GUERILLA WARFARE

Guerilla warfare has been used in many conflicts throughout history including the American revolution by patriots and before by Native Americans. In Vietnam it was introduced mainly in 1948 in order to fight off the Japanese in the aftermath of the second world war. Ho Chi Minh the leader of the Vietminh took inspiration from Mao Zedong the communist leader of China and with that introducte Guerilla troops into the fight against Japan in Indochina. These fighters were often inspired and devoted locals who fought for their home and what they thought was best for it, giving them the advantage that most Americans did not have, a reason to fight. The Guerillas were small units able to scatter easily that would dig tunnel systems, set traps, and ambush US troops and allies. These small scale hit fast hit hard tactics made it almost impossible to fend off or predict an attack even with the technology and weaponry of the US Army.

Cu Chi Guerilla Tunnel

This declassified US Army map shows the most complex Viet Cong tunnel system in south Vietnam. In the Cu Chi district outside of Saigon laid a intricate system of tunnels in which NLF Guerilla troops would operate assualts, ambushes, and set up traps for US and South Vietnamese troops. This map shows only a small portion of the tunnel entrances. Tunnel systems like these proved difficult for non-Viet Cong troops to navigate making entering them a dangerous and difficult mission. These tunnels proved a more than effective tool in causing dismay and havok on enemy troops while also providing cover and means for quick escape. The vastness and technological feat of the Cu Chi tunnel system make them popular tourist sites today. These tunnels also often included everything from living quaters to hospitals. Operation Crimp, the largest US mission in Vietnam, was an attempt by some 8,000 soldiers to defeat the Guerillas in the Cu Chi tunnels.

The Traps

One of the most deadly tactics of the Viet Cong Guerillas was the setting of anit-personelle weapons such as land mines, claymores, and bouncing bettys. Many other traps were made and used by the Guerillas but non as much as these explosive which are set off by motion or change in pressure and can be hidden in plane site. The physcological toil on the US and South Vietnames soldiers of not knowing if your next step will literally be your last was a strong advantage for the NLF. This photo helps to present what these soldier endured. The photo shows the mans torso and most of the damage from these explosives would be on the legs. As one Marine comforts the injured another looks at the wound all while the injured looks on the brink of death. These tiny weapons proved extremly effective for causing fear and caution amongs the Americans.

“The most feared mine was the Bouncing Betty. It was conical shaped, three prongs jutting out of the soil. When your foot hit the prong, a charge went off that shot the mine into the air, a yard high, showering shrapnel everywhere. It’s a mine that goes after the lower torso: a terrible mine… On one occasion after my company had encamped and sent out patrols there was a large explosion only 200 yards away… We raced out there and only two men were living out of a patrol of eight or so. Just a mess. It was like a stew, full of meat and flesh and red tissue and white bone.” – Tim O’brien

Anti-Guerilla Memorandum for General Lemnitzer

This document is memorandum to General Lemnitzer commander of US Army in Far East Asia at the time. Lemnitzer was involved in the early stages of US involvement in Vietnam and was an expirenced veteran fighting in WW2 and the Korean War. He was appointed Chairman of the Joint Cheif of Staffs one year before this memorandum. This document is important becuase it shows how high up a priorty it was to counter the Guerilla troops.

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