Military Strategy and Technology during the Vietnam War

There were various different strategies and technology used during the Second World War. The United States used high technology such as helicopters, bombs, motion sensors, tanks and all kinds of artillery. One of the most controversial aspects of U.S military effort in Southeast Asia was the use of chemical defoliants between 1962 and 1971. They were used to defoliate large parts of the land. These chemicals continue to change the landscape, cause diseases and birth defects, and poison in the food chain. The defoliants included the ‘Rainbow Herbicides’- Agent Pink, Agent Green, Agent Purple, Agent Blue, Agent White and most famously Agent Orange.


Agent Orange is the spraying of herbicides and defoliants from the jets fuel. This technique was used by the US military, and contained a toxic substance known as dioxin. The US military used Agent Orange on mostly forest area and rural land to rid the Viet Cong of the cover that was hiding them. Agent Orange is also used as a method to push the Viet Cong towards the cities that have been dominated by the US. The US did this by ridding the Viet Cong of their rural support base and food supply by poisoning the area in which they had resided. Although Agent Orange was only used between 1962 and 1971, the effects of this toxic substance are still evident in Vietnam till this day.

Napalm was one of the strategic weapons they had used. Napalm is a jellied gasoline that sticks on like adhesive. Napalm also burns the object it is stuck upon. Many Vietnamese residents have received third degree burns from the Napalm, which kills the nerves of skin. 

This is a famous photo titled the ‘Napalm Girl’ which is evidence of the tragic effects of  napalm to the Vietnamese people. Kim Phuc is photographed as a child who ran down the streets naked, after being flushed with napalm that burnt through her skin.

The Ho Chi Minh trail was over 1000 miles (1609-3km) long, and was known as the ‘Miracle Road.’ This trail started from North Vietnam, cutting through Laos and Cambodia before entering South Vietnam. This trail enabled war supplies from the North to enter the south, providing the Viet Cong with weapons. The Ho Chi Minh trail consisted of tracks, roads and waterways, which allowed a combination of truck routes and paths for people walking and bicycles. It was on Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, the 9^th of May 1959, whereby this trail was constructed. Despite the American’s advantage concerning their technology and military weapons, this trail was able to maintain its stance and purpose.

There were tunnels underground that were dug by the Viet Cong to be used as hiding places. These were well hid by the Viet Cong, for many could walk above the ground without even knowing it existed. For instance, one part of the tunnel ran underneath US bases. The tunnels contained 3 levels, and were 10 metres deep. They ran for approximately 250 km, and the width of these tunnels was about 53 metres. The tunnels were home to many of the Viet Cong families, for the families practically lived in the tunnels. They were able to dine in the tunnels, have family gatherings, meetings for ambushes, and there were also schools, hospitals and theatres that existed for entertainment. There were little rectangles, around the size of half a brick length wise, that enabled the Viet Cong to quickly kill the US soldiers who walked by. These little slits allowed the Viet Cong to see their enemy, and quickly shoot them without being noticed. They were covered by leaves and bark on the floor.

“No crops existed back when I fought here. It was all bare earth and surrounded by landmines, and we were caught in the middle of a Viet Cong ambush.” Van- He was a young man fighting for the U.S, defending the Viet Cong 
Despite having a high level of advantage due to their technology compared to the North Vietnamese, the US was outsmarted by low tech weapons from the North Vietnamese. An example of the North Vietnamese outsmarting the US was through the different guns they had and the high tech heat sensors. The Americans were equipped with the recent technology, the M16s, while the North Vietnamese were supplied with the AK47s from the USSR. Even though it was recent technology, the AK47s had far better results in the Vietnam War than the M16s, even though the AK47s were produced 20 years ago. Compared to the M16s; the AK47s were more suited towards the jungle, for they were sturdy and easily operated. The high tech heat sensors were implanted in the ground to inform the US soldiers of any Viet Cong who were passing by that area. This was so that the US soldiers could then bomb that area. However, the high tech heat sensors were easily transportable, and the Viet Cong misplaced the sensors to trick the American soldiers.

"I realized how fragile life was. In a mere flicker, you could be gone."

The gun was so easy to use that all who picked it up were able to control it