Aug 27, 2008 third part of a short clip series about the vietnam war. Each one is devoted to an aspect of warfare and how it applies to military strategy and tactics. Vietcong weapons and tactics the vietcong was primarily a guerilla army that was supplied by china and the soviet union. Why were the military tactics of the vietcong so successful. Lacking the firepower of the american forces, the vietcong used ambushes, booby traps, and other guerrilla tactics. An inside account of the vietnam war and its aftermath. Summers inspired analysis of americas war in vietnam answers the most pressing questions remaining from that terrible conflict more than a decade before. Search and destroy as a failure search and destroy was part of the attrition warfare and a major tactic used in the vietnam war. The vietnam war was most often a small unit war, with vicious. Through ingenious techniques in mine warfare, the viet cong successfully substituted mines and booby traps for. Guerrilla warfare is a very unconventional style of warfare. What guerrilla warfare tactics did the vietcong use answers. Truong nhu tang tang was the exminister of justice for the provisional revolutionary government of the republic of south vietnam during their war for liberation.
Guerrilla war ambush, booby traps, hit and run, underground tunnels, blending in with population, using terrain, etc. This book is unique in that unlike many others published since the withdrawal of us forces from iraq and afghanistan it is focused on the neglected systemic treatment of the insurgency itself, while others in this genre focus on counterinsurgency. A vietcong memoir the book a vietcong memoir by truong nhu tang gives a first person account of the vietnam war through the eyes of a vietnamese revolutionary. Viet minh, viet cong and nva the viet cong were the south vietnamese communists, and considered a political movement for the people. American forces relied on overwhelming and lethal firepower support. Beginning with a description of the terrain, climate and the unique nature of operations in this theatre of war, the author, a vietnam veteran himself, goes on to explain how unit organisation was broken down by combatant forces and the impact this had on the kind of tactics. The viet cong were famous for using the guerrilla warfare tactic in vietnam to attack american forces. An international and interdisciplinary approach, which was published to little notice in denmark in 2011. The work, which is attributed to the ancient chinese military strategist sun tzu master sun, also spelled sunzi, is composed of chapters. A entire lesson 1 hour on the tactics used by the vietcong in the vietnam war. The vietcong and north vietnam were supported by the soviet union ussr and china who supplied money and weapons. For arms, ammunition and special equipment, the vietcong depended on the ho chi minh trail. They based their strategies and tactics on those used by mao zedongthe communist leader in china.
Examples of this were the tet offensive and the battle of khe sahn. Book recommendations, author interviews, editors picks, and more. Vietcong tactics vietnam war gcse teaching resources. It is a view that believes the vietcong strategy throughout the war was focused on guerilla tactics and utilizing small units or groups of individuals to execute ambushes and emplace various boobytraps. Beginning with a description of the terrain, climate and the unique nature of operations in this theater of war, author gordon rottman, a vietnam veteran himself, goes on to explain how unit organization was broken down by combatant forces and the impact this had on. The recipient of the national book award and the pulitzer prize for nonfiction, neil sheehas book stands among the best accounts of the war, bringing to light the experiences of lt. Describe the military tactics used by both the vietcong and. How effective were the tactics used by the us during the vietnam war the us used many tactics during the war with vietnam and the tactics used were usually for one of two purposes.
Westmoreland, the commander of the military assistance command, vietnam macv, built. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. All of these factors added up to increasing fear for the americans and a winning war effort on part of the northvietnamese and the vietcong. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. With a mechanism probably inspired by the british sten, this almost toylike, greenpainted submachine gun was. In all, at least 45,000 vietnamese men and women are said to have died defending the cu chi tunnels over the course of the vietnam war. When he was a student in paris, truong nhu tang met ho chi minh. Dec 04, 2016 the vietnam war part 2 the tactics of the viet cong gcse history in this video, we look at the viet cong and the tactics that they used in the vietnam war to overcome a much superior. Both sides killed innocent civilians caught up in the conflict. Later in the vietnam war, the viet cong primarily used the type 53 carbine m44, the type 56 sks, the type 56 ak47, shown and the k50 from china and north vietnam. List of books and articles about guerrilla warfare online.
Oct 22, 20 the effective of the search and clear tactics were proved in many operations such as operation pinnaroo where only 5 australians were killed compared to 40 of the viet cong, or operation hammersley where the ratio of death between australian and vietcong was 5. The vietnam conflict was a war unlike any war before it. During the war, communists and antiwar activists insisted the vi. The vietcong were masters of what is known as guerrilla warfare or guerrilla tactics during the conflict in vietnam. Viet cong and nva tunnels and fortifications of the vietnam war. American war tactics in vietnam nolans digital history.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Jones breaks down over seven chapters how an insurgency begins and then goes through the various strategies, tactics, organizational structures, how. He included them in his book, historical dictionary of the indochina war 19451954. The vietnam war part 2 the tactics of the viet cong. Guerrilla forces from north vietnams vietcong movement cross a river in 1966 during the vietnam war the term vi. In contrast to this, the americans used tactics such as search and destroy which heavily increased support for the vietcong due to the ridiculous amount of damage and unnecessary casualties of the peasants. List of books and articles about guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla tactics in december 1965, ho chi minh and the north vietnamese leadership ordered a change in a way the war in the south was to be fought. Tang tells of how he was a pharmaceutics student in paris and was inspired.
Common tactics used by the us forces and the vietcong guerillas during the war. The effective of the search and clear tactics were proved in many operations such as operation pinnaroo where only 5 australians were killed compared to 40 of the viet cong, or operation hammersley where the ratio of death between australian and vietcong was 5. Viet cong simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Truong nhu tangs a vietcong memoir is an easy read if youre familiar with vietnams lengthy colonial history. President johnson ordered the bombing of strategic military targets in north vietnam, including air raids on the capital city, hanoi, and bases and supply routes for the vietcong. Anniversary of the battle of hue during the vietnam war. Glasser, an american army doctor, described the devastating effects of one booby trap. It was fought in many different ways by all the different sides.
This war caused major controversy in the unite states, affected the nation mentally and physically, and left the soldiers and american citizens battered and bruised from the loss of the vietnam war. Examples of this support were artillery from a support base, air support from carriers, and fixed wing aircraft with rockets, bombs, and napalm. Tang tells of how he was a pharmaceutics student in paris and was inspired to join the nationalist movement when he met ho chi minh. Nlf and pavn battle tactics comprised a flexible mix of guerrilla and conventional warfare battle tactics used by the main force of the peoples liberation armed forces known as the national liberation front or viet cong in the west and the nva peoples armyvietnam to defeat their u. The americans used different technologies and tactics, many that had never been used before or had been used sparingly in previous wars, many of which were terrible for the entire country. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. The fighting tactics used by the viet cong during the vietnam war were. The pentagon papers, the sacred willow four generations in the life of vietnamese family, and a.
During some ambushes the vietcong guerrilla fighters would sneak up on. The national front for the liberation of south vietnam nlf, was a communist army based in south vietnam that fought against the governments of south vietnam and the united states during the vietnam war 195575. The work derives from 425 specially designed inter. Ospreys study of the evolving us, viet cong and nva tactics at battalion level and below throughout the vietnam war 19551975. Describe why the tactics used by the vietcong were. The vietcong the vietnamese communists, or vietcong, were the military branch of the national liberation front nlf, and were commanded. If youre talking about military success, then their tactics really cant be called successful. We have also heard of the brutal ways of the south vietnamese army. An inside account of the vietnam war and its aftermath by truong nhu tang vintage books, 340 pgs. Both sides of the war changed tactics around the late 1960s meaning that the war could go both ways at that point depending on whether the countries tactics changed for the better. John paul vann who arrived in vietnam in 1962 and witnessed firsthand the corruption, deception, arrogance. American soldiers called the vietnamese communist forces charlie, no matter. Ospreys study of the evolving us, viet cong and nva tactics at battalion level and below. Prior to reading a vietcong memoir, i read several books on vietnam.
Jun 21, 2011 ospreys study of the evolving us, viet cong and nva tactics at battalion level and below throughout the vietnam war 19551975. They started during the first indochina war and simply started the following 20 years honing th. The book contained a detailed explanation and analysis of the chinese military, from weapons and strategy to rank and discipline. Vietcong minimal demands, notably for food and shelter. It clearly shows their tactics, basically simple 16th century old ways to kill you or at least screw your day. An inside account of the vietnam war and its aftermath tang, truong nhu on. Describe the military tactics used by both the vietcong. Viet cong and north vietnamese forces among the popula tion in saigon and its environs during the tet offensive of february, 1968, and with some of the popular reactions to viet cong behavior at this time and subsequently. There are so many that could be mentioned, but the truth is, they happened so often that they were simply regarded as a way of life for the communists. What changed johnsons mind was viet cong attacks on u. North vietnam, governed by vietnamese communists, and south vietnam, backed by american aid. Later he fought in the vietnamese jungle and emerged as one of the major figures in the fight for. Tactics and objectives during the tet offensive, v. Beginning with a description of the terrain, climate and the unique nature of operations in this theater of war, author gordon rottman, a vietnam veteran himself, goes on to explain how unit organization was broken down by combatant forces and the impact this.
I originally read this book for my a level as we were studying the vietnam war and. They could blend in with and move through the local terrain much better than u. Russias military thinking is that war is considered a class struggle, and thus a work on social history. The vietcong did not win a single major battle above divisional sized in the entire vietnam w. Nlf and pavn battle tactics comprised a flexible mix of guerrilla and conventional warfare. The vietnam war part 2 the tactics of the viet cong gcse history in this video, we look at the viet cong and the tactics that they used in the vietnam war to overcome a much superior. This book reveals the evolving us, viet cong and nva tactics at battalion level and below throughout the vietnam war. The united states air tactits frustrated by lack of success on the ground, the us tried to win the war from the air. In this thorough examination of the tactical war waged in vietnam, former paratroop officer j. The second war was a civil war between the two zones created at geneva.
The art of war remains the most influential strategy text in east asian warfare and has influenced both eastern and western military thinking, business tactics, legal strategy, lifestyles and beyond. The name is said to have first been used by south vietnamese pres. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Usually a us marine or soldier would be wounded by. The best histories of the vietnam war council on foreign relations.
Author warren wilkins will unquestionably broaden most peoples understanding of the vietnam war in this superb volume. A bright shining lie is a sprawling, powerful account of the peril and folly of the vietnam war. Generally, they did not offer active support, such as. In the middle of the night on january 31, 1968, 10,000 north vietnamese and vietcong troops swept into the historic city of hue, a major cultural center in south vietnam. The vietnam war was a nightmare for the people of vietnam. This tactic was widely used by the north vietnamese communists, also called the vietcong. Viet cong, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the north vietnamese army, fought against south vietnam late 1950s1975 and the united states early 1960s1973. What tactics did the vietcong use against the us and s.
This was highly effective due to their mastery of it. It actually really depends on your definition of success. Vietcong military tactics the vietnam war bbc bitesize. Third part of a short clip series about the vietnam war. Viet cong vc, in full viet nam cong san, english vietnamese communists, the guerrilla force that, with the support of the north vietnamese army, fought against south vietnam late 1950s1975 and the united states early 1960s1973. The ak47 was the standard weapon of choice coupled with heavy machine guns for helicopter defence as well as mortars and rocket propelled grenades. Along with that came napalm bombs which caused dreadful. Contrary to popular belief, neither the north vietnamese army nor viet cong guerrillas could match the u. Aug 28, 2010 the vietnamese communists, or vietcong, were the military branch of the national liberation front nlf, and were commanded by the central office for south vietnam, which was located near the cambodian border.
The vietnam war was most often a small unit war, with vicious small unit battles. Operation rolling thunder that began with dropping millions of explosive bombs on north vietnam and ho chi minh trail. A new tactics that the americans used was to try and cut of the ho chi minh trail as it was the method the vietcong were using to get their supplies. Guerrilla warfare and war of attrition the vietnam war. But these battles were not truly representative of the war.
The vietnamese communists, or vietcong, were the military branch of the national liberation front nlf, and were commanded by the central office for south vietnam, which was located near the cambodian border. Vietnamese tactics contributed to their eventual withdrawal from the region. When guerrillas obey the laws of conventional warfare they are entitled, if captured, to be treated as ordinary prisoners of war. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. History of the vietcong weapons and tactics interesting. In the vietnam war there were some great moments of destruction when opposing forces met and did not back off. The tactics employed by guerrillas date back to the ideas of sun tzu, the chinese military strategist who lived over 2000 years ago. Their tactics reflected attempts to counter the massive firepower they faced.