Dumb Vietnam question

[vodkafan]

OK. I can't really tell the difference between USMC and US Army, once they both start using the M16. I always thought it was that Marines wore camo helmet covers and Flak Jackets, but I have found out that Army grunts sometimes wore flak jackets too (although a slightly different pattern)
I got a big load of my Vietnam figures second hand in two job lots all mixed up and I am having real trouble telling them apart, in the bare metal.
Are there any other easy ways to differentiate them?

[carlos marighela]

There are some clues. The Marines wore a different pattern flack jacket, the M1955 as opposed to the Army’s M1951 or M1969 flack vests. Main visual difference in miniature would be the collar.

Marines had their own pattern web equipment but as the war progressed they increasingly drew upon US Army supplies so M1956 web gear, with or without bits of USMC kit was quite common.

Marines tended not to wear a foliage band on their helmet covers. That said there’s plenty of examples of one being used or a rubber inner tube.

Most 28mm minis I’ve seen tend to have US Army types without flak vests, which is accurate. The use of flak vasts with the Marines was near universal.

[has.been]

Should have gone for Aussies like me James.