Da Nang USMC Sniper School March 1968 - Photos

[navynambu]

There was a link to a govt. archive film was posted over on the M40 Rifle Forum of film taken at the USMC Da Nang Sniper School filed in March 1968, and since it is govt. public domain, I pulled some M40 rifle pictures off the film. I have not seen a lot of M40 photos in the field from Vietnam, apparently the boys were too busy then to take many photos, so hope you enjoy these...

 

[navynambu]

Some more

 

[navynambu]

and some more

 

[navynambu]

Here the YouTube link:

 

[sandwarrior]

Thanks for posting those pics and video, navynambu!

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Cool pix!

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

Old thread but these stills of how the rifles where zeroed are really interesting to me. Mine is zeroed at 400 yards.

 

[hafejd30]

Old thread but these stills of how the rifles where zeroed are really interesting to me. Mine is zeroed at 400 yards.

Awesome thread!

If yours is zeroed for 400 I sure wouldn’t want to be the guy in that training model at 400 yards

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

I didn't even think about that it's definitely minute of sack.

 

[hafejd30]

I didn't even think about that it's definitely minute of sack. View attachment 7836102

Beautiful rifle!

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

Beautiful rifle!

Thank you my friend. I am looking forward to breaking it out again now that the snow is starting to melt.
I haven't even done any load development for it yet. Just throwing M118LR down range.

 

[1588]

Old thread but these stills of how the rifles where zeroed are really interesting to me. Mine is zeroed at 400 yards.

A guy from the old neighborhood, an old shooting buddy, graduated USMC Sniper School. He used to say "knees, nuts, neck" was how he had his rifle zeroed.

 

[Longrangeprecision762]

A guy from the old neighborhood, an old shooting buddy, graduated USMC Sniper School. He used to say "knees, nuts, neck" was how he had his rifle zeroed.

I love hearing bits of information like this. Things that will be lost to time eventually if not talked about on great websites like this.
One of my best friends and shooting buddies was a scout dog handler in Vietnam. He has some really interesting stories and pieces of day to day life on the trail.
He said "Dug" his German Shepherd would alert differently depending on the size of the enemy force ahead. If he got low and stopped moving it was a camp or large patrol.
He said this would make the hairs stand up on his neck everytime.

He also carried a pound of C4. He didn't use it for it's intended purpose, but said it was perfect for controlled fires when everything was wet.

- Jon

 

[navynambu]

I ran across this somewhat interesting summary of the separate development of the Vietnam US Army Sniper School program that developed in late 1968 and 1969 which was situated in the black water areas of the delta, with the 9th army units, (a different evolution from the USMC Sniper School up north in the Da Nang area) which eventually evolved into effective the night sniper patrols with the teams from the 9th. I had heard long ago the USMC loaned the 9th some of their original M40s, altho it seems the 9th principally used M14s (some with starlights?).

Vietnam War - US Army Sniper Program

Brief introductory background information and history of the Vietnam War.

www.globalsecurity.org

 

[j-huskey]

One 9th MTU Commander was Lones Wigger, and my friend Msg Gerald R. "Old Hook" Boutin served under him. They were m14 specific those guys. Old Hook was considered the Father of the M21".

 

[Aqua Mark]

Read this book by Ed Eaton for some good RVN info, pics, and stories. Ed and Chuck Mawhinney are also honorary volunteer staff at AmericanSnipers.org. Ed and Chuck have been featured on History Channel Sniper Deadliest Missions. Ed was also recommended for the Medal of Honor.