Vietnamese Guerrilla Tactics no match for American technological warfare
Despite being known as the most powerful economic military in the world, the American soldiers soon struggled to fight off the skilled Viet Minh, Viet Cong and NVA. America's bombing regime in the air had backfired, 80% of the U.S bombing hit innocent Vietnamese civilians more than their actual target. The North Vietnamese had developed an anti air craft system that would easily wipe out U.S planes, which this method was very effective. Clement Zablocki reported that 'an average of two civilians were killed for every Viet Cong' , along with almost 14,000 Gls being killed in action by 1967 in the search and destroy missions. The bombing soon became a draw back to the Americans it was seen as more of a benefit to the Vietnamese, they recycled old U.S bombs that hadn't exploded and used it for developing homemade traps that would be used against the original beholders. This air war that America had initiated not only failed but had backfired on them. This had caused a high amount of casualties and costs for the U.S Military. For example, from 1965 to 1968, The U.S had lost around 900 aircraft and 800 pilots had died in action. Also, by the end of 1972, the U.S had lost 3,689 fixed-wing aircraft plus 4,857 at a high price of $10 billion. By the end of the whole Vietnam War, 7 million bombs had been drooped on Vietnam, whcih was more in total than what was dropped on Europe and Japan in World War II. In summary, America's air war had little negative impact on North Vietnam, it only brought them questioning the U.S's international reputation, as secretary of defence McNamara quoted: "The picture of the world's greatest superpower killing on seriously injuring 1,000 non-combatants a week, while trying to pound a tiny backward nation in submission on an issue whose merits are hotly disputed, is not a pretty one". Although, America did had total control in the air. Planes were used for napalm and Agent Orange, to help destroy the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail that was frequently used by Vietnamese soldiers. Agent Orange did only resulted in destroying vast areas of Vietnam landscape, affecting civilians and both Vietnam and American soldiers health short term and long term. Agent Orange and Napalm only added to the rising costs of America's involvement in the war as well. With the air war in the North, in the South was the opposite with the search and destroy missions. The Americans attempted to track down the Viet Cong and when discovered, the would call in the artillery to annihilate them. Although, the Viet Cong was especially skilled at hiding in the forest and foliage when necessary. This would result in the Americans losing their target, and retreating back to their base, allowing the Viet Cong to retake their territory. Fighting the Viet Cong were especially difficult for the American soldiers. The Viet Cong would apply large units of soldiers that would fight against the Americans, and surround them so the Americans would feel helpless. This caused a comment from President John Kennedy at the time who began to have doubts about the Vietnam War, "American military assistance cant conquer an enemy which is everywhere".
American Soldiers compared to Vietnamese Soldiers
The young American front line soldiers were named 'grunts' as every time they sat down, their heavy packs would tighten, and restricted their air and would make a grunting noise. The average age of a 'grunt' was 19, un-experienced and skill less. They were incredibly young and usually from lower social groups. Unlike the Viet Cong, the American soldiers were trained in conventional warfare, not guerrilla tactics. It was difficult for the young American soldiers to know who was the enemy with the Viet Cong being submerged into villages and they didn't know who they could trust amongst the South Vietnamese population. They were fighting the Chinese guerrilla trained Viet Cong, who were highly skilled who had also had years to perfect their tactics whereas the American troops only had basic training. Every step they took in the Vietnam terrain, could result in serious injury. They had to be constantly aware and were easily being attacked by homemade Vietnamese traps that were scattered everywhere, including Punji traps, which if had injured a soldier, they would have to have fellow soldiers give him medical attention immediately, which this decreased the amount of soldiers who fought. The Americans struggled with the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong, and soon realised their military's reputation was at stake. To deal with their on going loss and having to witness death daily which was causing mental problems, the U.S Military soon resorted to drugs to cope. In 1973, statistics show that 35% of the soldiers in the South had tried heroin and 20% became addicted. Racism also started to develop within the troops and 1/5 of black soldiers would turn against the white soldiers. America was beginning to get sick of the war in Vietnam, and back at home, protests and ant-war movements had evolved and protested to get their soldiers back home and out of this disastrous war.
Despite being known as the most powerful economic military in the world, the American soldiers soon struggled to fight off the skilled Viet Minh, Viet Cong and NVA. America's bombing regime in the air had backfired, 80% of the U.S bombing hit innocent Vietnamese civilians more than their actual target. The North Vietnamese had developed an anti air craft system that would easily wipe out U.S planes, which this method was very effective. Clement Zablocki reported that 'an average of two civilians were killed for every Viet Cong' , along with almost 14,000 Gls being killed in action by 1967 in the search and destroy missions. The bombing soon became a draw back to the Americans it was seen as more of a benefit to the Vietnamese, they recycled old U.S bombs that hadn't exploded and used it for developing homemade traps that would be used against the original beholders. This air war that America had initiated not only failed but had backfired on them. This had caused a high amount of casualties and costs for the U.S Military. For example, from 1965 to 1968, The U.S had lost around 900 aircraft and 800 pilots had died in action. Also, by the end of 1972, the U.S had lost 3,689 fixed-wing aircraft plus 4,857 at a high price of $10 billion. By the end of the whole Vietnam War, 7 million bombs had been drooped on Vietnam, whcih was more in total than what was dropped on Europe and Japan in World War II. In summary, America's air war had little negative impact on North Vietnam, it only brought them questioning the U.S's international reputation, as secretary of defence McNamara quoted: "The picture of the world's greatest superpower killing on seriously injuring 1,000 non-combatants a week, while trying to pound a tiny backward nation in submission on an issue whose merits are hotly disputed, is not a pretty one". Although, America did had total control in the air. Planes were used for napalm and Agent Orange, to help destroy the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail that was frequently used by Vietnamese soldiers. Agent Orange did only resulted in destroying vast areas of Vietnam landscape, affecting civilians and both Vietnam and American soldiers health short term and long term. Agent Orange and Napalm only added to the rising costs of America's involvement in the war as well. With the air war in the North, in the South was the opposite with the search and destroy missions. The Americans attempted to track down the Viet Cong and when discovered, the would call in the artillery to annihilate them. Although, the Viet Cong was especially skilled at hiding in the forest and foliage when necessary. This would result in the Americans losing their target, and retreating back to their base, allowing the Viet Cong to retake their territory. Fighting the Viet Cong were especially difficult for the American soldiers. The Viet Cong would apply large units of soldiers that would fight against the Americans, and surround them so the Americans would feel helpless. This caused a comment from President John Kennedy at the time who began to have doubts about the Vietnam War, "American military assistance cant conquer an enemy which is everywhere".
American Soldiers compared to Vietnamese Soldiers
The young American front line soldiers were named 'grunts' as every time they sat down, their heavy packs would tighten, and restricted their air and would make a grunting noise. The average age of a 'grunt' was 19, un-experienced and skill less. They were incredibly young and usually from lower social groups. Unlike the Viet Cong, the American soldiers were trained in conventional warfare, not guerrilla tactics. It was difficult for the young American soldiers to know who was the enemy with the Viet Cong being submerged into villages and they didn't know who they could trust amongst the South Vietnamese population. They were fighting the Chinese guerrilla trained Viet Cong, who were highly skilled who had also had years to perfect their tactics whereas the American troops only had basic training. Every step they took in the Vietnam terrain, could result in serious injury. They had to be constantly aware and were easily being attacked by homemade Vietnamese traps that were scattered everywhere, including Punji traps, which if had injured a soldier, they would have to have fellow soldiers give him medical attention immediately, which this decreased the amount of soldiers who fought. The Americans struggled with the guerrilla tactics of the Viet Cong, and soon realised their military's reputation was at stake. To deal with their on going loss and having to witness death daily which was causing mental problems, the U.S Military soon resorted to drugs to cope. In 1973, statistics show that 35% of the soldiers in the South had tried heroin and 20% became addicted. Racism also started to develop within the troops and 1/5 of black soldiers would turn against the white soldiers. America was beginning to get sick of the war in Vietnam, and back at home, protests and ant-war movements had evolved and protested to get their soldiers back home and out of this disastrous war.
