1. To know what guerrilla warfare is.
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
The Viet Cong
Learning Objectives:
To know what guerrilla warfare is.
To understand how the Viet Cong had an advantage over the USA in jungle warfare.

2. Who were the Viet Cong?
The Viet Cong was set up in South Vietnam in 1960.
It was allies with North Vietnam.
Its aim was to get one united Vietnam under Communist rule.
It therefore fought against first the South Vietnamese government and then from 1965 against the USA.

3. Fighting in South Vietnam
The Viet Cong decided they would not fight their enemies in head-on pitched battles.
Why?
Instead, they used guerrilla warfare tactics.
Guerrilla warfare is where people fight in small units, not large armies.
They avoid large battles and instead lay traps and ambush the enemy.
Guerrilla fighters welcome people of any age and sex.
Watch your spelling…it’s guerrilla, not gorilla!

4. Principles of Guerrilla warfare
The Viet Cong mainly recruited fighters from villages in the South.
They lived and worked in communities and followed a code of conduct.
This was vital for success and allowed them to persuade others to join.
It also meant that they stayed popular with civilians who would then give them food and shelter.
The Viet Cong also managed to get into camps of US soldiers, sometimes taking jobs such as cooks.
One American officer said:
‘What’s a civilian? Somebody who works for us in the day and puts on VC pyjamas at night’.
Extract from the
Viet Cong Code of Conduct
Be polite.
Be fair.
Return anything borrowed.
Do not damage crops.
Do not flirt with women.

5. Fighting in Vietnam Much of Vietnam is covered by jungle.
What would be useful for fighting in these conditions?
What wouldn’t be useful?

6. Task One - Who was best equipped to win?
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
Task One - Who was best equipped to win?
The Viet Cong
(VC or ‘Charlie’)
American Soldiers
(GIs)
Look at the two soldiers and discuss…what would be each one’s strengths and weaknesses. Think – Pair - Share

7. American Soldiers (GIs)
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
What did you spot?
Steel Helmet
Offers some protection but gets really hot.
Backpack
Contains everything a soldier might need but is VERY heavy (90lbs) and slows them down.
Water Bottles
Carrying lots of water helps stop dehydration in the hot climate but is VERY heavy.
M16 Rifle
Supposedly the most advanced rifle in the world. But jams when it gets muddy or wet.
Grenades
Smoke and ‘frag’ grenades were carried. Also more weight to carry.
Boots
Waterproof with strong reinforced soles to protect against booby traps.
Uniform
Camouflaged but makes it easy to work out who is a soldier. Also heavy when wet with rain or humidity. Soldiers went through a lot of them as they rotted in the damp.
American Soldiers
(GIs)

8. This made it impossible for the Americans to identify their enemy
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
What did you spot?
Lightweight Hat
Offers protection against rain in the monsoon season and is cool in hot weather.
No Uniform
This made it impossible for the Americans to identify their enemy
Small bag of rice
Lightweight and just enough to carry the next days meal. Could be topped up with donations from villagers every day.
AK47 Rifle
Supplied by communist Russia. Very simple reliable and accurate, even when affected by mud and water.
Machete
A versatile tool – used to cut food and supplied from the jungle, could also be used to make booby traps.
Sandals
Lightweight sandals often made from recycled car tyres. They gave some protection but did not become heavy and water logged to slow down the VC.
The Viet Cong
(VC or ‘Charlie’)

9. Helping local villagers
In return for being supplied with food by the local villagers, the Viet Cong helped the locals in various ways;
They helped with farm work such as harvesting the crops when they were not fighting.
The helped educate village children by teaching them to read and write.
They offered to protect villages.
Because of this the VC became ‘folk heroes’ to many ordinary Vietnamese people who would never inform American soldiers of their whereabouts.

10. Supplying the Viet Cong
Although the Viet Cong would be supplied with food by local villagers.
Their weapons and ammunition had to come from elsewhere.
They would get their supplies from their Communist allies in North Vietnam.
However, these couldn’t simply be driven over the border.
So, how could North Vietnam get supplies to the Viet Cong in the South?

11. The Ho Chi Minh Trail
Supply routes from North Vietnam were vital if the guerrilla war was to be successful.
These were often dirt paths through the jungle.
The Communists knew that the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) and USA would try to find and destroy the routes.
Therefore the Ho Chi Minh Trail was developed.
It went from North Vietnam, through Laos and Cambodia, then entered South Vietnam at various points.
It was over 600 miles long and was a network of routes and dummy routes.
Teams of Communists would work around the clock to repair any damage caused by US bombing attacks.
Keeping the trail open meant that the VC got plenty of supplies.
Your Tasks:
1. Watch the film clip. Write down three facts about the HCMT.
2. Why was the Ho Chi Minh Trail vital for the VC?
3. Describe the route of the trail.
4. Why do you think it ran through Laos and Cambodia?

12. To Finish… In 1965, the USA started to fight in Vietnam.
The USA was the world’s richest country and had the most advanced military technology on the planet.
They landed at Red Beach and put up a banner that said they would defeat the VC in 6 months.
Yet the VC thought they could beat the US.
Why?