Tactics used during Vietnam

Vietnamese Tactics

The North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong The North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong knew they could not beat the knew they could not beat the technologically superior Army of the technologically superior Army of the United States.United States.

The Vietnamese had to use other tactics to The Vietnamese had to use other tactics to try and beat the US.try and beat the US.

Guerrilla Tactics

The Vietnamese had became very skilled in The Vietnamese had became very skilled in the art of Guerrilla warfare.the art of Guerrilla warfare.

WW2 – JapanWW2 – Japan 1950s – French Colonial Forces1950s – French Colonial Forces Both of these forces were technologically Both of these forces were technologically

advanced and in theory should have easily advanced and in theory should have easily defeated the ‘weaker’ Vietnamese forces.defeated the ‘weaker’ Vietnamese forces.

Vietcong

South Vietnamese Communist part of the South Vietnamese Communist part of the National Liberation Front (NLF)National Liberation Front (NLF)

Located near Cambodian borderLocated near Cambodian border Depended on the Ho Chi Minh trail for Depended on the Ho Chi Minh trail for

ammunition, arms and special equipment.ammunition, arms and special equipment.

Main force Vietcong units were uniformed, Main force Vietcong units were uniformed, full-time soldiers, and were used to launch full-time soldiers, and were used to launch large scale offensives over a wide area. large scale offensives over a wide area. Regional forces were also full-time, but Regional forces were also full-time, but operated only within their own districts. When operated only within their own districts. When necessary, small regional units would unite necessary, small regional units would unite for large scale attacks. If enemy pressure for large scale attacks. If enemy pressure became too great, they would break down became too great, they would break down into smaller units and scatter.into smaller units and scatter.

Local Vietcong

Mostly TeenagersMostly Teenagers Less confidentLess confident Many idealistic Many idealistic Others forced or shamed into joiningOthers forced or shamed into joining Basic military training with Weapons and Basic military training with Weapons and

explosivesexplosives

Vietnamese Weaponry

Chinese version of the Soviet AK-47.Chinese version of the Soviet AK-47. Light and Medium Machine guns supplied Light and Medium Machine guns supplied

by the Soviets and Chinese.by the Soviets and Chinese. Less often Heavy Machine guns were used Less often Heavy Machine guns were used

to defend against US Helicopters.to defend against US Helicopters. RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades)RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) MortarsMortars

Local forces used booby traps and minesLocal forces used booby traps and mines ““Punji Traps” – sharp spikes hidden in pitsPunji Traps” – sharp spikes hidden in pits Contaminated to increase the risk of Contaminated to increase the risk of

infectioninfection

Avoid Pitch BattlesAvoid Pitch Battles Hit and Run battlesHit and Run battles Tunnel system to safeguard bases against Tunnel system to safeguard bases against

American Spotter Planes.American Spotter Planes. Located largely in forests and swampsLocated largely in forests and swamps

Tunnel system

Advantages of the Tunnel System Hide from Air and Ground sweepsHide from Air and Ground sweeps

Provide excellent refuge and defensive Provide excellent refuge and defensive positionspositions

Ability to disappearAbility to disappear Difficult for US to estimate enemy numbers Difficult for US to estimate enemy numbers

in the regionin the region

Other Vietcong advantages

Familiar with the terrain of jungles and Familiar with the terrain of jungles and swampsswamps

Found protection across the border with Found protection across the border with Laos and CambodiaLaos and Cambodia

Local population supportLocal population support

US TACTICS

Operation Rolling Thunder

EXTENSIVE daily bombing campaign of EXTENSIVE daily bombing campaign of North VietnamNorth Vietnam

Air strikes were strictly forbidden within 30 Air strikes were strictly forbidden within 30 miles of Hanoi, along the Chinese border at miles of Hanoi, along the Chinese border at the start of the campaign.the start of the campaign.

Launched from bases in Thailand.Launched from bases in Thailand. Plan was to destroy the North Vietnamese Plan was to destroy the North Vietnamese

EconomyEconomy

America shows its technological Muscle

B-52 bombers

Could fly at heights Could fly at heights that could not be seen that could not be seen or heardor heard

8 million tons of 8 million tons of bombs dropped bombs dropped between ’65 and ’73.between ’65 and ’73.

300 tons for every 300 tons for every man, woman and child man, woman and child in Vietnamin Vietnam

Napalm

Mixture of Petrol and Mixture of Petrol and chemical thickenerchemical thickener

Sticky gel to attach to the Sticky gel to attach to the skinskin

Burns for a long timeBurns for a long time Will burn through skin, Will burn through skin,

muscle and bone muscle and bone producing 5producing 5thth degree burns degree burns

Most victims died from Most victims died from the ordeal the ordeal

Burns at 5000 f or 2777CBurns at 5000 f or 2777C

Anti-Personnel Bombs

Designed to maim Designed to maim rather than kill.rather than kill.

Bombs would explode Bombs would explode and spew out and spew out thousands of pellets thousands of pellets and needles on the and needles on the land below.land below.

Agent Orange and Blue

Spraying chemicals on Spraying chemicals on NLF hiding places and NLF hiding places and cropscrops

Destroyed trees but Destroyed trees but also caused also caused chromosomal damage chromosomal damage on people on people

Helicopters as Cavalry

Would transport Would transport platoons in and out of platoons in and out of the jungle quicklythe jungle quickly

Used as air Used as air ambulances as well.ambulances as well.

Provided air cover to Provided air cover to Platoons on the Platoons on the ground and spottersground and spotters

Search and Destroy

Missions using US Missions using US and SV troops and SV troops transported via transported via helicoptershelicopters

Descend on villages Descend on villages and kill any VCs and kill any VCs foundfound

Problems with search and destroy

Inadequate intelligence Inadequate intelligence Inexperienced troops Inexperienced troops

often hit by booby trapsoften hit by booby traps Civilian casualties highCivilian casualties high Tactics made the US Tactics made the US

very unpopular with very unpopular with villagers.villagers.

Killings, rape etcKillings, rape etc