The Largest Threat to Tanks in the Vietnam War
In the context of the Vietnam War, the threat to tanks was multifaceted. One of the most significant was the humble mine. These underground booby traps were not only pervasive but also incredibly costly. According to our records, our forces lost twice as many tanks and armored vehicles to mines than to RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades).
Safety and Mining Risks
Mines presented a formidable and often violent adversary. While they rarely caused fatalities, the explosions could be extremely traumatic. Explosions often resulted in shattered eardrums and broken bones, as soldiers were hurled into the air and then hard onto the ground. For those sitting in the open-top M113 armored personnel carriers, caution was paramount. Hanging legs off the sides or even inside the hatch could result in their amputation due to the explosive blast. Interior mines were less lethal, but they still caused considerable damage, often warping the tank's hull to the point of irreparable damage.
Vehicle Fluid Removal and Hazardous Situations
The M113 armored personnel carriers and the aluminum Sheridan's were particularly vulnerable to mines. These vehicles, which were primarily designed for infantry support, were not built to withstand the shock of a mine blast. As a precaution, one would never place both feet inside the hatch or allow legs to hang off the side of the vehicle. A single mine could easily tear them from the roof, and the cargo carried, like the ammunition cans, could fly through the air with devastating consequences.
Adaptations and Protection Measures
Despite the threat, our M48A3 tanks were highly adaptable and could handle most of the land mines encountered on the battlefields. These tanks were equipped with protective measures such as turrets and rear-facing bustles designed specifically to counter rudimentary land mine threats. They were usually effective at merely disabling a track or damaging a road wheel, which was often the extent of the damage.
Our tanks faced another significant threat in the form of RPG-7 rockets. While these were more effective against lightly armored vehicles like Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), they could still cause severe damage to main battle tanks. An RPG-7 could disable a tank by blowing off a tread, leaving the vehicle immobilized and vulnerable.
Bottom-Up Destruction and Evolving Threats
By the later stages of the war, once the U.S. forces departed and left many of our tanks in the hands of the South Vietnamese military, the effectiveness of the M48A3s declined significantly. The enemy, particularly with the AT-3 Sagger wire-guided anti-tank missile supplied by the Soviet Union, began to take a heavy toll on these vehicles. The Sagger missile was a highly accurate and deadly weapon against even heavily armored tanks.
Throughout the war, the Soviet RPG-7 became one of the most feared weapons, not just due to its potential threat to tanks, but also against light armored vehicles. Its versatility and effectiveness in disabling tanks meant that our forces had to constantly adapt their strategies and defensive measures.
In summary, the Vietnam War presented a complex array of threats to tanks. The primary threat was the mine, which was both numerous and devastating in its impact. The RPG-7 added another layer of danger, primarily against APCs but also against tanks. Understanding these threats was crucial for the survival of our armored forces during one of the most challenging conflicts of the 20th century.