Chip War (Chris Miller)

Question 1

57 bombs dropped in Vietnam, amount? Impact?

Answer 1

800.000 tons of bombs, more than bombs dropped in pacific theatre during all of WW II. Such as operation rolling thunder from 1965-1968.

Marginal impact on north Vietnam’s military because most missed their target

Question 2

57 Shrike missle

Answer 2

Launched from planes and homes in on enemy radar factualities using simple guidance system that pointed missile toward source of radar’s radio waves

Question 3

58 Sparrow III? Study on its effectiveness

Answer 3

anti-aircraft missile, used by US in skies over Vietnam.

Study: 9.2% hit target, 66% malfunctioned, the rest missed

Question 4

58 biggest challenge Vietnam? Air Force data report regarding this?

Answer 4

Striking ground targets. At start of the war bombs fell on average within 420 feet of their target. So attacking a vehicle was almost impossible

Question 5

58 intercontinental ballistic missiles

Answer 5

Very accurate and carry very destructive warheads. Launched from fixed position on the ground. Barely impact from wind and weather. Easier to hit Moscow from Montana than a truck with a bomb dropped by an F-4

Question 6

59 Thanh Hao Bridge. Finally destroyed?

Answer 6

540-foot-long bridge across north Vietnam’s Song Ma river.

800 pockmarks around the bridge (missed bombs)

Weldon Word and Texas Instruments redesigned the 750 pound M-117, 638 into a laser guided missile, and destroyed the bridge

Question 7

61 what was Vietnam successful for?

Answer 7

Testing ground for weapons that married microelectronics and explosives in ways that would revolutionize warfare and transform American military power