Armored Personnel Carrier C?? |
This Page Last Updated 3 February 2018 |
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~ 720th Military Police Battalion Vietnam History Project ~ |
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The 720th MP Battalion History Project extends a special thank you to John W. Mitchell, D Troop, 17th Cavalry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, 1968 who provided the photographs used on this page. |
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1969 |
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February-March The company was heavily involved in convoy escorts missions throughout Military Region III, and nearing the end of his tour SP/4 William D. "Biggs" Bigelow, who spent time assigned to the Operation OVERTAKE Night convoy escorts from the Saigon & Newport Docks to Bien Hoa-Long Binh, came up with the idea during a conversation with SP/4 Andrew "Andy" Wills to mount a mini-gun on a company APC to give the ever vulnerable night escort teams more firepower. |
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Editors Note: The only fly's in the ointment, and they were big ones, was the existing TO&E for military police companies did not authorize Mini-guns, and any submission of a modified TO&E through official channels would take months and due to its experimental nature had a slim chance of ever being approved. In addition, combat arms units, especially assault helicopter commands had first priority through official channels for issuance of the weapons units and associated parts. |
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Personal Reflection "I was stationed with C Company, 720th MP Battalion from November 17, 1968 thru November 17, 1969. I acquired the mini-gun from the Air Force piece by piece, by means of the old military trade routes. After about a month and three Air force units, I had all of the parts needed to put together and mount the mini-gun on an APC. |
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We found after a short time that the mini-gun was not suited for the APC. We then transferred the mini gun to a V-100. I believe it was a V100 commanded by SSG John Savage. The last I knew it was operating well and was used as lead vehicle for convoy escorts." SP/4 William "Biggs" Bigelow, C Company, 720th MP Battalion, 1968-1969. |
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The Air Force units at Bien Hoa Air Force Base provided the parts. The first was the main firing housing, the second was the six barrel configuration (over 3-4 week period) and the third was the timing cam. The 10,000 or 15,000 round ammo box and helmet came from a Cobra attack helicopter. It was assembled with assistance of Air Force personnel and members from the company including SSG Savage. |
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The company commander CPT Donald P. Kirchoffner was soon relinquishing command, so to surprise him they kept it a secret until it was assembled. The same day under the guise of a routine trip to the Battalion firing range for familiarization training of their organic individual weapons, they presented their modified APC. Problems immediately developed in the inability to move the ammunition container with the turret. They discovered the metallurgy of the turret was not strong enough to withstand vibrations and created inability to control the accuracy of the weapon. SSG Savage suggested moving it to a company V100 Commando Armored Car. |
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1969 |
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September They welded a plate on a V100 turret to hold the ammo container. Modified the aiming lever to raise the level of fire up and down, dual on both the twin 30’s and mini-gun, to coordinate fire between the 30’s in their mounts and the mini-gun mount. |
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The V100 went out on convoy escort with the mini-gun. The V100 was designated by the 1st Cavalry as the lead vehicle on the Tay Ninh-Cu Chi Convoys. SSG Savage was the convoy escort NCOIC. |
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There is no information currently available as to how long the mini-gun modified V100 remained in service. |
 If you can provide the names of crew members, the bumper markings or photographs of and stories about the modified V100, please use the Email Link provided above. |
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