ARVN - Infantry Platoon

The Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) was the main fighting force of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) during the war. Established on the republic’s founding in 1955, ARVN began with 150,000 troops, and by 1975 included over one million men-at-arms. At the height of its strength, ARVN forces included thirteen regular divisions and special forces, and an Air Force, and Naval forces.

The United States supplied everything from tanks, APCs, and helicopters to bullets, small arms, and rations. American training further enhanced the ARVN troops. The ARVN suffered over 200,000 fatalities by the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973, and thousands more would die by the end of the war. In all, ARVN troops fought effectively when well-led, but tragically never seemed to have good commanders.