Confrontation in the Vietnam War

What was Lyndon Johnson's primary aim in Vietnam

Achieve a quick victory without it becoming Americanised

What was OPLAN 34A

A strategy which gradually increased pressure on N.Vietnam trying to force Hanoi to deflect from its aggressive policies

Which of Kennedy's approach did Johnson continue with

Increasing military advisors
Counterinsurgency

How many military advisors did Johnson increase from

16,300 to 23,300

How did the European community react to Johnson's approach to Vietnam

They weren't convinced of his approach and support from the international community began to dwindle

What did the French leader Charles de Gaulle argue

Vietnam could end up like French Indochina if there was increased involvement
The French proposed neutralism --\> all external states cut all military links with S.Vietnam and leave it to fend for itself

What impact did the reaction from the international community have on Johnson

He delayed any significant escalation of the USA's role in the war by mid-1964

What happened in the Gulf of Tonkin

North Vietnamese attacked an American ship

When was the Gulf of Tonkin

August 1964

How did Congress respond to the Gulf of Tonkin

Allowed Johnson to take whatever action he felt necessary to resist armed attacks on US forces in Vietnam (essentially giving him absolute freedom to conduct whatever policy he wanted in Vietnam)

How did the situation in Vietnam escalate by the end of 1964

China agreed to supply military supplies to N.Vietnam
The USSR established firm diplomatic links with the NLF + set up a permanent mission in Moscow, they sent military equipment was sent to N.Vietnam
First N.Vietnamese military forces, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) moved down the Ho Chi Minh Trail
The Vietcong strengthened their positions in many parts of S.Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
Anti-American feeling growing among the population (after the Gulf of Tonkin bomb response)
ARVN \= S.Vietnamese army had low morale → poor leadership, inadequate training + low pay

Did the USA want to engage in diplomacy

No, Johnson thought that with economic and military force, N.Vietnam would back down
He rejected offers for talks by the UN Secretary-General U Thant + even Hanoi indicated (subtly) that they were willing to talk

How was Operation Rolling Thunder triggered

Feb 1965 --\> Vietcong attack on army barracks + US helicopter base in Pleiku

What was Operation Rolling Thunder

A bombing campaign from 1965-68

What was the significance of Operation Rolling Thunder

Marks start of Americanisation and escalation of US involvement

What was included in N.Vietnam's 4-point proposal

US troops must withdraw from S.Vietnam, in accordance with the Geneva agreements
Neither N or S.Vietnam can enter into any military alliance with a foreign power (during temp division of Vietnam), in accordance with the Geneva agreements
S.Vietnam's internal affairs must be settled by the people of S.Vietnam, in accordance with NLF program + without external influences
The peaceful reunification of Vietnam must be settled only by the people of both zones

Why did Johnson reject the proposal

He believed acceptance would lead to a united and communist Vietnam

How did Johnson react to the proposal

Ordered 2 marine battalions, an air squadron + 20,000 troops to be deployed
Announced his decision to escalate on TV \= 28 July 1965
By July 1965 \= USA had deployed 75,000 ground troops

What was the significance of the battle of Ia Drang Valley

First significant engagement between two forces
Both saw it as a victory
USA \= killed a lot of N.Vietnamese, North \= they held their position

What were the USA's strengths

Economic might
Modern equipment
Strong forces
Bombing
Search and destroy

How was modern equipment a strength

Helicopter seen as crucial, delivered troops without risk of ambush
It was effective in recovering troops, especially those who were injured
It was a crucial attack weapon

Did bombing succeed

Operation Rolling Thunder (B-52 bombers)
Aim was to destroy N.Vietnamese economy + undermine the Vietcong + Northern forces in the South
However this failed, N.Vietnam \= predominantly agrarian, few industrial production
Also undermined by the fact that any resources the North lost was replaced by China and the USSR

What was Operation Ranch Hand

Using chemicals to defoliate the jungles and remove the cover the enemy exploited

What kind of chemicals were used in Operation Ranch Hand

Agent Orange
Agent Blue
These were sprayed over crops to deprive the enemy of food

What impact did Operation Ranch Hand have in Vietnam

Alienated Vietnamese peasants whose crops + livelihoods were destroyed while the guerrillas carried on

What were anti-personnel bombs

Bombs the Americans deployed that freed thousands of pellets in the explosion
Many civilians were caught

What was napalm

A gel that spread over a wide area when it landed, and was set on fire
Many civilians suffered

What was search and destroy

A strategy the Americans used to find + destroy the enemy in the jungle + rural villages (1965-68)

How effective was search + destroy

Very ineffective, it was almost impossible to accurately identify the enemy
Led to many civilians being killed, homes, livelihoods and crops destroyed
Failed to win the hearts of the S.Vietnamese people, pushed them into the arms of the Vietcong

What were the USA's weaknesses

The S.Vietnamese Army was largely uncommitted, they frequently avoided action, weren't well trained
Widespread TV + press coverage --\> increased growing anti-war movement in America
Civil rights campaigners such as MLK reinforced the anti-war movement

What were N.Vietnam's strengths

Peasant support
Guerrilla tactics
The Ho Chi Minh trail

How did peasant support strengthen N.Vietnam

The Vietcong recruited the disaffected, anti-American rural peasantry in S.Vietnam (however the Vietcong were ready to use significant violence to get the peasants to cooperate, cooperation through terror)

How did guerrilla tactics strengthen N.Vietnam

Compensated for inability to engage in conventional warfare
They undermined the resolve and morale of US forces
They had complex tunnel systems to hide Vietcong troops
They laid booby traps in dense forests (trip wires that set of grenades + mines, small groups that ambushed US forces in the jungle)

How did the Ho Chi Minh trail strengthen N.Vietnam

It was the primary supply route to the logistical tactics deployed by the North
Passed through Cambodia + Laos into S.Vietnam
Crucial for men + equipment (but was frequent target for US attacks)
The USSR + China agreed to provide military supplies to N.Vietnam

How many weapons had China supplied to N.Vietnam in 1964

Over 80,000 guns

What kind of weapons did the USSR supplied to N.Vietnam in 1964

Surface to air missiles
MiG-21 jets
Artillery systems

What were N.Vietnam's weaknesses

Dependency on the USSR and China
North's economy couldn't sustain a prolonged war
No guaranteed support among many S.Vietnamese peasants

When was the Tet Offensive

January - February 1968

What was the Tet Offensive

A massive surprise attack by the Vietcong on S.Vietnamese towns and cities in early 1968 to stimulate mass uprisings against the Americans by S.Vietnamese
The events were televised by American media

Was the Tet Offensive successful for the North

For the Vietcong \= massive military defeat, didn't get much support from the S.Vietnamese
Around 25,000 Vietcong were killed, 5000 captured
For the Americans \= turning point, growing disillusionment to the war

Was the Tet Offensive successful for the USA

For the Americans \= turning point, growing disillusionment to the war
Walter Cronkite, a war correspondent --\> commented that the conflict had reached a stalemate, his view reflected + help shape many Americans

What was the US position at the end of Tet

At the end of Tet, the USA had 550,000 ground forces in Vietnam
Tet was a psychological defeat
Pushed away hopes of a swift military defeat