Guerilla Warfare Flashcards
Why did the Vietcong want to avoid pitched battles with the US forces?
The Vietcong could not defeat US forces in conventional battle
Who were the Vietcong?
The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. Fighting for Communism in South Vietnam (1960). Name given in contempt by the Americans, often shortened to VC
How could local people help the Vietcong?
Hide the Vietcong and weapons. Provide food and shelter
What did guerrilla tactics hope to achieve?
Wear the Americans down and destroy their morale in fighting an enemy they could not see. This would then allow them to take control of the US controlled towns and cities.
What was the Vietminh Code of Conduct?
List of rules/expectations that the Vietminh would follow when living in village communities.
Who were the Vietminh?
Resistance movement set up by Ho Chi Minh in 1941 to fight against the French and Japanese. By 1945 it had become communist and taken over North Vietnam.
Why was it so difficult to identify the Vietcong?
Lived in villages and dressed as villagers. Did ordinary jobs during the daytime.
What was ‘hit and run’?
Ambush the Americans or South Vietnamese army, kill or capture men in the unit and disappear into the countryside quickly.
What did the Vietcong do to protect themselves from US bombings from the air?
Built a series of underground tunnels.
How were the underground tunnels protected?
Trip wired at entrances and booby trapped devices throughout the tunnel system.
How did the Communists get supplies from North Vietnam to South Vietnam?
Ho Chi Minh Trail - system of supply routes that cut through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam. Routes by foot, truck, bicycle and river.
Why was it so difficult for the US to stop supplies via the Ho Chi Minh Trail?
600 miles long, in some parts 50 miles wide across various terrain. Dummy routes to confuse US troops if they took aerial shots. Dense forest provided good cover and thousands worked to keep the trail open.
