Binoculars
| Factions | Binoculars | Icon | Classes | Cooldown | Airstrike | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | |||||
 US |
 Binoculars |
 |
 Radioman |
45 sec | Napalm Airstrike | Phosphorus Airstrike |
 VC |
 Binoculars |
 |
Radioman |
45 sec | Artillery Airstrike | Barrage Airstrike |
Binoculars allows radioman to call in Airstrikes. They also allow magnification for easy spotting of enemies.
HISTORY
Binoculars are optical instruments made from two small telescopes mounted side by side, giving the user a magnified view while preserving the use of both eyes. Military field glasses had become standard equipment well before the Vietnam War, especially for officers, scouts, naval personnel, artillery observers, and other troops who needed to identify distant movement or terrain. Practical military binoculars usually favored moderate magnification, a wide field of view, durability, and usable low-light performance, since very high magnification is harder to hold steady without a mount.
During the Vietnam War, binoculars and similar field optics were used for reconnaissance, target identification, artillery observation, and coordination of air or indirect fire. U.S., ARVN, ANZAC, VC, and PAVN forces all relied on visual observation in different forms, though the exact models and quality of equipment varied widely. For U.S. and allied forces, forward observers, radiomen, patrol leaders, and forward air controllers used observation and radio communication to help coordinate artillery, mortar fire, airstrikes, and battlefield reports. Communist forces also used observation posts, scouts, and forward observers where possible, often operating under more concealed and austere field conditions.
Sources
- Binoculars | Encyclopaedia Britannica
- The Selection and Use of Binoculars | U.S. Naval Institute
- FM 6-30: Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for Observed Fire | U.S. Army / U.S. Marine Corps
- A Dangerous Business: Forward Air Control in Southeast Asia | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force