Laos and Cambodia Flashcards
When was Operation Menu?
March 1969
What was Operation Menu?
Bombing campaign targeting parts of Cambodia which were regarded as safe by the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong
What were the US aims for Cambodia attack?
- Sever supply lines on Ho Chi Minh trail
- Pressurise NV to agree peace settlement for SV
- Compensate for Vietnamisation programme so retain confidence and commitment of SV
When did US invade Cambodia?
March 1970
What happened in March 1970 in Cambodia?
Cambodia’s head of state (Prince Norodom Sihanouk) was overthrown by the pro-US General Lon Nol
What was the reaction of NV to the overthrowing of Cambodia’s head of state?
North Vietnam increased presence in Cambodia by backing anti-Nol communist movement (Khmer Rough)
What would communist control of Cambodia mean for USA?
Undermine Nixon’s Vietnamisation strategy as US focus would be required
Initially who was involved in the Cambodia border raids?
South Vietnamese forces, with US air support
What happened in Cambodia in April 1970 regarding US?
US committed 20,000 ground troops into Cambodia
Why was US commitment to Cambodia ground troops made ineffective a month later?
Nixon’s announcement later that month which said 150,000 US troops would be withdrawn from South within one year
What was the impact of the Cambodia attack on Vietcong?
- Ability to operate undermined as large areas of jungle destroyed
- Large amounts of their supplies/equipment were captured or destroyed
What was the impact of the Cambodian attack on USA?
- No strategic gains
- Increased USA commitment to withdraw forces and pressure North to co-operate
- Opposition at home increased (Kent State)
- Temporary disruption to NV supply lines
What was the impact of the Cambodia attack on North Vietnam?
- Any possibility of a major North Vietnamese offensive against the South was seriously undermined due to the losses faced by the North Vietnamese in Cambodia
- Strengthened support for Khmer Rouge to attemp and overthow Nol
When did ARVN invade Laos?
Feb 1971
Why did US attack Laos?
- Wanted to disable Ho Chi Minh trail
- Disrupt NV supply lines
What was Operation Lam Son 719?
Plan to support ARVN invasion of Laos with US air support
How many ARVN forces attacked Laos and what were they met with?
30,000 and met with persistent resistance from NV so ARVN had to withdraw
What did the Laos invasion show about the ARVN?
- ARVN could only have a chance of matching the North Vietnamese whilst it had US air support
- The attack also showed that even with US air support the chances of defeating the North were slim
What was the impact of the Laos attack on North Vietnam?
However the invasion simply spurred the North onto an offensive rather than defensive position
What was the impact of the Laos attack on Nixon’s strategy?
Nixon’s strategy was increasingly failing to move the US towards ‘peace with honour’
What was Thieu’s orders during Laos invasion?
Thieu ordered that when his forces reached 3,000 casualties, they should retreat. So when they did, the ARVN had to retreat only halfway to it’s target
