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// OPERATION BRIEFING · THEATER FILE

LaotianCivilWar

1959–1975

The Laotian Civil War (1959–1975) pitted Laos, Vietnam, China, and Russia against the United States and Thailand, resulting in approximately 20,000–60,000 deaths.

OUTCOME
DECISIVE VICTORY B
Era
1959–1975
SIDES
6
⚔ CONFLICT CIVIL WAR

LaotianCivilWar

⚔ Cold War · 1945–1991 is part of this war
{{nowrap| Pathet Lao &nbsp Laos Vietnam People's Republic of China Russia
VS
{{nowrap| &nbsp United States Thailand
Start: 23.05.1959 End: 02.12.1975 Duration: 16 years 6 months 17 days Participants: 6 countries Weapons: 66 systems
Overview
Sides
Chronology
Weapons
Outcomes
01 / Overview
Laotian Civil War
Date
1959–1975
Type
civil war
Duration
16 years 6 months 17 days
Participants
Laos Vietnam People's Republic of China Russia United States Thailand
Weapon System
66
Outcome
decisive victory b
Parent War
Cold War
02 / Sides
Belligerents 6 participants
{{nowrap| Pathet Lao &nbsp
Laos Laos Primary Vietnam Vietnam Primary People's Republic of China People's Republic of China Primary Russia Russia Primary
VS
{{nowrap| &nbsp
United States United States Primary Thailand Thailand Primary
03 / Weapons & Equipment · 66 systems
WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT SUMMARY
ORIGIN · COUNTRY
United States
29 %44
Russia
14 %21
France
8 %12
People's Republic of China
5 %8
Czech Republic
3 %5
ORIGIN · COMPANY
Colt's Manufacturing Company
6 %9
Norinco
4 %6
Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne
4 %6
China North Industries Group Corporation Limited
4 %6
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
3 %5
Total 66 distinct systems
Avg. Equipment Age 16 years all equipment
{{nowrap| Pathet Lao &nbsp 18 years avg. age
{{nowrap| &nbsp 16 years avg. age
MOST EXPENSIVE $40 K M24 Chaffee
Weapons & Equipment66systems
Country
CATEGORY
Mosin–NagantBolt-Action Rifles76Colt M1911Pistols74PPSh-41Machine Pistols71M1917 EnfieldBolt-Action Rifles71M1 GarandSemi-Automatic Rifles70AKMAssault Rifles69M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)69Smith & Wesson Model 39Pistols69M21 Sniper Weapon SystemDesignated Marksman Rifles (DMR)65AK-47Assault Rifles64M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63Sterling submachine gunMachine Pistols62+7more →M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M116 howitzerTowed Artillery & Mortars44Sterling submachine gunMachine Pistols62MAS-36 rifleBolt-Action Rifles77M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)69MAT-49Machine Pistols68Luger pistolPistols68Modèle 1951 helmetHelmets65MAS-49 rifleSemi-Automatic Rifles64Carl Gustaf m/45Machine Pistols61Smith & Wesson Model 10Revolvers60M8 GreyhoundRecon Vehicles48M19 mortarTowed Artillery & Mortars49Owen GunMachine Pistols54M79 grenade launcherStandalone Grenade Launchers51M3 Scout CarRecon Vehicles42XM148 grenade launcherStandalone Grenade Launchers36Mk 2 grenade olaHand Grenades51M72 LAWMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)22RPG-2Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)46RPG-18 MukhaRocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)46M30 mortarTowed Artillery & Mortars48Modèle 1935A pistolPistols57Brandt Mle 1935Towed Artillery & Mortars51M2 4.2-inch mortarTowed Artillery & Mortars48Mosin–NagantBolt-Action Rifles76PPSh-41Machine Pistols71M1917 EnfieldBolt-Action Rifles71AKMAssault Rifles69Chiang Kai-shek rifleBolt-Action Rifles66AK-47Assault Rifles64Type 54 semi-automatic pistolPistols61M3 submachine gunMachine Pistols60M19 mortarTowed Artillery & Mortars49StenMachine Pistols48Type 62Tanks31Colt M1911Pistols74M1917 revolverRevolvers68M18 recoilless rifleRecoilless Rifles54M1 carbineCarbinesMosin–NagantBolt-Action Rifles76Colt M1911Pistols74PPSh-41Machine Pistols71ArisakaBolt-Action Rifles70AKMAssault Rifles69AK-47Assault Rifles64M3 submachine gunMachine Pistols60Type 56Assault Rifles59M1938Towed Artillery & Mortars50Modèle 1935S pistolPistols58M3 submachine gunMachine Pistols60PPS submachine gunMachine Pistols67vz. 58Assault Rifles71M114Towed Artillery & Mortars41M21 Sniper Weapon SystemDesignated Marksman Rifles (DMR)65Degtyaryova PekhotnyLight Machine Guns (LMG/SAW)71Makarov PMPistols57M20 recoilless rifleRecoilless Rifles51StenMachine Pistols48Mosin–NagantBolt-Action Rifles76PPSh-41Machine Pistols71M1917 EnfieldBolt-Action Rifles71AKMAssault Rifles69AK-47Assault Rifles64Sterling submachine gunMachine Pistols62Type 56Assault Rifles59M1938Towed Artillery & Mortars50StenMachine Pistols48M114Towed Artillery & Mortars41Howitzer Motor Carriage M8Self-Propelled Artillery41Vz.53 Anti-Aircraft GunAnti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)41Type 59Tanks37Smith & Wesson Model 39Pistols69Colt M1911Pistols74M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)69AK-47Assault Rifles64M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M3 submachine gunMachine Pistols60M19 mortarTowed Artillery & Mortars49StenMachine Pistols48M114Towed Artillery & Mortars41Type 62Tanks31M72 LAWMultiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)22Mosin–NagantBolt-Action Rifles76Colt M1911Pistols74PPSh-41Machine Pistols71M1917 EnfieldBolt-Action Rifles71AKMAssault Rifles69M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)69AK-47Assault Rifles64M113Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)63M3 submachine gunMachine Pistols60Type 56Assault Rifles59vz. 52 rifleSemi-Automatic Rifles52M1938Towed Artillery & Mortars50+6more →M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90KPV heavy machine gunHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)82M203Underbarrel Grenade Launchers73M1917 EnfieldBolt-Action Rifles71DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)67Type 56Assault Rifles59Type 69 RPGRocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG)54M29 mortarTowed Artillery & Mortars45M24 ChaffeeTanks26B-10Recoilless Rifles64vz. 52 rifleSemi-Automatic Rifles52SG-43 GoryunovGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)75MAS-38Machine Pistols50

Each system appears only once in the list.

1M2 BrowningHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)90MASS2KPV heavy machine gunHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)82MASS3MAS-36 rifleBolt-Action Rifles77MASS4Mosin–NagantBolt-Action Rifles76MASS5SG-43 GoryunovGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)75MASS6Colt M1911Pistols74MASS7M203Underbarrel Grenade Launchers73MASS8PPSh-41Machine Pistols71MASS9M1917 EnfieldBolt-Action Rifles71MASS10vz. 58Assault Rifles71MASS
1M24 ChaffeeTanks$40 K2M60 machine gunGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)$6 K3DShKHeavy Machine Guns (HMG)$2 K20124M1 GarandSemi-Automatic Rifles$8519435M1 carbineCarbines$4519436Owen GunMachine Pistols$3019457Colt M1911Pistols$2619388M3 submachine gunMachine Pistols$2019439StenMachine Pistols$111942
04 / Outcomes
Outcome & Human Cost
🏆Decisive Victory — Side B
Side / CountryMilitaryCivilianDisplaced
Laos15,000——
Vietnam42,000——
FIRST DEFENSE DEALS AFTER WAR 20 deals
Year Weapon / Product Seller Buyer Type Value
1976 Zerstörer 1-class destroyer United States Germany second-hand $766K
1976 Type 025 People's Republic of China Democratic Republic of the Congo new-build —
1977 McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle United States Saudi Arabia new-build —
1977 Badr-class corvette United States Saudi Arabia new-build —
1977 BTR-50 Russia Algeria second-hand —
1977 Ilyushin Il-38 Russia India new-build —
1978 Foxtrot-class submarine Russia Libya new-build —
1978 Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low — United States new-build —
1978 Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion — United States new-build —
1979 M163 Vulcan Air Defense System United States Yemen new-build —
1979 Turya-class torpedo boat Russia Cuba new-build —
1979 BTR-50 Russia Afghanistan second-hand —
1979 9K52 Luna-M Russia Yemen new-build —
1979 Aérospatiale H-65 Dolphin France United States new-build —
1980 CF-188 Hornet United States Canada new-build —
1980 A-4SU Skyhawk United States Singapore second-hand —
1980 Lockheed P-3 Orion United States Canada new-build —
1980 Lockheed RP-3 Orion United States Canada new-build —
1980 P-3A Orion United States Canada new-build —
1980 Lockheed P-3C Orion United States Canada new-build —
📚 Sources
  1. Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP)
  2. Correlates of War (CoW) project
  3. Official archives and academic literature