What is the most crucial item that wins wars? Weapons. Weapons are what decide the victor in any war. Especially in the Vietnam War, many weapons were used such as Agent Orange, air to ground missiles, and machine guns. Agent Orange, used extensively during the Vietnam War, was a deforesting chemical used from 1961 to 1971 on the tree filled areas of Vietnam and parts of Cambodia and Laos. This chemical was a mixture between Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Once mixed the mixture created an acid called dioxine, which is very harmful to humans. Dioxine poisoning is still present in third-generation Vietnamese who have ingested or worked in areas where Agent Orange was sprayed. Dioxine poisoning created genetic deformities …show more content…
The first tactical air to ground missile was created by the US navy in 1959, it was named Bullpup. The Bullpup was designed to “enable the attacking aircraft to make a precision attack from outside antiaircraft artillery range” (Carl Otis Schuster, “Air to Ground missiles: Vietnam War”). The early version was equipped with “a 250-pound warhead and were powered by a small solid-fuel rocket engine” (Carl Otis Schuster, “Air to Ground missiles: Vietnam War”). The Bullpups lacked in range thus not allowing them to be useful due to the longer range of the surface to air missiles used by the Viet Cong, or the North Vietnamese. In reaction to this the US built the AGM-45 Shrike antiradiation missile, which had the range, firepower, and speed to destroy the Vietnamese surface to air missiles. The US army also used air to ground missiles, specifically the French made AGM-22. This missile was used by UH-1 gunships for the majority of the war and is “credited with destroying North Vietnamese PT-76 tanks” (Carl Otis Schuster, “Air to Ground missiles: Vietnam War”). The success of the AGM-22 was incredible, during one of its first deployment in war it was credited with destroying 24 North Vietnamese tanks within 5
On August 2nd 1964, two United States Navy ships were secretly attacked by the North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. A few days later, another two U.S. Destroyer boats were attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo
General William Westmoreland called the helicopter air assault “the most innovative tactical development to emerge from the Vietnam War” (Carland, 2003). In February 1963 on the recommendation of the U.S. Army Tactical Mobility Requirements Board, otherwise known as the Howze Board after its president LTG Hamilton Howze, the 11th Airborne Division was reactivated as the 11th Air Assault Division (test). Their mission, to train in the theory and evolution of the air assault concept. Training continued until 1965 when the division was deactivated and reflagged as the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). Shortly thereafter the division began deploying South Vietnam.
M4 Sherman Designed after the defeat of the french army the United States engineers this tank transforms into a bulldozer tank but by far this was not the best tank in WW2. M4A4 Sherman
An average riverine battery consisted of three pontoon barges and five LCMs—three as push boats for the barges, one as a fire direction center and command post, and one as an ammunition supply vessel. “Without these new developments in riverine artillery. U.S. maneuver force activities in the delta area would have been seriously curtailed or often would have had to take place out of range of friendly field artillery” (Ott, 1995, p. 80). Riverine artillery was one example of how artillery commanders made technological advances to overcome the obstacles presented in Vietnam.
In document “Japanese Kamikaze Pilots”, it states, “The Japanese pilots became “guided” missiles taking out American ships”. Japan's strategy with the kamikaze pilots
and Japan were talking about peace. Aircraft and midget subs carried out the attacks in two waves. The first wave hit at 7:48 A.M. Its main targets were battleship row, Wheeler Field and Hickam Field (the U.S. Army’s Air Force bases). They hit all 8 battleships with bombs or torpedoes.
When hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the Pearl Harbor naval base, AAA took up arms and were the first Army units to engage the enemy. “First to Fire” was created and stuck. Further into World War II, AAA units everywhere managed to shoot down many hostile enemy planes and earn a dozen Distinguished Service Crosses, Silver Stars, and Presidential Unit Citations.
Air Defense Artillery systems were put to use during the Vietnam War era. The systems had to do more with battlefields than to protect air bases. The weapons used were to serve as a geographical benefit. Heavy firepower was used to deliver serious land warfare. Methods of Air Defense Artillery systems deployed were executed by a variety of missions.
Introduction Technology and war are closely related as it shapes the strategies adopted by nations and also influence the outcome of the war . Technological advancements are also driven by war due to the perceived needs to stay ahead and stay relevant in the new era so as to provide a technological edge against potential adversaries2. Although technology employed during war does provide an advantage against potential adversaries, however, it does not always result in a decisive advantage or victory in war. As demonstrated during the Vietnam War in the 1960s, the US who are armed with far superior technology advantages over the Viet Cong (VC) forces had failed to capitalise on it to win a decisive war. As a result, the US fought a long and costly
Weapons are deemed as a significant element for military strategies all over the world. Overtime, these illicit weapons distributed to police forces have caused injuries some at minor at levels and whilst some are deemed at extreme levels. Electronic stun devices and other less-lethal weapons are marketed as offering unmitigated benefits to both police and public safety, with this statement there are various problems also associated with these devices such as unnecessary injury and deaths. There are various intentional injuries that police officers are affected by whilst working, the prevalence of injury in the force is rather high. By the 1800s, after departments and police departments distributed weapons and demanded the use of force that
and they didn’t use dummy bombs or unguided bombs they used missiles and laser guided bombs. This also shows that the old tactic still works even in the twenty first
One of the most controversial wars in history and a turning point in American foreign policy, the emotions and events surrounding the Vietnam War capture the essence of the era. The rise of rebellious youth culture and anti-war and anti-draft movements were key social aspects of American life leading up to and during the fighting. (Doc 2, 3) On the political side, Congress aimed to control the Chief-Executive with legislation such as the War Powers Act of 1973, requiring the president to remove all unreported troops in Vietnam and report any further sent. (Doc 7) To say the country was divided would be a massive understatement.
4. The Vietnam War saw the use of many controversial military tactics used by both the United States and their allies, as well as the Viet Cong and NVA. On the American side, one of the most prevalent and well known missions was Operation Ranch Hand, a decade long herbicidal warfare campaign that is still causing terrible birth defects to this day. The herbicides used in Agent Orange were contaminated with an even worse chemical, known as TCDD, which is a heavy carcinogen and teratogen. In the period that it was used, agricultural lands were sprayed with Agent Orange in an attempt to starve the enemy by destroying the main crop in the region, rice.
Shortly following the conclusion of the United States’ conflict in Korea, the American military once again deployed its service members to Eastern Asia to combat and contain the spread of Communism; this time in the form of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam. While the vast majority of the American populace recalls the Vietnam War as primarily an exercise of ground forces and maneuver, an often-overlooked aspect of the war is the significant contribution to strategy and successful adaptation to threats demonstrated by Air Defense Artillery Soldiers of the era. One of the more proud moments for the Air Defense Artillery Branch was their pivotal role in the Vietnam War. From the branch’s only Medal of Honor winner, to the Duster, and
In August 1964, North Vietnam allegedly attached American ships in the Gulf of Tonkin. Congress authorized he president to use force. In 1965 President Johnson ordered the bombing of North Vietnam. The U.S. increase the number of forces in South Vietnam.