They were each issued a three pocket canvas rucksack that was small in comparison with the US issued ruck which was based on their design. Often times they extensively camouflaged these packs. Each NVA soldier armed with an AK was issued four magazines. (One for the gun, and three for the chest pouch.) This gave them a total ammo load of 120 rounds. RPK gunners were issued two pouches for their two spare drum magazines. The “Little people” were often issued a rice tube, which was a cotton tube with tie strings on both ends. These were worn diagonally across the chest or draped over the ruck. Inside the tube were food items, a bowl and chop sticks. The canteen was a ceramic round shaped canteen encased in a cotton canvas pouch or strapped holder. It was a Chinese design. It was not uncommon to see an NVA soldier with US canteens as they were popular field captured items second only to boots for popularity (if they could find some small enough to functionally wear.)
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| Pictured here the NVA rice tube, which contained food stuffs and related equipment. Rice itself can be squeezed into very small space. Despite the small size it contains considerable amount of energy. |
The soldiers worked their way down the series of rugged trails known as the Ho Chi Mihn trail. Enroute they were subject to disease, air attack and motor vehicle accidents. There were numerous truck parks and way stations and the soldiers usually wore out their boots enroute and were forced to improvise sandals using rubber from tires for soles. These were known as Ho Chi Mihn sandals. Their uniforms were extremely faded by the time they reached the south and were spotted in what seemed like an endless variety of shades. From grey to light greenish tan. Occasionally you’d see a darker brown or green shade and assume it was a fresh replacement or recently resupplied element. The uniforms almost always smelled of wood fires as the PAVN cooked and stayed warm over out door fires.
The sun helmet was often covered with a net and filled with foliage for camouflage. Occasionally it would be covered with a section of captured camouflage parachute material. (This usually indicated a sapper unit which was one of their most elite forces.) Often times NVA soldiers and VC wore light OD canvas boonie hats with or without the beer can pins. Sappers wore long scarves or capes made from the parachute fabric. (US WW2 material.) The capes covered the rucks and allowed the NVA to go prone and hide from aircraft. It also allowed them to adopt hasty ambushes by going prone with the capes over them.
Uniforms
NVA special forces made complete uniforms from the fabric and even had some elements in tiger stripe outfits in hopes of fooling LRRP elements into thinking they were seeing a friendly unit. LRRPs often posed their point man in what would look at first glance like a VC or NVA soldier. They were the only soldiers to adopt face paint but NVA line troops often caked themselves in mud.
Rank was usually worn on the collar but sometimes on the epaulets. The collar rank was generally red for enlisted with a single yellow line horizontally cut through the center. A silver or black star indicated a private. Two stars was a corporal and three stars was a sgt. An officer might be indicated by a yellow bar under the star or more commonly a yellow braid vertically down the front of the collar tab. A single silver star on a red back ground was a LT. Two was a senior LT. and three was a Captain. A major would have a gold tab with a single silver braid and a silver star, a Lt Colonel two stars and a full colonel three stars.
Rank Insignia
NVA Major (on left)
NVA Sgt (on right)
Field Impressions
This image shows a highly faded post 1965 RPK gunner from a Sapper element. The foliage was attached to large safety pins tied on with strips of parachute fabric.
Oddly enough the NVA soldiers usually wore white gym socks so they cuffed their trousers around their boots.
NVA Major Impression
Admin note: As pictured on right this is special officer impression that was created for Hac Bao Vietnam event. Note the Major rank insignias, scarf and pistol holster with traditional officer's leather band.
Equipment photos
Pictured here is NVA helmet with special camoflage and two different NVA canteen sets.
NVA helmet with improvised camoflage. Very effective breaking the shape of the helmet (to learn more read this beginner's guide camoflage lesson).
NVA canteen with cover fabric.
NVA canteen with straps.
REMF is retired infantry captain (airborne, ranger and recondo qualified) who first got into airsoft 16 years ago. He now spends his freetime playing airsoft with his son. You can reach him from his team Hooah Airsoft email address.
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