Vietnamese Army

[Feanor]

This thread is for all topics discussing the Vietnamese Army.

I'll start us off with a couple of interesting vehicles. Here's a D-44 cannon in the back of an Ural truck serving as an SP Howitzer, though a very light one (85mm). While it's clearly inferior to any modern system of the type, it can still do some damage. It's also part of a trend continuing to find creative ways to use old equipment.

"У рачительного хозяина и гвоздь не пропадет"

Старые, но вполне годные 85-мм пушки Д-44 вьетнамцы пустили за самоходки, типа Цезарь, на шасси Урала-43206. Сзади видна укладка для снарядов. Во время Вьетнамской войны они хорошо повоевали против пиндосов и еще остаются в закромах Родины:

afirsov.livejournal.com

And here we have a strange BMP-1 upgrade. I have a poor opinion of this set up because the Grom cannon it retains is badly outdated. Replacing it with an autocannon would be far wiser. This strongly suggests that the BMP-1 will remain in service for some time to come.

А вот вьетнамцы что-то сделали с БМП

Или не с БМП. И назвали это XCB-01

shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com

В продолжении истории с вьетнамской БМП

Появился снимок башни Фиговое фото всей машины целиком тут

shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com

The Vietnamese military remains a very interesting organization.

 

[Feanor]

Vietnam's home-brewn XCB-01 upgrade up close. Frankly it looks pretty goofy. The BMP-1 has poor protection, an obsolete combat module, but excellent mobility. Russia's BMP-1AM is a better option then this because it at least addresses one of the issues. In principle Russia's up-armor kit for BMP-1/2s and the Berezhok module offer the best combination, but are nothing particularly amazing and it's certainly possible for Vietnam to develop something similar (presumably they would have to import the FCS and comms upgrades). Instead we have an attempt to graft extra weapons on a BMP-1 turret. I think this variant looks like it has extra armor, but its hard to tell from this angle.

XCB-01 все ближе и чётче

Продолжают появляться новые фото новой вьетнамской БМП

shushpanzer-ru.livejournal.com

 

[Feanor]

An interesting look at a Vietnamese SP Howitzer that married an American M101 to a Russian Ural truck. This is, in principle, not the worst idea. It's obviously inferior to modern howitzers but gives you good mobility, and increases the relevance of what is otherwise a badly outdated weapon system. I can't help but wonder if they added modern comms and issued tablets with software to help calculate firing information faster.

Рачительные вьетнамцы

И трофейные гаубицы + русский Урал

shusharmor.livejournal.com

Another variant, a Soviet 130mm M-46 howitzer with a KrAZ chassis. This project is likely dead, since KrAZ can't exactly produce the chassis. The pattern is however the same, using a truck chassis to bring relevance to otherwise outdated howitzers.

"Куба далека, Куба близко!" (с)

Во Вьетнаме проходит испытания колесная самоходная артиллерийская установка PTH-130. Внешне эта боевая машина очень похожа на САУ из серии Jupiter, которая выпускалась на Кубе. Как сообщается, в новинке использована советская 130-мм пушка М-46 образца 1953 года, а в качестве шасси - известный…

shusharmor.livejournal.com

A look at Vietnamese technicals using UAZ and M151 jeeps.

"Джонни, они на УАЗиках!"

Гантраки - УАЗ ВС Вьетнама Справедливости ради, в строю стоят и трофейные М-151 По материалам RG.ru

shusharmor.livejournal.com

And some guntrucks, using both wheeled and tracked platforms.

Рачительные вьетнамцы

Трофейные М548 с Зу-2-23 и вероятно 37 мм

shusharmor.livejournal.com

Когда это еще не было трендом

Официальный вьетнамский гантрак конца 1990ых, и что интересно на базе ЗиЛ-131

shusharmor.livejournal.com

 

[Ananda]

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Vietcong+offensive FB pages, seems some Vietnamese Enthusiasts put picture on TEL for Locally developed SSM. The missile seems base on Russian Kh-35, however with enough Vietnam own development done by Viettell.

In case for those who don't have FB account, put the picture of that TEL from that FB pages. Seems still a prototype, however shown Vietnam effort for independent missiles development.



Either way, after meeting with Kim, Putin goes to Hanoi and also sign defense co-op agreement. Vietnam already big users of Russian armament, seems Russia now try to make sure the long term customer still with them. Thus potentially this kind of development using Russian tech as base will be evolving.

 

[Feanor]

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Vietcong+offensive FB pages, seems some Vietnamese Enthusiasts put picture on TEL for Locally developed SSM. The missile seems base on Russian Kh-35, however with enough Vietnam own development done by Viettell.

In case for those who don't have FB account, put the picture of that TEL from that FB pages. Seems still a prototype, however shown Vietnam effort for independent missiles development.

View attachment 51415

Either way, after meeting with Kim, Putin goes to Hanoi and also sign defense co-op agreement. Vietnam already big users of Russian armament, seems Russia now try to make sure the long term customer still with them. Thus potentially this kind of development using Russian tech as base will be evolving.

It would make sense. With the current war Russia can't sell munitions or launchers, they're needed at the front. So selling technology and working on a joint project would be logical, especially when we're talking about something relatively old like the Kh-35.

 

[Vietdefense]

The new assault rifle being equipped for the Vietnamese army is called STV. This is STV family

First, I'll introduce the STV-380 assault riffle which is primary of infantry weapons
Ammunition: 7.62 x 39mm
Weight: 3.6kg (unloaded)/ 4.1 kg with magazine
Barrel length: 380mm
Rate of fire: 700 rounds/ minutes
Muzzle velocity: 715m/s
Effective firring range: 300m
Action: gas-operated, rotating bolt

 

[Vietdefense]

Carbine version of STV-380 assault riffle
STV-215
Ammunition: 7.62 x 39mm
Weight: 3.6kg (unloaded)/ 4.1 kg with magazine
Barrel length: 215 mm
Rate of fire: 700 rounds/ minutes
Muzzle velocity: 615m/s
Effective firring range: 250 m
Action: gas-operated, rotating bolt

Compared with Galil ACE 31







STV-022
- Similiar specs for STV-215 but remove gun stock, magazine has only 15 ammuntion, weight 2,8kg (unloaded)

 

[Vietdefense]

Vietnamese engineers are conducting research and testing on a new long-range Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) equipped with guided missiles capable of reaching distances up to 150km. These missiles are based on the Extra missiles currently utilized by the Vietnamese Navy. The new MLRS will be integrated onto the familiar Kamaz 8x8 platform. For now, it's being referred to as the 'Vietnamese HIMARS'.

This system is intended for deployment by both the Army's artillery force and the Navy's Missile-Coastal Artillery, serving as a deterrent against potential territorial aggression

 

[Vietdefense]

Vietnam People's Airforce song - Phi đội ta xuất kích - Our squardon takes off
Vietnamese lyrics

Rộn ràng tung cánh bay phi đội ta xuất kích
Đại bàng vút cao lên trời mây,
Trận đầu ta đã mang chiến thắng
Dâng Tổ quốc mẹ hiền mến yêu
A! ta bay qua sông Thương, Hồng Hà
Nghiêng cánh chào Hà Nội vinh quang
A! ta yêu sao những con người,
Những thôn làng lập chiến công vang
Lời Bác mang trong tim như tiếng mẹ hiền
Đã theo ta hoà bay xa trong tình yêu đất nước bao la

Quên sao được những tháng năm gian khổ
Từ bùn đen ta phá xiềng gông
Yên sao được miền Nam đang kêu gọi
Thúc giục ta vươn lên lập chiến công
Miền Nam ơi! Vì quê hương chắc tay lái trong tay
Nhằm thẳng lũ cướp nước xông tới
Mẹ hiền ơi! Tổ quốc ơi!
Con hiến dâng Người cả trái tim này
Phi đội ta xuất kích, ra đi là mang chiến thắng trở về.

 

[Vietdefense]

Clone of Soviet 2S1 122mm SPH, is identified as PTH-122 ( abbr PTH = pháo tự hành )

 

[Vietdefense]

VPAF Mi-17 Helicopter

 

[Vietdefense]

 

[Ananda]

@Vietdefense thanks for your insight in the forum on Vietnam Armed Forces. Just friendly reminder as the rules of forum demand you put more effort on the narration. Mods in here wants every members to put information on the photos. Like what they are doing and your own opinion.

Sorry I have been in this forum for sometime, and already seen some new members got problem from Mods here because only put photos and articles without their own opinion narration.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Clone of Soviet 2S1 122mm SPH, is identified as PTH-122 ( abbr PTH = pháo tự hành )

So this PTH-122 is a newly developed reverse engineered clone, right?

Vietnam Reverse-Engineered Soviet BMP-1 Infantry Vehicle and 2S1 Artillery Gun | Defense Express

No one has ever recreated Soviet heavy military equipment at such a scale, but even more interesting is why the Vietnamese forces decided to do so in the first place

en.defence-ua.com

 

[tonnyc]

@Vietdefense If the Vietnamese Army has successfully reverse-engineered the BMP-1 and related vehicles, can you share how Vietnam handled the engine? The most obvious solution is to buy the engine from Russia but is Russia willing to sell when the engine will be used for local copies for their BMP-1?

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

@Vietdefense If the Vietnamese Army has successfully reverse-engineered the BMP-1 and related vehicles, can you share how Vietnam handled the engine? The most obvious solution is to buy the engine from Russia but is Russia willing to sell when the engine will be used for local copies for their BMP-1?

There is a chance that Russia will accept such offer. If they do, they still can sell at least the engines and maybe even some other parts. If they don't accept, Vietnam is forced to search for East-European alternatives.


Edit:
According to Vietnam Develops And Presents XCB-01 Local Version of Soviet BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

the Vietname XCB-01 uses a UTD-20 diesel engine. And that seems to be built in Kazakhstan.

UTD-20 battle tank engine

Battle tank engine UDT-20. UTD-20 from the manufacturer "Argun-Kazakhstan". Delivery 3-6 months after signing the contract, obtaining an export license and EUC.

argun-kazakhstan.com

 

[Feanor]

@Vietdefense If the Vietnamese Army has successfully reverse-engineered the BMP-1 and related vehicles, can you share how Vietnam handled the engine? The most obvious solution is to buy the engine from Russia but is Russia willing to sell when the engine will be used for local copies for their BMP-1?

Is it reverse engineering or did Russia simply hand the design over as part of some sort of deal? It makes little sense to reverse engineer something this old.

 

[koxinga]

Reversed engineering; I was told it was what they were used to, and they wanted to stick to something that was within their technology levels.

For me, there are some obvious areas of improvement that they did have measures. For example, they made it taller, giving more room, but kept those side opening, diesel filled doors. I would have done a ramp like the M113.

The 2A28 Grom was kept because they have localised it and didn't have 30mm autoguns.

 

[Feanor]

Reversed engineering; I was told it was what they were used to, and they wanted to stick to something that was within their technology levels.

For me, there are some obvious areas of improvement that they did have measures. For example, they made it taller, giving more room, but kept those side opening, diesel filled doors. I would have done a ramp like the M113.

The 2A28 Grom was kept because they have localised it and didn't have 30mm autoguns.

Why keep the one-man turret? Why not reverse-engineer the BMP-2 instead? Autocannons are not that complex, if they can get everything else, they can't get an autocannon anywhere? Ok they can't copy the 2A42, any reason they can't buy and license produce an autocannon elsewhere? It's a really questionable decision. Ditto for the 2S1. It's an MT-LB chassis. In Soviet times this was a great option. The chassis was extremely wide-spread in large scale production for many vehicles and using it for a medium howitzer was easy and logical. But in 2025? I have a sneaking suspicion that Russia, not able to export the actual hardware anymore, needing all production for the war, has turned to handing over some technology. Consequently no actual reverse-engineering is needed, you can just make some adjustments to the design and build it. And for a country without an indigenous industry having a starting point makes sense. If I'm right, we should fairly quickly see adapted variants with various changes, and likely no large scale production of these variants.

 

[koxinga]

XCB-01 is a prototype and as far as I can tell, they have not put it into production yet. Likewise, the PTH-122.

Apparently, there are plans for 30mm canons. You are right that copying even with minor improvements of these soviet era platforms does not offer much military utility or upgrade. There are other options and manufacturers willing to offer significant tech transfer and co-production these days of far more modern platforms. If not the Koreans, various private companies like Paramount Group, Excaliber Army, Lanzar,

What I can infer is limited budget, especially for their land forces. Even for their T-90 purchase, all they bought was just 64, and the T-55M upgrades were besieged by funding issues (e.g the original Elbit upgrades were deemed too expensive), and they did local mods to reduce their cost but dropped a number of features T-54M3 and T-55M3 - Tank Encyclopedia

I guess and I am not an expert, but I don't think or expect PAVN be engaged in the typical maneuver type warfare with large armoured formations.