As many viewers have noted, I occasionally in the video say “Dominica,” which is a different nation than the Dominican Republic. I apologize for the error.
@@wolfhodgkinson6866 having been to Dominica several times, it did confuse me the first couple times he mentioned it. It's that ok? Obviously I realize the he'd made an honest mistake. Does being a snarky douche make you feel better?
This brought back vivid memories for me. I was a rifle platoon commander A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines during the Marine Corps deployment to the Dominican Republic in 1965. During several weeks, my platoon provided perimeter security for the U.S. Embassy. And, one morning, one of my Marines, manning a telephone in the embassy answered the telephone with President Johnson on the other end. The platoon was also strafed one afternoon by two of the Mustangs referred to. Strange sensation to be fired upon from the sky. We saw no real combat although we were subjected to random sniper fire fairly regularly. It was a long May and June.
In RVN, 1967, I had a platoon Sgt. that was in Santo Domingo, (according to him) for the shootings, he was "up to speed", he got wounded in (RVN) Union 1 or Union 2, never heard from him again.
Wonderful… another one of those videos where every third RUclipsr not only was there, but was in a combat unit, probably special forces. Last time I checked RUclips there were approximately 6.5 TRILLION Americans at the Battle of Midway…
@@cycloneranger7927 Every word I wrote is true. I have no need to make stuff up. That was the only tactical environment during my Marine Corps service from 1963 to 1967. My classmates were all in Vietnam.
As a Cold War Marine from 1976-79, I was lectured on Marine Corps history in the "Banana Wars." This intervention in the Dominican Republic is considered the last of the Banana Wars by the USMC. I was not given detailed analysis of the combat because, at that time, no one had yet figured out what happened a decade before.
Interesting. I had a similar thought about the Banana Wars, I came in about ten years after you and I never knew that this was considered the final entry in that chapter.
This was also back when no one had really heard of the Army Special Forces. The 8th Special Forces Group participated in this event. We were living in Panama and Dad disappeared for a few months. Mom wanted to get a big dog since he was gone for so long and in order to talk to dad, she had to go to HQ and talk via radio while not knowing exactly where he was. Later in life my father shared stories about Dom Rep and the issues they had with sniper fire. I was 9 or 10 at the time and did know anything about the Dom Rep until my father talked about it some ten or so years later.
I was with the 82d when the tank was killed by a 106 recoiless mounted on a jeep. We were in the second floor of building when it came down the road , we engaged with a m 60 , no damage, tank fired back blew a hole in buildind wounding one man, took his leg off, we called help a couple min. later a jeep came and took it out with the 106 ,
👍 It's kind of funny that the two most successful US armor systems in Nam were the airmobile ones; the ONTOS and the Sheridan, which could fire a beehive round that turned its main weapon system into a 6-inch shotgun! Great for clearing houses. Stick the barrel through window or a wall and poof.
A garage locally used to have a stripped Ontos chassis in their back lot. No idea where they got it or wanted to do with it. The upper hull and everything on it was gone.
Good presentation! I landed in DomRep with USMC "C" Co, 2nd Recon and remember convoying into Santo Domingo from our landing beaches, traveling past the military airfield and seeing the F-51's parked there. It was like traveling back in time to WWII in other ways... the first urban combat for the Marines since Saipan. Sniper fire was heavy and the Ontos was used to target buildings/houses hosting these snipers. Recon's base camp was immediately adjacent to the Marine tank company. An interesting side note. The rebels also had what looked like a French WWI Renault Tank (although have been told it was a US built copy) and it was chased down by our tanks and captured (abandoned after the gas tank was surgared and the engine ruined) then hauled back to to the Tankers base camp. The Marines rebuilt the engine and painted the tank Marine Corp Green, and US Marine markings affixed. The tankers used it as their beach buggy/play thing and tried to take it back to Camp Lejeune when we were withdrawn from DomRep after arrival of the OAS forces. That was denied by higher echelon, however. I think the instruction was to return the tank as it was when captured... so I'm told they felt obligated to "sugar" the gas tank yet again and ran the engine until it stopped.
Sugar doesn't do anything to a gasoline engine, that's a myth that's been proven false many times over including by Mythbusters on their TV show. The thing is sugar doesn't dissolve in gasoline the way it does in water, it simply lays in the bottom of the fuel tank and doesn't do a thing as was clearly seen on the show Mythbusters when they constructed a see through fuel tank for their experiment. If you really want to screw up a gasoline engine pour bleach in the fuel tank, that really does work.
@@fortusvictus8297 No it doesn't, it'll never make it to the filter or pump or anything like that because it'll never make it past the pick-up screen. I've seen more than one person through the years dump a generous portion of sugar in a gas tank and we thought for sure it'd be the end of that engine, months later when they were still running without missing a beat and we couldn't understand it because "everyone knows" it works, well it doesn't, it's a wives tale. After watching Mythbusters bust that one I understood why those vehicles kept running without missing a beat, you can probably find the episode right here on RUclips I'll bet. Now bleach, that one absolutely 100% works.
I recently wrote a small paper that involved research of the Dominican Civil War, but because I focused on politics I hadn't heard of the tank combat. Its a very interesting video, and you always have the best B-roll footage. Keep up the good work!
The M50 Ontos was also used in Convoy Escort & Base Security during my deployment in Vietnam (April 1968 - May 1969). My first Duty Station in the Marines was Service Company, 2nd Anti-tank Battalion, 2nd Maurine Division FMF, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Our primary weapon was the Ontos. The Ontos was a fast hard hitting weapon, much like the Marines that used it.
Fascinating as always. My parents met during and as a result of this conflict. I must point out that Dominica (mentioned three times) and the Dominican Republic are different places. Dominica is a much smaller, English-speaking Caribbean nation.
Yes, this is a military action that we now overlook! I was a bit confused at times about Dominica versus the Dominican republic. I think Dominica, with an active volcano, would have been a very difficult island to operate tanks!
@@garrysekelli6776 I know you were being snarky there but, yes as a matter of fact many Caribbean countries play Dominoes and take the game quite seriously.
As a Dominican thank you for covering this. I remember the old timers talking about the conflict in the invasion. Please don’t say Dominica though. Dominica is a different island nation in Caribbean. Understandable mistake.
I remember in my teens seeing newsreel footage at our local movie theater about these events. I wasn't very interested in international politics or knowledgeable about armored warfare back then, but now find both subjects fascinating. Thanks for bringing me up to speed!
@@fleebee3639 Oh I know, and the Honduran F4 pilot was actually a lot more experienced. But it was fun to read about and remember those discussions as a kid. :)
Some relatives who lived in the DR were evacuated by US forces to Puerto Rico at the time. They had a successful business, which of course went away during the rebellion. So this episode is of particular interest to me. Thank you.
Lance thank you for another awesome history lesson! As a 20 year Marine Corps veteran I am surprised that I've never heard of this battle we fought in. I guess it was just over shadowed by Vietnam.
I was assigned to the 3rd battalion, 6th Marines in Sept. 1965, after bootcamp at Parris Island. 3/6 was loaded with veterans of the DomRep intervention. We looked upon them as gods. They had seen action. They wore a campaign ribbon on their uniform . They were a few with a Purple Heart. Totally in awe. One of them even had the Silver Star. In reality the DomRep intervention was a minor affair compared to what was coming next. Vietnam came calling, and those of us grunts who survived those 13 months of brutal combat came home loaded with combat ribbons and personal decorations. Many of us had multiple Purple Hearts,Bronze Star w/V’s and Silver Stars. No one even remembered DomRep. Young second Lts just out of Quantico and assigned to us really were kind of intimated by us. We were 22 to 23 year old hardened Marines awaiting our discharge. They pretty much left us alone for fear of embarrassing themselves in front of us. We were not to be toyed with. After facing the battle hardened NVA for 13 months you really were in no mood to put up with any crap by some young junior officer fresh out of Quantico. Very interesting little documentary.
In October 1965, my family arrived on Ramey AFB on the the Northwest corner of Puerto Rico (I was an AF Brat.). There was a story circulating that a fully armed Dominican F-51 had flown under the radar and subsequently landed on the runway. The pilot had simply wanted to defect with no ill intentions and was perched on the wing of the aircraft, when the Air Police arrived to take him into custody. Radar coverage was immediately improved. The DR was only about 80 miles from PR.
Very interesting. Just one comment though, you often mention events to the country referring to it as "Dominica", such as in: "they weren't supposed to be involved in combat in Dominica" (13:26). I have little trouble imagining that the tanks deployed in the Dominican Republic weren't meant to be deployed in Dominica, considering it is a different island.
I highly recommend The Chieftain's channel for any thing Tank related. He has great videos on U.S. Tank development, and armored doctrine, along with other countries. His mainstay is walk around of historical tanks. Suggested because of History Guy's video gives a Segway into the subject. Also would be a great to have a collaboration between the two channels. An "amateur" historian, teaming up with a professional historian, on a subject would be nice to see.
Had the honour of listening to this live in person at Bovington on Sunday morning, sat right up close me and my fiancé was well worth the viewing pleasure!
Very interesting on several levels. I actually do not remember hearing about this at the time: In 1965 I was starting high school in a new place after yet another long-distance family move. We may have had a television at home, but what we kids could watch was tightly controlled by the parents. Of note about high school, though, is that in the first couple of weeks I met a girl that I married seven years later, and I am very happy that she is still hanging around after more than 51 years. But I digress ... I AM familiar with other Marine Corps equipment shown in the presentation. The Ontos I only ever saw was in California, and it had been pulled out of Vietnam by the time I arrived there. But several pictures (including the cover picture for the video), prominently show examples of the LVTP-5 amphibious personnell carrier used by the Marines, commonly referred to as an AMTRAC (that nickname goes back to WW-II). When I "evaded the draft" by enlisting in the Marines in 1967, I was trained to be a mechanic for those vehicles. So I was literally familiar with every inch of them. From the number of radio antennas on the AMTRAC shown in the video, I would say it was one that was set up inside as a command and control vehicle. Most were used for troops and cargo transport. So lots of memories of those, but from a somewhat later time and different place.
I shared a table at the NCO Mess on Thanksgiving [1974?] with a fellow Marine who'd been an Ontos crewman. We were both Duty Section NCOs in our respective units at MCAS Cherry Point, NC -- taking care of business when most of our people were on liberty or leave. I had just made Corporal, and the chow was better. Turkey and all the trimmings. My friend had been In-Country with the M-50. When it was obsoleted, he got a new MOS. I could tell he really missed his ride.
This was, as usual, very well done. And the fact that you have a well documented love of tanks probably didn't hurt, either. I always watch your content. Great, and accurate!
Very concise. This is the first real descripton of the Dominican Civil War I've seen or read in a long time. That war was front page news on the papers I delievered back in 1965. As a Vietnam Marine I saw the Ontos get relegated to a perimeter defence weapon because of its reload hazard.
The Ontos!! Greek for " Thing". Excellent for perimeter defense!! We completely rebuilt one at The Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, at Fort Knox, KY. Then, a very short time later...The Armor School moved to Fort Benning, GA. Since the Museum & library were part of The Armor School they took most of the Armor with them. Now if you want to see a fully functioning ' Ontos' you gotta visit Benning.
As a Dominican-American,I was not aware of the types of military vehicles deployed during the conflict. Kudos for yet another great and educational video!
Great video as always sir. I always look forward to your notifications, your videos are very interesting and I typically always learn something. You sir are a gem. Keep up the great work, until next time, take care!
In fact, the last P-51 were shot down by a Corsair in what seems to be the last air combat between piston driven airplanes, during the 1969 war between Honduras and El Salvador.
In the early 90's, I was in Honduras and saw that Corsair on static display at Toncontin Airport. I also met the pilot who was then the HAF Commander in Chief. A neat exposure to history!
Great video, I was there in 65,13yrs. old, visiting family curfew was at 6 pm. we could hear the small and large arms fire at night, scary for me. my 2 cousins were part of the rebels, both lived. trujillo was a family friend of my grandfather Pasquale de Negroni until he had a falling out and grandfather started speaking publicy against him. Santo Domingo was shot up with Yankee Go Home painted everywhere. it was hard for my family being American to travel in the daytime unless we were with my 2 cousins or uncle. Trujillo was killed while driving to his farm and the memorial plaque was fairly shot up also. It was a CIA operation, I had a friend who was involved at the time. we used to watch as the Marines came ashore that was awesome.
This was one that I had not heard of and I grew up a a USN dependent, my dad worked at the Naval Weapons Station during that time and never spoke a word of this....Same went for what he did in WWII....BTW, he enlisted at a month before his 16th birthday in '42....
Great video HG!! I wonder if it would be possible to cover the sinking of the U-176, it is a fairly obscure event of WW2 and a perfect candidate for an episode. The only Uboat sunk by Cuba in the whole conflict. A very interesting event. Thank you!!
George Patton's son was an officer with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. Part of the incursion into Cambodia. We exchanged salutes at Ft.Hood Texas. 2nd Armor, Hell on Wheels.
Thank you. A great video. I saw my first Ontos at Camp Pendleton. It does not look like much, but has a nasty kick. One recoiless rifle firing is impressive, but six, scary. This uncivil war was described by my friends from DR as a crazy war. Some people changed sides repeatedly. Through amateur radio, I recently learned of Dominica. It was not even mentioned in my university history course covering the Carribean. So we learned something. Thanks again.
In his interview, Val discusses his failed attempts to convince the Ambassador not to trust Bosch and the dissolution of the Bosch government; his less-than-successful time as the press spokesman, when he was often less informed about matters than the journalists he was briefing; and his role in convincing Garcia-Godoy to run for presidency. He was interviewed by Cliff Groce beginning in May 1989. Read about dealing with General Trujillo, the”two-bit dictator.”
Dear History Guy, A rare bit if history rarely relief about was when guerrillas attacked the Japanese marching towards Daet in Basud, Camarines Norte. It was a week after Pearl Harbor. It was at the Laniton Bridge.
My dad crewed an M50 Ontos in Vietnam 65-66. They were thin skinned, but had ferocious firepower. An M48 may put a hole in a building with its 90mm main gun, but an Ontos would level the entire building. They were an odd, but very useful weapon. I have had many Vietnam vets talk highly of the Ontos when I mention my dad crewed one.
There was a sort of yearbook printed of America's involvement in "The Dominican Crisis". It showed the Ontos in action. There was a photo montage of a priest directing US troops to a sniper. The USO Show for our troops featured such acts as Joey Heatherton, Jerry Colona, Paul Revere & The Raiders, also The Melody Maids.
Wow. This was a great episode. As a 1st Gen American to Dominican parents I heard plenty of the political instability and the civil war following the assassination, more like overdue justice, of Trujillo. I only read and heard accounts of the era and certain engagements but never heard about the use of tanks until now. Did not know that this was the first use of the M48 in combat. Despite the loyalist forces having what was supposed to be the best trained and equipped unit it underlines that unless they put that training to good use then it is of little to no value. It's another good example of why armor is vulnerable without infantry support.
Um, I don't think so, a bit of searching produces references to it being inspired by the Panther's gun, or based on it, or a development of and earlier French gun intended to have similar ballistic performance to the German gun, but it was not a direct copy.
My cousin’s husband deployed there with 3rd Brigade 82nd ABN. I found that out years later (there was about a 20 years age difference between he and I) when I was on leave after my first enlistment in the 82nd in the mid 1980s. I later deployed to Desert Shield/Storm with 3rd Brigade 82nd ABN (C 1/505 PIR).
Even the basic AP round for the 37mm Bofors would have been a threat to the M50 and could have damaged exposed parts of the M48. The upgraded AP ammunition would have gone through the M50 like a hot knife through butter but it would take a skilled crew to set up such an engagement. The L60 turret was actually in active service with the Swedish armed forces well into the 1990s. While the hulls had been scrapped or repurposed the tank turrets had been installed as part of the fortifications present at every significant Swedish airport. With 2 machine guns in addition to the 37mm cannon the turrets were a real threat to enemy aircraft trying to capture the airport by coup de main.
The MACHINE GUNS on the L60 were threat to the ONTOS, the standard AP rounds of the Bofors 37L38 would have penetrated the Ontos from virtually any reasonable range and angle. The only hope for the ONTOS would be a glancing shot on the impressively sloped upper hull.
Oddly enough I was recently reading about the Costa Rican civil war and for a moment thought this was part of the same story - but no, turns out to be yet another bit of Caribbean military history I didn't know about. Thanks.
The Ontos was used by the Marines to take back Hue during the Tet offensive, block, by block. It was devastatingly effective when firing all tubes, but also subject to great risk from RPG fire by the NVA regulars in the city. I'm sure it did a lot of "scoot and shoot" in that battle.
Gee, you sure have a fixation on Kursk! Interesting subject. I had a neighbor who when he was in the Marines, served in Dominica couple of tours in Vietnam tool. I understand mentioning Kursk, it was a huge tank battle.
Guess in a combat situation the Ontos crew would have all 6 tubes loaded......... wonder if the 106's could be fired from inside he vehicle? Having to go outside to reload doesn't seem very appealing, especially if you outran your infantry........... From a 101st Abn Div (Airmobile) 1st Bn 501st Inf HHC Anti-Tank Platoon Ldr (a 1LT at the time, at least for a couple months until active duty ended) May-Oct 72 at Ft Campbell KY. AT Plt had some Jeeps w/mounts for 106 RRs, also some 90 mm shoulder-fired RRs........... Just call us the BackBlast Boys............
In '69 I started flying the islands of the Caribbean, including Hispaniola where the Dominican Republic and Haiti are located. On one cargo trip, the captain, a yank, had flown for the Dominican Air Force on the conservative side. Our trips in and out of the Dominican Republic were always interesting as everybody knew of him. In Haiti, we brought in parts to the Haitian Air Force that consisted then of one F or P-51 ( with 2 flat tires and drooping hydraulics) and their mighty Cessna 140. You are right about the comments pro or con on the intervention, but remember the undercurrent never ceases in latin America
The last F-51 Mustang shootdown in combat happened later during the Soccer War in 1969 between Honduras and El Salvador. A Honduran F4U-5 Corsair was the victor.
"The only tank-on-tank combat in the Americas." The History Guy has obviously never visited Krasnovia. 😁 I keed, I keed, yet another great and riveting episode!
As many viewers have noted, I occasionally in the video say “Dominica,” which is a different nation than the Dominican Republic. I apologize for the error.
had me confused. a tank battle on tiny little Dominica would be pretty crazy.
@@jasonarcher7268 Unable to think it through, huh?
@@wolfhodgkinson6866 having been to Dominica several times, it did confuse me the first couple times he mentioned it. It's that ok? Obviously I realize the he'd made an honest mistake. Does being a snarky douche make you feel better?
Dominica is pronounced with stress on third syllable
@@dziban303 yes, but only by people who know the difference between the DR and Dominica.
This brought back vivid memories for me. I was a rifle platoon commander A Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines during the Marine Corps deployment to the Dominican Republic in 1965. During several weeks, my platoon provided perimeter security for the U.S. Embassy. And, one morning, one of my Marines, manning a telephone in the embassy answered the telephone with President Johnson on the other end. The platoon was also strafed one afternoon by two of the Mustangs referred to. Strange sensation to be fired upon from the sky. We saw no real combat although we were subjected to random sniper fire fairly regularly. It was a long May and June.
Wow! What memories. Glad you made it through ok! 🙏👍
In RVN, 1967, I had a platoon Sgt. that was in Santo Domingo, (according to him) for the shootings, he was "up to speed", he got wounded in (RVN) Union 1 or Union 2, never heard from him again.
Wonderful… another one of those videos where every third RUclipsr not only was there, but was in a combat unit, probably special forces.
Last time I checked RUclips there were approximately 6.5 TRILLION Americans at the Battle of Midway…
@@cycloneranger7927 Every word I wrote is true. I have no need to make stuff up. That was the only tactical environment during my Marine Corps service from 1963 to 1967. My classmates were all in Vietnam.
@@cycloneranger7927 AND you did what, when, and where, keyboard commando?
As a Cold War Marine from 1976-79, I was lectured on Marine Corps history in the "Banana Wars." This intervention in the Dominican Republic is considered the last of the Banana Wars by the USMC. I was not given detailed analysis of the combat because, at that time, no one had yet figured out what happened a decade before.
Interesting. I had a similar thought about the Banana Wars, I came in about ten years after you and I never knew that this was considered the final entry in that chapter.
As usual, Johnson over reacted, and made an ass of himself
@@edbaldwin8736 I think you mean stopped more socialism in the Caribbean. Or do you like communists dictators at your door step?
This was also back when no one had really heard of the Army Special Forces. The 8th Special Forces Group participated in this event. We were living in Panama and Dad disappeared for a few months. Mom wanted to get a big dog since he was gone for so long and in order to talk to dad, she had to go to HQ and talk via radio while not knowing exactly where he was. Later in life my father shared stories about Dom Rep and the issues they had with sniper fire. I was 9 or 10 at the time and did know anything about the Dom Rep until my father talked about it some ten or so years later.
Oy, please don't tell me that with a father as a Green Beret veteran you are indeed, a Leftist...
@@s.marcus3669 No. Not a Leftist!
@@tangoleftist7792 Good to hear; but please explain your username, if you don't mind.
@@s.marcus3669 I'd rather not...
@@tangoleftist7792 I demand you to explain it.
I was with the 82d when the tank was killed by a 106 recoiless mounted on a jeep. We were in the second floor of building when it came down the road , we engaged with a m 60 , no damage, tank fired back blew a hole in buildind wounding one man, took his leg off, we called help a couple min. later a jeep came and took it out with the 106 ,
Are you telling the truth?
I'd love to speak with you and learn more about what happened there.
Thank you for your service! Never Forget
I had a neighbor who fought in the Battle of Hue. During the Tet Offensive and he oftentimes talked about the Thing.
👍 It's kind of funny that the two most successful US armor systems in Nam were the airmobile ones; the ONTOS and the Sheridan, which could fire a beehive round that turned its main weapon system into a 6-inch shotgun! Great for clearing houses. Stick the barrel through window or a wall and poof.
Watch just about any Battle of Hue film and you'll see the M50 being used.
A garage locally used to have a stripped Ontos chassis in their back lot. No idea where they got it or wanted to do with it. The upper hull and everything on it was gone.
Good presentation! I landed in DomRep with USMC "C" Co, 2nd Recon and remember convoying into Santo Domingo from our landing beaches, traveling past the military airfield and seeing the F-51's parked there. It was like traveling back in time to WWII in other ways... the first urban combat for the Marines since Saipan. Sniper fire was heavy and the Ontos was used to target buildings/houses hosting these snipers. Recon's base camp was immediately adjacent to the Marine tank company. An interesting side note. The rebels also had what looked like a French WWI Renault Tank (although have been told it was a US built copy) and it was chased down by our tanks and captured (abandoned after the gas tank was surgared and the engine ruined) then hauled back to to the Tankers base camp. The Marines rebuilt the engine and painted the tank Marine Corp Green, and US Marine markings affixed. The tankers used it as their beach buggy/play thing and tried to take it back to Camp Lejeune when we were withdrawn from DomRep after arrival of the OAS forces. That was denied by higher echelon, however. I think the instruction was to return the tank as it was when captured... so I'm told they felt obligated to "sugar" the gas tank yet again and ran the engine until it stopped.
That's incredible. Someone could probably make a really good movie out of this whole event.
Sugar doesn't do anything to a gasoline engine, that's a myth that's been proven false many times over including by Mythbusters on their TV show.
The thing is sugar doesn't dissolve in gasoline the way it does in water, it simply lays in the bottom of the fuel tank and doesn't do a thing as was clearly seen on the show Mythbusters when they constructed a see through fuel tank for their experiment.
If you really want to screw up a gasoline engine pour bleach in the fuel tank, that really does work.
@@dukecraig2402 Sugar works much like sand, dirt, or any other material though, and it plugs filters and destroys pumps and fuel lines.
@@fortusvictus8297
No it doesn't, it'll never make it to the filter or pump or anything like that because it'll never make it past the pick-up screen.
I've seen more than one person through the years dump a generous portion of sugar in a gas tank and we thought for sure it'd be the end of that engine, months later when they were still running without missing a beat and we couldn't understand it because "everyone knows" it works, well it doesn't, it's a wives tale.
After watching Mythbusters bust that one I understood why those vehicles kept running without missing a beat, you can probably find the episode right here on RUclips I'll bet.
Now bleach, that one absolutely 100% works.
locals not rebels.
I recently wrote a small paper that involved research of the Dominican Civil War, but because I focused on politics I hadn't heard of the tank combat. Its a very interesting video, and you always have the best B-roll footage. Keep up the good work!
The M50 Ontos was also used in Convoy Escort & Base Security during my deployment in Vietnam (April 1968 - May 1969). My first Duty Station in the Marines was Service Company, 2nd Anti-tank Battalion, 2nd Maurine Division FMF, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Our primary weapon was the Ontos. The Ontos was a fast hard hitting weapon, much like the Marines that used it.
Fascinating as always. My parents met during and as a result of this conflict. I must point out that Dominica (mentioned three times) and the Dominican Republic are different places. Dominica is a much smaller, English-speaking Caribbean nation.
Yes, this is a military action that we now overlook! I was a bit confused at times about Dominica versus the Dominican republic. I think Dominica, with an active volcano, would have been a very difficult island to operate tanks!
No way Dominica is a real place that I am only now just hearing about.
@@kayzeaza Typical myopic Murican. Can you name 40 of the 50 states?
Do they play dominoes there?
@@garrysekelli6776 I know you were being snarky there but, yes as a matter of fact many Caribbean countries play Dominoes and take the game quite seriously.
As a Dominican thank you for covering this. I remember the old timers talking about the conflict in the invasion. Please don’t say Dominica though. Dominica is a different island nation in Caribbean. Understandable mistake.
@@stephen-ngit’s Shiite
I remember in my teens seeing newsreel footage at our local movie theater about these events. I wasn't very interested in international politics or knowledgeable about armored warfare back then, but now find both subjects fascinating. Thanks for bringing me up to speed!
A similar fact, F4U fighters dueled F-51s in 1969 during the Football War between Honduras and El Salvador.
And this was in fact the last time a p-51 was shot down, contrary to the claims in the video.
True. I've been to a memorial of the Football War in Honduras. It answers that question of "which American WW II Fighter Plane was best".
@@JackLowry1313not necessicarily, it can also depend on the skill of the pilot using it.
@@fleebee3639 Oh I know, and the Honduran F4 pilot was actually a lot more experienced. But it was fun to read about and remember those discussions as a kid. :)
Actually, those were P51 and Cavalier Mustangs, not designated as F51s.
Very interesting piece of history. My Wife is from the Dominican Republic. Thanks for sharing this piece of history.
Some relatives who lived in the DR were evacuated by US forces to Puerto Rico at the time. They had a successful business, which of course went away during the rebellion. So this episode is of particular interest to me. Thank you.
"Not exactly the battle of Kursk..."
Love it! & the videos! Thanks for taking the time to present history in such an engaging way!
Being a tank nut I really enjoyed this episode. I had heard of the tank battle but you made it so more detailed and interesting.
Lance thank you for another awesome history lesson! As a 20 year Marine Corps veteran I am surprised that I've never heard of this battle we fought in. I guess it was just over shadowed by Vietnam.
Same here. First I have heard of this war. I had no idea the Ontos was used anywhere other than in Vietnam.
Thank you so much for sharing our history with the world
I was assigned to the 3rd battalion, 6th Marines in Sept. 1965, after bootcamp at Parris Island. 3/6 was loaded with veterans of the DomRep intervention. We looked upon them as gods. They had seen action. They wore a campaign ribbon on their uniform . They were a few with a Purple Heart. Totally in awe. One of them even had the Silver Star. In reality the DomRep intervention was a minor affair compared to what was coming next. Vietnam came calling, and those of us grunts who survived those 13 months of brutal combat came home loaded with combat ribbons and personal decorations. Many of us had multiple Purple Hearts,Bronze Star w/V’s and Silver Stars. No one even remembered DomRep. Young second Lts just out of Quantico and assigned to us really were kind of intimated by us. We were 22 to 23 year old hardened Marines awaiting our discharge. They pretty much left us alone for fear of embarrassing themselves in front of us. We were not to be toyed with. After facing the battle hardened NVA for 13 months you really were in no mood to put up with any crap by some young junior officer fresh out of Quantico.
Very interesting little documentary.
Semper Fi, Shipmate!
in 1980 I was in the 2nd Combat Engineers attached to 3/6...Semper Fi Brother!
One day DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 🇩🇴 will be Free from North American 🇺🇸 InFlueNcE…
Welcome home! It's long overdue..
In October 1965, my family arrived on Ramey AFB on the the Northwest corner of Puerto Rico (I was an AF Brat.). There was a story circulating that a fully armed Dominican F-51 had flown under the radar and subsequently landed on the runway. The pilot had simply wanted to defect with no ill intentions and was perched on the wing of the aircraft, when the Air Police arrived to take him into custody. Radar coverage was immediately improved. The DR was only about 80 miles from PR.
"That's pretty obscure stuff".... which is why I love The History Guy!
Very interesting. Just one comment though, you often mention events to the country referring to it as "Dominica", such as in: "they weren't supposed to be involved in combat in Dominica" (13:26). I have little trouble imagining that the tanks deployed in the Dominican Republic weren't meant to be deployed in Dominica, considering it is a different island.
Context. Also he didn't enunciate it as the little island "Domineeca".
ruclips.net/video/HTwXu_QnbJc/видео.html
WOW! I learned something about Allis Chalmers from this. Thanks THG your history lessons are always so interesting.
*TANKS* for the great episode to kick off the week!😸
I highly recommend The Chieftain's channel for any thing Tank related. He has great videos on U.S. Tank development, and armored doctrine, along with other countries. His mainstay is walk around of historical tanks. Suggested because of History Guy's video gives a Segway into the subject.
Also would be a great to have a collaboration between the two channels. An "amateur" historian, teaming up with a professional historian, on a subject would be nice to see.
I gave up on him. His speech impediments negated his speeches
@@brucewelty7684 Chieftain does not have a speech impediment. He has a very mild Irish accent, and Irish/English idioms.
Thank you for another excellent presentation of significant military history not commonly known.
I was with USMC 1/26 Alpha Co Ontos for 2 tours. (68-70) very interesting of the history of the vehicle
Had the honour of listening to this live in person at Bovington on Sunday morning, sat right up close me and my fiancé was well worth the viewing pleasure!
Then I must have been sitting just behind you!
@@keitholding8541 If you saw a guy in shorts and black top and a women in a bright red dress then yup :)
@@myricallen9093 I think so, but it was hard not to be entirely distracted by a cute young child determined to be The History Guy's number one fan.
@@keitholding8541 That was such a heart warming moment!
Very interesting on several levels. I actually do not remember hearing about this at the time: In 1965 I was starting high school in a new place after yet another long-distance family move. We may have had a television at home, but what we kids could watch was tightly controlled by the parents. Of note about high school, though, is that in the first couple of weeks I met a girl that I married seven years later, and I am very happy that she is still hanging around after more than 51 years. But I digress ...
I AM familiar with other Marine Corps equipment shown in the presentation. The Ontos I only ever saw was in California, and it had been pulled out of Vietnam by the time I arrived there. But several pictures (including the cover picture for the video), prominently show examples of the LVTP-5 amphibious personnell carrier used by the Marines, commonly referred to as an AMTRAC (that nickname goes back to WW-II). When I "evaded the draft" by enlisting in the Marines in 1967, I was trained to be a mechanic for those vehicles. So I was literally familiar with every inch of them. From the number of radio antennas on the AMTRAC shown in the video, I would say it was one that was set up inside as a command and control vehicle. Most were used for troops and cargo transport. So lots of memories of those, but from a somewhat later time and different place.
I shared a table at the NCO Mess on Thanksgiving [1974?] with a fellow Marine who'd been an Ontos crewman. We were both Duty Section NCOs in our respective units at MCAS Cherry Point, NC -- taking care of business when most of our people were on liberty or leave. I had just made Corporal, and the chow was better. Turkey and all the trimmings. My friend had been In-Country with the M-50. When it was obsoleted, he got a new MOS. I could tell he really missed his ride.
This was, as usual, very well done.
And the fact that you have a well documented love of tanks probably didn't hurt, either.
I always watch your content.
Great, and accurate!
Very concise. This is the first real descripton of the Dominican Civil War I've seen or read in a long time. That war was front page news on the papers I delievered back in 1965.
As a Vietnam Marine I saw the Ontos get relegated to a perimeter defence weapon because of its reload hazard.
The Ontos!! Greek for " Thing". Excellent for perimeter defense!! We completely rebuilt one at The Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, at Fort Knox, KY. Then, a very short time later...The Armor School moved to Fort Benning, GA. Since the Museum & library were part of The Armor School they took most of the Armor with them. Now if you want to see a fully functioning ' Ontos' you gotta visit Benning.
Another excellent piece of history that I knew little about but should have.
There is a nice example of an M50 Ontos at the USMC Museum
I didn't know anything about this tank combat. Another great episode of history we need to remember. Thanks Sir
You are very good, I learn about things I never even knew had existed/happened and your voice is perfect for delivery.
Thanks
Bob
England
As a Dominican-American,I was not aware of the types of military vehicles deployed during the conflict. Kudos for yet another great and educational video!
Excellent presentation!
Great video as always sir. I always look forward to your notifications, your videos are very interesting and I typically always learn something. You sir are a gem. Keep up the great work, until next time, take care!
thanks
In fact, the last P-51 were shot down by a Corsair in what seems to be the last air combat between piston driven airplanes, during the 1969 war between Honduras and El Salvador.
Yes that's the Football War of July 14-18 1969
By another piston engined fighter...the F4U Corsair...
In the early 90's, I was in Honduras and saw that Corsair on static display at Toncontin Airport. I also met the pilot who was then the HAF Commander in Chief. A neat exposure to history!
Was this during the soccer war?
Thanks!
This video was a delightful treat. I knew very little of this civil war and nothing of the armored combat. Thank you.
Great video, I was there in 65,13yrs. old, visiting family curfew was at 6 pm. we could hear the small and large arms fire at night, scary for me. my 2 cousins were part of the rebels, both lived. trujillo was a family friend of my grandfather Pasquale de Negroni until he had a falling out and grandfather started speaking publicy against him. Santo Domingo was shot up with Yankee Go Home painted everywhere. it was hard for my family being American to travel in the daytime unless we were with my 2 cousins or uncle. Trujillo was killed while driving to his farm and the memorial plaque was fairly shot up also. It was a CIA operation, I had a friend who was involved at the time. we used to watch as the Marines came ashore that was awesome.
This was one that I had not heard of and I grew up a a USN dependent, my dad worked at the Naval Weapons Station during that time and never spoke a word of this....Same went for what he did in WWII....BTW, he enlisted at a month before his 16th birthday in '42....
Great video HG!! I wonder if it would be possible to cover the sinking of the U-176, it is a fairly obscure event of WW2 and a perfect candidate for an episode. The only Uboat sunk by Cuba in the whole conflict. A very interesting event. Thank you!!
The History Guy and TANKS! What more can a man ask for ???
The Allis Chalmers company has a fascinating history that I think you would enjoy, and as always I love your videos!!!! Thank you!
Thank you for something I did know about.
Tank you very much.
Great video THG. Tanks a lot!
Always an A+. Thank you for your efforts.
You really shot the gap with this #1 H.G. Outstanding!
Great episode! I've never even heard of this incident.
I am a student of US armor but I had never heard of the actual use of the American armor other than intimidation. Fascinating information!
George Patton's son was an officer with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. Part of the incursion into Cambodia. We exchanged salutes at Ft.Hood Texas. 2nd Armor, Hell on Wheels.
I really enjoyed your talk on this at bovington at the weekend! Was wonderful to have met you in person too and enjoy a cider :)
Thank you. A great video.
I saw my first Ontos at Camp Pendleton. It does not look like much, but has a nasty kick. One recoiless rifle firing is impressive, but six, scary.
This uncivil war was described by my friends from DR as a crazy war. Some people changed sides repeatedly.
Through amateur radio, I recently learned of Dominica. It was not even mentioned in my university history course covering the Carribean. So we learned something.
Thanks again.
Good grief, WOW! Leave it to the History Guy to uncover a bit of news like this.
In his interview, Val discusses his failed attempts to convince the Ambassador not to trust Bosch and the dissolution of the Bosch government; his less-than-successful time as the press spokesman, when he was often less informed about matters than the journalists he was briefing; and his role in convincing Garcia-Godoy to run for presidency. He was interviewed by Cliff Groce beginning in May 1989. Read about dealing with General Trujillo, the”two-bit dictator.”
Really appreciate your time in bringing these events to light.
Great video. I had no knowledge of this conflict. This was really Informative.
Wonderful lecture. Thank You!
Dear History Guy,
A rare bit if history rarely relief about was when guerrillas attacked the Japanese marching towards Daet in Basud, Camarines Norte. It was a week after Pearl Harbor. It was at the Laniton Bridge.
Excellent video!!!
Hey History Guy 👋 🤓 nice Minnesota Vikings colors!
That does deserve to be remembered ... thank you again ...
My dad crewed an M50 Ontos in Vietnam 65-66. They were thin skinned, but had ferocious firepower. An M48 may put a hole in a building with its 90mm main gun, but an Ontos would level the entire building. They were an odd, but very useful weapon. I have had many Vietnam vets talk highly of the Ontos when I mention my dad crewed one.
There was a sort of yearbook printed of America's involvement in "The Dominican Crisis". It showed the Ontos in action. There was a photo montage of a priest directing US troops to a sniper. The USO Show for our troops featured such acts as Joey Heatherton, Jerry Colona, Paul Revere & The Raiders, also The Melody Maids.
Yep, i have a copy of that too, “wow!”
Thanks for the great videos on these nearly unknown incidents.
Wow. This was a great episode. As a 1st Gen American to Dominican parents I heard plenty of the political instability and the civil war following the assassination, more like overdue justice, of Trujillo. I only read and heard accounts of the era and certain engagements but never heard about the use of tanks until now. Did not know that this was the first use of the M48 in combat.
Despite the loyalist forces having what was supposed to be the best trained and equipped unit it underlines that unless they put that training to good use then it is of little to no value. It's another good example of why armor is vulnerable without infantry support.
Very interesting video. As a note, the cannon of the MX13 is a french exact copy of the german 75mm L70 that equipped the Panzer V Panther.
Um, I don't think so, a bit of searching produces references to it being inspired by the Panther's gun, or based on it, or a development of and earlier French gun intended to have similar ballistic performance to the German gun, but it was not a direct copy.
Thank You.
The Dominican War was the first time I saw Marines in Combat on TV News....USMC 70-74
Wonderful presentation on a virtually unknown conflict!
Excellent, as always.
My cousin’s husband deployed there with 3rd Brigade 82nd ABN. I found that out years later (there was about a 20 years age difference between he and I) when I was on leave after my first enlistment in the 82nd in the mid 1980s. I later deployed to Desert Shield/Storm with 3rd Brigade 82nd ABN (C 1/505 PIR).
Even the basic AP round for the 37mm Bofors would have been a threat to the M50 and could have damaged exposed parts of the M48. The upgraded AP ammunition would have gone through the M50 like a hot knife through butter but it would take a skilled crew to set up such an engagement.
The L60 turret was actually in active service with the Swedish armed forces well into the 1990s. While the hulls had been scrapped or repurposed the tank turrets had been installed as part of the fortifications present at every significant Swedish airport. With 2 machine guns in addition to the 37mm cannon the turrets were a real threat to enemy aircraft trying to capture the airport by coup de main.
The MACHINE GUNS on the L60 were threat to the ONTOS, the standard AP rounds of the Bofors 37L38 would have penetrated the Ontos from virtually any reasonable range and angle. The only hope for the ONTOS would be a glancing shot on the impressively sloped upper hull.
GO HISTORY GUY! TANKS ALWAYS WELCOME : )
TANKS for sharing
One if the many reasons I love this channel is extensive webbing of facts. Hopefully we'll get episodes on all thos border conflicts you mentioned 😇
Oddly enough I was recently reading about the Costa Rican civil war and for a moment thought this was part of the same story - but no, turns out to be yet another bit of Caribbean military history I didn't know about. Thanks.
Great Stuff. Thank You.
Whilst I wasn't familiar with the tanks you discussed, HG, I DO remember all the wars and actions you mentioned.
Phil Ochs, the folk singer , wrote a satirical broadside about this last Banana War, ''Santo Domingo.''
The Ontos was used by the Marines to take back Hue during the Tet offensive, block, by block. It was devastatingly effective when firing all tubes, but also subject to great risk from RPG fire by the NVA regulars in the city. I'm sure it did a lot of "scoot and shoot" in that battle.
Thanks again.
Gee, you sure have a fixation on Kursk! Interesting subject. I had a neighbor who when he was in the Marines, served in Dominica couple of tours in Vietnam tool. I understand mentioning Kursk, it was a huge tank battle.
It's almost like you tossed the word pirates in there just to see if we noticed. I chuckle a little every time that word comes up!
Every good Caribbean story has a pirate or two
Thank ya
That Ontos looks like a mean little bastard. Would be great with some spider legs or hover pods in your future-war franchise of choice.
Guess in a combat situation the Ontos crew would have all 6 tubes loaded......... wonder if the 106's could be fired from inside he vehicle? Having to go outside to reload doesn't seem very appealing, especially if you outran your infantry........... From a 101st Abn Div (Airmobile) 1st Bn 501st Inf HHC Anti-Tank Platoon Ldr (a 1LT at the time, at least for a couple months until active duty ended) May-Oct 72 at Ft Campbell KY. AT Plt had some Jeeps w/mounts for 106 RRs, also some 90 mm shoulder-fired RRs........... Just call us the BackBlast Boys............
In '69 I started flying the islands of the Caribbean, including Hispaniola where the Dominican Republic and Haiti are located. On one cargo trip, the captain, a yank, had flown for the Dominican Air Force on the conservative side. Our trips in and out of the Dominican Republic were always interesting as everybody knew of him. In Haiti, we brought in parts to the Haitian Air Force that consisted then of one F or P-51 ( with 2 flat tires and drooping hydraulics) and their mighty Cessna 140. You are right about the comments pro or con on the intervention, but remember the undercurrent never ceases in latin America
My mother was born during this war in the dr so very interesting to see
The last F-51 Mustang shootdown in combat happened later during the Soccer War in 1969 between Honduras and El Salvador. A Honduran F4U-5 Corsair was the victor.
My Dad was there as an XVIII Airborne Corps M.P. His team was assigned bodyguard duty for the US Ambassador.
Great video.
"The only tank-on-tank combat in the Americas."
The History Guy has obviously never visited Krasnovia. 😁
I keed, I keed, yet another great and riveting episode!
It was only rarely live-fire though...
The only tank on tank combat in the Americas, so far😂
alright let's do this!
Have driven past the defunct Allis-Chalmers factory in West Allis, Wi quite often.