Chips NAM SEAL Team

Hi All , I still have a couple of figures to complete , but here is the beginnings of my NAM SEAL team . SEAL standing for Sea Land and Air . Every SEAL has to pass vigorous training in Sea , Air and Land Combat . These guys were tough . They also got to trial and play with new weapons and equipment that a lot of other units never got to get there hands on . They also modified many standard weapons for their needs , more on that later . A lot of the missions the SEAL teams had , involved intelligence gathering , which often involved prisoner snatches  . There load out was based mainly on fire power , as most missions lasted only hours and not days , the idea was NOT to get into combat situations , but if they did they had the fire power to make them look a much bigger force than they were and to retreat to an extraction point as quickly as possible . Ambush missions were often set up in an attempt to stop the NVA from transporting weapons down to the South . A lot of operations were in the Mekong Delta , which held large bodies of water . The Navy SEALS were feared by the VC and NVA , they called them the Green faced Men .

      This first Character , is My SEAL Shotgunner . The Shotgun was a formidable weapon , shells were loaded with large buck shot , but apparently you had to be quite skilled in using it , it was not particularly a long range weapon , and even the Automatic ones could not carry the ammo of an M.G . He wears the SEAL Rifleman's Jacket , note the abundance of pockets , to carry ammo , Grenades and any other needed equipment ( took a while to fill those )    . Working in the Mekong Delta meant they were Often dropped off and extracted by boats , these jackets had internal flotation bladders , should he fall into deep water , it would help keep him afloat . Levi`s were very popular amongst SEALS too , and a mix match of these , and other cammo uniforms was common .

Fantastic stuff Chip. After the pics you have been showing us of these guys for real, it really does go to show just how close the seal here is! Super work mate!

That's a great figure Chip!

I'm always amazed at the detail of your figures. From the head sculpts to the uniforms and equipment!

The Navy SEALS are still a force to be reckoned with, and they still do missions like they did in NAM.
Quick in, get the job done, and quick out.

SEAL Team 6 was the ones that got Bin Laden.

They dress according to the mission, desert camo for desert ops, green camo for jungle and woods,
Denim jeans and t-shirts for urban ops. They like to blend into the environment.

And yes, the shotgun is a short range weapon. In the old west, they were referred to as scatter guns.
In NAM the point man (any branch of service during night patrols) would have a shotgun. If they came
face to face with the enemy, they would fire first. Despite the length of the barrel, the buckshot would
"scatter." It was good for close combat, as the shot would hit maybe a few targets in one blast.
These days extraction is usually done by helicopter.

It takes a stiff shoulder to fire them at the shoulder position. Those guns carry quite a kick. It doesn't take
long to get a sore shoulder.

Daryl

Thanks Dal , Daryl .

   Here is Oscar , the 2nd member in my SEAL team , you may have seen him before , but I photographed him again so he can fit in here .    I kitted out "Oscar " , for both prisoner snatches and assassinations , note the silenced Hush Puppy pistol , and also for more heavy ambush missions , the Stoner M.G and LAW . To my knowledge the Stoner M.G  was only issued to Navy SEAL`s during the NAM . It could be assembled in various combinations , the most noticeable to include the length and the way the rounds were fed to the beast , this could include a drum magazine , a box magazine as here , or also I believe could be belt fed . Canteen carriers were often used as ammo carriers by S.F teams in the NAM as these could hold more magazines than standard pouches , especially for the weapons with longer magazines as here the captured AK47 .

Interesting camouflage make-up there too!

Another great addition to the team! Love the face paint!

Nice!!

With the head scarf, he would make a great Tunnel Rat!!

Daryl

TNshooter wrote:

With the head scarf, he would make a great Tunnel Rat!!

Now THOSE blokes were brave, ....or insane! Or both?
Never heard of claustrophobia either!

Thanks Chaps .

 Here is the 3rd member in my SEAL team . He is armed with a converted M.60 , note the shortened stock and the connected Ammo box / feeder , some 60 Gunners , welded a C-Rat can to the feeder on the M.60s , which helped reduce jams or brakes in the ammo links , very popular amongst Door Gunners .  The large bag on his left  hip carries further belts / boxes of ammo for the M.60 , I believe this is an old WWll Grease gun ammo bag ?  As mentioned before , some specially designed SEAL jackets , had built in Life preservers , here he is wearing a standard ERDL cammo  jacket , and so wears an issue life preserver over the top along with the popular Levi's . Long hair and beards were not unusual to see amongst the SEAL teams , and to my knowledge was seldom questioned .

Another great addition to The 'Nam troops Mark! 
Love how you(?) have dirtied his face too.
How long does the research take you before you start the scratch build?

Cheers Barry , yes I dirtied the face and neck it made them match better . I don`t really stop researching stuff , most the books I read are NAM related . I have lots of photos to take of various figures , when / if I am happy with how they look . So many projects on the go that are nearly finished .

Another great team member! Gotta love that sculpt, so much character!

Here is the fourth member in my SEAL team . Some of the weapons I have read about and seen photos of that SEAL teams got to use , seem well in front of there time . The Stoner M.G , those M.60`s with back pack ammo boxes , and here we have the China Lake pump action Grenade launcher . From what I found out , only 24 of these made it into active service and all were hand made , by the company China Lake , hence the name . The weapon operated like a pump action shotgun , and was liked by the few SEAL`s who actually got to use it . I think it`s a very interesting weapon .
     Here my SEAL grenadier , wears an ERDL cammo jacket with issued life preserver , Tiger Stripe pants , oddly this never seemed to happen the other way round , as in ERDL pants and a Tiger Stripe shirt / jacket . I think his Tiger Stripe Grenade vest would of been a custom , or hand made item to carry rounds for the China Lake launcher . He carries a shoulder holstered pistol just in case things get to close , as the grenade rounds have to carry a distance before they become armed .

Another spectacular figure Chip! You sure do find some great sculpts!

Well researched - another fascinating historical post! Looks like a lot of reading followed by a lot of searching and customizing to get the authentic pieces went in to creating this impressive figure!

Okay Chip,....the cast is now surely assembled, so let the photo-story begin!
I have never before seen a better or more authentic looking crew!

Another fantastic figure!!!

Great work!!!

Thanks so much for the comments and praises . They are so nice to hear .

Bonus Group pics .

they look really great together chip! all they need is a jungle setting and they would be right at home

Intense looking group! Have to remind myself that they are action figures and not real guys!
Impressive, excellent level of craftsmanship here!

WOW Chip! Really cool figures!
Great job!

Chip your NAM SEAL Team look incredible. Each head sculpt looks so realistic. The Bonus Group pics are great.