The new 35th scale Vietnam War-era LARC-V emerges from Gecko Models
LARC-V (Vietnam War) US Army Amphibious Cargo Vehicle
From Gecko Models
1/35th scale
Kit No #35GM0038
The kit consists of plastic injection parts & Photo-etch metal.
LARC-V (Lighter, Amphibious Resupply, Cargo, 5 ton), is an aluminium-hulled amphibious cargo vehicle capable of transporting 5 tons. It was developed in the United States during the 1950's and is still being used in a variety of auxiliary roles up until the present day.
The LARC-V was fielded in 1963 and were used extensively by the U.S. Army for over the beach supply during the Vietnam War. They supported the logistical and manpower build-up at the start of and during the Vietnam war. Two units arrived from Ft. Story, VA. in June 1965. The 344th Transportation Company (Light Amphibious) setup harbour operations in Qui Nhon and the 347th Transportation Company in Camh Ranh Bay. The companies had two platoons of 17 LARCVs each and a separate 3rd echelon maintenance detachment. About December 1965, one of the 344th's platoons moved to Da Nang and was attached to the Air Force wing.
A US Navy lighter, amphibious, resupply cargo vehicle (LARC 5) comes ashore with a group of Marines after a run from Dong Ha
There it ran 24-hour/day operations hauling bombs from ships in the harbour to the flight line. Their operation was so crucial to the USAF that if at least 15 LARCS were not operational, any needed parts were flown in by Nonoperational Ready Supply Grounded (NORSG) aircraft from St Louis. 458th Transportation, LARC-V Company, arrived in Cam Ranh Bay Oct 1967. 101st Airborne Division in 1967 and later the 1st Cavalry Division in 1968.
A (LARC-V) moves through the water during landing operations. U.S. Marines were assigned to Lebanon as part of a multinational peacekeeping force
In addition to the United States, LARC-Vs have been used by military forces in Australia, Argentina (used by the Argentine Marines during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands), Portugal, Philippines, Singapore and Iceland. Approximately 968 were made. About 500 were destroyed, most by scuttling during the American withdrawal from South Vietnam. About 200 have been retained in U.S. military service. Presently, there are roughly 100 are privately owned LARC-V's that are mostly used for tourism.
This new kit from Gecko Models.
Though the LARC-V (Vietnam War) US Army Amphibious Cargo Vehicle has been kitted in 35th scale from Hobby Fan / AFV Club in resin. This version from Gecko is also the Vietnam centric version of this vehicle. There is no more information on this kit apart from the plastic moulded structure with photo-etch included and that it has some markings in the box. elementary stuff really, but that is all we have right now.
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