Losing Vietnam : how America abandoned Southeast Asia

394 Pages·2013·6.17 MB·English

by  Ira Augustus Hunt

Losing Vietnam
B C
ATTLES AND AMPAIGNS
The Battles and Campaigns series examines the military and strategic results of
particular combat techniques, strategies, and methods used by soldiers, sailors,
and airmen throughout history. Focusing on different nations and branches of the
armed services, this series aims to educate readers by detailed analysis of
military engagements.
Series editor: Roger Cirillo
An AUSA Book
LOSING VIETNAM
How America Abandoned Southeast Asia
Major General Ira A. Hunt Jr.
USA (Ret.)
Copyright © 2013 by The University Press of Kentucky Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State
University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University,
Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky
University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
17 16 15 14 13 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hunt, Ira Augustus, 1924—
Losing Vietnam : how America abandoned Southeast Asia / Major General Ira A. Hunt Jr., USA (Ret.).
p. cm. — (Battles and campaigns) Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8131-4208-1 (hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8131-4206-7 (epub) — ISBN 978-0-
8131-4207-4 (pdf)
1. Vietnam War, 1961-1975–Economic aspects. 2. Cambodia—History—Civil War, 1970-1975—
Economic aspects. 3. Military assistance, American—Economic aspects. 4. Military assistance, American—
Vietnam (Republic) 5. Military assistance, American—Cambodia. I. Title.
DS559.42.H86 2013
959.704’3—dc23
2013008898
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for
Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
This book is dedicated to those
Americans, Vietnamese,
and Cambodians
who so valiantly fought
against communist aggressions.
Contents
Lists of Illustrations
Preface
1. Nakhon Phanom
2. South Vietnam
3. Cambodia
4. The Mayaguez Incident
5. Thailand
6. Laos
Epilogue
Glossary
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E
Sources
Index
Illustrations
Figures
Figure 1. Enemy Troop Levels
Figure 2. Dry-Season Analysis
Figure 3. Time of Day of Friendly KHA Due to Enemy-Initiated Contacts
Figure 4. Hamlet Evaluation System Model Hierarchy Figure 5. Combat
Intensity by Week
Figure 6. Tripartite Deputies Organization Figure 7. Locations of Khmer
Communist Attacks by Fire on Mekong River Convoys Figure 8. Height
of Mekong River and Attack Rate
Maps
Map 1. Southeast Asia
Map 2. South Vietnam Administrative Divisions Map 3. NVA/VC Military
Regions
Map 4. The Battles for MR-2
Map 5. Withdrawal from MR-1
Map 6. Troop Dispositions, Saigon, 28 April 1975
Map 7. Mekong River Wet Season Flooding
Map 8. Cambodia, Major Routes and Enclaves Map 9. KC Military Regions
Map 10. GKR Military Regions
Map 11. Northern Koh Tang Island, Indicating Landing Zones
Photographs
Photo 1. Traffic on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, 21 Dec 1973
Photo 2. Tank Mired in the Mud
Photo 3. Tan Son Nhut Airfield, 28 April 1975
Photo 4. Tan Son Nhut Airfield, 30 April 1975. The Aftermath Photo 5.
Convoy Passing through Mekong Narrows at Peam Reang Island with
Petroleum Tanker on Fire Photo 6. Barge Protection on the Mekong River
Photo 7. Mekong Convoy, 29 January 1975
Photo 8. Barricades on the Mekong with Sunken Tugs Photo 9. The Recovery
of the Mayaguez
Photo 10. Bomb Damage Assessment, Kompong Som, 15 April 1975
Photo 11. Destroyed CH-53 Helicopters on Koh Tang Island
Tables
Table 1. NVA/VC Order of Battle Gains/Losses, 1967–1974
Table 2. NVA/VC Order of Battle Net Gains/Losses, 1967–1974
Table 3. NVA/VC Order of Battle Strengths, Units in South Vietnam Table 4.
Enemy-Initiated Incidents, Percent by Type, Countrywide, January 1973–
January 1974
Table 5. Exchange Ratio, Friendly Efficiency, Enemy KIA/Friendly KHA
Table 6. Friendly Weapons Ratio, Weapons Lost, Friendly Killed/Total
Contacts Table 7. Casualties from Attacks by Fire Table 8. Comparative
Required Supply Rates, Rounds per Weapon per Day, October 1973
Table 9. Army Ground Ammunition Issues
Table 10. Ratio of Casualties and Ammo Expenditures to Combat Intensity
Table 11. RVNAF Soldiers Killed by Hostile Action Table 12. Friendly
Weapons Ratio
Table 13. The Won-Lost Ledger Table 14. Weekly Percentile of Activities, 6–
12 December 1974
Table 15. Combat Intensity Factors, 8 November–12 December 1974
Table 16. Total Incidents, 28 January 1973–19 April 1975
Table 17. Khmer Communist Command and Control Organizations Table 18.
Effect of Weapons Densities on Ground Munitions Table 19. Projected
Total Ammo Expenditures Table 20. MAP-CB Funding
Table 21. Analysis of Cambodian Daily Expenditure Rate of Ammunition
Table 22. Storage Objectives and Replenishment Requirements Table 23.
Countrywide Casualty Figures and Attrition Table 24. Force
Distributions, Battalions Table 25. Khmer Republic—Casualty Recap, 1
January–11 April 1975