Vietnam Unveiled: the Fall of Tanks and Rise of Guerilla Warfare

The Vietnam War saw the deployment of American ground troops in response to the threat posed by communist guerrillas in South Vietnam. Despite the misconception that tanks were not utilized extensively in Vietnam, they played a significant role, particularly in supporting infantry operations. The Marines, equipped with M48 tanks, aimed to protect air bases and engage in conventional battles with the enemy.

However, the enemy they faced, primarily the Viet Cong (VC), operated differently from conventional armies. The VC relied on guerrilla tactics such as infiltration and ambushes, making tanks vulnerable in certain situations. The American strategy, led by General William Westmoreland, sought to draw the Vietnamese forces into conventional battles where American firepower could be decisive.

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Operation Starlight, the first major American ground offensive of the war, aimed to disrupt Viet Cong formations threatening airfields. Despite the initial confidence, the Marines faced challenges, particularly in logistics and infantry support. Supply missions, like Column 21, lacked adequate infantry protection, leaving tanks vulnerable to enemy attacks.

The need for infantry support to protect tanks from close-range threats was evident. Tanks could be rendered ineffective if enemy forces could get close enough to deploy anti-tank weapons. Thus, proper coordination between tanks and infantry was crucial in navigating the complexities of guerrilla warfare in Vietnam.

As the convoy moves deeper into the jungle, it becomes vulnerable to attack from hundreds of Viet Cong guerrillas. The dense terrain limits the mobility of tanks, allowing the enemy to close in on the isolated convoy. Marines on the lead tank face small arms fire and the terrifying prospect of being surrounded by unseen enemies in the jungle.

The Viet Cong executed a maneuver ambush, targeting the lead tank and immobilizing it. With communication cut off and ammunition running low, the Marines find themselves in a dire situation. Despite attempts to defend the convoy, they are overwhelmed by the enemy’s close-range tactics and superior numbers.

As the ambush unfolds, Marines like Private Hearn are left wounded and stranded in the jungle. With the lead tank out of action, Hearn’s tank becomes the last line of defense against the Viet Cong onslaught. In the chaos of battle, he sustains severe injuries but survives to be rescued the next day.

Operation Starlight, while tactically successful in disrupting Viet Cong formations, highlights the challenges faced by American forces in Vietnam. The influx of North Vietnamese Army troops and the escalation of hostilities along the DMZ further intensify the conflict, leading to a protracted and costly struggle for both sides.

Protected by five M-48 tanks from the Marine’s Third Tank Battalion, the US established a network of bases, particularly along the DMZ. These bases became targets for constant attacks by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), especially with artillery fire. The NVA’s Soviet-made artillery outraged the larger American artillery, making tank cannons the primary means to respond to enemy fire at long ranges.

In one daring mission, tank crews were ordered to penetrate into North Vietnam through the DMZ to neutralize enemy artillery positions. Despite the risk, the tanks successfully destroyed the enemy artillery site, relieving the pressure on their base and earning the crew’s praise.

On July 2nd, 1967, during Operation Buffalo, Bravo Company 1st Battalion 9th Marines set out towards the DMZ. Unaware of the larger NVA force lying in wait, they walked into a deadly ambush. Tank crews, including those from Tank B-23 stationed at Kontian, rushed to their aid, risking their lives to rescue the besieged Marines.

The NVA orchestrated a trap, encircling both the Marines and the tanks. Despite the Marines’ valiant efforts, they suffered heavy casualties as they fought to break free from the deadly trap. Operation Buffalo exemplified the challenges faced by American forces in Vietnam, where superior numbers and well-coordinated ambushes by the NVA posed significant threats even to armored units.

During the rescue mission, Tank B-23, disabled and under tow, faced imminent danger from RPG teams. RPG-2 launchers, the NVA’s primary anti-tank weapons, posed a significant threat with their shaped charges capable of penetrating tank armor. As the tank was being towed over a dike, an RPG round struck the gypsy rack, scattering brass and causing chaos inside the tank. The loader’s hatch was hit next, showering the crew with shrapnel. Despite the tank being on fire and filled with smoke, the crew tried to extinguish the flames with an empty fire extinguisher, previously used to cool beer. Green tracer rounds streaked towards them as they desperately made their escape, eventually reaching the landing zone where they could receive medical attention.

Operation Buffalo, launched in January 1968, saw intense fighting and heavy casualties on both sides. The Tet Offensive, initiated by the North Vietnamese, targeted over 100 locations in South Vietnam, resulting in a significant setback for the U.S. war effort. Despite the losses suffered during Tet, the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces managed to repel the offensive, dealing a blow to the Viet Cong but also deepening public skepticism about the war’s winnability. The year 1968 marked a turning point, with the conflict evolving into a more conventional war against the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), equipped with sophisticated weaponry and tactics.

Operation Allen Brook aimed to neutralize enemy forces on Gonoi Island, strategically located south of Danang. The NVA utilized secure areas on the island to launch attacks on surrounding areas, making it a prime target for U.S. forces.

On May 4th, 1968, a Marine force, accompanied by M-48 tanks from the first and fifth tank battalions, was deployed to eliminate enemy positions on Gonoi Island. Tank B-24, leading the armored column, faces heavy resistance as they move onto the island. The enemy, well-versed in the terrain, uses small arms, machine guns, and mortars to inflict significant damage on the advancing Marines.

The crew of Tank B-24, after several days without resupply, leads a convoy back to base to gather supplies for the main force. However, as they approach a tree line, they come under intense RPG and machine gun fire, effectively being ambushed by the enemy. Despite returning fire with their cannon and machine guns, they eventually run out of ammunition.

Facing the threat of being overrun, the crew employs tactics like “scratch my back” to fend off enemy attempts to climb onto their tanks. When a helicopter attempts to land to pick up the dead, it comes under heavy fire and crashes, leaving the Marines surrounded and low on ammunition.

Throughout the night, the Marines endure psychological warfare tactics from the North Vietnamese, who probe and attack intermittently, denying them rest and keeping them on edge. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Tank B-24 and its crew manage to repel the enemy’s attacks, ultimately surviving the night.

Gonoi Island, despite its seemingly quiet exterior, was riddled with thousands of hidden tunnels, providing the enemy with ample opportunities to evade American forces. As dawn broke, the tankers braced themselves for another assault, but instead, they received orders to destroy the helicopter they had guarded the night before, fearing it could fall into enemy hands.

Operation Alan Brook continued with the Marines searching Gonoi Island for the enemy, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) continued to devise deadly tactics, such as using American radio frequencies to call in artillery strikes on their own positions. This tactic caught the Marines off guard, resulting in significant casualties.

Ordered to pull back to the western end of the island, the Marines had to pass under a disused railroad bridge, a route they knew could be mined. Despite assurances from engineers that the area was clear, Tank B-24’s crew remained cautious. Their suspicions proved valid when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated, killing three engineers and highlighting the dangers of unconventional warfare.

Operation Alan Brook concluded in August 1968, with heavy losses on both sides. The war, however, continued until 1975, with significant casualties on the American side and ultimately resulting in the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. The Vietnam War served as a stark lesson in the limitations of conventional warfare against guerrilla tactics, a lesson that would influence military strategy for years to come.