Source for Photos of Fire Base Gladiator?

Hi,

I've been trying to find photos of FSB Gladiator, and have found a small number in web searchs, but wondered if anyone was aware of any books of other sources that have photo of the fire base?

Thanks,
irishserb

I know I've seen pics of all of the Ashau and Granite AO FSBs somewhere... Maybe in the Ripcord book? I don't think I have it anymore to check. What ya got goin on there?

Probably best to look at 101st AB veteran sites. (like http://www.charlie1-506.com/html/pages%20from%20main%20nav/firebases.html)

This site has a couple, around pic 119 or so. Some of the earlier non-labeled ones may be Gladiator as well:
https://bill3sarah.smugmug.com/Charlie-Company-1/Firebases/i-xJLMb2T
http://old.506infantry.org/hisvietnam/his1stbnvnphoto34.html

I have the Ripcord PB, i will check this evening - but i doubt there is anything better than the ones Darby linked.
There is another book, Hell on a Hilltop too, but i don't have that one.

Thanks for the suggestions and links.

I work with a West Pointer that spent time on Gladiator, Ripcord, and Rakkasan 1970-71. I pick his brain, and he shares stories about his experience. I'm curious to see if there is any hope of building a section of one of the bases or maybe some sort of modular system of producing psuedo-historical portions of any of the bases for scenarios based on his stories.

There is a pretty good aerial pic of Rakkasan on the net, and when I showed it to him, it spawned several stories about sweeping mines on the road to the base, trying to hold a ford across a stream on the road for resupply, and whatnot.

Talks about watching the battle at Ripcord, and trying to support the base with 105 fire from Gladiator during the battle.

Just an endless stream of amazing stories and details. I've been trying to get him to write stuff down, make a memoir for his grand kids or something, but no success yet.

Anyway, the help is much appreciated, mostly just recon at the moment.

Brian

Really cool. It would be neat to have someone like that available to talk to. It would be great to have some of his stories on this site.

Tom

check this book on amazon has a lot of maps and photos etc of firebases in vietnam

Fire Support Bases Vietnam: Australian and Allied Fire Support Base Locations and Main Support Units (The Australian Army History Collection) Hardcover – Illustrated, 25 Mar. 2016 by Bruce Picken


Fire Support Bases Vietnam is a meticulous documentation of the construction, location and role of fire support bases during the Vietnam War, compiled by Vietnam veteran Bruce Picken. Often makeshift bases hacked out of primary jungle, these artillery gun areas provided essential support to infantry field units during operations in South Vietnam. In its simplest sense, a fire support base was an often hastily constructed fortified artillery base position, usually sited forward close to the center of the area of operations in support of task force, battalion or company operations. The role of the fire support base was to bring artillery and mortar fire within range of friendly forces operating in depth. Artillery gun areas were not unique to the Vietnam conflict. In previous wars they were deployed in allied territory to cover the front lines and to support advancing troops. The concept was first applied in Vietnam by US forces and quickly adapted by Australian forces arriving in Phuoc Tuy Province in May 1966 to fight a new kind of war. This conflict was not like its predecessors and the fire support bases were now more usually sited in territory dominated by the enemy to provide much-needed protection for forces operating in bitterly contested areas. Fire Support Bases Vietnam is a detailed account that identifies every fire support base by date, location and role and provides an outline of the operations in which they participated. This is an essential reference book for those with a serious interest in the Vietnam War, and adds valuable detail to the study of a campaign that occupies a unique place in the Australian psyche.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1921941545/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Eventually some of the stories will be shared as scenarios here. Most of his stories aren't combat related, but are interesting. He is a very private person, so I am hesitant to share those on the net. I'll talk to him about it though.

thomastmcc, thanks for the info on the book, I'll check into it.

You can always share them to a limited audience Brian in the Saigon Gentlman's Club private forum here on FOF.