amount of military equipment in Vietnam, including transport planes, fighter jets and rifles. According to a US data report, the North Vietnamese army captured 36 CH-47 Chinook C-130 Hercules transport planes and 73 F-5 fighters. Most of the equipment remained intact after capture and could be used with only simple repairs. However, Viet Nam** has handled the equipment relatively low-key and has not fully disclosed its use.
Reports from Vietnam have accidentally or deliberately shown parts of equipment captured during the Vietnam War. For example, Vietnamese officers are inspected in an inventory of American M193 ammunition and a large number of M16 automatic rifles. The M193 bullet is a small-caliber bullet produced in the United States, which is highly recognizable, and the Vietnam War is its main use scenario. The M16 automatic rifle, on the other hand, was known for its widespread use in the Vietnam War. The display and preservation of these equipment is not only collectible, but also a mockery of the defeat of the United States in the Vietnam War.
For Vietnam, this batch of equipment captured from the Vietnam War had practical military value in addition to its collectible value. Despite the fact that Vietnam was supported by the USSR after the war, its military-industrial production capacity was limited, and its military equipment was not updated and upgraded for a long time. In contrast, the quality of equipment in the United States is excellent, including all kinds of *** tanks and armored vehicles captured from the Vietnam War. These pieces of equipment can still be used directly after simple modifications. In the case of the M16 automatic rifle, it is estimated that Vietnam may still have more than 100,000 such rifles, a considerable number. If you add other ground artillery **, these equipment are enough to support Vietnam to fight a war of a local nature.
Although the Vietnam War ended in the defeat of the United States, the equipment left behind became an important resource for Vietnam. The equipment was not only collectible, but also provided practical military support to Vietnam. Especially in the case of Vietnam's limited military production capacity, the quality and performance advantages of American-style equipment were fully utilized. As a result, Vietnam's use of these legacy equipment will continue to affect the country's military development and strategic capabilities.
1.Snow Peak. U.S. diplomacy in Southeast Asia after the Cold War. U.S. Diplomacy; Southeast Asia; Hegemony, 2012
2.Editorial Board of "Deep Military". Global Individual Soldier **TOP Selection (Collector's Edition).Beijing. Tsinghua University Press. January 2022. 143-146