What were the tactics of the Viet Cong?

Answer 1

The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) was just like the United States Army (USA), except it was a newer army, had different style helmets (pith helmets), uniforms, weapons (AK-47's, RPG's, etc.), basically Soviet (Russian) & Chinese tanks, trucks, jet fighters, artillery, etc. Whereas the US Army had M-16's, M-72 LAW's (our counter to their RPG), steel helmets, and US made tanks, artillery, and jet fighters, etc. The NVA fought the US Army & US Marines generally the same way we fought them, normally at company (roughly 150 men commanded by a captain) or platoon (led by a Lieutenant, 30 to 40 men) level. Battles, such as depicted in the film , "We Were Soldiers..." was a BATTALION level fight. The film, "Hamburger Hill" may have been a BATTALION (600 men, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel-LTC) level fight. Khe Sanh was a DIVISION level battle, commanded by GENERALS. NVA & US Army/Marine battles were normally never larger than company sized firefights. They would ambush us, we'd counter-attack, they might "dig-in", we'd back off, call in an "air strike." After the strike, we'd "sweep" on line (men on both sides, walking straight ahead) into the bombed area to see what "the jets got." If there was more resistance, if we could handle it, we would. If not, back off (fall back) regroup, and call in another "air strike", or the artillery. Then repeat the process when neccessary. The Viet Cong (VC) were NOT regular army troops. They were home grown guerillas that were very organized. They tried to avoid "face to face-conventional battles." Mainly concentrating on blowing bridges, ammo dumps, fuel depots, and attacking local South Vietnamese towns (villages), and ambushing convoys & traffic on the roads. They surfaced during the TET offensive of 1968. They fought pretty well, but in the end, the VC were practically finished as a fighting force. From 1969 on, the NVA carried the brunt of the fighting for the communist forces.

Answer 2

The Vietcong built secret hiding places where troops were not familiar with as well as set up traps. Another tactic they used, was to lure troops with "innocent" looking children or women, where the troops would then be killed.

Answer 3

The viet cong used guerrilla warfare which is mostly hiding. They used booby traps such as mines and pits. They also stole dead enemies weapons and supplies.