All crippled the ARVN from being an effective fighting force against Communism
High casualty rate during the Vietnam War
Importance of this Factor
The Vietnam War would have been over far quicker without the introduction and escalation of US military forces however it is not a major factor in the US failing to win the Vietnam War.
The corruption and chain of command was a key issue in the failings of the ARVN
US military Failings
Operation ‘Rolling Thunder’
‘Search and Destroy’
Chemical Warfare
Strategic Hamlets
Operation Rolling Thunder
Aim to was two fold:
To make the North Vietnamese give up the War
Halt the flow of equipment down the Ho Chi Minh trail.
8 million tons of bombs dropped between ’65 and ’73
300 tons for every man, woman and child in Vietnam
the cost to the US of these raids was estimated at $900 million.
The USA did not anticipate the determination and resilience of the North Vietnamese people.
Despite killing between 50,000 and 200,000 civilians, morale remained high
The people volunteered to repair the damage showing they would not give up.
Operation Rolling Thunder was a costly operation. It cost the USA vast sums of money and had little impact on both the economy of North Vietnam and the morale of the people.
‘Search & Destroy’
Aim:
To Locate the enemy and engage
Missions using US and ARVN troops transported via helicopters
High Body Count approach (grind the enemy into submission)
Failure of Search and Destroy
Killing more NVA and VC soldiers did not have the desired effect. More and more people from the North would join to fight the foreign invaders.
As soon as US troops arrived at an area the Vietcong would often disappear only to return later.
Innocent villages were often destroyed
Made US & ARVN troops unpopular
Failed to win the support of the Vietnamese peasants.
Inexperienced troops often walked into traps
Rapes and Killings occurred
Search and Destroy did not have the desired effect either as they failed to grind the North into submission through body counts.
Did not reduce the enemies ability to attack or reduce level of support among the south Vietnamese.
Agent Orange and Blue
Aim:
To destroy the jungle and crops supporting the NVA & VC
Make it easier to fight the war for US
It was estimated that approximately 77 million litres was sprayed over Vietnam.
Drifted for miles and destroyed crops of local people.
Up to 4 million people were exposed to these acids
Settled on animals and got into water supplies
Strategic Hamlets
Very unpopular with locals
Relocated peasant farmers from their land and placing them in fortified camps
Supposed to protect them from VC attacks however drove the peasants closer to the VC.
Like living in prison
Overall
US military failings were crucial in the Vietnam War’s outcome. The US failed to win the Hearts and Minds of the people and used tactics that were ineffective and largely unpopular amongst the locals.
Support for the War at home was wavering as a result of the dead bodies coming home and the tactics used by the US.
The success of the Vietcong and NVA in winning the Hearts and Minds of the local peasants in Vietnam was important in the outcome of the War. They fought a determined effort to reunify Vietnam and drive out foreign invaders. The Guerrilla tactics were able to wear down the US/ARVN superior numbers and prevent them from using their superior technological power.
Anti-War Movement
Huge demonstrations carried out during the war calling for the withdrawal of US forces from Vietnam
VVAW
Civil Rights Movement
Students
Hippies
Undermined the war effort as the US failed to achieve a quick victory
58,000 total deaths
Televised pictures showing the horrors of the war
Student opposition
October 1969 2 million people took part in the Vietnam Moratorium protests
Important Factor but not a crucial factor as the war should not have dragged on as long as it did. Expected to be a quick victory for the US, did not materialise
US moral
Inexperience of US soldiers (not prepared to fight the war)
No experience of jungle warfare
19 was the average age of the soldier in Vietnam
43% of those killed in Vietnam were killed in their first three months of service
Drug Use (20,000 treated in 1971)
Most soldiers main aim was reaching DEROS (Date Eligible for Return Overseas)
Conflict between officers and men, ‘Fragging’ was common. (killing of officers by their own men)
Troops more interested in surviving their tour of duty than winning the war as 2 million serving in the War were drafted.
Important factor but not as important as other factors
