1965 Marines

[FuturePara]

Hey my friend and I recently go into a debate over what kind of gear the US Marines carried with them in 1965 when compared to later dates such as 1968. I always believed that they carried pretty much the same stuff except for the M-14 switching to the M-16. However he insisted flak-jackets weren't standard then along with many other things.
Does anyone have good insight into this?

[Howitz]

im not very much of an expert on this, but earlier you probably would have had marines with the older korean WWII equipment. As im pretty sure the army was developing the more advanced gear, and the marines weren't getting any of it around '65. So they'd probably have the two pocket fatigues as opposed to the jungle uniform. Full leather combat boots instead of jungle boots. The M1941 pack and other load bearing equipment, though in vietnam they started getting the Army M-56 and subseqent equipment as the war continued. I have no idea about the flak jackets.

[mattnwnc03]

some pics ive seen of them getting off the boat , some were carrying bar s . they pretty much wore the same flak vest thru the war.of course they switched to erdl camouflage uniforms late in the war.and yes had m-14 rifles early and switched to m-16 rifles.im no expert but thats what i got from my vietnam expirience books.

[Merit]

M1961 Gear
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_01.jpg
From my understanding, they are in use of a mix of transitional gear, some people call it M1961 gear.
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_04.jpghttp://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_05.jpg
Initially, they should be wearing "shirt-type" OG-107 uniform, but in the pic it shows 3rd Tropical uniform.

Mag Pouch
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_mag_03.jpghttp://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_mag_01.jpg
M1961 M14 Mag Pouch is issued prior to switching to Army M1956 "Universal" Magazine pouch.

Canteen & Entrenching Tool
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_etl_02.jpghttp://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/305_load_bearing/m1961_usmc_01/m1961_mc_can_07.jpg
Canteen & Entrenching Tool -wise will be Korean / WW2 gear.

Back Pack
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/304_backpack/backpack_01/m1941_pack_05.jpghttp://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/304_backpack/backpack_01/m1941_pack_06.jpg
Back Pack will be of M1941
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/304_backpack/backpack_01/arvn_pack_02.jpg
ARVN Pack can be a popular personal choice if they can get hold of one later on after landed.(Should be produced within 1964-69)

Body Armor
http://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/303_protective/armor_01/m1955_armor_02.jpghttp://www.special-warfare.net/data_base/303_protective/armor_01/m1955_armor_07.jpg
USMC should be equipped with M1955 Fragmation Body Armor, but not sure if it was issued to all Marines.

Hope the info is useful to you mate...

[Dalleer]

For a complete (almost complete) list of the equipment that the US army / US marine corps used during the Vietnam war, go here:

http://www.thevietnam-database.co.uk/Resource/Database.htm

This place has served me well whenever I've needed some reference on the US equipment used in Vietnam.