3.3 Nature Of The Conflict In Vietnam 1964-68

Question 1

What were vc tactics?

Answer 1

• built thousands of miles of tunnels , with whole camps underground so they could hide. Us found tunnels they were heavily booby trapped
• experts at building booby traps , using pits , sharpened sticks and mines. Meant us soldiers could never relax, even in saigon they could be attacked
• vc were supplied by the north by the ho chi minh trail , which ran through laos and cambodia. Ussr and china sent 6000 tonnes of supplies a day
• hid in villages , infiltrated villagers
• guirella tactics

Question 2

What were guerrilla tactics ?

Answer 2

Tactics used by smaller fighting forces vs bigger fighting forces . The smaller force would attack bases and camps rapidly so the bigger force do not know what is happening. They then disappear quickly

Question 3

What was the us method of search and destroy?

Answer 3

Mission , sent into jungle . Success depended on body count . Usually impossible to see which side they were on

Question 4

What was the point of vc tactics?

Answer 4

• get local support
• weaken and terrorise enemy through surprise attacks.
• drive out enemy

Question 5

How were the vietcong supplied?

Answer 5

From the north , by the ho chi minh trail which ran through laos and Cambodia. Ussr and china sent 6000 tonnes of supplies a dsy

Question 6

What was operation rolling thunder?

Answer 6

Extreme bombing campaign pf vietnam , with the aim of destroying military bases and equipment and destroy the ho chi minh trail

Question 7

When was operation rolling thunder?

Answer 7

1965

Question 8

What was agent orange?

Answer 8

Us air force used it to strip down leaves from trees to deprive the VC from hiding there.

Question 9

What was Napalm?

Answer 9

Used to destroy villages so VC were out in the open.

Question 10

What was the effect of chemical weapons on the vc?

Answer 10

Huge damage on vietnam , stopped the us winning support .

Question 11

When was the tet offensive?

Answer 11

1968

Question 12

What was the tet offensive?

Answer 12

Massive attack by the north Vietnamese upon the south , which began on the 30th june 1968. More than 100 southern cities were attacked , including saigon. Saigons us embassy was seized by the VC

Question 13

What was the effects of the tet offensive?

Answer 13

Vietcong suffered mass casualties but many in the us were shocked that the vc took over the us embassy. The south seemed more vulnerable than ever and many saw it as a humiliating defeat for the us. Anti war sentiment grew and LBJ did not run for president again.