Describe the military tactics used by both the USA and the Vietcong in the Vietnam War in the 1960s
During the Vietnam War the two sides used many different forms of military tactics. Many of these tactics were effects of other tactics, previously used in the War.
As the Americans became more involved in the Vietnam conflict they tried to win over the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people. This tactic was essential in Vietnam because the Vietcong were also trying gin the support of the Vietnamese people. The Vietcong would help the peasants and be kind to the poor population of Vietnam to build up backing for the communist ideals. This was combated by the American tactic of strategic hamlets during 1962. The aim of strategic hamlets was to isolate the Vietcong from the ordinary people of Vietnam. The problem with this was that when they rounded up the Vietnamese people they also rounded up members of the Vietcong, who would organise attacks on the Americans from inside the strategic hamlets. These tactics eventually forced the Americans into sending in ground troops and the Americanisation of the war.