Vietcong tactics in the Vietnam War Flashcards
What did the US believe about their technology and manpower?
That it was vastly superior to that of the Vietcong and that this would lead to a swift and decisive victory
How many soldiers did the Vietcong have in 1965?
170,000 soldiers
Who would have won in open warfare between the Vietcong and the USA and South Vietnamese government troops?
The USA and the S. V. troops - they had vastly superior weapons and outnumbered the Vietcong
What were the basics of guerrilla warfare?
Ambush the enemy and then retreat into the jungle or into the tunnels underground
When had Ho Chi Minh used guerrilla tactics before?
Against the French (before they left in 1954)
Why were guerrillas hard to tell apart from peasants?
They didn’t wear uniforms
Did guerrillas use a permanent base?
No - they had no known base camp or headquarters
Why did ambushes particularly affect US troops?
It greatly damaged their morale. They lived in constant fear of ambushes or booby traps
What percentage of US casualties came from booby traps?
11%
What percentage of US casualties came from ambushes or hand-to-hand combat?
51%
Why did the Vietcong prefer close quarters combat?
They knew the Americans would not bomb the area for fear of hitting their own men. This was known as “hanging on to the American belts”.
How did the Vietcong try and get the support of Vietnamese peasants?
- Vietcong fighters were expected to be courteous and respectful to the Vietnamese peasants.
- They sometimes helped out in the fields during busy periods
Were the Vietcong always respectful towards the peasants?
No - they could be ruthless and might kill any peasants who opposed them or helped the enemy.
They also terrorised police, tax collectors, teachers etc. who were employed by the SV government.
Between 1966 and 1971, how many civilians did the Vietcong kill?
Around 27,000 civilians
How many Vietnamese worked to keep the Ho Chi Minh trail open?
40,000
