Some Impressions of the Effects of Military Operations on Viet Cong Behavior
Abstract
A study of a small preliminary sample of 45 interviews of Viet Cong captives and defectors suggests a number of tentative findings. These still have to be checked against a larger collection of relevant interview data and against captured Viet Cong documents. In its present stage, the study seems to confirm the value of many current or planned programs and objectives. The currently available interviews indicate that the Viet Cong are rather vulnerable to various harassing actions, especially from the air, which can have a significant adverse effect on them. This tentative conclusion suggests that harassment should be a major objective of air and ground operations in Vietnam. Specifically, the available interviews indicate that the Viet Cong are especially fearful of detection and attack from the air, and that intensified and continuous air surveillance and harassing activities by day and night are likely to have a major disruptive effect on Viet Cong living conditions, morale, movements, and operations. Changes in target marking and attack patterns and procedures, as well as improvements in illumination techniques, seem likely to result in more Viet Cong casualities and to disrupt their attacks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- ADA032190
Entities
People
- Leon Goure
Organizations
- RAND Corporation