The Vietnam War Flashcards
USA’s strengths
-Economy- by 1967, 1m tonnes of supplies were being brought into sv at the end of each month
Bombing
-One of the key tactics they used in the war
-Aim was to destroy NV’s economy undermine the VC + forces in the south e.g. Operation rolling thunder
Why was their tactic of bombing a failure?
-NV was an agrarian country + had few but well disguised military targets
Operation Ranch Hand
1962-71
-Purpose was to spray chemicals over the jungle to remove the cover of the enemies
-Used Agent Orange + Agent Blue
-Caused major deformities in children + adults
Search + destroy missions
-Aimed to find + destroy the enemy in the jungle and rural villages
-Failure as it was almost impossible to identify the enemy accurately which resulted in many civilians dying
-Primary strategy of the US military from the years 1965-68
Why did the US view search + destroy missions as a success?
-They measured their successes in terms of body count, although it was mainly villagers killed, they didn’t care as they could’ve been an ‘enemy’
USA’s weaknesses
-The USA’s ally the ARVN was largely uncommitted: many were untrained + lacked morale
-Widespread TV + press coverage- was the first war to be televised; images of SV villagers brutalised increased the anti-war feeling back at home
-Society was divided
Johnson’s Great Society
A set of domestic programmes aimed to eliminate poverty + racial inequality
Why would his programme of the ‘great society’ clash with the war?
Interfered with the VN war as Johnson was afraid the increase of US involvement in VN would allow his political opponents w/ the ability to oppose his programme
-US citizens would feel cheated as that’s the reason they voted for him
Credibility gap
-The differences in what Johnson’s administration told congress + the reality
-This would damage Johnson’s reputation as they wouldn’t appreciate being lied to and lose their ability to trust in him
NV’s strengths
-Determination of their troops
-They knew the grounds they were fighting on and were able to operate it to their advantage
-Had logistical support from China + ussr
Peasant support
-The VC’s numbers were constantly replenished due to the growing anti-American feeling
-The VC were prepared to use violence against any peasants who challenged them, their was an element of cooperation through terror
Guerilla tactics
-Allowed NV to combat American conventional warfare
-Complex tunnels used to hide VC troops
-Booby traps in the jungle
Ho Chi Minh trail
-Primary supply route
-Passed through Cambodia+ Laos into SV
-Crucial supply line for men + equipment
-The USA were never able to destroy it
Allies
1964-69
-China’s commitment to military aid expanded
-Supplied over 80,000 guns which increased to 140,000 by 1989
-USSR supplied surface-to-air missiles, jets + artillery systems
