WS-19Airpower through Cold War II Flashcards
- State the significance of the August 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
a. Radically altered war in Southeast Asia; committed United States to fight for S. Vietnam
b. Empowered President Johnson “to take all necessary steps…
i. to repel armed attack against US forces”
ii. including force, to assist S. Vietnam and any member of SEATO”
- Identify the “GRADUATED RESPONSE” strategy the United States adopted in Vietnam between 1965 and 1968.
a. Bombing worked to the advantage of north Vietnam, GAVE THE NORTH TIME TO RECOVER
b. The concept of Rolling Thunder was bombing and interdiction. “Graduated Response” is an ineffective way to employ airpower
- Describe Rolling Thunder, Linebacker I, and Linebacker II bombing campaigns.
a. Rolling thunder (FAILURE, LEAST SUCCESSFUL)– Objectives
i. Interdict flow of supplies from the North
ii. Force the North to stop supporting Vietcong and quit the war
iii. Raise South Vietnamese morale
iv. Rules of engagement were strict
v. Graduated increases in bombing intensity worked to advantage of N. Vietnamese
– GAVE THEM TIME TO RECOVER FROM DAMAGE
– ENABLED THEM TO ESTABLISH WORLD’S MOST INTENSE ANTIAIRCRAFT DEFENSE SYSTEM
– PROVIDED THEM WILL TO FIGHT ON AND SENSE THEY COULD SURVIVE
b. Linebacker I (DON’T WORRY ABOUT-KIND OF SUCCESSFUL)
i. Potential civilian causalities didn’t determine how missions were flown.
ii. Initially: Close air support effort to aid retreating South Vietnamese forces
a. Increased response included close air support for retreating S Vietnamese forces
iii. Interdiction against N. Vietnam
a. Later: Changed to interdiction campaign against North Vietnam
iv. Used some strategic bombing
v. Introduction of Smart bombs
vi. Easter Offensive (Mar 1972) made it apparent the North was not willing to negotiate
vii. Linebacker I was the most successful US bombing campaign of the war
viii. Nixon restricted Linebacker I attacks to below the 20th parallel
c. Linebacker II (MOST SUCCESSFUL)
i. Purpose of Linebacker II—Force the North Vietnamese to negotiate and sign peace treaty
ii. Specific targets in Hanoi and Haiphong
iii. The only truly STRATEGIC BOMBING CAMPAIGN with strategic targets.
iv. Successful and forced N. Vietnam back to peace talks
v. Ran from 18 Dec to 30 Dec 1972; referred to as “The Christmas Campaign”
vi. Nixon ordered Linebacker II to run concurrently with Linebacker I
vii. Peace Talks stalled again in Dec 1972
- Outline the uses and effectiveness of the B-52 in the Vietnam War.
a. Nuclear bomber modified to carry conventional weapons—was best known interdiction aircraft
b. Arc Light Missions: interdiction missions
c. Used extensively in close air support at Khe Sanh
d. CREDITED WITH SAVIND KHE SANH AND REPELLINGN THE TET AND EASTER OFFENSIVES
- State the lessons learned from Rolling Thunder.
a. GRADUATED RESPONSE DID NOT WORK FOOT STOMP
b. NORTH USED FREQUENT HALTS AND RESTRICTIONS TO REPAR DAMAGE AND RESUPPLY FORCES IN SOUTH-GAVE NORTH TIME TO REBUILD
c. Allowed the North to establish the world most intense anti air defense system
d. Military officials need to be the ones selecting the targets
