OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER -SUCCESS OR FAILURE? Operation rolling thunder was a strategic and gradual bombing campaign undertaken by the united states military and the republic of south Vietnam. The aim of the campaign was mainly to prevent the north Vietnamese from invading the south Vietnamese and spreading communism. Over Three years the USA and south Vietnam dropped 643,000 tons of bombs on the north and spent around 900 million dollars. The operation was seen as ineffective as it did not meet the initial objectives as men, North Vietnamese guerrillas and materials continued to travel from the north to the south via a sophisticated network of paths and the ho Chi Minh trail which also ran through neighbouring countries such as Laos
“Precision Bombing Will Win the War” is one chapter from the book “Wartime” which was written by Paul Fussell in 1989. He said in his book that people always thought there was a panacea, and people believed that the technology would help them win the war. American government thought bomber was the weapon of ultimate victory, and they emphasized that “America cannot lose this war.” However, when the war went on, people realized that aerial bombing had many factors that would affect its function and only few hit targets. There were many accidental attacks by aerial bombing, and what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki indicated that intensification exceeded scruples.
By 1970 the US was dealing with many issues in Vietnam and at home. From many American positions being weakened by cuts in troops, forces being stretched to their limits, public pressure and anti-war movements growing. The 101st Airborne were the only full strength division left in Vietnam. Under the command of General Ben Harrison, they were given the lead on an operation codenamed “Texas Star”.
In late night hours of January 30th, 1968, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched the largest battle during the Vietnam war. The U.S. and SVA defenses were unable to repeal the initial attack. By early morning hours of January 31st, over 80,000 NVA troops struck over 100 cities targeting every district capital, allied base and key military positions across the country (Willbanks, 2012). U.S. and SVA forces quickly assessed the situation, readdressed the defense issues and established a counter-offensive to bounce back the NVA forces. The defensive plans were in motion.
“What do These Sources have to say about the Origins, Nature, Course or Consequence of the Vietnamese Revolution?” During 1945 Vietnam was in a time of true change which needed to come, there was massive unrests due to famine and unemployment, and with the Japanese surrender and the end of the World War, that time had finally come. The Viet Minh had waited a long time for the opportunity to secure the country for the Vietnamese people and gain their independence, it took fifteen days and on 2nd September Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence. This was not to last, since Indochina was about to become a front line for the Cold War.
Operation Rolling Thunder is one of the largest US air force to strike the NVA (the North Vietnamese Army) during the Vietnam War. It was intended to destroy many industrial buildings in NVA's homeland to cripple their supplies, productions, and others. This would help to reduce the NVA's supplies to their army into the South Vietnam. However, it was the worst and ineffective ways because the NVA has a stronghold with mainly an air defense. This shows with more powerful and effective coordination plans.
The Battle of Vimy Ridge The Battle of Vimy Ridge is Canada 's most celebrated military victory, it took place from April 9th 1917 to April 17th 1917. The Battle of Vimy Ridge took place in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais part of France. This was a part of World War I and was a smaller part of the Battle of Arras. The battle started at 5:30 A.M.
The battle of Vimy Ridge is significant to World War I and Canadian history. The battle of Vimy Ridge was one of Canada’s biggest victories. The Canadian soldiers used a new technique called Creeping Barrage to get across No Man’s land. Their tanks would follow behind them but shoot ahead of where they were walking. Vimy Ridge was one of the harder German defense areas to capture but the new technique allowed the Canadians to do so.
framework in the North was demolished, “especially after Operation Linebacker II”. (Rohn) Operation Linebacker II, was a full-scale air campaign against the North Vietnamese, the planes dropped bombs on densely populated areas over an 11-day spread. These bombings showed innocent civilians of South Vietnam violence and war, which hurt their community and family. Till this day there are several unexploded bombs left in the Vietnamese rural areas. The environmental damage to Vietnam was immense and was hard for the people of Vietnam to get over.
The battle at Vimy Ridge was a defining moment in Canadian History because it gave Canada a sense of nationhood “The Battle of Vimy Ridge marked ‘the birth of a nation’ for Canada, says Governor-General David Johnston” (Postmedia news). It was the first time all four Canadian Corps fought together in the history of the war. The victory of ‘taking Vimy Ridge’ was celebrated, and two months later Viscount Julian Byng was promoted out of the Corps and Arthur Currie became the first commander of the Corps. The 60’000 casualties in the war, made Vimy the most symbolic of Canada’s overall sacrifices. This pushed Prime Minister Borden to ensure a separate representation at the Paris Peace Talks after the war.
Vietnam was a never ending conflict that did not seem to have a goal or strategy for victory. The
The battle of the bulge is one of the deadliest battle in World War 2. In December 1944, Adolf Hitler attempted to split the allied armies in Northwest Europe by means of surprise blitzkrieg thrust through the Ardennes to antwerp. Caught off guard, American units fought desperate battles to stem the German advance at St.-Vith, Elsenborn Ridge, Houffalize and Bastogne, Lieutenant General George S. Patton 's successful maneuvering of the third Army to bastogne proved vital to the allied defense, leading to the neutralization of the German Counteroffensive despite heavy casualties. On December 16, three German Armies launched the deadliest most desperate battle of the war in the west in the poorly ordered, rugged, heavily forested Ardennes. A shortage
Many people don't realize how greatly war impacts the soldiers who fought in it. As the Allies were pushing back the Nazis in World War Two, they began to use large amounts of tanks to achieve their goals. Trevor Greenwood, who was a British tank commander in the ninth Royal Tank Regiment, began his service at D-Day and continued to assist the British cause until Germany surrendered. Throughout his time in World War Two, Trevor Greenwood wrote his daily thoughts and events in a series of journals that he later titled D-Day to Victory. While Trevor drives deeper into Europe, he discovers a side of war that no person would ever want to experience.
Even before the last American troops departed on March 29, the communists violated the cease-fire, and by early 1974 full-scale war had resumed. At the end of 1974, South Vietnamese authorities reported that 80,000 of their soldiers and civilians had been killed in fighting during the year, making it the most costly of the Vietnam War”. That’s what was said by History.com
Soldiers were asked to do horrific things that were against their nature and slowly it broke them. The Vietnam War is infamous for the slow moving terrain and the PTSD it caused
They accomplished that by having 10 to 12 equipped troops in each Huey that took off into flight (Battle of Ia Drang, n.d.). The United States lost the battle, but never the less, the Huey was one of the main reasons the battle was even attempted. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is an icon of the Vietnam War due to its capabilities such as internal and armament capacities. Hueys made the Vietnam War possible, and that in itself represents the immense role of the aircraft. Without a doubt, the United States would have endured a greater casualty rate without the use of the Huey.