Ques: Son Tay Raider's Red Goggles?

[Navg8r]

I've Googled this subject and came up empty. Can anyone explain the purpose of the red lens goggles that Son Tay Raiders used? I've also seen pics of similar goggles worn by Argentine conscripts in the Falklands.

Obviously they weren't powered NVGs, but they must have had some function at night?

Thanks in advance.

[ggk]

infra red ...............

[Connaught Ranger]

Red Lens also help to preserve the eyes night vision mode.

[hist2004]

Read The Raid by Benjamin Schemmer. It covers all aspects of the
mission;the equipment used is covered in detail.

Hist2004

[ironcross6]

Son Tay was before the widespread use of NVGs, it was an illuminated night raid. There was a C130 dropping flares over the compound and the raiders needed to dull the harsh light. Thus they used the standard sand and dust goggles with some "tint" paper if i recall correctly.

they also used a early version of the aimpoint sight literally held on by duct tape. it was noted that use of the sight had a huge improvement over iron sights at night. only took the army 40 more years to capatilize on that lesson learned.

[James]

they also used a early version of the aimpoint sight literally held on by duct tape. it was noted that use of the sight had a huge improvement over iron sights at night. only took the army 40 more years to capatilize on that lesson learned.

The scope was called the Single Point. It was an occluded eye gunsight. They weren't held on solely by duct tape. The tape was used to reinforce the less than durable civilian monts that the raiders used. Other units in the Army were using Armson OEGs and Aimpoints in the 1980s, and, as with just about every advance with equipment and tactics, these things trickled down from SOF units to regular units by the late 1990s. More like 25 years, not 40 (it hasn't yet been 40 years since the Son Tay Raid).

Slightly off topic - the Singlepoint was also the scope used in the production of the original Star Wars films, and are mounted on the Storm Trooper rifles. So, most of the real scopes still floating around now are in the hands of Star Wars collectors.

Here's a pic of the scope:
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3661/singlepointhn9.jpg

And here's a picture of Captain **** Meadows with his GAU-5A/A and single point:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/7387/slide5mb2.jpg

[c46thva]

Funny you should ask, just finished The Raid. They used a red tinted plastic film. Apprently it was normally used in the preperation of map overlays. Ill get the book out and get you the description in a little while. Ive been in the process of putting together a Son Tay raider uniform and kit for a maanequine display for some time now. I need to get a better description of the modified claymore bags they used to carry the 30rd mags, then it will be just about complete.

JW

PS Does anyone know where the scale model of the Son Tay compound resides now?? I thought for some reason the Air Force had it but that may not be true.