Operational Art in the Tet Offensive - A North Vietnamese Perspective.

Abstract

The Tet Offensive (Vietnam War) provides an excellent example of the successful application of operational art when viewed from the North Vietnamese perspective. Operational leadership was exercised by General Vo Nguyen Giap as he assured that the offensive served as an extension of North Vietnamese strategic objectives and desired end state. Giap developed and executed an operational design that fully accounted for the centers of gravity and critical strengths and weaknesses of his forces and his enemy's. While he suffered tactical defeats, Giap achieved nearly all of his operational objectives and his desired operational end state - delivery of a military shock to his enemy. The offensive ultimately lead to achievement of North Vietnam's strategic objective and desired end state.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 20, 1996
Accession Number
ADA312931

Entities

People

  • Joseph W. Swaykos

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Center Of Gravity
  • Command And Control
  • Governments
  • Instructors
  • Local Governments
  • Military Operations
  • Military Training
  • New York
  • North Vietnam
  • South Vietnam
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.