NDQSAAir Defense Artillery service during the Vietnam War
NDQSA
This Photo Gallery is organized by US Army Vietnam Air Defense weapons systems and the units equipped with them. The pictures have been shared by Veterans and their families, most of whom are members of the National Dusters, Quads & Searchlights Association. We thank them for their service and for being a huge part of preserving our heritage.
Information about 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery Twin 40mm “Dusters”
The 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery, with attached Battery G, 65th Artillery (M-55), and Battery G, 29th Artillery (Searchlight), supported the 3rd Marine Division in northern I Corps area. Based at Dong Ha and Da Nang, 1/44 operated from Phu Bai in the south to Con Thien in the north and Khe Sanh in the west.
Information about 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery Twin 40mm “Dusters”
The 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery, with attached Battery E, 41st Artillery (M-55), and Battery B, 29th Artillery (Searchlight), belonged to the 41st Artillery Group of I (First) Field Force Artillery and operated out of Qui Nhon, An Khe and Tuy Hoa.
4th Battalion, 60th Artillery (Automatic Weapon, Self-Propelled), Arrived Vietnam: 11 March 1967 Departed Vietnam: 21 December 1971, Previous Station: Fort Bliss, Authorized Strength: Battalion 1968 – 692 1970 – 698
The 4th Battalion of the 60th Artillery was a automatic weapons battalion composed of 40mm M42 dual “Duster” antiaircraft guns. Part of the 1st Artillery Group of I Field Force, Vietnam. It severed at Qui Nhon. On 17 February 1968 it was attached to I FFV Artillery and moved to An Khe on 28 June 1968. It went to Tuy Hoa in late 1970. The battalion was augmented with a battery of quad M55 .50-caliber machine guns-battery E, 41st Artillery.
Information about 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery Twin 40mm “Dusters”
5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery (Automatic Weapon, Self-propelled), Arrived Vietnam: November 1966 Departed Vietnam: 22 June 1971, Previous Station: Fort Bliss, Authorized Strength: Battalion. 1966 – 698 / 1968-692 / 1970 – 607
The 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery, with attached Battery D, 71st Artillery (M-55), and Battery I, 29th Artillery; (Searchlight), was assigned to II (Second) Field Force Artillery at Long Binh [north of Saigon].
The 5th Battalion of the 2nd Artillery was a self-propelled automatic weapons battalion consisting of M42A1 dual 40mm antiaircraft guns mustered from Reserve and National Guard assets to be utilized in a ground support role. The battalion serving with II Force Field Vietnam Artillery, arrived at Qui Nhon and located to Long Binh. It was augmented with a battery of 50-cal quad machine guns, Battery D, 71st Artillery.
Information about Battery E, 41st Artillery Quad 50 Caliber (MG)
Battery E, 41st Artillery (M-55), was attached to The 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery
Information about Battery G, 55th Artillery Quad 50 Caliber (MG)
A separate Quad unit, Battery G of the 55th Artillery, was assigned to the Americal Division at Chu Lai.
Battery G, 55th Artillery (.50-Caliber Machine Gun), Arrived Vietnam: 26 February 1968 Departed Vietnam: 31 July 1971 Previous Station: Fort Bliss, Authorized Strength: Battery 1968 – 142 1970-114
Battery G of the 55th Artillery was a quad M55 mounted .50-caliber machine gun battery stationed at Chu Lai and was attached to the 23rd Infantry Division (AMERICAL) after 13 April 1968. It provided convoy security, combat assault support and perimeter defense.
Information about Battery G, 65th Artillery Quad 50 Caliber (MG)
Battery G, 65th Artillery (M-55), was attached to The 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery.
Information about Battery D, 71st Artillery Quad 50 Caliber (MG)
Battery D, 71st Artillery (M-55), was attached to the 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery.
Information about Battery B, 29th Artillery
Battery B, 29th Artillery (Searchlight), was attached to the 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery.
Information about Battery G, 29th Artillery
Battery G, 65th Artillery (M-55), was attached to the 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery.
Information about Battery H, 29th Artillery
Battery H of the 29th Artillery (Searchlight), was a separate searchlight unit supporting operations of the 9th Infantry Division.
Information about Battery I, 29th Artillery
Battery I, 29th Artillery; (Searchlight), was attached to the 5th Battalion, 2nd Artillery.
HAWK means ‘Homing All-the-Way Killer’ and was a medium range, surface-to-air guided missile that provided air defense coverage against low-to-medium-altitude aircraft. Basic HAWK was developed in the 1950s and initially fielded in 1960. The tracking system is a radar homer which picks up signals from a radar which are reflected by the target, and steers itself to the interception. The original launcher was a three-missile cluster on a trailer. Later a mobile configuration was developed. Hawk anti-aircraft missile units served in Vietnam with the 97th Artillery Group.
The 6th Battalion, 56th Artillery (HAWK) had four line batteries, A, B, C and D and a headquarters battery (HHB). It was located in the Long Binh and Bien Hoa area north of Saigon with its headquarters on Long Binh. It primarily focused on providing air defense with its fixed site systems for the key areas of Tan Son Nhut, Bien Hoa, Long Binh, and Qui Nhon. The 6/56 deployed to Vietnam on 30 September 1965 and returned to the United States on 2 August 1969.
6th Battalion, 71st Artillery (HAWK Missile), Arrived Vietnam: 29 September 1965, Departed Vietnam: 22 September 1968, Previous Station: Fort Bliss, Authorized Strength: 873
The 1st Vulcan Combat Team was deployed to Vietnam for combat evaluation in November 1968. The unit trained at Ft. Bliss, Texas, and all men were volunteers. They were scheduled to leave in March 1969, but stayed an additional 45 days to finish mopping up after the 1969 Tet offensive. The team consisted of five Vulcans, 2 officers, and 21 enlisted men. There was also a group of civilian technicians and Army observers/evaluators. The Vulcan Air Defense system was identified as the XM-163, each mounting the Vulcan M16A1 six barreled gatling gun on a converted M113A1 chassis. The 28 person unit was attached to the 5/2nd Artillery operating out of Long Binh and was supplemented by soldiers from the 5/2nd Artillery. They were used mainly in a convoy escort role to test the Vulcan’s suitability for the ground combat role.
