South Vietnam

            An American clone and experiment that was extinguished in 1975, this army fought either very well or very bad.  It is much maligned for the corruption of its senior officers and is not remembered fondly by anyone in Southeast Asia in the period of the war.  Had there been less corruption and more attention focused on its successes it may have carried the day, it certainly was not responsible for the collapse of the republic.

South Vietnam Brigade Headquarters 1964 to 1975

HQ                                           1 HQ

1 MP Company                                    3 MP, 3 XM706 

Note                                                                             M577 was used in Armored, Armored Cavalry and Mechanized units. Light infantry brigades replace armored vehicles with jeeps and trucks.

South Vietnam Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1972 to 1975

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

3 Infantry Companies each      3 M113, 3 Rifle, 1 M113/106, 1 M125

1 Scout Platoon                       3 M113 ACAV

1 Mortar Battery                       1 M106

South Vietnam Light Infantry Battalion 1964 to 1975

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

4 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 MG, 1 90RR, 1 60M

1 Mortar Battery                       1 107M, 3 Truck, 2 106RR

South Vietnam Ranger Infantry Battalion 1964 to 1975

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

4 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 MG

1 Mortar Battery                       1 81M, 1 90RR

South Vietnam Marine Infantry Battalion 1964 to 1975

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

4 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle, 1 MG, 1 90RR, 1 60M

1 Mortar Battery                       1 81M, 2 106RR

South Vietnam Mobile Strike Force

HQ                                           1 HQ

4 to 8 Companies each            4 Rifle, 1 81M, 1 75RR, 1 MG

South Vietnam Tank Regiment 1964 to 1975

HQ                                           1 HQ

3 Squadrons each                    3 M48

Infantry Company                    3 M113, 3 Rifle, 1 M113/106, 1 M125

Note                                                                             3 units formed in 1970 to replace withdrawn US armour units.  2 Composite units (2 Squadrons M41 and 2 Squadrons M113 ACAV) were created in 1974.

South Vietnam Field Artillery Battalion 1964 to 1975

3 Batteries each                       1 FAO, 2 105H or 2 155H

Note                                                                             Divisions have 3 105mm + 1 155mm until 1985. They can have:            

105H to 1975

                                                            155H to 1975

South Vietnam Divisional Anti Aircraft Battalion 1964 to 1975

            3 Auto Weapons Btys each      3 M163 or M42 

Helicopter Squadron

4 Flights                                   2 UH1 or CH47

South Vietnam Armored Cavalry Regiment 1964 to 1975

2 Assault Squadrons each       1 M113, 1 M113/106, 1 M125, 1 Rifle

1 Tank Squadron                     3 M41

Note                                                                             M48 tanks are available after 1973.  Originally formed as a Corps unit (4) there were 18 such units (one per Division and 1 per Corps) raised by 1975.

Large Units:

Airborne Brigade - 5 Airborne Infantry Battalions

Ranger Group – 3 to 6 Ranger Infantry Battalions

Corps Armored Brigade (1973) – 1 Brigade Headquarters, 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1 Tank Regiment.

Marine Division (1969) – 1 Divisional Headquarters, 3 Task Force (Brigade) Headquarters (lettered A, B and later 147^th, 265^th and 369^th), 9 Marine Infantry Battalions, 3 105mm Artillery Battalions.  A fourth (468^th) brigade of 3 battalions was raised in 1974.

Airborne Division (1970) – 1 Divisional Headquarters, 4 Brigade Headquarters, 9 Airborne Infantry Battalions, 3 105mm Artillery Battalions, 1 155mm Artillery Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion (3 brigades prior to 1975).

Infantry Division – 1 Divisional Headquarters, 3 Brigade Headquarters, 8 Light Infantry Battalions, 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1 Anti Aircraft Battalion, 3 105mm Artillery Battalions, 1 155mm Artillery Battalion, 1 Engineer Battalion.