Escalation and tactics of both sides

Question 1

6 reasons to why the situation in Vietnam was deteriorating for the US at the end of 1964

Answer 1

1. Rise in anti-American feelings amongst population
2. USSR established firm links with NLF and sent military resources to N.V
3. NV forces moved down Ho Chi Minh Trail
4. SV army in low morale as poor leadership and bad training
5. Vietcong strengthened their position in South areas
6. China provided military supplies to N.V

Question 2

When was Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 2

Feb 1965 - Nov 1968

Question 3

Why did Johnson order Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 3

Following a Vietcong attack on army barracks and a US Helicopter base in Pleiku, followed by further attacks

Question 4

What was Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 4

Bombing Campaign on North

Question 5

When was Operation Flaming Dart?

Answer 5

12 hours after Camp Holloway (Pleiku)

Question 6

What was Operation Flaming Dart?

Answer 6

Bombing of N.V military targets

Question 7

Response by Vietcong to Flaming Dart and Johnson’s response to this?

Answer 7

Vietcong fighters attacked Quy Nhon and 23 Americans killed in response Johnson retaliates 12 hours later (Flaming dart 2)

Question 8

5 Objectives of Rolling Thunder

Answer 8

1. Improve S.V morale
2. Bolster US credibility
3. Force N.V to end NLF support in South
4. Demolish NV transportation networks/air defence systems
5. End Ho Chi Minh Trail

Question 9

Stats regarding Rolling Thunder
1. How many bombs dropped
2. Cost
3. How much destruction %
4. Civilian deaths

Answer 9

1. 1 million tons
2. $1 billion
3. 77% military depots and 50% bridges
4. 100,000 - 200,000

Question 10

Why was Rolling Thunder terminated?

Answer 10

Achieved none of its objectives

Question 11

Why was Rolling Thunder a failure?

Answer 11

• North were highly prepared (Air raid precautions)
• 2 million shock brigade members to repair damage

Question 12

When was John Hopkins Speech?

Answer 12

7 April 1965

Question 13

What did the John Hopkins Speech say?

Answer 13

Committed to containment and will not let S.V fall to N.V

Question 14

What did N.V proposal set out the day after John Hopkin speech?
( 4 points )

Answer 14

1. US too withdraw troops from South
2. Neither S or N may enter foreign powered alliance
3. S.V internal affairs to be settled by people of S.V with no external influence
4. Peaceful reunification must be settled only by people of both zones

Question 15

Response of LBJ to N.V proposal and what did he order

Answer 15

Rejected as he believed acceptance would lead to communist state
- Ordered two marine battalions, an air squadron and 20,000 troops to be deployed in Vietnam

Question 16

When did LBJ announce the escalation of US military?

Answer 16

28th July 1965

Question 17

Bomb and Ground troops expansion 1965 - 1967

Answer 17

Bombs
1965 - 63,000 tons
1967 - 226,000 tons

Troops
1965 - 180,000
1967 - 480,000

Question 18

Who was General William Westmoreland?

Answer 18

Commander of US forces in V 1964-68

Question 19

Strengths of USA

Answer 19

• Economic
• Modern equipment and supplies
• Helicopters

Question 20

Strengths of N.V

Answer 20

• Knew area of battle
• Determination
• Logistical and military support from USSR and China

Question 21

Weaknesses of USA

Answer 21

• Uncommitted S.V army with untrained troops
• Media coverage weakened US position
• Campaigns at home increased opposition

Question 22

Weaknesses of N.V

Answer 22

• Degree of dependency on USSR and China
• The economy struggles to afford prolonged war

Question 23

2 tactics used by USA

Answer 23

Bombing and Search and Destroy

Question 24

What bombers were used during Operation Rolling Thunder?

Answer 24

B-52

Question 25

What and when was Operation Ranch Hand?

Answer 25

Involved spraying chemicals to defoliate the jungle and exploit the enemy
- 1962

Question 26

What was used during Operation Ranch Hand and outcome?

Answer 26

Agent orange and blue
- Destroyed Vietnamese peasants crops and livelihoods

Question 27

When was search and destroy mainly and outline the tactic

Answer 27

1965-68
- US forces would arrive by helicopter and raid villages accused of harbouring Vietcong

Question 28

Was bombing successful for USA?

Answer 28

US effort was always undermined by the fact that North lost resources were soon replaced through the aid of the USSR and China

Question 29

Was Search and Destroy successful for USA?

Answer 29

No as almost impossible to identify the enemy so many innocent civilians killed
- Livestock and crops also destroyed

Question 30

What were VietCong tactics?

Answer 30

• Peasant support
• Guerrilla tactics
• Ho Chi Minh Trail

Question 31

What was the aim of peasant support?

Answer 31

To gain recruits among the peasants in the South against the US in order to increase their support and influence

Question 32

Was peasant support successful?

Answer 32

These methods won support and prepared them to use significant violence against peasants who challenged them

Question 33

Why did N.V want to use Guerrilla tactics?

Answer 33

To enable them to compensate for their inability to fight in conventional warfare

Question 34

How did N.V use Guerrilla tactics?

Answer 34

• Complex tunnel systems
• Booby traps within the forest to ambush US forces

Question 35

Were Guerrilla tactics a success?

Answer 35

Allowed them to gain an upper hand over the US as they had a much clearer understanding of the area and also compensated

Question 36

What did China agree to N.V in December 1964?

Answer 36

To provide military supplies and between this and 1969 they expanded

Question 37

How many guns supplied by China to N.V in 1964 and 1969?

Answer 37

1964 - 80,000
1969 - 140,000

Question 38

What did USSR provide N.V?

Answer 38

Surface-to-air missiles, MiG-21 jets and artillery systems

Question 39

Was Ho Chi Minh Trail successful?

Answer 39

• Ensured continuous supplies provided and also improved during the war
• Was susceptible to attacks however caused no permanent damage