Battle of Lang Vei PT-76 +Bunker (1/35 scale )
https://youtu.be/UjaLWskzdng
The Battle of Lang Vei began on the evening of 6 February 1968 and concluded during the early hours of 7 February, in Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam. Towards the end of 1967 the 198th Tank Battalion, People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 202nd Armored Regiment, received instructions from the North Vietnamese Ministry of Defense to reinforce the 304th Division as part of the "Route 9-Khe Sanh Campaign". After an arduous journey down the Ho Chi Minh trail in January 1968, the 198th Tank Battalion linked up with the 304th Division for an offensive along Highway 9, which stretched from the Laotian border through to Quảng Trị Province. On 23 January, the 24th Regiment attacked the small Laotian outpost at Bane Houei Sane, under the control of the Royal Laos Army BV-33 "Elephant" Battalion.
In that battle the 198th Tank Battalion failed to reach the battle on time because its crews struggled to navigate their tanks through the rough local terrain. However, as soon as the PT-76 tanks of the 198th Tank Battalion turned up at Bane Houei Sane, the Laotian soldiers and their families panicked and retreated into South Vietnam. After Bane Houei Sane was captured, the 24th Regiment prepared for another attack which targeted the U.S. Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei, manned by Detachment A-101 of the 5th Special Forces Group and indigenous Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) forces. On 6 February, the 24th Regiment, again supported by the 198th Tank Battalion, launched their assault on Lang Vei. Despite air and artillery support, the U.S.-led forces conceded ground and the PAVN quickly dominated their positions. By the early hours of 7 February the command bunker was the only position still held by Allied forces. To rescue the American survivors inside the Lang Vei Camp, a counterattack was mounted, but the Laotian soldiers who formed the bulk of the attack formation refused to fight the PAVN. Later on, U.S. Special Forces personnel were able to escape from the camp, and were rescued by a U.S. Marine task force from Khe Sanh Combat Base.
Sand bags made from Apoxie sculpt, tower is made from plaster base is Blue foam .
Nice looking dio and yes, great historical event it was. The special forces camps were well designed but could not withstand being overrun.
Nice looks, Maarten!
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
Interesting looking diorama Maarten ... this one seems to have a good start.
I will be looking forward to the final results. This promises to be a proper one.
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1 attached image. Click to enlarge.
I made a tarpaulin from Apoxie sculpt, straps are thin plastic, buckles are PE.
3 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Very nice!
With a bit of paint ,
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Both sides of the PT & 76 have their track,
He's just about to tip over it.
tracks still needs to be glued the road wheels and base ... a sandbag here and there to blend it all in .
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
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2 attached images. Click to enlarge.