V. Cong Use Bigger Guns

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 15

V. Cong Use Bigger Guns

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

SAIGON, Feb. 4.

Viet Cong forces have begun to use much heavier weapons, including 120 millimetre mortars with a range of well over three miles.

This is a mile more than any other heavy weapon in their regular armoury. It may will lead to some hasty rethinking of United States strategy for the defence of large bases. The mortars, the biggest yet employed by the Viet Cong in the war, can hurl a 351 b shell up to 6236 yards. They were used recently in bombardments of two American military installations in northern provinces. ■Hitherto, the South Vietnamese and Americans had to face nothing larger than 81 and 82 millimetre mortars and 75 recoilless rifles with a maximum range of under two miles.

As a result, commanders worked on the principle that a security belt of up to three miles would ensure a base from a mortar attack. But no base in Vietnam at the present time has a defence perimeter deep enough to prevent bombardment by the 120 m.m. mortar. It made a devastating debut a few weeks ago, flattening a large part of the Khe Sanh American special forces camp in the isolated north-west corner of the country. Last week, it was used in the Da Nang area. Weighing a quarter of a ton, it can be broken down into three pieces for transport with four men carrying each one.

American pilots are worried about the sudden increase in the amount of ground fire they are receiving in the central highlands and northern areas of the country.

Intelligence reports say several North Vietnamese anti-aircraft battalions have infiltrated into the South over the last few months

armed with 50 m.m. calibre machine-guns capable of bringing down an aircraft flying at more than 3000 feet. In January a special forces unit close to the Cambodian border captured three gunners alleged to be from the North Vietnamese Army’s 13th Anti-Aircraft Battalion. Under interrogation they were reported to have said the 400-man unit was drafted last September and infiltrated across the Cambodian border with IS Chinese-made 50 m.m. calibre guns.