<P> The Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) used well - organized logistics methods to supply and equip their fighting forces . This logistics organization helped greatly in their war against the American and South Vietnamese military during the Vietnam War . </P> <P> The Viet Cong's full - time soldiers were referred to as the "Main Force" (Chu Luc). The National Liberation Front (NLF) was a united front designed to encourage non-communists to support the insurgency in the south . The term NVA identifies regular troops of the North Vietnamese Army as they were commonly known by their Western opponents . Collectively, both forces were part of PAVN which made up all armed forces of North Vietnam . </P> <P> Overall, the supplies and equipment of communist units were adequate, and their infantry small - arms were a match for those of their opponents . Contrary to some popular impressions of simple peasant farmers armed with pitchforks and machetes, the VC / NVA main units (as well as the local forces in the latter years) were well equipped with modern arms either from Soviet bloc or Chinese sources . In the early years of the insurgency in the South a larger variety of weapons were used, ranging from World War I - era bolt action rifles to World War II - era weapons, with procurement via a wide range of methods . Such variation and diversity continued throughout the conflict . By 1970 however, the communist inventory was increasingly standardized, even at the village guerrilla level . The following outline shows major weapons categories: </P> <P> The standard infantry weapon of the VC / NVA was the Soviet 7.62 mm AK - 47 assault rifle or, more commonly, its Chinese copy, the Type 56 assault rifle . The Soviet SKS carbine / semi-automatic rifle or its Chinese version (Type 56 Carbine) was also widely used . Compared to the early American M16 the rugged AK - 47 in particular was, although less accurate, more reliable and easier to maintain . The American M16 also saw service, obtained through capture or black market purchase, the Viet Cong also used the Russian Mosin--Nagant rifle and captured German rifles, such as Mauser Kar98k and Sturmgewehr StG - 44 . </P>

Who supplied the weapons to the n. vietnamese and vietcong