South Vietnam’s Highway Cavalry (V-100)

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TO&E of RF Mechanized Platoon: www.battleorder.org/post/arvn...
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Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:22 - The V-100
1:04 - Mission & Cost
3:38 - ARVN Regional Force
4:37 - V-100 Platoons
Sources:
• T.O. & E. 48-883 "RF Mechanized Platoon" (1966)
• M1117 "Guardian" Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) Employment in Peace
Operations
• Operational Report - Lessons Learned, Headquarters, 500th Transportation Group, Period Ending 30 April 1969
• The Vietnam-Cambodia Emergency, 1975, Part II-The Cambodia-Vietnam Debate, Hearings Before the Committee on International Relations and its Special Subcommittee on Investigations, U.S. House of Representatives (March/April 1975)
• Bradford, J. (2001) "M1117 "Guardian" Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) Employment in Peace Operations"
• Politano, P. (1987) "Polwar, the politicization of military forces : history, theory and practice."
• Silverman, J. (1970) "Political Elites in South Vietnam: A National and Provincial Comparison"
• Starry, D. (1980) "Armored Combat in Vietnam"
• www.quansuvn.net/index.php?to...

[@BattleOrder]

Link to the table of organization/equipment of the RF Mechanized Platoon: www.battleorder.org/post/arvn-v100 Interesting thing about the South Vietnamese TO&Es is they have both English and Vietnamese descriptions

[@thetrainshop]

I honestly completely forgot we had developed a domestic version of the BRDM. Very neat, and a great video showing how ARVN employed them

[@MrCantStopTheRobot]

It seems to me like an archetypal shape. You're going to end up with this shape if you want high-level offroad capability.

[@yoloman3607]

Ah yes, the US BRDM-2. Same year, same job, same cute vibe.

[@dmitriikovalchuck4733]

I would like to see V-100 BRDM-2 kinda shitty for this time thou)

[@DonPatrono]

fun fact: the V100 Commando was also used by the Security Forces of the Atomic Energy Commission (or it was already the Dept. of Atomic Energy, but I digress) to guard the nuclear firing ranges in Nevada. They were usually modified to have two .50s in an AA mount

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

The V100, 150, 200 and M1117 Guardian are great pieces responsive firepower and make the enemy think twice before launching an ambush if the convoy was protected with these. Providing route security and patroling aren't glamurous but they keep you in the war. The M1117 Guardian being a mine resistent heavy machine nest with an automatic grenade launcher to boot it makes for a fearsome opponent. As always a great video.

[@lukejohnston4666]

Canadians: Hey don't forget our TAPV

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

@@lukejohnston4666 the unreliable and confused cousin

[@lukejohnston4666]

@@wheneggsdrop1701 unreliable? What's wrong with that vehicle?

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

@@lukejohnston4666 its had a lot of trouble in canadian service not sure if those issues have been fixed.

[@sovietcapitalist8563]

@@wheneggsdrop1701 still fucked, my regiment has 9 and only 4 are functional atm. 2 of them have no electronics

[@MemoryofSouthVietnam]

I am loving the recognition that the ARVN very much had its own autonomy. Please do more!

[@me67galaxylife]

NOOOOOO IT WAS THE PUPPET OF THE EVIL USA REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@huy1k995]

Autonomy to lose.

[@Eusouafisica]

​​@@huy1k995Autonomy to fight bravely for their ideals, unlike the government that only thought about corruption

[@Bandog23]

Was watching your videos today, they're really nice. Propaganda ruined the image of the South.

[@kaiserexe998]

​@@Eusouafisicafunny you mentioned "corruption" as South vietnam can be described in that very word, the ARVN was the US attempt to make a functional army, problem is they crumble the moment aid is cut and their enemy saw through their fake shell of an army, they said they'll stand to the last man in Saigon and yet it was their gear, guns and ammo not their body or blood that litterd the streets of SG. The ARVN was not a bad "army", but it doesn't have the will or bravery to fight on, the NVA on the other hand was born and raised by war, molded by it, their soilder saw hell and kept going, from Quang Tri to Hue, Da Nang and to Saigon. They were not the best army in the world, but they were miles better than what the ARVN could.

[@nikujaga_oishii]

Commando family is an amazing platform Sure, it wouldn't stand a chance against a proper IFV or tank, but it's pretty reassuring when V-150s with 90mm gun show up during firefights between light infantry / paramilitary in the mountains and jungles along the border where most heavy vehicles can't get to.

[@petesheppard1709]

USAF used a non-turreted, open top vehicle for airfield security. The current M1117 Armored Security Vehicle is a much-updated Commando.

[@BattleOrder]

Yeah the Air Force used the XM706E2. US Army MPs used the XM706E1 and ARVN used the XM706

[@petesheppard1709]

@@BattleOrder Thanks! While I wouldn't call it cute, I always liked the vehicle and thought it should have been more widely used by US forces.

[@DOSFS]

V-100 and V-150 are amazing! Even in my country, Thailand, it is still going strong!

[@lukejohnston4666]

You guys have retrofitted some AFAIK.

[@AemaethMo]

Thailand has a lot of light AFVs.

[@cucuawe465]

Same in Malaysia, only in the Police forces service

[@strider1246]

The infamous Free-Wifi APC!

[@c3aloha]

The first time I heard of the commando was in an old comic book story about a Vietnam truck driver nicknamed Lex Luthor. His convoy was escorted by a V-100.

[@chaosXP3RT]

This is fascinating! I love learning more about the South Vietnamese military, even though they no longer exist.

[@Bandog23]

There are some good books made about them by Osprey publishing and Helion, just fyi.

[@boanguyen174]

The South Vietnamese army was extremely evil. They killed a lot of people. I have a friend whose grandfather was a South Vietnamese soldier. He told me that in 1973, he and many people in the Southern army marched. If they steal from people and don't give it to them, they will kill

[@ucnguyenanh9414]

*Khmer Separatists.

[@joshuajoaquin5099]

I recall that there this famous vid during Marawi siege where a V-150 drove under heavy enemy fire and rescued a soldier im still surprised that its armor can still hold up on its own. There are few documentary on the V-15 crews and their experience especially on how they deal RPG and various AT weaponry plus counter measures

[@emmanuelperez8094]

You Forgot the Infamous V-150 with the words on the Barrel which Says "Free Wifi"

[@joshuajoaquin5099]

@@emmanuelperez8094 if i recall it right that V-150 and the other V-150 that participated in the rescue where in same division or brigade

[@emmanuelperez8094]

@@joshuajoaquin5099 Never Knew that, Probably that V-150 is from a Division

[@antonignacio3094]

​@@emmanuelperez8094 The words were not written on the barrel, but rather on the improvised wood armor

[@emmanuelperez8094]

@@antonignacio3094 oh okay my bad, I thought it was written on the barrel itself, which reminded me of the ones that the us military would do

[@kzavverr3651]

These things are still in service with mechanized units in the Philippine Army! It'd be cool if you guys can do a bit on the structure of our Army as well.

[@jamesedwardladislazerrudo1378]

Lol these thing sucked

[@PenskePC17]

Isn't the textron commando just a modernized version?

[@jamesedwardladislazerrudo1378]

@@PenskePC17 You seen them in Afghanistan yet?

[@PenskePC17]

@@jamesedwardladislazerrudo1378 yeah, it's sad how quick the Afghani people folded after America completely decimated the taliban and had them hiding in caves, you cant change the ethos of a people unfortunately. Those are the Afghanistan military models you see, not American. The American vehicle thing is mostly a myth. Same thing that happened in Vietnam, the weaklings beg for a seize fire and then get tough the second America leaves 🤣

[@jamesedwardladislazerrudo1378]

@@PenskePC17 Afghan people we're not united

[@__ph.comrade__]

"Free Wifi"

[@MrCantStopTheRobot]

The Dodge M601 seems to be the template for the Russian/Soviet Ural. I've heard someone say, "The standard Russian supply truck is just a Studebaker!" but the Dodge M601 seems accurate. Also, the Buhanka seems to be copied from the Jeep Forward Command.

[@paleoph6168]

The V-150 variant is used by the Philippines.

[@lukejohnston4666]

As well as Indonesia - once nicknamed in the 70s and 80s as "Mobil Setan" (Devil's Car / Satan's Car)

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

Free wifi

[@joshuajoaquin5099]

​@@wheneggsdrop1701glorious free wifi, just he careful even if its free the guy who has the wifi may not be nice XD

[@lukejohnston4666]

@@wheneggsdrop1701 here comes that Marawi reference.

[@wheneggsdrop1701]

@@lukejohnston4666 Sorry my defense was like wet paper unlike the cardboard NERA armor. I'm not filipino and even I know of this helpful machine in the battle against IS.

[@shaider1982]

The thumbnail reminded me of a coup attempt in my country in the late 1980’s since the V-100 does look similar to the V-150 used here.

[@BattleOrder]

ARVN in berets, also very iconic for coups

[@pyeitme508]

Wow

[@joshuajoaquin5099]

Philippines? I know that we have several coup attempts in 80's 90's and even in 2000's. Which coup?

[@shaider1982]

​@@joshuajoaquin5099the 1989 one, I still remember long cancellation of classes and the bullet riddled windows of the Belson blding along EDSA.

[@shaider1982]

​@@BattleOrderyup, the had lots of coups back then.

[@HM2SGT]

*Don't forget about Mobile One, the V450 super commando that was the transport & fire support of the Guardians, mounting it's M2/Mk 19 combo! Billy McKay, Tom Rogers, Sam Sloan & KC Wilson- Hard-core heroes to the end!*

[@fridrekr7510]

Why did the U.S. not use these for recon like how the Soviets used the BRDM? Today it still looks like the more heavily armoured M1117 is used for military police duties while less armoured humvees are used for combat in light infantry or recon.

[@hatsuyukilee86]

M1117 is getting phased out

[@nikujaga_oishii]

They didn't really have anywhere to put these in as per US Cav doctrine, not enough strategic mobility for light infantry units, but too light for heavy units. That applies to today as well. ABCT got the Bradleys, SBCT got the Strykers, and IBCT got light vehicles, basically the same as their primary vehicle platform.

[@ramal5708]

Pre 1968 or 69 ARVN only had either M1 Carbine or Garand for their riflemen before having M16s.

[@warkopvalhalla708]

Imagine V-100/150 with ATGM it would be dope

[@nikujaga_oishii]

there's a V-150 variant with TOW, similar to the M150 TOW based on M113

[@easyk03]

Basically a M1167 in today’s standards

[@pyeitme508]

Pretty neat stuff! Wish for US Army Special Forces organization & equipment videos soon.

[@natemchale4478]

Could you do more videos on ARVN forces? Seeing a more in depth view of the Regional Forces/Popular Forces or the Rangers would be awesome

[@luismariomanrique]

I like your videos about South Vietnam.

[@jaycentoret2866]

can you do an overview of the dutch army?

[@keystone117]

Great video, I’ve never really heard a discussion of their use by ARVN forces. I have two restored V100s that I own, they are a lot of fun to drive.

[@OperatorMax1993]

I absolutely love how it looks, basically a American BRDM-2

[@THF117]

This has been my favorite armored car since I saw box art for it as a model kit

[@stevestruthers6180]

The present-day M1117 armoured car used by US Army MP units, and the TAP-V (Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle) used by the Canadian Army are direct descendants of the V-100 Commando. During the early to mid-1970s, the Canadian Army was looking for a wheeled fighting vehicle. A number of V-100's were trialled, but ultimately, the 6x6 MOWAG Piranha was selected as the base platform for the Grizzly APC, the Cougar Wheeled Fire Support Vehicle (WFSV) and Husky recovery vehicles that followed. I remember seeing one of the V-100's up close when I was a kid and visiting my uncle at the Canadian Army base where he was stationed. I was pretty short then, so the vehicle seemed to be absolutely huge to me. While watching your video, I was surprised to learn that the British were in Vietnam before the French, and that they had left behind a number of Canadian CT15A armoured trucks that were left over from the Second World War.

[@amaladiguna8873]

Saw the airborne org tables, damn impressive document (and very readable with English on the side)

[@pashok1641]

There is a reason this equipment was good in 1960's. RPG's where not that common yet. In today's reality thi piece of equipment is just death bed for all crew from $500 FPV or VOG droped on top of it from Mavic. There is a reason BRDM are selling for as cheap as $10,000 right now. It has no purpose.

[@MrWood-Marshal]

be interesting to see more special forces related graphics and vids. SASR or 2CDO would be nice

[@scottg7321]

With the original title I was hoping this was about something created by modern vietnam

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

These live on as the god awful Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle in the Canadian Army.

[@lukejohnston4666]

Awful? Interesting to know what exactly troubles in that platform in CF

[@tabletopwarrior]

Used to see them drive around Warren Michigan.

[@keithad6485]

In Aussie Armoured Corps, we had our M113s refitted with the Cadillac Gage T50 turrets to them. This is the same turret as seen on the armoured cars in this vid.

[@jonahstewart1541]

Love every upload

[@snowyfox_01]

I really love your breakdowns of other countries' mechanized brigades and other units. Would it be possible for you to do a breakdown on South Korea's?

[@user-ek9vo2ub9b]

Do a video/article on the Company Level Political Warfare organization. That'd be cool.

[@Deerwiener]

There’s one on fort hood Texas next to the 30Th AG barracks to the left walking down towards west fort hood

[@MarkzOng]

Up till early 2000s Singapore army still keep V200 as an reserve infantry support vehicle with its 20mm cannon to support the reservist. Now only the air force still retains some with RBS70 as mobile SAM platform.

[@t.ditsakulofthisaccount1141]

0:08 that's quite an achivement. must be hard to get it!

[@darkninjacorporation]

All I know is that I want one. “Yeah I own a Cadillac!”

[@carlodivinagracia7432]

Still in use by Armed Forces of the Philippines and was extensively used in the Battle of Marawi 2017.

[@bb-6359]

Seems like I'm nice and early for another great video

[@BattleOrder]

You're darn tootin

[@kuhlenzo4410]

Hi, I love your videos! Can you make a video about the german "Bundeswehr". For example their heavy "Panzer-Divisionen" or their new medium "Mittlere Kräfte" (in my understanding similar to the SBCT) or the paratroopers "Fallschirmjäger". Would love to see this!

[@salvador0919]

I wanna say I saw a bunch of these being moved by rail last spring.

[@nekomakhea9440]

Adorably deadly!

[@salamonrobert2584]

Always found the V-100 laying on the side of the road burning, with dead MPs inside

[@akstormtrooper508]

the variants get fun...one of them, while open-topped, can load a bunch of MGs, MK19s, and/or a mortar

[@tetraxis3011]

Mexico has whats essentially a copy of this. Most have either .50 machineguns or 20mm cannons. but a few have the M8 75mm turret.

[@blip-hn6is]

You should feature philippines next. considering theyre going to be going against china with kind of equipments

[@sarminder4357]

Would you ever dive into the organization of obscure and forgettable US units like a corps sustainment assets, regional support commands, training brigades, and formations that are almost never talked about?

[@BattleOrder]

I have a modern sustainment video cooking but I don't know about training stuff

[@lukejohnston4666]

Sustainment matters indeed.

[@kylezdancewicz7346]

I’ve heard sustainment assets are assets meant to sustain the Us army.

[@sarminder4357]

@@kylezdancewicz7346 I mean what units are part of it. How many men are allocated to them, what type of vehicles do they use and that sort of stuff.

[@kylezdancewicz7346]

@@sarminder4357 i was joking

[@theromanorder]

Could you please do like audio books or something on all the things on your website, One reason being i prefer the videos and also so i can aid it to my library, Would rather you do it and i dont record it so i don't feel bad.. Bit i probably won't anytime soon

[@k-brick9996]

My favourite APC !

[@Too_many_questions]

This is a really good video. Anyone know how/why these platoons were assigned 28 miles of road (seems quite specific) ? Thanks.

[@theswordson676]

These remind me of the casspir of the south African Koevoet police units

[@jbamt8321]

Super Interesting video !! Can you do a similar about the version used by afghan ANA forces ?

[@thefuturist1867]

could you do some content on the Indian military ?, there arent many good sources on them in English online

[@reyvan3806]

Can you do some IDF videos? Doesn't seem to be much out there about their ORBATs.

[@SrdjaZlopogledja]

Similar to Yugo BOV vehicles and Soviet BRDM 2. 🔥🔥

[@angelogarcia2189]

Cadillac thrills baby!!!

[@SeedemFeedemRobots]

Probably has better MPG then a Cadillac Escalade

[@volusian95]

Ah yes, the dreaded cowomando

[@marceldavis5600]

That thing looks like a brdm

[@grantfitz2047]

It looks like the ASV Grandpa

[@jeffreywacker3598]

Hey, its Minion from twisted metal 1 and 2 lol

[@VianDausin-ig1im]

Still in service here in Philippines, I believe it served in "Marawi Siege" which was the last 'huge' battle here.

[@VianDausin-ig1im]

I think it, and other APCs became a meme for having makeshift wooden armor with funny graffiti like "Free Wi-Fi". They've put wooden blocks to aid with the enemy's outdated RPGs, for the most part, it was effective.

[@st-6837]

​@@VianDausin-ig1imyep good thing those rpg are homemade because if legit RPG 2 ammo is widespread we will see most of our armored vehicles burning

[@adriandorego5179]

these were also the main armoured vehicles of the Philippine army

[@ramal5708]

People forgot that it's a Cadillac

[@keystone117]

It’s made by Cadillac Gage, no relation to the Cadillac division of General Motors

[@owenfinley8990]

Peep the Stoner 63 at 0:20

[@BattleOrder]

Cadillac Gage was trying to pitch the package deal

[@alessiodecarolis]

It's strange how US Army neglected light armoured vehicles, at least 'til the late '80s. Perhaps are less glemourous than MBTs, but are useful in a lot roles, either as support/escort or crowd control, or sentry duties for the so called "sensible targets". Probabilly this was due to the fact that all the higher ups tought about a total war, and not about insurrections and guerrillas.

[@T3koner]

I want one

[@snpdmz]

wowwwww

[@millerdiamond708]

minion from twisted metal drives a commando V-100

[@geuse_chandesu4273]

Still used by the Philippine Armed Forces particularly in Local Insurgenies

[@d-godfather]

The V150s are still being used in oir country - Phillipines

[@cane6074]

This Vehicle is used by SWAT units in various Police Departments.

[@aspergerArgentino1465]

Vietnam del sur hubiera tenido mas de estos

[@jonahstewart1541]

The graphics are only rivaled by intel report

[@Colon-D...]

It's time.... for an... Armored Patrol V10....

[@tetraxis3011]

Yes

[@sohaibkhan2685]

Could u maybe do the pakistani Army?

[@iandaniel1748]

Yap same type use Philippines

[@nieljosephpalca7849]

The problem of V-150s during the Vietnam War is that the US army didn't reinforce them with slat armor/screen.

[@Dark-Mustang]

That we ridiculed our own Ally's performance while also expecting them to fight and win with M1 garands against AK47s is criminal.

[@reginaldpasao8390]

Still in service with the Philippine military

[@GenericName23]

half life 2 APC

[@xiphoid2011]

@7:04, this has to be a mistake. There is no way Chiang Kai Sek would have communist political officers in his army copied from the soviet union (chiang is an ardent anti-communist). You probably confused him with Mao Ze Dong who is the communist leader of China, who indeed had soviet style political officers in the communist army (peoples liberation army, PLA)

[@Wadser]

He didn't have communist political officers. That's not what battle order said. He said he had political officers and that it was due to him copying the Soviet style.

[@classifiedad1]

Chiang did spend several months in the USSR to study the political and military systems, and met Soviet leaders such as Trotsky. He also led the Whampoa Military Academy, which had many Soviet officers in the beginning. He clearly wasn’t a fan of the Soviet system as a whole, but he was familiar with it and adopted the elements he liked.

[@blackore64]

Nah, even KMT was organized like a leninist party. Chiang Kai-Shek was not a democrat. Same organization, different ideological content.

[@stevelee6283]

Thanks for show my South VN flag. We fought VC aka terrorist nowadays…unfortunately South VN troops got all surplus equipment to fought back VC equipped with AK47 and RPG2

[@warthunderwarthunder6943]

Sigmas in ohio be like: BOIII *yeets u into grimace shake* 😂

[@rafiqkie]

narrator, if you wife called it's cute.. i seen it cute too, behold I ever aroused around this armour car in 80s.. my pup used to be field force before berlin wall collapse.. 😂

[@lobstereleven4610]

UwU 👉👈

[@hikarihikari4501]

This channel is starting to make laugh material by praising Commando. The only reason ARVN was using it was because it was cheap and it didn't carry US personnel, and for MACV south Vietnamese were expendable.

[@BattleOrder]

The US literally used it. It was better than the alternative they were using for the task before hand (an unarmored jeep)