Vietnam: Strategies over-viewe

Weaponry of the United States military was far superior to that of any Vietnamese population. U.S soldiers received a standard issue “pot” or steel helmet that not only protected them from shards or bullets but also served multipurposly as a chair or cooking pot. Also given to them was a G.I military

An equal adversary, North Vietnam was a tricky enemy. Guerilla warfare was used when engaged with conventional warfare would mean defeat. They relied mainly run-and-hide, and ambushing techniques followed by booby traps left in jungle terrain. Ho Chi Minh, a self-declared president of North Vietnam once said that guerilla warfare was “ practical methods of achieving the strategic objectives” (Http://homepage.mac.com/stray/ib/history/guerilla-terrorism.html). Many outlines have been discovered that reassured the process to be followed in a specific manner. In Phase One the leader was supposed to establish small, independent cells of soldiers in remote areas as well as agitate and spread propaganda through villages to gain support (Http://homepage.mac.com/stray/ib/history/guerilla-terrorism.html). In Phase Two assassination of commanding officials, and anyone who co-operated with them, then attack any isolated military outposts and any military conveys approaching. Phase Three was to throw full scale attacks against now diminished and demoralized enemy, to kidnap any authoritative personnel but release them to show their ability to launch attacks anywhere in the country and then the war is pretty much in total control if all steps are completed successfully (Http://homepage.mac.com/stray/ib/history/guerilla-terrorism.html). That was the actually plan but the tactics differed from commander to commander. In North Vietnams case the Vietnamese communists, or Vietcong, were the military branch of the National Liberation Front (NLF). They depended mainly on the Ho Chi Mihn Trail for arms and ammunition site. Many units were Un-uniformed, full time soldiers and were sent in large-scale offensive units but when necessary would break down into smaller groups if the enemy pressure became to great. From then on the Vietcong would avoid pitched battles with Americans unless the odds were clearly in their favor. The Vietcong troops were armed with smaller Chinese versions of the Russian’s AK-47 submachine gun that fired rounds of .301 caliber bullets at a rate of 600 rounds per minute and were accurate up to 435 yards away. (Http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/guerrilla/index.html). They also used a range of efficient medium machine guns consisting of Chicom: a semiautomatic rifle and the Russians SK-45. The VC had 1 type of air born defense, the MiG-21, which was a soviet high altitude bomber and cannon plane that never really left the ground (Tregaski 56). Us forces concentrated on bombing air bases in hopes to keep them ground bound. And it did. In

Some topics in this essay:
North Vietnam, Weaponry United, SK-45 VC, South Vietnam, Thailand Guam, Http//homepagemaccom/stray/ib/history/guerilla-terrorismhtml Phase, Raskin& Fall, Mihn Trail, Cu Chi, Russian’s AK-47, north vietnam, south vietnam, raskin& fall, southeast asia, guerilla warfare, air strikes, ho chi, 1965 air strikes, caliber bullets, bernard 101, president johnson, ho chi mihn, caliber bullets rate,