OK brains trust. I’m about to order a MENG Abrams to build as an Australian variant. (Kit #TS035). While I’m at it I want to order a APC M113AS4. Or M113AS3. Australia used them in Vietnam and I want to build one to represent those used in the battle of Long Tan.
The M113AS4 is the upgraded version in current use Bruce - the extended 6 wheel version. They were used in the Movie Danger Close, but the AS4 is way out of period.
In Nam Australia used the M113A1. At the Time of Long Tan, they were only fairly basic upgrades on them. Here is a link to The Mouse House conversion review - good luck finding that Mouse House has closed down! https://archive.armorama.com/news/23691/index.htm
Not all the vehicles had a gun shield. One digger commanding a M113A1 was killed and his vehicle had no shield.
Thanks petbat.
I looked at a lot of sites and there was little info on what APC’s were at Long Tan. I took a punt on the above variants. I found the AFV Club kit # AF35291 in stock at BNA. Your info confirms the variant. Seems that kit has much of what Mouse House offered unless I’m missing something.
I like the Long Tan story. It would be nice to have a memento for the guys that where there.
So Santas sack should contain an Australian Abrams and APC this year.
AFAIK no T50 turret-fitted M113A1’s were used at Long Tan (they were fielded later), but it looks like there was at least one Model 74C turret-fitted one there… *
AF35291 has the T50 turret and as H-P says, and yes this was added much later than Long Tan, however, I think the AFV Club kit still has the parts from their previous ACAV kit too. These parts include the standard ring cupola with .50 cal mount, but no shield so yes you can use it.
Thanks guys. Much appreciated.
Would there be a record anywhere, public, that would tell me which vehicles were at Long Tan? I’ve never been a rivet counter but the Long Tan story deserves an effort from me to do the best I can. So if I could build a specific vehicle that would be great.
FWIW I was in the second to last call up. Before I packed my bags I got a card deferring my call up. (I had actually already transferred to the RAAF). So even though I never served I still feel I have a connection to the guys, and gals, who went to Vietnam. I’m ashamed every time I think of those same poor guys being spat on when they returned home.
. . . there’s not a lot of info on the APC specifically but a bit of their history, also remember Aussie M113’s had a cooling unit on the crew cabin hatch, a variation not found on US M113’s., their early APC’s also used the “Okinawa” gunner protection kit prior to the T150 turret. BTW I have a T150 turret from Verlinden’s M706 that I’d be happy to mail to you if you choose to go that route.
I am not aware that Australia acquired any Okinawa kits for their vehicles. If you have any pics, they would be great to see. The Okinawa type are the early type of armour protection and relatively rare in pics for even US service. They were replaced by the curved type more commonly seen in ‘ACAV’ pics.
As far as I know, Australia never used them, Australia used the basic ‘Elephant Ears’ shield they manufactured themselves (with variations in size and angle pitch, etc) :
Peter @petbat you’re right, I jumped the gun calling their early version as the Okinawa kit, I was reciteing from memory of the gun shield and the turret armor that might actually be an adaptation of early ARVN APC’s, anyway still searching for pics but might wait til I can use my office pc (this smart phone is slow). Thanks @Frenchy for catching this slip.
No offence to the guy Bruce, but it made me cringe skimming this series. The way he had the kit upside down and was scraping it back and forth on the desk while he tried to fit the tracks … and those roller coaster tracks just look horrible.