Sniper Attack in Vietnam 1970s (1 Viewer)

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MK_ultra

Forward Momentum
capsule-vietnam-2.jpg

The M42 tank fires an opening salvo at the sniper's approximated position with 40mm anti-aircraft cannons


In April 1970, 22-year-old James Speed Hensinger, an enlisted man in the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, was stationed at a compound in Phu Tai, west of the coastal city of Qui Nhon, Vietnam.
Over the course of several nights, a lone Viet Cong fighter had repeatedly crept in among the rocks on a mountain overlooking the base and sprayed the camp with automatic AK-47 fire, perforating the sheet-metal roofs of the Americans’ hooches, killing one man and vexing the rest.
The soldiers were told that an overwhelming response would be prepared for the next time the “sniper” decided to strike.
Hensinger, sensing an opportunity, stuffed his Nikon camera, 50mm f/1.4 lens, and Ektachrome film (with a speed of ISO 64, usually used only in bright daylight) into the pocket of his fatigues. He timed his appearance for guard duty to make sure that he would be assigned to the watch tower with the widest view of the mountain and base.

When the first shots rang out, he rested his camera on a sandbag and pointed it toward the action. Using a cable release, he captured a series of long exposures, 15 to 60 seconds long, as the Army unleashed a hellish barrage.
An M42 “Duster” tank swept the mountain with twin 40mm anti-aircraft autocannons, while soldiers in guard towers opened up with a .50-caliber machine gun and M60 machine guns.
The rocky hillside was illuminated by hand-launched flares, high-explosive rounds and tracer rounds (which were loaded into the ammo belts one for every four normal bullets — meaning the visible streaks in the images represent only a fifth of the rounds being poured out).


capsule-vietnam-3.jpg

Hand-launched flares illuminate the hills as soldiers fire M60 machine guns with red tracers. One round can be seen ricocheting near the top of the mountain


capsule-vietnam-4.jpg

Flares continue to burn as soldiers pepper the hillside with M60 fire


capsule-vietnam-5.jpg



capsule-vietnam-12.jpg

The M42 sprays the hillside with .50-caliber high explosive machine gun fire


capsule-vietnam-7.jpg

M60 machine guns join the .50-caliber fire.


capsule-vietnam-8.jpg

The M42 once again opens up with the 40mm autocannons as the M60s and .50-cal continue firing


capsule-vietnam-10.jpg



capsule-vietnam-9.jpg


At daybreak, patrols went up the mountain, searching among the massive boulders for a sign of their target. They found a small blood trail one morning, but the sniper had vanished.
During his tour of duty, Hensinger mailed dozens of rolls of film home, but asked his parents not to have them developed without him there — he had lied about his situation in Vietnam and didn’t want them worrying about his safety.
Hensinger now lives outside Denver, Colorado, and still enjoys shooting pictures.


capsule-vietnam-1.jpg
 

FrogOne

Rookie
Somewhere in present day Vietnam, there's an old man who cried and pissed all over himself each night .....
 

Guipago

Forum Veteran
Sniper bugged out after the first 40mm love calls(if he was smart) the rest is just 'feel good' fire. It wasn't unknown for the Viet Cong to give a farmer a shitty rifle with a scope, ten rounds of ammo & tell him to kill Americans & bring back the empties to prove he shot them or his family would suffer, the trick for the farmer was to cap off his rounds WITHOUT hitting anyone, the American trick was to give him time to fuck off THEN light up the hill, you didn't want to slot a farmer who couldn't shoot & be replaced with someone with real talent, has been around thru all wars, you just had to train your officers.
 

marcop

Lurker
View attachment 459210
The M42 tank fires an opening salvo at the sniper's approximated position with 40mm anti-aircraft cannons


In April 1970, 22-year-old James Speed Hensinger, an enlisted man in the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, was stationed at a compound in Phu Tai, west of the coastal city of Qui Nhon, Vietnam.
Over the course of several nights, a lone Viet Cong fighter had repeatedly crept in among the rocks on a mountain overlooking the base and sprayed the camp with automatic AK-47 fire, perforating the sheet-metal roofs of the Americans’ hooches, killing one man and vexing the rest.
The soldiers were told that an overwhelming response would be prepared for the next time the “sniper” decided to strike.
Hensinger, sensing an opportunity, stuffed his Nikon camera, 50mm f/1.4 lens, and Ektachrome film (with a speed of ISO 64, usually used only in bright daylight) into the pocket of his fatigues. He timed his appearance for guard duty to make sure that he would be assigned to the watch tower with the widest view of the mountain and base.

When the first shots rang out, he rested his camera on a sandbag and pointed it toward the action. Using a cable release, he captured a series of long exposures, 15 to 60 seconds long, as the Army unleashed a hellish barrage.
An M42 “Duster” tank swept the mountain with twin 40mm anti-aircraft autocannons, while soldiers in guard towers opened up with a .50-caliber machine gun and M60 machine guns.
The rocky hillside was illuminated by hand-launched flares, high-explosive rounds and tracer rounds (which were loaded into the ammo belts one for every four normal bullets — meaning the visible streaks in the images represent only a fifth of the rounds being poured out).


View attachment 459211
Hand-launched flares illuminate the hills as soldiers fire M60 machine guns with red tracers. One round can be seen ricocheting near the top of the mountain


View attachment 459213
Flares continue to burn as soldiers pepper the hillside with M60 fire


View attachment 459215


View attachment 459216
The M42 sprays the hillside with .50-caliber high explosive machine gun fire


View attachment 459217
M60 machine guns join the .50-caliber fire.


View attachment 459218
The M42 once again opens up with the 40mm autocannons as the M60s and .50-cal continue firing


View attachment 459222


View attachment 459223

At daybreak, patrols went up the mountain, searching among the massive boulders for a sign of their target. They found a small blood trail one morning, but the sniper had vanished.
During his tour of duty, Hensinger mailed dozens of rolls of film home, but asked his parents not to have them developed without him there — he had lied about his situation in Vietnam and didn’t want them worrying about his safety.
Hensinger now lives outside Denver, Colorado, and still enjoys shooting pictures.


View attachment 459224
Very nice post, ty.
 

The Vindicator

Fresh Meat
Sniper bugged out after the first 40mm love calls(if he was smart) the rest is just 'feel good' fire. It wasn't unknown for the Viet Cong to give a farmer a shitty rifle with a scope, ten rounds of ammo & tell him to kill Americans & bring back the empties to prove he shot them or his family would suffer, the trick for the farmer was to cap off his rounds WITHOUT hitting anyone, the American trick was to give him time to fuck off THEN light up the hill, you didn't want to slot a farmer who couldn't shoot & be replaced with someone with real talent, has been around thru all wars, you just had to train your officers.
What a nice fairytale that was, with no proof to boot. The sheer amount of firepower was to make sure if he wasn't killed, that he wouldn'tthink about coming back.......after he changed his jocks.
 

Der Wolf

Long time dead but look forward the resurrection
This user was banned
The pictures show well that the U.S. military has no idea where the VC sniper is (and this is a 50-year-old photo, today’s snipers are even more professional in hiding and armament)
Therefore, the whole area is set on fire with heavy artillery and heavy machine guns and fired blindly
 

Der Wolf

Long time dead but look forward the resurrection
This user was banned
with all that fire power america should invade russia
America could occupy Russia if it wanted to, but since the Russians also have an enormous amount of nuclear weapons, this plan is unworkable
 

mrln

silent ghost
you think the u.s. doesnt have an enormous amount either? just because the government says we dont,doesnt mean you should believe them lying prick fucks.
 

Ravishing Rick Rude

THE BIG BADDY BOOTY DADDY
View attachment 459210
The M42 tank fires an opening salvo at the sniper's approximated position with 40mm anti-aircraft cannons


In April 1970, 22-year-old James Speed Hensinger, an enlisted man in the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, was stationed at a compound in Phu Tai, west of the coastal city of Qui Nhon, Vietnam.
Over the course of several nights, a lone Viet Cong fighter had repeatedly crept in among the rocks on a mountain overlooking the base and sprayed the camp with automatic AK-47 fire, perforating the sheet-metal roofs of the Americans’ hooches, killing one man and vexing the rest.
The soldiers were told that an overwhelming response would be prepared for the next time the “sniper” decided to strike.
Hensinger, sensing an opportunity, stuffed his Nikon camera, 50mm f/1.4 lens, and Ektachrome film (with a speed of ISO 64, usually used only in bright daylight) into the pocket of his fatigues. He timed his appearance for guard duty to make sure that he would be assigned to the watch tower with the widest view of the mountain and base.

When the first shots rang out, he rested his camera on a sandbag and pointed it toward the action. Using a cable release, he captured a series of long exposures, 15 to 60 seconds long, as the Army unleashed a hellish barrage.
An M42 “Duster” tank swept the mountain with twin 40mm anti-aircraft autocannons, while soldiers in guard towers opened up with a .50-caliber machine gun and M60 machine guns.
The rocky hillside was illuminated by hand-launched flares, high-explosive rounds and tracer rounds (which were loaded into the ammo belts one for every four normal bullets — meaning the visible streaks in the images represent only a fifth of the rounds being poured out).


View attachment 459211
Hand-launched flares illuminate the hills as soldiers fire M60 machine guns with red tracers. One round can be seen ricocheting near the top of the mountain


View attachment 459213
Flares continue to burn as soldiers pepper the hillside with M60 fire


View attachment 459215


View attachment 459216
The M42 sprays the hillside with .50-caliber high explosive machine gun fire


View attachment 459217
M60 machine guns join the .50-caliber fire.


View attachment 459218
The M42 once again opens up with the 40mm autocannons as the M60s and .50-cal continue firing


View attachment 459222


View attachment 459223

At daybreak, patrols went up the mountain, searching among the massive boulders for a sign of their target. They found a small blood trail one morning, but the sniper had vanished.
During his tour of duty, Hensinger mailed dozens of rolls of film home, but asked his parents not to have them developed without him there — he had lied about his situation in Vietnam and didn’t want them worrying about his safety.
Hensinger now lives outside Denver, Colorado, and still enjoys shooting pictures.


View attachment 459224
Awesome post 👍
 
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