The M42 Duster’s relentless barrage packed a punch as devastating as the bone-chilling fear it sparked in the Viet Cong caught in the crosshairs of its dual 40mm Bofors cannons.
It was a juggernaut the enemy just couldn’t wrap their heads around. First Lieutenant Gene S. Lucas put it into words: (QUOTE) “The VC call them ‘Fire Dragons’ because they don’t know what to make of them. If the VC have ever come against one before, they’ll usually stay away.”
This towering, nightmare-inducing tank was originally just a mobile anti-aircraft artillery piece, yet in the depths of Vietnam, it became a force of nature. In January 1968, the United States 26th Marine Regiment withstood the assault of three North Vietnamese Army divisions during a staggering 77 days.
With two Dusters anchoring either end of the airstrip and a company of dug-in Marines sandwiched between, this setup became absolutely pivotal in the defense of the base. Their ceaseless volleys and tracer rounds spitting in blistering barrages blurred into a burst of flames and looked like a dragon unleashing hellfire at the waves of attackers.
Now, these fire-breathing machines were all that stood between US marines holding the line and a vast enemy horde on the brink of swallowing the base whole…
Wow, I have heard of these machines, they did a good deal of damage but that is expected in war
ReplyDeleteMy father ran the M42, while he was in the National Guard in the 50s. The beach shots in the video were probably filmed/shot on the Delaware Seashore, just south of the mouth of the Delaware Bay. We have his photos in our family albums. I remember the quonset huts on the beach in the early to mid 60s.
ReplyDeleteDad landed on the beaches of Normandy on 9June, 3 days after D-Day. He was a tanker in the 5th Armored Division. Like everyone else, he fought/stayed the entire war till the last days. Then even more time during the later months.
Thanks Ken for posting.
Saber 7
Superior firepower wins the day
ReplyDeleteJD
40mm works out to 157 caliber - an inch and a half projectile. I wouldn't want to be down range of that.
ReplyDeleteBofor 40 mm guns were also on Balau class WW2 US submarines. The Bofor gun stayed permanently mounted on the deck, even during dives. We have the 'USS Bowfin' submarine here at Pearl Harbor, and I am told by 'Silent Service' veterans that they greased the gun before dives so it would be ready to fire upon servicing. I never knew about the M 42 Duster, and Mahalo to you for this video.
ReplyDeleteThe Bofors 40mm is a classic. Like the quad .50, just devastating against personnel. My Uncle was a tanker in the Korean War and said nothing scared the Norks more than the quad .50's. They would move on positions with 3 tanks up front and when they got fire the .50s opened up from the rear. The 20mm Vulcan ADA tracks worked great in Desert Storm...
ReplyDeleteDamn. I got to live-fire the last operational Duster in the Army before it went to the boneyard. What a hoot! 13B40 Red Leg.
ReplyDeleteHmmm ...Bofors, aren't they anti aircraft type multi guns, pom pom type?
ReplyDeleteWe were over run at a firebase in VN 3 times in a month in Sept 1968, apparently the Army didn't want to give the posiion over to the NVA, They brought in two Quad50s and two M42s, one at each corner. The noise level went up considerably, fun times.
ReplyDeleteAround Easter 1967, operating in the Leatherneck Square area, we had 2-3 Dusters attached. Sharing space with another battalion, recall wakeup call the morning of Easter Monday; a tank hit a mine within the perimeter and a Duster opened up on something for a few seconds. Aside from spilt coffee, never knew what that was about.
ReplyDeleteDusters with their twin-40mm’s were in their element when providing perimeter security at a base like Camp Carroll or Dong Ha. In our area, their effectiveness was offset by the logistical train that ammo & fuel required.
Thank you all. Soldiers and patriots
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