Vietcong Guerilla Warfare Tactics (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note

Summary

The United States had the most well-equipped and technologically advanced armed forces in the world. Vietnam was a tiny impoverished nation. A quick American victory in the war was widely predicted. However, the Americans struggled to find the enemy and yet their soldiers suffered a steady stream of deaths and injuries. This is because the Vietcong were experts in guerilla warfare.

What is guerilla warfare?

• Guerilla warfare is sometimes called unconventional or asymmetric warfare

  • It is an approach often used by people facing an invading force that is much stronger, wealthier and better equipped

• In conventional wars, such as the Napoleonic Wars and World War I, large armies of soldiers in uniforms fight fixed battles

  • The winners of those large battles would usually win the war

• Guerilla warfare is very different and involves avoiding large battles at all costs

• Instead, guerilla fighters stay hidden and try to inflict damage on their enemy through thousands of tiny attacks

How did the Vietcong use guerilla warfare?

• The Vietcong were extremely effective guerilla fighters for several reasons:

  • They had experienced leaders like Ho Chi Minh who had fought guerilla campaigns against Japan and France

  • The jungle was the perfect environment as it was easy to hide fighters and set ambushes and booby traps

  • Approximately, 15% of US injuries and 11% of US deaths in the Vietnam War were caused by booby traps

  • They were well-equipped thanks to the Ho Chi Minh Trail

  • They brutally punished those who collaborated with the enemy

  • They were supportive of farmers and never stole their harvests or animals

• They built an enormous network of tunnels to enable them to both hide and take shelter from the enormous aerial bombing campaign

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