Bazookas in Burma & INDOCHINA

[JohnFoA]

So researching Op Masterdom, still, and found a couple of rather intriguing references to use of Bazookas by 20 Ind Div in French Indochina.  First was on wiki page the War in Vietnam 1945-46 where  an unidentified Gurkha unit use one to blow the doors off (yes I know) a Viet Minh occupied fort.  I sort of dismissed this for a reference to a PIAT.

However a second reference has appeared in a thesis by Peter Dunn (d.1979) which is a phenomenal work full of useful info - I hope he got the masters it was for.  In which he quote the diary of 3/1 GR involved in a firefight around Saigon docks.  It quite clearly records the Gurkhas bringing up an 'M9A1' to take out LMG posts at distance.

Anyone any idea of scale of issue, when these were deployed to 20th or any other Indian formation?

I would have said it didn't happen, but two separate sources...

As ever thanks for inputs

John

[has.been]

Sorry can't help with that, but it does remind me of a Falklands
story. In the fighting around Mount Tumbledown a young lieutenant
was tasked with clearing a string of Argentinian machinegun nests.
he did it using a lot of Milan Anti-tank missiles at about £10,000
a shot!!
He said after, 'I was told to clear them quickly, not cheaply'
In other words, If you have the kit, & it does the job, use it.

[Jemima Fawr]

Yes, I've also read of Gurkhas using a '3.5-inch' Bazooka (but that's not possible in 1945!) to take out the gate of an old French colonial fort and we did have a discussion about it here last year.  I've not read any references to Bazookas in Burma apart from in the hands of Chinese forces, so can only assume they picked them up en route to, or in Indochina.

US kit was acquired by Commonwealth units in Burma though, so never say never... For example, 2nd Division reported receipt of a load of US flamethrowers.

[JohnFoA]

As yes Jemima I remember that conversation, more in a moment about that.

These weapons are definitely Bazookas. Regular size, but 2nd edition if you like.  Interesting the US flamethrowers, do you have a date for that?

Re the earlier discussion. IIRC it was about 16th Cav deployment. Well the Dunn thesis I referred to has some further information. It confirms that the whole Regt was deployed to FIC. Another book, by Prendergast (?) Shows that they had Humber and Daimler A/C.  Also in Dunn there's reference to the A/C engaging VM with 37s and Besa fire.

Anyway back to my Bazooka hunt

Cheers

[Etranger]

No bazookas yet,but Gurkhas with VM booty.

[JohnFoA]

Nice piccie, ta

[Etranger]

As Mark says, it won't have been the 3.5" 'Super Bazooka' as that didn't see operational use until the Korean War.