The Battle of IA Drang Valley

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Introduction: In 1962, Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara felt it was vital to our military to take a long hard look at our tactics, and begin to take aggressive steps at land warfare mobility. Thus, the birth of the Tactical Mobility Requirements Board more commonly known as the “Howze Board” with this began the building of five Air Assault Divisions. These measures were taken with the thought of being able to be affective in mid- intensity European conflicts. The Army started the transition from having fixed winged aircraft to investing its resources in rotary aircraft; with the development of the turbine engine, it allowed the Army to be the undisputed innovator of the armed helicopter. With this concept of providing superior fire support for the ground forces mainly infantry ensured that, the creation of such a force would be the most influential and greatest asset in the war. Because of the terrain and the guerilla tactics used by the enemy, the American air dominance allowed smaller elements to be successful, this lead to countless victories and the overwhelming success of the armed helicopter concept of warfare. This lead to the wide usage of helicopter and helicopter tactical deployments, to the area of operation, which allowed free mobility in the jungle dense terrain of Vietnam and thus the tactical advantage, The Air Cavalry also used the helicopter for fast transport and insertion of Howitzers, which ensured fire support in remote and isolated areas. “The King of Battle” Field Artillery was vital to the success of many conflicts. It would have an important say in the outcome of many wars dating back hundreds of year. The Vietnam War would be no different combining air mobility tactics with the tried and pro...

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...vantage on the ground. But America had the Field Artillery to ensure victory, accurate fires from countless section drills is what makes it possible to support by fire the infantry on the ground allowing for numerical disadvantages to not be a major factor in the outcome of a battle. LTC Moore once ensured that the enemy stronghold was on in and around the mountain was able to call for fires on the PAVN bunker positions, which without a doubt killed the enemy moral, and hopes of victory.

Works Cited

http://www.aircav.com/histavn.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/628478/Vietnam-War

http://www.first-team.us/tableaux/chapt_08/

http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/tactical/chapter2.htm

http://presidentialrecordings.rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/essays?series=Vietnam

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/vietnam-war-1954-75

http://www.1cda.org/

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