M14 Forum

Lrsd

LRRP/LRSU units have generally had the ability to obtian and carry items not normally found on the MTOE. It is a special mission which requires special tools.

LRSU operations are returning to the Direct Action days. Also, the new MTOE reflects the "arms room" standard......the MTOE provides anything from the .50 Barrett to the M9 Beretta and anything inbetween to include crew served and sniper systems. Part of the planning process for a certain mission is for the team to figure out what configuration of small arms they need, and then this "set" is drawn goes on the mission.

Trung Si

Yes in 1969, All LRRP Units became part of the 75th Rangers!

MACVRLAMM

I carried the M14 that was selectable auto/semi-auto had a suppressor and 10 power scope that I carried in a mortar round shippers to keep them clean, the scope mounted to the left side of the weapon you'd just bottom it out on the stops and you were good to go, the supressor left them guessing, I spent 18 months with MACV SSG LRRP in both II and III corps. it was a fine weapon with iron peep sights or scoped mister charles could not hide behind things when confronted with the rifle you could shoot through a lot of things the 16 and the other assorted weapons. thats what I remember

pilotc7a

While in laos, we would fly out at midnight with a "talker" on board to make air drops to the lrp groups who were north of laos. They depended on our drops for ammo, food etc.
When we got close, the "talker" would call them. If they had the right signal on the ground, we'd drop.
If we didn't get the signal it was either that they had been caught and were running, or they were in another area.

"moon beam" was our overhead controler and would vector us into the supposed area. A combined effort, always

ranger5

C7'
I was on the receiving end of those. Drops. Thank god for pilots. No pilot buys when I am at the bar. CAS saved me on many occasions. BTW, we never carried The M 14 on recon. My conventional rifle platoon had one sniper with M 14 with A scope. Thanks again for flying for us.

CPTKILLER

The LRRP's carried pretty much what worked from CAR-15's to AK's. As stated earlier, they were recon, not shooters. Their best work came with the use of their radios.

The comment that the M-14 sounded like an M-60 isn't correct. It sounds as different as a M-16 does to an AK.

dprice3844444

dave,it was hell is for heroes

gregaba

I carried an M-14 with a detachable scope. So it doesn't mean that they wern't sniper's.
By the way the Special Force's in VN was the 5th not the 7th SF group at least in I corp.
Greg

CharlieEcho

It's been a while since I read the book or spoke with the author, but I recall Force Recon being "presented" with M1 rifles with scopes in 1966. They were also using at least some M14's at the time I beleive. My book is stored away and I wasn't there in 66. Ray Hildreth is the author of the book HILL 488. With the book are pictures of Ray and his M1 sniper rifle. One Medal of Honor, four Navy Crosses, and thirteen Silver Stars came out of that fight as I recall. I don't believe Ray was carrying the M1 in this fight.

Ray Hildreth and Charles W. Sasser, Hill 488; New York: Pocket Books, 2003. xix, 359 pp. On the night of June 15-16, 1966, an 18-man platoon of C Company, 1st Recon Battalion was attacked by greatly superior VC and PAVN forces on Hill 488 (Nui Vu Hill) about 34 km west of Tam Ky, during Operation Kansas. The platoon leader, Gunnery Sergeant Jimmie E. Howard, won the Medal of Honor for the action. Hildreth was a participant in the battle. Some names have been changed, and some conversations and scenes have been reconstructed.
Semper Fi,