The Viet Cong: Tactics and Support

The Viet Cong: Tactics and Support

1. Supplies

   • Depended on supplies from North Vietnam
   • Supplies delivered along the Ho Chi Minh trail
   • 40,000 Vietnamese worked to keep the trail open and protected

2. Commitment

   • Number of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese killed in the war was an estimated 1 million
   • Strength of the Viet Cong fighters was their attitude not to give in to defeat

3. Guerrilla Warfare

   • Small units with limited weapons
   • Wore no uniform; hard to distinguish from peasants
   • Attacked isolated units of US soldiers
   • Ambushes in the jungle terrified US soldiers

4. Civilian Support

   • Viet Cong expected to respect Vietnamese peasants
   • Prepared to kill peasants who opposed them or cooperated with the enemy
   • 1966-1971: killed an estimated 27,000 civilians