4:60th Arty A.W.S.P.

• Unit Designation: The 4th Battalion, 60th Artillery (Automatic Weapons, Self-Propelled)—abbreviated 4/60th Arty (A.W.S.P.)—was a key air defense artillery unit in the U.S. Army, primarily active during the Vietnam War. • Origin: The unit traces its lineage to the 60th Coast Artillery Regiment, first constituted in 1917, and later redesignated as anti-aircraft artillery. • Vietnam Service: 4/60th Arty A.W.S.P. was deployed to Vietnam in 1966 and provided mobile air defense support for U.S. forces, including fire support bases and key installations. • Equipment: The battalion was equipped with M42 Duster self-propelled anti-aircraft guns—twin 40mm Bofors cannon on a tracked chassis, repurposed for ground support roles due to limited enemy air activity. • Ground Combat Role: During the Vietnam War, the 4/60th's Dusters were widely used against ground targets, providing heavy direct fire support during convoy escort, perimeter defense, and base security operations. • Tet Offensive: Elements of the 4/60th played crucial roles in repelling enemy attacks during the 1968 Tet Offensive, especially in defending bases under heavy assault. • Nickname: The unit and its Duster crews were sometimes called "Duster Men" due to the nickname of their primary weapon system. • Quad .50 Support: The 4/60th operated alongside M55 Quad .50 (four .50-caliber machine guns) units, providing a devastating combination of firepower in base and convoy defense. • Deactivation: The battalion was inactivated in Vietnam in 1971 as the drawdown of U.S. forces continued, closing a unique chapter of air defense artillery history. • Legacy: Veterans of the 4/60th Arty A.W.S.P. maintain active associations and reunions, and the unit’s service is commemorated at various military museums and memorials, highlighting their adaptation from anti-aircraft to essential ground support roles.