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Evolution of Warfare. Vietnam Capt. M.R. Snyder MOI. Learning Objectives. Comprehend the voluntary limitation of the American military effort in the Indochina Know and review the anti-communist military effort from the landing at Da Nang in 1965 to the end of 1967
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Evolution of Warfare Vietnam Capt. M.R. Snyder MOI
Learning Objectives • Comprehend the voluntary limitation of the American military effort in the Indochina • Know and review the anti-communist military effort from the landing at Da Nang in 1965 to the end of 1967 • Comprehend and contrast the military realities of the Tet offensive with its popular American perception and media coverage • Comprehend and explain the need for implementation of a policy of Vietnamization
Reading Assignment • None
Chronology • 1558: Conquest began to make Vietnam a French colony • 1883: Cambodia inadvertently acquired while the French Navy was looking for a water route to China by the way of Mekong River • 1893: Laos added to colony for strategic purposes
Chronology (cont) • Cambodia and Laos were sparsely populated, thickly vegetated, protected by mountains - no trouble for the French • 1879: French civilian control established in Vietnam
1897: Paul Doumer new Governor General of Indochina • Vietnam had drained French treasury for 40 years, determined to fix • Centralized government, began public works program, enslaved hundreds of thousands of peasants for labor • Built roads, railroads, factories, Damer Bridge near Hanoi • Funding improvements: taxed Vietnamese - the poorest paid 12%; French paid max 1/3 of 1%
Paul Doumer (cont) • 80,000 workers needed to build 300 mile railroad, 25,000 died in accidents, malaria, hunger and sickness • Doumer taxed salt sales - Vietnamese used it to preserve food, but couldn't afford it • 1900-1937: Population increase 37%; rice consumption declined 30% due to exporting (Vietnam had never exported before) • Vietnamese starving, families separated, people treated like animals, abused and sick
Vietnam under French Rule • Ho Chi Minh • Led guerrilla and communist forces in jungles of North Vietnam combined into the Viet Minh • Guerrilla warfare main tactic • 1950 Viet Minh • Recognized by China/USSR • Received military assistance • Dec 1950 De Lattre de Tassigny • Restore French authority
French Rule (cont) • Mar - Sept 1953 • U.S. increase aid to French for war in Vietnam • Bien Phu • Jan - May • Garrison under siege for 6 months • Easy target • 73 of 15,000 escaped • Defeat ended the French rule
U.S. Involvement • Reorganize Vietnamese Army • U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) • Support South Vietnam against guerrilla attacks • Helicopters
Plan 34A • What is it? • Covert attacks on North Vietnam • Commando raids, Sabotage, bombings by planes with Laotian markings • Gulf of Tonkin Incident • U.S. Destroyer attacked by North Vietnamese patrol boats 2-4 Aug 64
Air War • Rolling Thunder • Feb 65 • Retaliating measure • Strategic persuasion • Stop flow of supplies and reinforcements • Helicopters • Air Campaigns • 1st Major air raid industrial target
1965 Highlights • Air War begins • First ground forces arrive • Operation Starlight
1966 • 1-8 Jan: 173rd Airborne Brigade • 12 Apr: B-52 • 14 Sep - 24 Nov: Operation Attleboro • Total number of personnel in country • 389,000
1967 • Operation Cedar Fall • Operation Junction City • Khe Sanh • 101st Air cavalry • Total number of personnel in country
1968 • Tet Offensive • Mai Lai Massacre • Operation Complete Victory • Paris Peace Talks began • Bombing halted
1969 • Nixons Vietnamization plan • South Vietnam will take over • U.S. still supply • Cambodian border • Transfer Vietnamization • Withdrawal • Total number in country
1970 • Troops enter Cambodia • Bombing raids • Total number of personnel in country
1971 • Combat responsibility turned over to South Vietnamese Army • Bombings Continue • Total number of personnel in country
1972 • General John Lavelle • Mining of North Vietnam harbors • End of combat role • Bombing continues • total number in country
1973 • Offensive actions halted • Draft • Combat troops
1975 • Saigon falls • Last casualties
Guerrilla Warfare • Viet Cong and North Vietnamese mastered • Cat mouse game • Enemy advances, guerilla retreats. Enemy gets tired guerilla attacks. • Mentally tiring for U.S. forces • Nighttime raids • Hidden tunnels • Booby traps
Problems with Vietnam • Bad leaders after Diems death • Media Coverage
Conclusion • Vietnam and Korea • Same type of war
Next Session Learning Objectives • Know and trace the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflicts • Comprehend and then assess superpower influence in the Mid-East • Know and review the October War, with emphasis on the impact of modern weaponry