Vietnam - US Tactics 1964 to 1974 Flashcards
What was the ‘Rolling Thunder’ tactic used by the Americans?
Operation Rolling Thunder was a bombing campaign that the USA used on North Vietnam from 1965 until 1972. The US selected targets, usually important industrial or military buildings and areas, and bombed them relentlessly to cut down resources for the North Vietnamese.
What was ‘Search and Destroy’?
‘Search and Destroy’ was a tactic used by the USA wherein theoretically helicopters would attack Vietnamese villages suspected to be assisting the Viet Cong. In reality, the military utilised this tactic to drive up casualty statistics so that they would seem more successful.
What did the weapon ‘napalm’ do?
Napalm was a chemical weapon developed by the US, used to burn out parts of the jungle where they suspected Viet Cong to be hiding. It burned through skin to the bone. Examples of where this was misused were in incidents like the My Lai massacre.
What was the weapon known as ‘Agent Orange’?
Agent Orange was a strong toxic chemical similar to weedkiller. It was named after its orange colour, and was used along with weapons like napalm to destroy parts of the jungle where Viet Cong could be hiding.
What was the US government policy named ‘Hearts and Minds’ about?
‘Hearts and Minds’ was the collective term for the objectives used by the USA to try and win support. Otherwise known as pacification, it dictated that the capitalist troops in Vietnam should be aiming to protect the South Vietnamese, for example by sparing them. These ‘honourable’ tactics were often referred to by the president in his speeches.
What was the My Lai Massacre?
The My Lai massacre was a mass killing performed by Charlie Company of the 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry regiment, that resulted in between 300-500 deaths. Women were gang-raped, bodies mutilated, and many other horrors took place. Victims were of all ages.
What triggered the My Lai Massacre?
In the Tet Offensive, the 48th NLF Battalion (National Liberation Front - Viet Cong) attacked Quang Ngai. US intelligence concluded that after they retreated and dispersed, they went to hide in the village of Son My. Specific hamlets, known as My Lai 1-6 by the US forces, were suspected of harboring the Viet Cong.
