Vietcong
The Viet Cong (VC) were guerillas in the Vietnam War. They were organized, but were NOT regular soldiers, as were the men of the North Vietnamese Army. The NVA were draftees, as were US Servicemen, and wore Green Uniforms as did US GI's, and had rank structure in line with most armies of the day. The VC often used captured equipment & uniforms & weapons. They hit & run, destroyed bridges, shot at vehicles on the road ways (ambushes), kidnapped town (village) politicians, etc. At times they did engage US Forces but were often beaten back by our heavy firepower; so they tried to stay with their "guerilla" tactics. During the TET offensive of 1968, they did come out in the open and fought along with their NVA allies, but they paid a price for it. From 1969 onward, they hardly existed anymore; with the bulk of the fighting being done by the NVA. NVA forces often engaged in conventional combat with US forces: E. G. Films,"We Were Soldiers..."; "Hamburger Hill"; "Platoon", etc.
Guerilla Troops were soldiers who operate on their own and are not part of a regular army.
Normally, guerillas are NON-Regulars. They are civilians who have made themselves combatants. This is normal acceptance. Regular soldiers/marines/sailors/airman can also resort to guerrilla warfare tactics. Hit and run, striking only at night, destroying bridges, buildings, fuel depots, ammunition dumps, etc. Normally, guerillas do not wear uniforms and have no rank structure. Regulars (regular soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, etc) have a rank structure (chain of command), wear a uniform and fight according to established doctrine (conventionally). Guerillas resort to UNCONVENTIONAL warfare. During WWII, German and Japanese army officers often had captured enemy guerillas shot (executed), as they considered guerillas to be in the same category as spys and saboteurs.
In Vietnam, although the Viet Cong often times did fight as organized military units in large battles, they were, for the most part considered to be non-regular guerrilla fighters. When they were largely eliminated during the '68 Tet offensive, the NVA regular army took over the bulk of the VC's fight, and the regular North Vietnamese Army (NVA) normally didn't hit and run. They stood and fought.
You name the type of guerrilla warfare and it was done. The Viet Cong had tunnels that ran through Viet Nam and would move men and supplies in the tunnels. Many of the tunnels had booby traps and other things so when our men into them they would get hurt or killed. Our soldiers who went into these tunnels had the nickname of "tunnel rats" and they never knew what they faced. The Viet Cong also hid among the rice paddies and farms in Viet Nam. One minute they would look like a normal farmer working on his rice and the next they would be killing. I have been told by men who were in Nam that sometimes babies were rigged to blow up when our men came near. Guerrilla warfare in any war is used to demoralize enemy troops, confuse people, and win at any cost.
Guerrilla, from the Spanish meaning small war, is a war that is fought by skirmishes and small groups or individuals, rather than a war fought by armies having large battles.
The Vietnam War was known as a Guerrilla War because of the tactics used to fight the war.
VC=Guerrillas, no tanks, no artillery, no jets, no SAMs. Which is why they were guerrillas, thats all they could do.
NVA=Regulars, had tanks, artillery, etc. Could and did fight conventional warfare or sortie for guerrrilla operations (same as with any nation's units).
Guerrilla wafare is cheap (inexpensive); consists of no hardware...just like the Civil War's Quantrill's Raiders or the Revolutionary War's Swamp Fox (Francis Marion)...just manpower & tactics. Can be used in any war, by any peoples, at any time.
The Viet Cong were guerrilla fighters.
Vietcong
South Vietnam
Vietcongas ;)
South Vietnam
North Vietnam launched an invasion of South Vietnam.North Vietnam launched an invasion of south Vietnam.
Vietcong
South Vietnam
The North Vietnamese governments guerrilla fighters and regular army.
Vietcongas ;)
South Vietnam
North Vietnam launched an invasion of South Vietnam.North Vietnam launched an invasion of South Vietnam.
North Vietnam launched an invasion of South Vietnam.North Vietnam launched an invasion of south Vietnam.
Which war, US Civil war? Union. Vietnam? NVA - North Vietnamese Army - actual army VC - Viet Cong - guerrilla fighters
no I was there in the infrantry
Commencing with advisers, developing into counter-insurgency; escalating into conventional warfare with Tanks, Battleships (USS New Jersey), B-52 bombers, etc.
North Vietnam launched an invasion of South Vietnam.North Vietnam launched an invasion of south Vietnam.
The US military conducting an extended campaign against guerrilla fighters in those fighters' own country, the intent being to enforce democracy in the region on the pretense of saving said region from an evil regime? No: remember Vietnam? Korea? Cuba?