Terrain Ignored: How the U.S. Lost the Vietnam War, Part 3 of 3

We taught the ARVN to be bad imitations of ourselves; we had them land foot troops in wide-open rice paddies from helicopters so they could get chopped to pieces by the VC/NVA hiding in the adjacent treelines. Without smokescreens, this forced ARVN troops in M113 Gavin light tracked APCs/tanks to charge ahead and be targeted by enemy recoilless rifles to try to get the momentum of the attack going again. After the VC/NVA retreated upon sight/sound of our noisy helicopters

http://www.combatreform.org/fries.htm

or unwisely stayed and were routed but friendly forces bloodied, the latter left the field of battle and returned to a forward operating fire base which had short-range, 105mm artillery pieces—so there was no excuse for not laying smokescreens to blind enemies on LZs/DZs---

http://www.combatreform.org/smokescreen.htm

the actual terrain was left to the VC/NVA to control and burrow underneath in a maze of tunnels to avoid our aircraft high explosive bombing. Note in the video when an ARVN attack stalled, Airborne FACs in observation/attack planes or GFACs on the ground called in A-1 SkyRaiders and jet fighter-bombers to lay down heavy HE snakeye bombs and napalm jellied gasoline firebombs (snake & nape) on the enemy to eliminate him.

http://www.combatreform.org/killerbees3.htm

The ARVN fought well with M41 Walker BullDog and M113 Gavin light tanks/APCs; when they foot-slogged from overly complex Huey helicopters they suffered horrendous casualties that broke their will and their budget so by the time the NVA divisions (little military experience) U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger allowed to stay ensconced in the South during the 1973 Paris negotiations made their final move on Saigon in 1975, without Civil-Military Chief retired LTC John Paul Vann around to insist on B-52 heavy bomber strikes, the war was lost.

http://www.defensereview.com/the-afghanistan-long-term-security-solution-afpa...

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[mdvga1]

Bright Shining Lie, John Paul Vann (KIA, not retired), presents some pretty sad insights into the war.

Nevertheless, it wasn't about winning terrain, it was about killing the NVA/VC wherever they could be found.

Would China have entered the war had we invaded the North, leading to another Korea? Without invading the North, the flow of NVA into South VN could not be stopped, even with a million troops.

So what's your point?

[nomorenarcissism]

@mdvga1 STOP CLOSED TERRAIN INFILTRATION WITH FORTIFICATIONS--NOT troops. If we could have done this, South Vietnam and the North would have came to a peaceful unity. U.S. military incompetence that cannot control closed terrain is the cause.

[khoto74]

Another US vietnam war propaganda documentary. Wan't to know why you didn't win this war. Try reading Guerilla Warfare by penguin books. To defeat the enemy is to know the enemy and be prepare for a long long long war ahead.

[nomorenarcissism]

No, this video reveals many truths. Knowing the enemy is not enough if you cannot beat the terrain so its not used by the enemy against you.

[cabraden1]

@nomorenarcissism

US used airborne cavalry to overcome terrain. Drop troops in, fight and get out.

If the US had to deal with terrain, so did the NVA and Viet Cong, so it cancels out.

This war was a political defeat for the US, not a military defeat.

[nomorenarcissism]

@cabraden1 NOT. The NVA/VC adapted to the closed terrain and exploited it. We only adapted well with our armored cavalry in M113 Gavin light tracks. Our helicopter cavalry needed light tracks to avoid fighting enemy even or at a disadvantage after insertion. Vietnam was a MILITARY defeat for America because we failed to learn how to control closed terrain...we still don't know how to do it!

[runisunke]

it was never meant to be won, only to be prolonged. & generate profit

[yvesttt]

And so Rambo was born.

[62rome]

four star clowns gave the whole war away...

[TheIraq4life]

khoto74 is right pashonts is the true tool to victory,pashonts and coreg

[ownerloll]

so how did they loose the war

[baberaider18]

this battle taught the americans to use different tactics.

[seanpdineen]

Vann and Robert Thompson knew what to do.

The british won im malaysia, long hall low cost

[centurion180ad]

This video is a lie. THE BRIGHT SHINING LIE reveals the truth.