My wife recently bought the Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog for me. She simply cant pass up a bargain, so an armor kit for less than $20 was irresistable (even if the molding is almost 50 yeqrs old!). I try to do as much research as I can before I start a build. Unfortunately, I find myself confused. I know that the Bulldog was first used in the Korean war and then in Vietnam, but the information I found indicated that the M41 was brought to Vietnam for the South Vietnamese army and I cant find any reference to U.S. forces using it. I did find a couple of photos that appeared to show an M41 with U.S. markings, crewed by a U.S. crew in Vietnam. My goal is to build a diorama based in Vietnam in a year to be determined later. One other issue I have is that the figures provided with the kit look to be Korean war era based on the uniforms, weapons and gear. If anyone has information, or can point me in the right direction about this subject, I would be very grateful.
You are correct that the M41 was not used by US forces in Vietnam. They were given to the S. Vietnamese Army (ARVN - Army of the Republic of VietNam). No idea what the picture you have seen actually is, but it was not US troops using it in combat in Vietnam.
The standard US Army and USMC tank used in Vietnam was the M48A3.
Additionally, M41s were not used in combat in the Korean War either. They arrived too late and were only used after the July '53 Armistace.
I can’t speak to the specific “a3” M41, but Wiki indicates they were in use all over the world by the early 1960’s, except for the US Army in Vietnam. Even the CIA lost 5 at Bay of Pigs.
You are correct that ARVN had them, and I would guess the crew gear would be one generation earlier than US gear at the same time.
Nice model. One puzzlement is that the box art shows the tank from the rear with 180 +/- deg traverse of the turret
Cool wife! [H]
The only photos that I’ve come across of US M41s in south east Asia are from the early 60’s in Thailand during exercises there. More than likely any photos purporting to show US crewed M41s in Vietnam in action are movie still shots. They were still in service with National Guard units stateside, and were deployed to some of the major riots of that era. But that is the closest they came to “action” in US Army colors. And of course, standing watch along the Iron Curtain in Europe until they were phased out of active army service.
Probably a movie still. They used them in several films
http://www.precision-panzer.moonfruit.com/m41a3/4569741865
Gary
Thank you so much for the information! I suppose I’ll have paint those white stripes on the barrel for my diorama and convert some figures to represent an ARVN tank crew. (I love a challenge,…lol) I was told that the pictures I found (that I mistakenly assumed were from Vietnam) were actually taken during some stateside training. Thanks again for the info. One of the things I love about the modeling community is the massive amounts of knowledge freely shared through forums like this.
Lol, got to wait till the ende 
So…
Tamiya’s new M-41 “Viet Nam”, which is an excellent kit, is based on what? Where?
It clearly has U.S. markings. So where did they come from? Anyone have a clue on this?
Do you have a picture of the boxart or something? I have not heard of a “new” M41 “Viet Nam” from Tamiya.
Likewise… they do have a new M551 Sheridan Vietnam War. That was the vehicle that replaced the M41 in some Regular Army units.
US Army doctrine armor went away from light, medium, and heavy tanks with the arrival of the M60 MBT. The M551 was designated as an Airborne Armored Reconassaince Vehicle, and not a “light tank”.
I’m pretty sure you’ve put your finger on it. I remember the 551 had the same weapon as the M60A2, correct?
I have a couple of the M 41 kits. They can use a better M2, but they are otherwise a nicemodel from the earlier Tamiya era.
You’ll have fun building it. And I would like to see a Bahia de Cochinos diorama too.
Oh, guys, I’m so sorry! It is the 551.
Total facepalm here.
I can’t believe I mixed them up. 
The old Tamiya M-41 Can be made into a really decent kit with some creativity and scratch work.
Although, mine has been warming a shelf for over a year now.
The Ma Deuce in many of the older Tamiya kits lacked distinctive detail. I’ve rebuilt almost every one and they can become quite detailed without sourcing out a replacement.
Yes, both the M60A2 and M551 had the 152mm (6 “) gun/Shillelaghs missile launcher as their main gun.
Yes, the old Tamiya M41 could use : new ma Deuce, new tracks, new pioneer tools, and few additions such as the lift rings on the glacis and ribs on tje stowage boxes. But it is a fun old kit. Very easy to build and a great entry kit for the novice armor builder.
The price and ease of construction is the best selling point for the old Tamiya M41, plus it looks like a stereotypical “Army Tank”. The Skybow and AFV Bulldogs are such superior kits. I think before they came out, I had amassed about $90 worth of aftermarket to “build” a Tamiya Bulldog to modern standards, then I stumbled upon the Skybow kit in 2002. It was a remarkable kit and I think it is still available in one of the AFV Club boxings (NATO M41G I think).
Its funny how once you get all the stuff for a project like that, somebody comes out with the new tool kit to address it all in one package. I have the Tamiya M42 with all the similar goodies to upgrade it. Before AFV Club issued theirs…
A friend wanted to to a Vietnam-era M41 as well (wow, what an incredible coincidence!), so any tips on markings, equipment, and crew uniforms would be much appreciated.
I did a quick Internet search for decals, but only found stuff for US armor in Vietnam. Still, I think it amazing you can even find aftermarket decals for armor. What a great time to be alive.
Anyway, I’ll be following along!