During the Sino-Vietnamese War, these 11 items were the 'secret weapons' of our reconnaissance soldiers.

During the Sino-Vietnamese War, also known as the Self-Defense Counterattack against Vietnam, our reconnaissance soldiers played a crucial role on the battlefield. Often operating in small teams, they would penetrate deep behind enemy lines to gather intelligence, obtain operational information, or carry out special missions that conventional troops could not accomplish. It can be said that the reconnaissance soldiers were the sharp blade of the military.

On the complex and ever-changing battlefield of that time, there were 11 items that became the "secret weapons" of our reconnaissance soldiers. Now, let's take a look at what these 11 items were.

Ⅰ.The Type 205 Engineer Shovel

During the Self-Defense Counterattack against Vietnam, basically every individual reconnaissance soldier in our military was equipped with an engineer shovel. Its main model was the Type 205 engineer shovel designed by our country in the 1960s, also known as the Type 65 engineer shovel. Although this shovel looked ordinary on the surface, its blade was made of manganese steel, making it sturdy and sharp. The handle of the shovel was made of hardwood. The overall length was about 63 centimeters, and it weighed 0.8 kilograms.

The simple and practical features of the Type 205 engineer shovel made it highly trusted by our reconnaissance soldiers and regular infantry at the time. The shovel was not only used for building defensive fortifications but was also utilized as a field tool or even as a melee weapon when necessary. Its destructive power was far greater than that of a dagger.

Ⅱ.The Type 67 Wooden-Handled Grenade

Although the Sino-Vietnamese War took place in the 1970s and 1980s, both our regular soldiers and reconnaissance troops were still equipped with the older Type 67 wooden-handled grenade. This model was actually an improved version of the Type 63. The most significant changes were enhanced safety and reduced issues such as moisture damage and misfires. The Type 67 wooden-handled grenade has a total length of 204 mm and weighs 600 grams. Its warhead contains 38 grams of TNT explosive, and upon detonation, it can produce 70 to 110 fragments, with a lethal radius of approximately 7 meters. Although it was still an older type of grenade, the Type 67 remained one of the most trusted "secret weapons" for our reconnaissance soldiers.

Ⅲ.The Type 64 Silenced Submachine Gun

On the battlefield back then, besides being equipped with the Type 56 and later the Type 81 automatic rifles, our reconnaissance soldiers on missions such as infiltration or decapitation strikes were often armed with our country's self-developed Type 64 silenced submachine gun.

This model also served as the first self-developed submachine gun in our country. Its most prominent feature was the barrel's own effective sound-suppressing function. The gun's structure was also relatively compact. It fired the 7.62x25mm Type P subsonic cartridge and could be fed by either a 20-round or 30-round magazine. Its practical rate of fire was about 60 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 200 meters. During the Self-Defense Counterattack against Vietnam, this submachine gun was also one of the most trusted "secret weapons" for reconnaissance soldiers.

Ⅳ.The Type 78 Marching Backpack

The Type 78 marching backpack was also one of the favorite pieces of equipment for reconnaissance soldiers on the battlefield. This large backpack had no internal compartments, offering plenty of space to store rations, soldiers' personal items, additional equipment, and spare ammunition. The backpack was made entirely of canvas, which was sturdy, wear-resistant, and tough, making it highly popular among reconnaissance troops.

Ⅴ.The Type 65 Canteen

Fighting on the complex and ever-changing battlefield, getting thirsty was inevitable. Therefore, whether they were reconnaissance soldiers or regular infantry, everyone carried a military canteen. At that time, the most commonly used canteen by reconnaissance soldiers was the Type 65, which was an improved version based on the Type 50.

The Type 65 canteen also used an aluminum body, but compared to the previous Type 50, its material quality was more refined. The thickness and capacity were also significantly improved, making it highly favored by the soldiers. This type of canteen even continued to serve in our military until the 1970s and 1980s, when it was eventually replaced by other models.

Ⅵ.Type 761 Compressed Rations

Besides water, rations were also of utmost importance to reconnaissance soldiers, especially when operating in the wilderness. They would often be separated from the main force for several consecutive days without timely resupply. Therefore, they would carry domestically produced Type 761 compressed biscuits to stave off hunger. Although the taste was only so-so, these compressed biscuits were filling and could help maintain the body's energy.

Ⅶ.The Type 81 Camouflage Uniform

During the Self-Defense Counterattack against Vietnam, in order to better conceal themselves while carrying out missions, reconnaissance soldiers were also equipped with the Type 81 camouflage uniform, specifically designed for the local environment. The older generation also called it the "Eight-Leaf Camouflage Uniform." Both the jacket and trousers could be worn inside out. The outer side featured a fragmented leaf pattern, while the inner side was a copy of the American duck hunter camouflage pattern. This type of camouflage uniform provided excellent concealment in the combat environment of that time and was one of the most trusted pieces of equipment for reconnaissance soldiers.

Ⅷ.The Type 861 Radio

During the Self-Defense Counterattack against Vietnam, it wasn't just the signalers in the regular troops who were equipped with mobile radios. Reconnaissance teams, often operating in harsh environments to carry out special combat missions, were also equipped with a mobile radio. This allowed them to report situations to headquarters or conveniently communicate with other units.

At that time, the mobile radio equipment used by our reconnaissance soldiers was mainly the domestically produced Type 861, officially named the "Type 861 Portable Command Set." This model was fielded by the troops during the 1970s, initially serving as a mobile communication device at the platoon level, with one set issued to each infantry platoon. Additionally, some artillery units were also equipped with this model. However, due to the Type 861's lightweight and portable features, it was also used by reconnaissance soldiers during the Sino-Vietnamese War. Its capability for all-weather operation earned it recognition among the troops.

Ⅸ.The Type 57 26mm Signal Pistol

Depending on the specific mission, designated reconnaissance soldiers would carry a signal pistol and several rounds of different signal flares. This was used to provide coordinates for other units or to communicate with specific elements. During the Sino-Vietnamese War, the signal pistol equipping our forces was mainly the Type 57 26mm signal pistol, a copy of the Soviet M1926 model. This type was finalized in 1957 and subsequently entered service with the troops.

The structure and appearance of the Type 57 were basically the same as the original M1926 model. Its full length was 220 mm. The grip on early production models used wooden scales, while later production models switched to plastic scales. It weighed 0.9 kilograms. The signal pistol could be loaded with one 26mm signal flare at a time, which could be fired to an altitude of approximately 100 meters.

Ⅹ.The Type 53 Reconnaissance Dagger

The favorite melee weapon used by our reconnaissance soldiers back in the day was the Type 53 reconnaissance dagger. This model was designed and produced during the 1950s, originally improved upon a reconnaissance dagger once provided as aid by the Soviet Union. The Type 53 had a stiletto-like shape, with an extremely sharp point. Its main uses were for assassinations or ambush operations. When in use, it was generally employed by stabbing with the point or slashing with the side of the blade.

The Type 53 reconnaissance dagger also featured a blood groove on each side of the blade. The blade was mainly made of alloy steel, with a hardness of 62 HRC. To prevent the blade from rusting due to moisture, it underwent chrome plating, giving the surface a shiny, silver appearance. The handle was made of treated hardwood and coated with red lacquer, while other metal components were made of brass. The practicality of the Type 53 reconnaissance dagger, along with its meticulous craftsmanship and refined appearance, made it highly popular among our reconnaissance soldiers back then.

Ⅺ.The Type 62 Telescope

Back then on the battlefield, depending on the specific mission, reconnaissance soldiers or commanders would typically be equipped with a domestically produced Type 62 8x30 telescope. This was used to observe enemy situations from a distance, or to survey the terrain and battlefield conditions. The Type 62 telescope was a standard-issue telescope produced by our country in the 1960s.

Beyond military use, it was also utilized by departments such as the police, aviation, forestry, and electric power sectors. The structure and appearance of the Type 62 were modeled after the design of the German Zeiss 8x30 telescope series, and it inherited the original model's advantages of high precision and all-weather usability. During the Sino-Vietnamese War, the Type 62 telescope was highly regarded by our reconnaissance soldiers, and this model also enjoyed the longest service life in our military.

That concludes the content of this article.