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Doug_Kibbey

Gents,

In a series of personal communications involving my and Roy Lingles' former Squadron CO (the the last 2/11th ACR CO in Vietnam) Col. Stokes (ret.) an unrelated enthusiast and amateur historian has contacted him regarding an action cited in the Simon Dunstan's (sp?) book on the M551 Sheridan. He states that the books cites an action wherein 5 of 9 2/11th Sheridans engaged were at least struck and rendered casualties by RPG's on a single day in March '71. The unit history on which we are collaborating covers April '71-March '72 and Col. Stokes assumed command in June, I believe. Neither he nor I have this book nor are either familiar with this extraordinary report.

Does anybody here have the Dunstan book and can you post the reported incident and any supporting references contained therein.

I'm skeptical and so is the boss...

Many thanks in advance.

Buq-Buq · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Mar 04, 2006 Posts: 86

Doug:

I'm pretty certain that the book referred to is Simon Dunstan's Vietnam Tracks (Osprey Publishing, 1982). In the chapter "US Army Armor in Vietnam", at the end of a discussion on the merits and foibles of the M551, Dunstan states:

Sheridan was highly vulnerable to RPGs to the very end. In March 1971 2nd Squadron, 11 ACR lost five in one action to RPG penetrations. All erupted into flames and were totally destroyed.

There is a whole slew of Acknowledgments at the end of the book, people who rendered help & aid, but unfortunately there is not a bibliography or list of source material.

I've often wondered about this claim, and wanted to ask an 11ACVVC member when I'm at a reunion, but I've never had the opportunity.

Mark

Doug_Kibbey

Mark,

That is undoubtedly the passage being asked about. As Col. Stokes assumed command from LTC Ballantyne within 90 days (June) of the this "incident", I can't imagine a little tidbit like this going unmentioned in his briefing. Something does not sound right....

Thanks...

If anyone finds anything to substantiate this report, we would be keen to hear about it...

COL Stokes will consult with Ballantyne, and I'll advise when reply is received.

D.

MarkHolloway

Can 11th ACR Museum help?

Dontos

- Buq-Buq

Doug:

Sheridan was highly vulnerable to RPGs to the very end. In March 1971 2nd Squadron, 11 ACR lost five in one action to RPG penetrations. All erupted into flames and were totally destroyed.

Mark