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 .

Outstanding work Chip!

Excellent figure. I really like the background descriptions.

The green faced devil is coming for you. And he is wearing Levi's.

Great job again, really enjoy your history bits. The shells in the hat are a fun detail, facepaint looks beautifully spooky and wooden handles always look the best.

What's the story behind that belt buckle, you chose it for a reason I guess?

Ovy wrote:The green faced devil is coming for you. And he is wearing Levi's.

Great job again, really enjoy your history bits. The shells in the hat are a fun detail, facepaint looks beautifully spooky and wooden handles always look the best.

What's the story behind that belt buckle, you chose it for a reason I guess?

Thanks Ovy .

Trophy's were often taken from the enemy ,Belts and Pistols were amongst favourite items , a lot of main line troops liked the packs too amongst other things . I was a bit in two minds about him having the NVA belt , I thought the buckle maybe a little shiny for a SEAL to wear , though a knowledgeable friend advised me that the Buckles were not overly shiny , and so I went with it .

Thanks for the other kind comments Peeps . I am glad you like my waffling too .

Looks so realistically grungy. Another great custom. Well done!

great figure! cool face paint.
Appreciate the facts that come with it.

Thanks Ian , and Illusion .

Man, that's really nice.

That's really cool. I like everything about this figure, and the background details.

Great navy seal. THe first time I saw that type of shirt was on a 21st century toys figure (old as old itself by now) back then I wondered why it as like that and I still do.

Thanks P.M , Mark , and Theboo-bomb .
 
     @ TBB If you read the added info above , it gives you a small insight into the Jacket and may ease your wondering . I believe the many pockets were there as replacement for carrying ammo pouches or a small butt pack for example , everything needed was just spread out amongst the pockets .  It was indeed also issued by 21st Century Toys . I have one of those and still consider it a nice item . I think the one shown here though was by ACE .

 Here is Oscar , the 2nd member in my SEAL team ,  I kitted out "Oscar " , for both prisoner snatches and assassinations , note the silenced Hush Puppy pistol , and also for more heavy ambush missions , with 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 pouches by S.F teams in the NAM as these could hold more magazines than standard issue ammo pouches , especially for the weapons with longer magazines as here the captured AK47 . I believe specialised jackets or custom made ones were available for use with the Stoner , that again had pockets large enough to carry the box Magazines .

Another sharp custom, Mark.

You did a really good job on their camou-faces, very realistic.

Oscar turned out really cool. Interesting background details — I’d never heard about the canteen pouches used that way. Enlightening.

Thank you for the further comments , so kind of you to take time to comment .

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 well-developed character. Nice work on making the head and neck match, too.

He looks cool. I like the head sculpt — looks like a cross between Chuck Connors and John Phillip Law. Does he have a name yet?

Thanks Ian , Mark . Glad you like them . No I haven't named him or my Shotgunner yet for that matter , I will have have a think .

Probably my fave of the current run Chip, that sculpt has so much character!

Stryker2011 wrote:He looks cool. I like the head sculpt — looks like a cross between Chuck Connors and John Phillip Law. Does he have a name yet?

Now that you mention it, I really see that, too! Very Chuck Connors, especially around the eyes and above the cheekbones!

And speaking of John Phillip Law, I was looking online at old movie posters for Danger: Diabolik just last night!

Thanks Dal , Dave .

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 great looking team member chip! You have a great knack of finding great sculpts!