Military Tactics used by the USA and the Vietcong

Military Tactics used by the USA and the Vietcong

The USA was a richer 1st world country than Vietnam, meaning it was

better equipped for a military attacks. It had: more and better

weapons; better access to well trained soldiers; a good military

understanding; good transportation and was generally better equipped

for traditional styles of warfare. Vietnam was a 3rd world country. It

had: limited access to weapons; few funds to train soldiers and a

poorer military understanding. Because of this the Vietcong chose to

fight a guerrilla style war. This was better because it didn't expose

their soldiers to direct enemy fire, saving precious lives. It also

meant that they could steal American weapons and lay in expensive

booby traps.

The USA had the most control over South Vietnam in and around the

cities on the coast. This was because they could land large aircraft

on the flat land. There were also ports for importing troops and

weaponry. The USA's tanks were most effective because of the flat

inhabited terrain. America set up bases there because of these

reasons. The Vietcong however had most control in the jungle in the

countryside. This was because they knew their own surroundings well.

The Vietcong also blended in with the villagers and farmers and

weren't easy to distinguish. Furthermore America's tanks struggled and

weren't suited to the hills and trees of the jungle. The Vietcong

stayed away from the cities except to commit terrorist attacks.

The methods used by the USA to keep control over the South Vietnamese

people were teaching the children and adults to hate the Vietcong. The

children were taught this in school. They...

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... 1968 the Vietcong and the NVA joined forces. They launched a

traditional, non-guerrilla style attack on over 100 targets. They felt

confident they could succeed because they were better equipped. They

took a calculated risk and called it the Tet offensive. Fighting had

now changed from guerrilla style warfare to out in the open,

traditional war that left the Vietcong directly exposed to American

fire. The NVA were also on the Vietcong's side. The Tet offensive

stunned the Americans. They had thought they were winning the war. As

a result off the Tet offensive America responded by increasing the

bombing of North Vietnam. Also their search and destroy missions got

very violent. An example of this was on the village of Mylai where the

USA destroyed all life in the village, massacring women and children

and innocent men.