VIETNAM: TET OFFENSIVE 1968 (Joe's Pics) - PART 2

[Joe]

VIETNAM: TET OFFENSIVE 1968 (Joe's Pics) - PART 2



128: NVA armour and troops spotted by artillery observers on Hill 103


129: Suspicious ‘delivery courier’ is refused entry to Ft Knox


130: Heli-pad support barge on way up river to Chau Phu province


131: NVA launch a swift attack on the Sa Dec Bridge, taking the guards by surprise.


132: NVA first wave storm Sa Dec Bridge.


133: Munitions convoy makes a hurried departure from Fire Base Delta


134: More NVA spotted in the jungle below Hill 103


135: NVA assault the Bridge.


136: NVA sleeper cell activates in hut on west bank following a signal from the junk


137: Those Maverick boys get spooked real easy.


138: The lead convoy truck reaches the Xian Xi bridge


139: US Marines emerge from the HQ tunnels located below the Chau Phu outpost


140: Field Hospital awaiting survivors from Ka Nhang crash site


141: Armoured river barge returns fire at NVA snipers on the west bank


142: NVA armour and troops advance through the jungle towards the ARVN HQ building.


143: Free eggs for breakfast for this NVA LMG team


144: Chopper #16 lands on the heli-pad at Fire Base Delta for a refuelling and a quick patch up (several AK47 hits)


145: Chopper #16 at Fire Base Delta


146: Armoured river boat heads downstream into deep water


147: NVA insurgents unload hidden small arms ammunition from their pick up


148: NVA assault squad occupies Buddhist settlement


149: View from the roof (Ft Knox Military Hospital)


150: More NVA assault Sa Dec Bridge. A 25pdr is set and aimed at the bridge supports.


151: A NVA T-34/85 nails the nearside track of a US Army Sherman parked beside the ARVN HQ.


152: Paddy fields and river trader’s junk


153: 128th hold their fire


154: Helicopter reinforcements pass over the ARVN HQ, bound for Chau Phu province


155: Heuy #1 lifts off from Ka Nhang with crash survivors on board


156: Heuy #2105 refuels at Chau Phu base


157: NVA take out the Sherman at the Sa Dec Bridge. Fire from the T-34/85 and 25 pdr hammers into the bridge supports.


158: Heuy #1 makes an emergency landing at Fire Base Delta after being hit by enemy
small arms fire


159: NVA clear the north side of the Sa Dec Bridge. T-34/86 continues to pound away at the bridge supports from point blank range.


160: NVA take control of the west approach to the Ka Dheng Bridge.


161: US tank destroy the NVA howitzer team. Huey (with combat squad) descends towards Ka Dheng Bridge.


162: Armoured river boat struggles against the current while trying to put fire down on the NVA that are in the open.


163: Swift boat “Snoopy� searches a suspicious san-pan.


164: An up-armed Heuy. Heavy-duty firepower.


165: NVA advancing through the jungle towards the base of Hill 103.


166: “You need a double six. No pressure or anything…!�


167: Recovery squad forced to abandon their efforts to retrieve the bodies of pilot and co-pilot.


168: Chopper on its way to the battle at Sa Dec Bridge.


169: US Player: “How many NVA can I see in there?� Umpire: “Bleedin’ hundreds!�


170: Delivery of Tic Toc tea to Ft Knox.


171: Tank support for the hard pressed US defenders at Sa Dec Bridge.


172: An immobilised Sherman faces-down a belligerent T-34/85 near the ARVN HQ.


173: The T-34/85 advances along the base of Hill 103, out of sight and reach of the 128th US Artillery Battery positioned on the hill top.


174: Fresh US forces mustering to support the battle at Sa Dec Bridge.


175: Fire Base Delta comes under fire from NVA in surrounding jungle.


176: Ft Knox calls in a F4 Phantom strike against NVA troops attacking the ARVN HQ.


177: The NVA reinforce their attack on the ARVN HQ with more troops and armour.


178: Scout jeep (left centre) crew all killed by AK-47 fire from bunker hut.


179: Chopper downed by a RPG hit to the rotor. Full of fuel, it explodes and burns fiercely when it hits the deck.


180: Sa Dec Bridge collapses. T-34/85 knocked out by artillery fire from Hill 103.


181: F4 Phantom makes its attack run (top left).


182: Reinforcements for Sa Dec leave Ft Knox at the double.


183: Chopper #1 clears Fire Base Delta as the NVA assault hots up.


184: The F4 Phantom pilot arms his air-to-ground missiles as he approaches the wreckage that is still burning atop Ka Nhang.


185: Smoke and flames engulf the north approach to the Sa Dec Bridge.


186: “Hey, Joe. Where are you goin’ with that gun in your hand?�


187: “Oh sh*t!!!�


188: Lots of thirsty choppers in the air, looking for some place safe to land and refuel.


189: Huey #1, with the crash site survivors, approaching the Military Hospital at Ft Knox.


190: NVA advance in force in the shadow of Hill 103


191: A US Army Marines Heuy puts HMG fire down on the advancing NVA


192: An artillery spotter (in a Huey) braves a hail of small arms and RPG fire while assessing enemy strength near Hill 103.


193: The convoy starts to cross the Xian Xi bridge.


194: California dreaming.


195: Lieutenant Jonah Badluck and his recoilless gun, on their way to the Sa Dec Bridge. He really ought to have stayed in bed today!


196: NVA squad prepare to swim across the river from the Buddhist settlement on the west bank.


197: Fire Base Delta takes heavy casualties from the NVA ground attack.


198: Ft Knox Military Hospital – marine on roof.

199: “Bring up the bulldozer! We’ve got ourselves a bridge to rebuild.�


200: NVA assault squad swim across river (near prow of junk).


201: Guns and gasoline a-plenty.


202: Swift boat “Macho� takes a direct hit from an RPG and runs aground.


203: F4 Phantom making its attack run (top left)


204: 1st Air Cav locate some previously-hidden NVA armour and troops preparing to attack the munitions convoy at the Xian Xi bridge.


205: Armoured US river boat covers the approach of troop-laden Hueys to the Ka Dheng Bridge.


206: American Hero. RIP.


207: US Marines dropped to support the embattled squad in the fire-fight at Fire Base Delta.


208: And these guys thought that the Mississippi was the only muddy river in the world!


209: So near, yet so far. Umpire ruling that the 128th cannot hit the NVA armour directly below them due to the ‘shadow’ cast by the steep hillside.


210: Bulldozer leaving Ft Knox, on its way to Sa Dec with orders to assist the rebuilding of the fallen bridge.


211: Confucius say: “He who laughs last thinks slowest.�


212: A US Army Sheridan and a NVA T-34/85 go head-to-head (left) near the the ARVN HQ.


213: Lieutenant Jonah Badluck lives up to his name and his reputation. His jeep is destroyed by a direct hit from the NVA’s 25pdr at the ruins of Sa Dec Bridge.


214: “Phew. It ain’t ‘alf hot, Mom!�


215: ARVN, stationed on the roof of their HQ, take heavy casualties from NVA snipers.


216: Next stop: Chau Phu.


217: US Marines prepare to ambush NVA column as it advances towards the Xian Xi Bridge.


218: Relief for Fire Base Delta.


219: NVA dig in among the ruins of Sa Dec Bridge. A soviet-supplied PT-76 wading tank crosses the river successfully (left).


220: Reinforcements from Ft Knox arrive at Sa Dec village.


221: US Marines come under fierce small arms fire from the ruins of Sa Dec Bridge.


222: M60 gunner in the watchtower on East Quay, Ft Knox.


223: The quayside lookout calls in some M60 fire on a suspicious craft approaching the river entrance to Ft Knox.


224: Jousting in armour, Nam-style. There goes their no-claims bonuses!


225: F4 Phantom strafes the advancing NVA with missiles and cannon fire.


226: The forward trenches of Chau Phu.


227: Artillery spotter (Heuy) forced to make an emergency landing at Fire Base Delta, despite the base being under attack.


228: Three Hueys arrive from Chau Phu with reinforcements destined for Fire Base Delta.


229: NVA reinforce their positions at the ruins of the Sa Dec Bridge. A trio of PT-76 wading tanks cross the fast-flowing tributary undaunted by artillery fire incoming from Hill 103.


230: A brave North Vietnamese assault squad wades ashore at Sa Dec, just as a US supply truck is KO’d by the NVA’s 25pdr.


231: The NVA’s PT-76 shakes itself dry and prepares to fire. The wreck of a T-34/85 can be seen burning in the background.


232: “Tough day?� “Don’t ask!�


233: Cpt. Schwarzenegger is itching to kick some Gook ass!


234: Close combat at the approaches to the Ka Dheng Bridge.


235: Happiness is a warm M-79 grenade launcher.


236: US Armoured river boat comes under sniper fire near the base of the Ka Nhang promontory.


237: Armoured barge on its way down river to Fire Base Delta.


238: A T-34/85 attacks the munitions convoy as it crosses the Xian Xi Bridge.


239: US Marines, dropped by Heuy, force NVA troops to retreat from the Ka Dheng Bridge.


240: Wise old village elder, he say: “Change is inevitable. Except from the cigarette vending machine at the Paradise Club in Sa Dec.�


241: Part of the NVA supply line. Strictly low-tech.


242: ‘Whoomph!’ Recoiless action at Chau Phu.


243: US convoy scouts reconnoitering the river bank.


244: Chau Phu fire base emplacement.


245: Next stop: Fire Base Delta.


246: NVA armour reinforcements for the fight at the ARVN HQ.


247: “Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.�(Gen.MacArthur)


248: “You, you, and you . . . Panic. The rest of you, come with me.� (Marine Gunnery Sergeant)


249: Zero-ing in on the ruins of the Sa Dec Bridge.


250: US Army snipers unable to get a clear shot at the NVA advancing through the jungle below.


251: Supply truck ascending the notoriously steep hill track to the top of Hill 103.


252: US reinforcements clearing jungle to the north west of Fire Base Delta.


253: Insurgents (now changed into their NVA uniforms) unleash a hail of fire upon Fire Base Delta from positions along the west bank. A swift boat and a jeep are destroyed.


254: The end of a long and very hard day’s fighting. The NVA succeeded in cutting the road link, and disrupting the river supply line near Fire Base Delta. Despite losing 3 helicopters, the US Army managed to keep open their air corridor to the Chau Phu outpost. The munitions convoy arrived shortly after dark, having lost 50% of their trucks. Final result: a worthy but incomplete NVA victory (land & river supply routes severed, air corridor still operable).

[Cacadores]

What a neat-looking game - like stepping back 40 years and entering into a different world. It's so detailed you must have been playing all day.

Shame so many models got burnt!

[Cacadores]

It's 28 mm, isn't it?