Guerrilla Tactics Flashcards
What were guerilla tactics?
A way of avoiding battle with a stronger enemy by attacking in small groups then ‘disappearing’ (often into the background of the countryside)
What did guerrilla tactics success depend on?
The support of local people
What was guerilla tactics intent?
To wear the Americans down and lower morale
Who were the Vietcong?
Guerilla fighters in south Vietnam who were opposing the south Vietnamese government and were supported by the communist north Vietnamese government
Who was recruited into the Vietcong?
Men and women in south Vietnam as well as some from the north
What code of conduct did the Vietcong follow?
One which treated locals well in order to help them gain support
Return everything borrowed
Be polite
Don’t damage crops
Who did the Vietcong kill to gain locals support?
Kidnapped and killed Unpopular officials like tax collectors
What were the Vietcong tactics?
Avoid direct face to face fighting
Ambush patrol and kill or capture soldiers
Set booby traits and plant bombs
Hit and run tactics
How did the Vietcong stay safe?
They built a network of tunnels underground that had everything you would need to live including kitchens, supplies, hospitals
How were the underground tunnels protected?
Using booby traps and trip wires
How were the Vietcong supplied?
From north Vietnam and other countries along the Ho Chi Minh trail (Cambodia)
How long was the trail?
600 miles and the route never closed despite bombing and bad weather
What was the difference between the Vietcong and the Vietminh?
Vietcong = communist in the south VietMihn= communist in the north
