Home > GCSE History > How did the Viet Cong fight the Vietnam war?
Guerrilla Tactics
The Viet Cong mainly used guerrilla tactics to fight in the South.
This is because the US had more advanced weapons, resources and equipment to beat the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army (the NVA) in a pinched fight or in open warfare. It would also be effective as the support from peasants meant that they were able to hide themselves in peasant villages. They also had knowledge of the jungles of the south and essential supplies were coming from the north to the south through the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
What were the guerrilla tactics?
The aim of guerilla warfare was to wear down the US army and wreck their morale. It was effective as the US were in constant fear and 11% of the deaths were caused by booby traps.
What did these tactics rely on to be successful?
For this to work, however, they needed peasants support so that they could hide the VC when they were retreating. Since they had no uniform they could blend in with the peasants. This meant that the Americans did not know who their enemy was because after they had struck, they blended back into the population.
This is because the US had more advanced weapons, resources and equipment to beat the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese Army (the NVA) in a pinched fight or in open warfare. It would also be effective as the support from peasants meant that they were able to hide themselves in peasant villages. They also had knowledge of the jungles of the south and essential supplies were coming from the north to the south through the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
What were the guerrilla tactics?
- Retreat when the enemy attacks
- Raid when the enemy camps
- Attack when the enemy tires
- Pursue when the enemy retreats
The aim of guerilla warfare was to wear down the US army and wreck their morale. It was effective as the US were in constant fear and 11% of the deaths were caused by booby traps.
What did these tactics rely on to be successful?
For this to work, however, they needed peasants support so that they could hide the VC when they were retreating. Since they had no uniform they could blend in with the peasants. This meant that the Americans did not know who their enemy was because after they had struck, they blended back into the population.
Tunnel Systems
Tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters.
The immense network of tunnels in Saigon, Cu Chi District, are known as the Cu Chi tunnels.
How important were the tunnel systems?
The tunnels were important because it was a vital way of staying safe from the US air raids which were very powerful. It also kept them hidden and were dangerous ground for the US since they were rigged with traps. It had the necessities to keep the NVA and the VC going (it was self-contained). US and ARVN forces died here if they got too close because of its dangerous traps.
The immense network of tunnels in Saigon, Cu Chi District, are known as the Cu Chi tunnels.
How important were the tunnel systems?
The tunnels were important because it was a vital way of staying safe from the US air raids which were very powerful. It also kept them hidden and were dangerous ground for the US since they were rigged with traps. It had the necessities to keep the NVA and the VC going (it was self-contained). US and ARVN forces died here if they got too close because of its dangerous traps.
Methods of the Viet Cong
Landmines- Landmines were used by placing bombs on the ground that would be activated by a soldier stepping on it. It would activate when the foot is taken off and would kill. There were different types such as bouncing betties, or toe poppers (shown later)
Booby traps- Booby traps were non-explosive traps that were used to harm the enemy. They often consisted of a layer of ground that could be penetrated so that when the foot of an enemy soldier lands on it, it goes right through to the stakes or spikes beneath. Sometimes the spikes were poison-tipped to cause an infection. Booby traps include the Punji stake pit or the Punji bear trap.
Trip wires- Trip wires were either explosive or not explosive. Sometimes they were used to trigger a poison tipped arrow into firing at the enemy, or sometimes they were used to trigger a grenade into exploding or a spiked ball to fall onto the enemy. They were very harmful. They could be used to cause a chain reaction of explosives as well.
Hiding- Hiding was used by the VC to disguise themselves from the US. It was needed by the VC to use their guerilla tactics. It was very effective in hiding them and only one American soldier could go in at a time to search them, and if there were VC there, they would be dead as the VC would outnumber the American and the American would be “staring at the gun of his enemy”. Sometimes they were man made tunnels, other times they were natural hiding spots.
Booby traps- Booby traps were non-explosive traps that were used to harm the enemy. They often consisted of a layer of ground that could be penetrated so that when the foot of an enemy soldier lands on it, it goes right through to the stakes or spikes beneath. Sometimes the spikes were poison-tipped to cause an infection. Booby traps include the Punji stake pit or the Punji bear trap.
Trip wires- Trip wires were either explosive or not explosive. Sometimes they were used to trigger a poison tipped arrow into firing at the enemy, or sometimes they were used to trigger a grenade into exploding or a spiked ball to fall onto the enemy. They were very harmful. They could be used to cause a chain reaction of explosives as well.
Hiding- Hiding was used by the VC to disguise themselves from the US. It was needed by the VC to use their guerilla tactics. It was very effective in hiding them and only one American soldier could go in at a time to search them, and if there were VC there, they would be dead as the VC would outnumber the American and the American would be “staring at the gun of his enemy”. Sometimes they were man made tunnels, other times they were natural hiding spots.
How effective were the Viet Cong tactics?
The main objectives and aims of the Vietcong were to use guerilla warfare to achieve victory against the USA. This meant that they had to retreat when the enemy attacked, pursue when they retreated, attack when they tired and raid when they camped. The objectives of this was to wear down the enemy and wreck their morale.
This relied on peasant support as they relied on the peasants hiding them. Without being able to hide with the peasants, they wouldn't have been able to blend in so well and attack the US so secretly. There was no telling who was an enemy and who wasn't. It also depended on being able to build intricate tunnels and finding good hiding places naturally or building their own. This helped them attack the US with secrecy. It also helped them counter the enemies air raids. With their impressive tunnels, they were able to stay safe from the US bombings and also create a dangerous environment for the enemy since their tunnels were filled with bombs and traps. Traps made up eleven percent of American deaths, which made them very useful.
These guerilla tactics, bombs and traps were extremely successful as the Americans were constantly in fear of stepping on bombs or traps, or activating an enemy tripwire. They were also in fear of ambushes from the Vietcong or North Vietnamese Army since that was how they fought.
They were extremely successful because they had very good and vital knowledge of the forests and jungles and were able to protect their supplies from damage by using the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They were hard to distinguish and won the support of the peasants of south Vietnam because they were mostly courteous and respectful to the peasants, and also helped them out with their work. In contrast to this, the Americans used tactics such as 'Search and Destroy' which heavily increased support for the Vietcong due to the ridiculous amount of damage and unnecessary casualties of the peasants.
All of these factors added up to increasing fear for the Americans and a winning war effort on part of the North-Vietnamese and the Vietcong.
This relied on peasant support as they relied on the peasants hiding them. Without being able to hide with the peasants, they wouldn't have been able to blend in so well and attack the US so secretly. There was no telling who was an enemy and who wasn't. It also depended on being able to build intricate tunnels and finding good hiding places naturally or building their own. This helped them attack the US with secrecy. It also helped them counter the enemies air raids. With their impressive tunnels, they were able to stay safe from the US bombings and also create a dangerous environment for the enemy since their tunnels were filled with bombs and traps. Traps made up eleven percent of American deaths, which made them very useful.
These guerilla tactics, bombs and traps were extremely successful as the Americans were constantly in fear of stepping on bombs or traps, or activating an enemy tripwire. They were also in fear of ambushes from the Vietcong or North Vietnamese Army since that was how they fought.
They were extremely successful because they had very good and vital knowledge of the forests and jungles and were able to protect their supplies from damage by using the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They were hard to distinguish and won the support of the peasants of south Vietnam because they were mostly courteous and respectful to the peasants, and also helped them out with their work. In contrast to this, the Americans used tactics such as 'Search and Destroy' which heavily increased support for the Vietcong due to the ridiculous amount of damage and unnecessary casualties of the peasants.
All of these factors added up to increasing fear for the Americans and a winning war effort on part of the North-Vietnamese and the Vietcong.