BadMoon's Vietnam

Combined Action Platoon USMC/PF

Shortly after coming ashore in Vietnam, the USMC instituted the Combined Action Platoon(s), a program developed in a previous conflict. Under this program, a Rifle Squad of Marines would be placed in a village to assist the Popular Forces (PF's) in combating the Viet Cong.

The Marines were all volunteers, who had some combat experience and spoke at least a little Vietnamese. The basic unit was the Rifle Squad, with an attached Grenadier and Navy Corpsman. The Squad was under the command of a Sergeant, and each fire team was lead by a Corporal or Lance Corporal. Support was provided by "near by" USMC units.

The Popular Forces were a South Vietnamese Militia Force organized by the government. They were a village defense force, by day Farmers, Fishermen, Shopkeepers, and soldiers by night. The PF's were organized as a Rifle Squad, similar to the USMC.

Often there also a small unit from the National Police Field Force present as well, although there job was policing, searching out VC agents, collaborators, interrogation and prisoner transportation, they did not participate (usually) combat operations.

The USMC/PF Combined Action Platoon (CAP) were Headquartered in a fortified position, a mini firebase arrangement. It would consist of a fortified building or two, tent(s), ammo bunker, trenches with barded wire/concertina and punji stakes. Usually there was at least one bunker at the gate, and perhaps some other fighting positions, but no heavy weapons were "authorized". Since these facilities were build "on site" with local(usually) materials and manpower, designs were extremely varied. Marines being masters of "Midnight Requisitioning", often defenses were augmented with "unauthorized" weapons of all sorts.

Operations consisted mainly of small mixed units(2-3 Marines, 3-4 PF's) patrolling and/or setting ambushes, several times each night. Since they operated in an "urban" environment, any weapon heaver than a rifle was rarely taken on operations, to minimalize collateral damage.

This would be an ideal unit to wargame if very small unit actions or even RP'ing was desired. I wanted to portray early CAP operations so Platoon 20 Figures with M-14's were chosen, and Liberation for the PF's. I would highly recommend The Village by Bing West if you are interested in learning more about the Combined Action Platoons.

The Marines








The Popular Forces










-BadMoon

Great stuff - various of those figures are familiar to me as I painted some of them earlier this year too.

Interesting info BadMoon.

You've been busy painting I see. The figures look great!!

Good work.

Your wash does a great job with what it is supposed to do. Fill in the crevices. I often have a problem of the wash doing nothing or darkening the whole figure.

I recognize some Platoon 20 and some Liberation figures there.

Tom

Great work! I too recognize several of the figs.
thanks for sharing these.

Nice work!

Great work! What’s minis brand?

The USMC are by Platoon 20 (East Riding Miniatures), and the PF's are from Liberation Miniatures.

-BadMoon