...Coastal Artillery and Field Artillery were made into two separate branches on 2 February 1901. In World War One with the birth of the airplanes, so to was the birth of the Air Defense Artillery, but was always a part of some larger entity. Until the Air Defense Artillery was made into its own branch from the Coastal Artillery and Field Artillery. Since then, Air Defense Artillery has been part of every major conflict we, as Americans, have been part of. You can not understand the split, without understanding the beginning of air defense. Air defense started with the air balloon, being used as recon, in the spring of 1794 by the French against the Austrians. The Austrians seeing the balloon started to fire on the air balloon containing Adjutant Général Chef de Brigade Étienne...
Words: 749 - Pages: 3
...Valley The “Battle of Ia Drang Valley” took place 14 November through 18 November 1965. The battle was one of the first major battles of the Vietnam War. The battles location took place in South Vietnam where the Drang River flows into Cambodia. (Historynet) Since the Vietnam War had started, this territory had never been occupied because the enemy, People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN), occupied much of the area. The battle waged on for five days between the United States 1st Cavalry Division and the People’s Army of Vietnam. From a macro level, the United States got involved with the Vietnam War from the fear that communism empires were going to spread throughout South-east Asia. As for the Battle of Ia Drang Valley, American military commanders took the approach that it was solely a search and destroy mission of the enemy. (MilitaryHistory) Each side had slightly different war aims. The United States wanted to fly into a landing zone (LZ) and reconnaissance the area so they could find the People’s Army of Vietnam and destroy enemy elements in South Vietnam. The People’s Army of Vietnam and the Viet Cong wanted to hold onto their territory and stave off the American’s advance into their stronghold. (MilitaryHistory) The operational environment for the Battle of Ia Drang Valley had an overlying impact on how the rest of the Vietnam War was going to be fought. The American’s were going to fly into the Ia Drang Valley with the 1st Cavalry Division and drop them off by helicopter...
Words: 1644 - Pages: 7
...Artillery Lessons Learned in Ia Drang SFC Byron Allred, SFC Tenny Niupulusu, SFC Lloyd Paige, SFC Terrance Retch SLC #13D 001-16 Fort Sill NCO Academy During the Vietnam Conflict, the Viet Cong forces were in nominal control of most of the countryside by 1965 and had established military infrastructure in the Central Highlands, to the Northeast of the Saigon region. The Vietnamese forces have been operating in this area since they fought and defeated the French approximately a decade before the Battle of Ia Drang. The Ia Drang campaign was the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the Highland Front, also known as the B3 Front, which consisted of regulars of the People’s Army of Vietnam of North Vietnam (PANV)...
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
...SSG Riemann, SSG Carerras & SGT Horner SFC Hopkins 13T ALC 11 October 2012 Equipments and Tactics from the World Wars and Today The Field Artillery is and always has been the King of Battle. Technology and tactic have been refined over the years based on lessons learned from the past. During the World Wars the implementation of new equipment and tactics helped shape the field artillery of today. However, some of the same equipment and tactics are still being used today. Warfare had changed in the years leading up to the United States involvement in WW1. A lot of the fighting went back into the trenches. This in return promoted the use of small munitions such as motors, for closer combat effectiveness. Initially, horses moved many of the smaller artillery pieces like the 3inch motors. They were able to move quicker and in tighter places than a vehicle. However, the ability to keep the horses combat effective became a challenge do to shipping them from so far away. The change from horses to jeeps became a reality. 105mm and 155mm howitzers conducted specific missions and large trucks or even tractors moved them. In 1944 the development of the rocket battalion which provided thirty-six rockets launchers. A single rocket could take out a larger area on its own. This allowed howitzers to be independent. Prior to the rockets they had to bring multiple howitzers together to take out as much real estate as one rocket. However, howitzers were more accurate. The soldiers became...
Words: 982 - Pages: 4
...Thomas Zervas Vietnam Wars 4/29/12 Final Essay Winning The Vietnam War When most people think about winning a war they usually base their opinions on death counts and conquered territories. When looking at the Vietnam War, it is clear to see that the Vietnamese had a larger death count, however this does not mean that the United States was victorious. The United States entered the war to reach an objective, and that objective was to stop communist expansion. The goal was not achieved; therefore, the United States lost the war. True, there were more casualties in the North, but that does not determine whether or not they lost, especially when considering the superior technology and training of United States forces. When looking at the Vietnam proxy war fought between the United States and Soviet Union, the United States was impacted a number of ways, both domestically and internationally. There was a huge lack of public support for the stagnating war effort combined with a lack of support for soldiers that adversely affected the morale of the troops. There were body bag counts on the evening news showing the large numbers of lost soldiers to the population. There were also many protests, which created much tension and heavy scrutiny on the United States government. On a global scale, the United States began to look weaker than the Soviet Union, which created many more issues for the United States. The North Vietnamese won the Vietnam War through a combination of factors...
Words: 1721 - Pages: 7
...3004 The Battle of Hue City is quite possibly one of the fiercest battles fought in the Vietnam War. In this battle the American and South Vietnamese forces were up against a North Vietnamese force that was close to triple their size. Another item to mention was that the Marine Battalions involved were low on men, and also worn down by previous battles. Moreover the American and South Vietnamese forces were attacking the North Vietnamese in a city that was very well reinforced. This battle is important because it was the first time combat was carried out in an urbanized environment. The strategic value of Hue City is because it was a distribution point for resupply efforts. A railroad and major highway passed through the city, connecting the Marine Corps command at Da Nang to the Demilitarized Zone; the Perfume River was used by US Navy supply boats moving to and from the mouth of the river and the South China Sea. If the city fell to the North Vietnamese, the US effort in Vietnam would suffer a major blow. Additionally, our forces utilized the effects of combined tactical elements such as timing, heavy gunfire support, armor, communications, and geographic obstacles to help overcome the North Vietnamese in this momentous battle. The Battle of Hue City began on the night of January 30, 1968 during the Vietnamese lunar New Year, called Tet, a holiday and celebration in Vietnam. Because of this, many of the South Vietnamese military were on leave, and because a truce usually...
Words: 2498 - Pages: 10
...demonstrate how America cared much more for their influences and motives than being passive. General Westmoreland’s involvement in Vietnam war and his military strategy is a great example, as well as the Tet Offensive event that partook in the war. Once more going back to the Vietnam War, General Westmoreland partook an important role. He was the permanent commander of MACV and given command of all US forces in Vietnam. General Westmoreland perceived the escalation of the conflict and had “535,000 troops under his control when he departed in 1968” (Hickman 1). He was a terror, and to no surprise portrayed by their own media as a hero. Even named “man of the year” by Times magazine at one point. Military Expert, Kennedy Hickman...
Words: 664 - Pages: 3
...During the Vietnam War the American Army used many different Artillery systems. The Artillery systems used were; the Rock Island Arsenal M101, Rock Island Arsenal M102, M1 Pack Howitzer/M116, M114, M115 (8-Inch Howitzer M1), and finally the M59 (M2 Long Tom). The M1 Pack Howitzer was originally used during WWII, but found its way to the Vietnam War due to its ability to be broken down into pieces for easier mobility especially in marshlands. With a capable crew, they could fire between 3 and 4 rounds per minute and could range around 9,610 yards away. The typical HE round weighed 3.6kg (7.9lbs). The M114 howitzer was used from 1955-1975 before being replaced by the M198. The M114 howitzer is classified as a medium artillery piece due to the way...
Words: 571 - Pages: 3
...and devastating power of American artillery won confidence and admiration from the troops it supported and inspired fear and respect in their enemy” General Dwight D. Eisenhower once spoke. No fewer words could be true. American artillery has been present in every major American war since the late 1770’s branding field artillery as the “King of Battle”. Field artillery is a constant progression of tactical and technical proficiency. The effects of simple mechanics put to effective use have decided many of the battles fought within the infancy of our great nation. From the American Revolution to Operation Enduring Freedom, field artillery has set itself apart from other branches of military service. Field artillery has influenced warfare through the evolution of its pieces and munitions. Simple mechanics created the first field artillery weapons. The catapult was made of wood and rope under tension resembling a crossbow in appearance. The invention of catapults gave armies the ability to attack from a distance. Catapults became the main siege weapon because of the amount of destruction caused. The Ballista was a defensive form of field artillery created. It used a crank to increase the tension needed to fire the weapon. The Trebuchet was the next piece created to employ larger projectiles at fortified positions and soldiers. Catapults, Ballista’s, and Trebuchet’s gave a decisive advantage to commanders on the battlefield. Artillery pieces have changed in there composition...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...In creating gunpowder weapons, European engineers took a Chinese innovation and made a deadly weapon of war. From the start, this was as much about artillery as handheld weapons. Artillery has changed dramatically over the years. Some of the earliest records of gunpowder artillery are found in the 14th century, and as far from China as they could possibly be and in the hands of English armies at that. An English manuscript of 1327 shows an early depiction of artillery, which would then see use on the battlefields of the Hundred Years War. Cr?cy (1346) may have been decided by archers, but it was remembered by many participants as the day they first heard the cannon?s roar. Hard to move due to their weight and dangerous to use due to a tendency...
Words: 1411 - Pages: 6
...The battle of Hamburger hill was a battle that took place during the Vietnam war; may 10th to the 20th 1969. It was a battle in which the American forces assaulted the Vietnamese (VPA) forces in and around the area of Hill 937. What really make this battle interesting was that on a strategic level the commanders made some pretty poor calls; some so bad that their were riots back in the States because of the out come. In the Thua Thien Province, in the Republic of Vietnam, Hamburger hill or hill 937, was a hill that stood more or less alone. It was surrounded by jungle and was simply a stark and unfriendly, unforgiving hill. It held next to no strategic value in the war effort and is a solid example of what not to do in many scenarios that an infantryman could one day find himself in. The battle involved 1800 soldiers from the United States and approximately 800 soldiers from the VPA. First thing I want to point out id the size difference between the two groups. The US out numbers the VPA certainly; but not by the margin of 3-1. In the Infantry FM- 7-8, it is stated that when engaging the enemy you should outnumber the opposing force by a margin of at least 3-1. That’s the first mistake made by the commander, Melvin Zais. If the number of opposing forces was unknown he should have taken more care when attacking a fortified mounting with numbers possible exceeding his own. This was a battle that was not fought for land or strategic positioning- it was simple. It was to search...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5
...Britten July 1, 2015 Essay Assignment #2 The Vietnam War was an unfortunate event compared to other wars in history. Many American soldiers fought for years to break down the communist expansion in the north and the south of Vietnam. American involvement in the Vietnam War brought violence and death to Vietnam which created controversy for the United States’ government and administration. Therefore, the author proposes that the United States should have avoided their participation in the war due to its lack of positive outcome and great disturbance to Vietnam’s society. The United States Senate is used as a source that questioned the bombings in 1966 since it was uncontrolled and killed various innocent Vietnamese citizens. Although it is a primary source, the Senate does have a reason to lie. Government officials obtain knowledge that may be confidential and unavailable to the nation. They may also have to protect certain oaths, personal electoral positions, and their career when delivering news to the public. Therefore, complete honesty is an aspect that is inevitably unobtainable from the government. However, the information they share to the public is empathic and creates controversy amongst the American population towards the violence that “led to the destruction of the Vietnamese society.” In paragraph 16, the New York Times a secondary source shared just how they felt about the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. Of course it is a newspaper and the writers...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
...Though most of the attacks during the Tet Offensive were largely ineffectual militarily with lost ground swiftly regained by the United States and South Vietnam, the battle within the city of Hue took over a month. The North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong’s (VC) surprise infiltration and assault on the eve of the Tet holiday allowed them to seize most of the key structures within the city. The only major holdouts were the 1st Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) regiment’s command post within the Mang Ca compound to the north and the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) compound across the river to the south. The enemy gains included the Citadel, a portion of the city north of the Huong River surrounded by a moat and large...
Words: 1414 - Pages: 6
...The Vietnam War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Việt Nam), also known as the Second Indochina War,[32] and also known in Vietnam as Resistance War Against America (Vietnamese: Kháng chiến chống Mỹ) or simply the American War, was a Cold War-era proxy war[citation needed] that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955[A 1] to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War (1946–54) and was fought between North Vietnam—supported by the Soviet Union, China and other communist allies—and the government of South Vietnam—supported by the United States and other anti-communist allies.[37] The Viet Cong (also known as the National Liberation Front, or NLF), a South Vietnamese communist common front aided by the North, fought a guerrilla war against anti-communist forces in the region. The People's Army of Vietnam (also known as the North Vietnamese Army) engaged in a more conventional war, at times committing large units to battle. As the war wore on, the part of the Viet Cong in the fighting decreased as the role of the NVA grew. U.S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search and destroy operations, involving ground forces, artillery, and airstrikes. In the course of the war, the U.S. conducted a large-scale strategic bombing campaign against North Vietnam, and over time the North Vietnamese airspace became the most heavily defended in the world. The U.S. government viewed American...
Words: 759 - Pages: 4
...In 1965, the United States deployed 35,000 Marines to South Vietnam. This action marked the beginning of the American ground war in Vietnam. In 1968, a small village in the Quang Ngai Province, an area which was believed to be a stronghold of the Viet Cong, was massacred by U.S. troops. The My Lai Massacre became known as one of the most horrific incidents of violence committed against civilians during the Vietnam War. The My Lai Massacre was also known as Pinkville. Pinkville was the name given to the area of the Quang Ngai Province by Task Force Baker in February of 1968. On military maps, the providence was a reddish color to note the densely populated area. In America, the My Lai Massacre was often referred to and known as the Pinkville Massacre. Pinkville...
Words: 639 - Pages: 3
