From the East and the West

During the Vietnam War the frontline Australian soldier faced a diverse range of weapon systems, sourced from both East and West. Hunting shotguns, bolt-action rifles from both world wars, captured American and South Vietnamese weapons, the latest Soviet and Chinese automatic weapons … the Australian digger encountered a wide range of small arms in the hands of the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army. The Memorial holds a good cross-section of these eastern and western small arms in the National Collection, including several captured at the battle of Long Tan on 17–18 August 1966 and in other engagements throughout the war. 

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M3 Sub machine Gun

This American designed and made M3 sub machine-gun was known by US troops during the Second World War as the grease gun, because of its appearance. This one was captured at Long Tan by the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

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Mauser Kar 98k rifle 

The Mauser Kar 98k rifle was the standard rifle of Nazi Germany, and was captured at Long Tan. Many of these captured German rifles were probably used by the French during the First Indochina War (1945–54), and were captured from French forces. 

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Type 56 SKS Carbine

This Type 56 SKS Carbine was captured in South Vietnam by the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. It is a Chinese copy of the Russian SKS carbine developed during the later stages of the Second World War. 

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PPSh 41 Submachine Gun

This Second World War–era Soviet PPSh 41 Submachine Gun was captured by W Company (New Zealand Company of the ANZAC Battalion), 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, on Operation Pinnaroo in Phuoc Tuy Province. 

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M1917 Enfield rifle 

This First World War–era American M1917 Enfield rifle was captured at the battle of Long Tan. 

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Type 56 Light Machine Gun

This Chinese-made Type 56 Light Machine Gun was captured at the battle of Long Tan, 18 August 1966. 

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