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The 1968 Tet Offensive

This article explores the prelude to the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam, the coordinated attacks, the military and political consequences, and draws conclusions from the event. It examines the factors leading up to the offensive, the diversionary and all-out attacks, the military and political consequences, and the lessons learned.

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The 1968 Tet Offensive

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  1. The 1968 Tet Offensive by Ky Quy Vu February 25, 2008

  2. Agenda • Prelude to the Tet Offensive • The Concerted Attack • The Military Consequence • The Political Consequence • Conclusion

  3. PRELUDE:Stalled momentum in 1965 • Set Battles • Communists decision to hold ground • Engagements of regiment size • The Communists failure, heavy losses • Major operations • Into Communist strongholds • Denying enemy sanctuary • Denying chance attack • Sapping enemy supply ability

  4. PRELUDE – Capability: Supply from North • Infiltration from North Vietnam: • 4,500 troops monthly • More than 22,300 tons of supplies before Tet

  5. PRELUDE - Capability: Infrastructure • Infrastructure intact in SVN • Logistic system in Mekong Delta • Financial Support

  6. OFFENSIVE: Diversionary Attacks • The siege of Khe Sanh • The attacks at border outposts • The final attacks at Khe Sanh • Failure to distract American defense • Psi-war succeeded in distracting SVN

  7. OFFENSIVE - All Out Attacks: Go for Broke • General Offensive • 25 Major Cities • Several minor cities, townships • Total forces committed • 97 independent battalions • Many commando units • Six others Main Force regiments

  8. OFFENSIVE: in Saigon Capital • 15 Communist battalions (6000 in strength) • 2 commando battalions • Main targets:

  9. OFFENSIVE: Hue Theater • 7,000 troops attack • Communist seizing control of city • Digging in the old fortified Citadel • Occupation and massacre • At least 3,000 victims of massacres

  10. MILITARY CONSEQUENCES • Combat Losses • On the run • Downward Trend • Loss of sanctuaries • Disintegrated infrastructure

  11. POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE • Weakened presence inside South Vietnam • Gaining points on media scale • Big political gain in Washington • Paris peace talks

  12. Conclusion: Lessons Learned • Media and American intelligentsia • Performance of the South Vietnamese Army. • Communist atrocities and media collusion • “WWII” versus “VN War” America

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