American Military Impressions

Another replica for our Vietnam display is an M79 gr***de launcher, often referred to as a "Thumper" or "Blooper".

It is a single shot break action breach loading arm which fired a 40mm gr***de. There were a number of different types of rounds it could fire including high explosive and buckshot, to mention a few.

Ammunition was, at first, carried in a fabric bandolier which held 6 rounds. Later, a vest was issued that allowed a person to carry many more rounds.

Another WWII display piece is this replica Denix brand M3 "Grease Gun" submachine gun. The Denix did not come with either a sling or the parkerized finish. It is assembled with screws instead of having various parts spot welded as originals were made (the sling loops and sight), but all in all it's not a bad replica. The barrel was a bit wobbly and that was firmed up with an application of JB Weld before painting with Brownell's parkerizing paint.

This arm was available in the European Theater by at least June of 1944.

This replica is part of our WWII display, a M1A1 rocket launcher, most often called a "bazooka". It fired a 2.36 inch rocket. It was not very effective against German armor but proved to be very useful against pillboxes, non-armored vehicles, buildings, etc.

One of our members made a simple carry/storage case for it from a damaged shelter half.

More additions..... dummy, inert M18A1 Claymore mines (actually the practice version, the M33). Am pretty sure that the carry bag is a post-VN item. This mine was often used by troops as a night security device when they were camped for the night outside of a base with static defenses.

Another replica added is the M3A1 "Grease Gun", a modified version of the WWII M3 submachine gun. This all metal replica is constructed very similar to the originals with spot welded sling loops, sight, etc. The stock extends, the bolt cycles, and the weight is very close to an original.

Additional replicas include a M16A1 rifle with the three prong flash hider. This is an all steel and aluminum replica with correct 'plastic' stock, etc. It is nearly identical in weight to an original. A very nice replica.

Another VN display item added is an all steel replica M60 machine gun with a belt of 100 linked inert ammunition.

Have been adding to our Vietnam display items in preparation for a display for VN era veterans.

Below is a PRC 10, a backpack radio commonly used by the Marines in Vietnam. This radio came into service with US forces in the early 1950s. It has two styles of antennas and a handset. Although there was a specific carrying harness designed for this radio it was often strapped to a (WWII era) packboard, as seen here.

This is a PRC 6 handheld (often called a "handie talkie") radio. This type came out after WWII and was used in the Korean Conflict and in Vietnam.

It was also provided to the militaries of other nations. The one in our possession had been transferred to Israel and had a data plate and paint scheme from that country's armed forces.

We wanted to restore it to a US look so we repainted it using a late 1950s army color and replaced the data plate with a reproduction in English.

The first image is how the radio looked when we got it. The other two images show the radio after a light sanding and a wipe down of acetone before painting and finally the addition of the data plates.