Main tactics in the Vietnam war and why was it so hard to win Flashcards
what tactics did the USA use in vietnam war to fight against the Vietcong
the UYS had one of the worst feared armies in the world as it was well trained and well equipped. But the USA’s military resources were no match for the vietcongs guerilla warfare. The US had to change its tactics against the Vietong as the war progressed
What kind of soldiers did the USA send to combat the Vietcong’s tactics in Vietnam?
When the war started the USA sent experienced GIs, or general infantryman, to fight against the Vietcong. However, as fatalities and casualties piled up they increasingly sent younger, less experienced troops.
What were the typical features of a US soldier fighting against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam? (8)
❖By the end of the war, the average age of a GI was 19.
❖Unlike the Vietcong, American GIs didn’t travel light. They carried ration packs, ammunition, spare uniform, and as much water as they could. No matter how much water they carried, it was never enough to quench the thirst caused by the climate of the Vietnamese jungle.
❖The GIs’ uniforms often rotted in Vietnam’s hot, damp climate.
❖GIs were often overzealous and made careless mistakes when out on patrol. They were often killed by the Vietcong’s booby traps.
❖Many GIs came from urban cities in the USA. Many had never travelled before and were ill-prepared for the environment and culture of Vietnam.
❖They carried smoke grenades, to let US helicopters know when and where to extract them from the jungle.
❖They carried fragmentation, or frag, grenades. When they exploded these sprayed red-hot fragments. However, many GIs were themselves accidentally killed by them, as the grenades often got caught on jungle plants.
❖Unlike the Soviet AK-47 rifles used by the Vietcong, the MI6 rifles carried by American GIs often jammed near water and mud, which was not ideal in Vietnamese jungle terrain.
What methods did the USA use to combat Vietcong tactics in Vietnam? (6)
‘Search and destroy’, in which the US troops would enter Vietcong territory, search out the enemy, and destroy them.
❖Bombing campaigns, such as Operation Rolling Thunder.
❖The use of explosive technology, such as pineapple bombs.
❖The use of chemical warfare, including napalm and Agent Orange.
❖The USA fought a war of attrition.
❖The use of helicopters.
What was the ‘search and destroy’ tactic used by the USA to fight against the Vietcong in Vietnam?
Bases were built that stretched all along the South Vietnamese coast and border, to launch ‘search and destroy’ missions into the jungle.
❖American forces searched villages for the Vietcong. When they found the enemy they burned down the entire village, which destroyed the Vietcong base and served as a warning to other villages not to harbour the guerrillas.
❖This tactic soon earned the name ‘zippo raids’, as Zippo cigarette lighters were used to set fire to the thatched roofs of village houses.
Why was the USA’s tactic of ‘search and destroy’ a failure fighting against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam? (4)
US soldiers were simply not cut out to cope with the Vietcong’s guerrilla tactics.
❖America’s superior technology of heavy weapons and aircraft were better suited to open combat, but the Vietcong did not engage with that method of fighting.
❖As US troops searched for the enemy they were taken by surprise and attacked. The Vietcong fighters would disappear back into the jungle before the Americans could respond.
❖Young and inexperienced GIs could not tell the difference between Vietcong soldiers and innocent villagers, and killed many ordinary civilians.
How did the USA use chemical weapons to fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam? (3)
all would burn skin off
Agent Orange, a toxic weed killer used to destroy the jungle so the Ho Chi Minh trail could be seen from the air.
❖Agent Blue, a weed killer used to destroy crops so the Vietcong would have no food.
❖Napalm, a combustible chemical used to destroy the jungle.
What were the problems with the USA’s use of chemical weapons to fight against Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?
The use of chemical weapons was inhumane. Agent Orange and Agent Blue led to people developing cancer and caused birth defects in newborns. Napalm burned through victims’ skin, muscle and bone.
How did the USA use attrition warfare against the Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?
The US tactic of attrition meant focusing on killing as many Vietnamese soldiers as possible. It is estimated that around 1 million North Vietnamese and Vietcong soldiers died, compared to 55,000 Americans. However, this tactic did not bring success for the US.
How did the USA use helicopters to fight against the Vietcong tactics in Vietnam?
(3)
They were used to bring troops to a battle zone quickly, over difficult terrain.
❖They supported ground troops during ‘search and destroy’ missions.
❖They were used to evacuate wounded soldiers.
What were the successes of the USA’s tactics used to fight against the Vietcong in Vietnam?
Overall, the US Army had little success. They did damage some of the supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh trail. However, the trail was so extensive it made little difference, making it impossible for the US to gain a strategic advantage in the war.
What were the failures of the USA’s tactics to fight against the Vietcong in Vietnam?
Not only did US tactics result in the capture of very few Vietcong, their tactics alienated ordinary people. Many innocent people were killed, and the local people turned to the Vietcong due to the tactics employed by the US forces. Their use of chemical warfare was also condemned around the world for its abuse of human rights.
were booby traps common
very, the NV vietnamese would make them and the US soldiers usually fell through them
who ruled at night
the vietcong because they knew the jungle, and would kidnap anyone who wouldn’t help them so people were scared
why was the bombing of vietnam unsucessful (USA bombs)
because they weren’t able to destroy the Ho Chi Minh trail, weren’t able to find the hiding spots of of the Vietcong (which hid in masses of the SV), and there was no significant infrastructure to bomb so it had no effect
what are hamlets
strategic villages created for the vietnamese population by the American soldiers
what were hamlets given
weapons and food and medicine
what would happen to hamlets
the vietcong would surround them and say they would burn them down if they didn’t open their doors, so the vietcong would steal everything.
what was guerilla warfare and who used it
Vietcong used guerilla warfare, involving surprise attacks, sabotage, hiding and close-quarters fighting
did the vietcong wear uniforms
no
what were the guerilla tactics aimed to do
wear down enemy soldiers and wreck their morale
did the vietcong use tunell systems
yes
what did tunel systems allow Vietocong to do
hide and launch attacks
why was the Ho Chi Minh trail vital for the victory of NV
because it carried and transported supplies, and was a network of jungle paths for the north
