Conflict In Vietnam 1964 - 65

Question 1

VC TACTICS - they blended

Answer 1

In with local population.This made it difficult for members to be identified.

Question 2

VC TACTICS - weaken and terrorise enemy by

Answer 2

Surprise “ hit and run “ attacks.They avoided open battles as the ARVN had better equipment than them .

Question 3

VC TACTICS - did not wear

Answer 3

Uniform .So fhey integrated with peasants

Question 4

VC TACTICS - THEY SET

Answer 4

simple but deadly traps auch as pits with sharp bamboo poles or trip wires with explosives

Question 5

VC TACTICS - used light

Answer 5

Weapons and equipment so they could be quicker and quieter and more efficient

Question 6

VC TACTICS - STAYED CLOSE

Answer 6

To US troops so US planes couldn’t bomb them

Question 7

VC TACTICS sabotaged

Answer 7

Roads and bridges to makw it more difficult for the enemy to move around

Question 8

Why was Operation Rolling Thunder launched

Answer 8

In early 1965, there were still no US soldiers on the ground in Vietnam. Johnson wanted to force the North Vietnamese to negotiate a settlement

Question 9

When was Operation Rolling Thunder launched

Answer 9

In February 1965 USA started a bombign campaign

Question 10

What was Operation Rolling Thunder

Answer 10

A bombing campaign over North Vietnam

Question 11

What were the military and Johnson split about

Answer 11

The military wanted immediate and heavy bombing all over NV including Hanoi.
However, Johnson resisted calls from the military to bomb extensively

Question 12

How did Operation Rolling Thunder begin

Answer 12

Began slowly and near the border with South Vietnam

Question 13

Where did Operation Rolling Thunder not bomb ?

Answer 13

It did not target Hanoi.
Also did not tsrget Haiphong , port where supplies from the USSR arrived in North Vietnam

Question 14

Where did Operation Rolling Thunder target

Answer 14

Ho Chi Minh trail ( to atop aupplies arriving in SV )
what little industry there was in NV

Question 15

Operation Rolling Thunder was planes dropping bombs but also

Answer 15

Napalm
Pineapple bombs

Question 16

What are napalm

Answer 16

A slow burning petrol mixture that sticks to the skin and can burn through the bone

Question 17

What are pineapple bombs

Answer 17

Canosters that explode and shoot pellets everywhere, like bullets

Question 18

As a result of Operation Rolling Thunder US troops were sent to Vietnam

Answer 18

As the USA increased the amount of Rolling Thunder bombing , also set up more aircraft bases in Vietnam.
General Westmorland asked for geound troops to protect these aircraft bases- another step in the escalation of war

Question 19

Why did General Westmorland ask for troops

Answer 19

As these aircraft bases were obvious targets for NV like at Pleiku

Pleiku - On 7 Feb 1964 VC attacked the US airfield at Pleiku
9 died
128 wounded
122 aircrafts destroyed or damaged

Question 20

As Rolling Thunder continued what happened

Answer 20

More and more geound forces were sent to SV

Question 21

How did Johnson get troops

Answer 21

Johnson used the draft to get greater number of troops needed

Question 22

What was the US tactic “ search and destroy “

Answer 22

Small units of US soldiers searched the jungle for VC camps and supplies.Then called up helicopters to bomb or spray chemicals on them

Question 23

These missions were often conducted on the geound.What did this mean ?

Answer 23

VC had left traps on the ground to kill or injure soldiers .If any VC were still in the area, they would use “ hit and run “ attacks on US troops

Question 24

What did the US soldiers destroy

Answer 24

US troops destroyed any VC tunnels, weapons and supplies they found.After the US troops left the area, the VC returned.This sent a message to the US that search and destroy methods were failing

Question 25

What did the use of chemical sprays and bombing mean for the US

Answer 25

Meant they were harming villagers and their homes.This made the USA unpopular with the locals and did not help win the support

Question 26

What did the missions create

Answer 26

The missions created about 4 million SV refugees

Question 27

What was Tet Offensive

Answer 27

A series of attacks on 26 cities and US bases in SV

Question 28

Who organised the Tet offensive

Answer 28

The North Vietnamese with the Vietcong, planned the Tet Offensive carefully

Question 29

When was Tet offensive

Answer 29

Attacks began on Tet Lunar New Year, one of Vietnams most important holidays . In 1968, this event was on 30 January

Question 30

What was the strategy of NV and VC for Tet Offensive

Answer 30

NV and VC did a number of things to try and catch the US and ARVN off guard. In late 1967, NV and VC attacked the demilitarised zone to lure US and ARVN troops away from cities and military bases . Also, NV suggested it was willing to negotiate formpeace- along with recent VC and NV losses made the USA think the communists were losing

Question 31

Events of the Tet Offensive 1968;

Answer 31

30 January - NV troops and the. C attacked high profile places in Saigon such as the US embassy, airport and radio station

Question 32

How huge was the scale of the Tet offensive

Answer 32

Attacks were on a huge scale. 84,000 communists took part. Big change after years of " hit and run ' attacks

Question 33

Why was Tet Offensive a humiliation for the US

Answer 33

Sight of the VC in the US embassy was a huge shock for the American public, who had been told they were winning the war.

Question 34

What was the consequences of the Tet Offensive for US politicians

Answer 34

Congress was less willing to fund war Growing anti war feeling Main reason why Johnson did not run for president in 1968

Question 35

Consequwnces of Tet Offensive for US publix

Answer 35

Feel cheated by the government saying war could end soon.Realised government was lying to them.Which decreased public support Shocked by the images of VC in embassy Huge rise in oppoaition to the war

Question 36

Consequences of Tet Offensive for US army

Answer 36

Some feel they can win the war with more troops Others think they can leave soon as ARVN coped well

Question 37

What were the negative consequences of Tet Offensivd for thr North Vietnamese

Answer 37

Suffered heavy losses VC allies almost wiped out South Bietnamese did not revolt as hoped

Question 38

What were the positive consequences of Tet offensive for the North Vietnamese

Answer 38

They could rebuild forces Can use Tet in their propaganda - huge propoganda win Reaction in the USA against the war was a victory for them

Question 39

What were the consequences of Tet Offensive for the SV government

Answer 39

Worried US might leave soon Had some support from the SV people - no revolt