American Military Strategies in Vietnam Sending in the Troops

Pleiku and Operation Flaming Dart The Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase occurred on the night of February 6, The Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase occurred on the night of February 6, The attack left eight Americans dead and 128 wounded The attack left eight Americans dead and 128 wounded it prompted the United States to launch Operation Flaming Dart against North Vietnam in retaliation. it prompted the United States to launch Operation Flaming Dart against North Vietnam in retaliation. The Pleiku attack was used by the Johnson Administration as justification for committing combat troops to South Vietnam The Pleiku attack was used by the Johnson Administration as justification for committing combat troops to South Vietnam

Seek and Destroy Under President Lyndon B. Johnson ( ), US intervention mushroomed both militarily and politically. Under President Lyndon B. Johnson ( ), US intervention mushroomed both militarily and politically. General William C. Westmoreland, was commander of all U.S. Military Operations in Vietnam General William C. Westmoreland, was commander of all U.S. Military Operations in Vietnam The General Strategy was: The General Strategy was: 1. American ground divisions would seek out and destroy North Vietnamese and Viet Cong 2. Launch air strikes against the North targeting transportation, oil storage, and the nation's few industries In theory, Westmoreland's strategy of search and destroy would force the Communists to expend supplies make the logistics in North Vietnam all the more vulnerable to bombing. In theory, Westmoreland's strategy of search and destroy would force the Communists to expend supplies make the logistics in North Vietnam all the more vulnerable to bombing.

Troop Deployment Total US Military Personnel in VietnamTotal US Military Personnel in Vietnam Date Total Personnel Date Total Personnel , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,900

Wartime in Vietnam The Vietnam conflict had many faces The Vietnam conflict had many faces 1. insurrection by indigenous guerrilla forces 2. an invasion by the regular army of a neighboring regime 3. It was a war of snipers and ambushes, booby traps and pitched battles

Wartime in Vietnam 5. It was fighting small bands of unrecognizable Vietcong 6. It was large full scale military operations against the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) 7. The fighting locale ranged from the densely inhabited rice basket of the Mekong Delta to the remote, jungled mountains of the Central Highlands

Changes in US Military Strategy Because of these factors, the US military was forced to change its traditional military deployment strategy Because of these factors, the US military was forced to change its traditional military deployment strategy 1. Front lines common in previous wars were replaced by perimeter defenses 2. The helicopter became a prime mover for artillery 3. Artillery units occupied fire support bases and could fire 360 degrees 4. American tactics in Vietnam relied on overwhelming firepower

The New Strategy Challenge Very few major engagements were fought without artillery support Very few major engagements were fought without artillery support air support and artillery reduced friendly casualties while overcoming the enemy’s advantage in numbers air support and artillery reduced friendly casualties while overcoming the enemy’s advantage in numbers Although American firepower created staggering enemy casualties and limited his ability to mass maneuver forces, preparatory fires seldom neutralized the NVA positions Although American firepower created staggering enemy casualties and limited his ability to mass maneuver forces, preparatory fires seldom neutralized the NVA positions The dense jungle and the steep slope of hills concentrated US firepower, as did the enemy's weIl- prepared defenses. The dense jungle and the steep slope of hills concentrated US firepower, as did the enemy's weIl- prepared defenses.

Rolling Thunder In 1965, Rolling Thunder was the operation of US air strikes were ordered against North Vietnam In 1965, Rolling Thunder was the operation of US air strikes were ordered against North Vietnam But US forces were not permitted to attack some targets for fear of Chinese retaliation But US forces were not permitted to attack some targets for fear of Chinese retaliation Spring 1965, 50,000 Chinese troops served in North Vietnam Spring 1965, 50,000 Chinese troops served in North Vietnam Johnson limited ROLLING THUNDER to southern North Vietnam in 1968 Johnson limited ROLLING THUNDER to southern North Vietnam in 1968 Having turned to air power, the Johnson administration chose to apply it in a gradually escalating fashion Having turned to air power, the Johnson administration chose to apply it in a gradually escalating fashion