Existing comment:
Early Absence of Armor:
General William Westmoreland assumed command over the growing American presence in Vietnam. Analyzing the type of military force required to combat the Viet Cong, he initially opted not to consider armored units. This decision was based on three considerations:
(1) The terrain of Vietnam was considered unsuitable to armor operations, despite the use of armor throughout the Pacific Theater in World War II.
(2) Limitations on the number of troops to be deployed led Westmoreland to favor infantry formations, since they required less logistics support and provided a better ration of combat-to-support personnel.
(3) Armored units heightened the visibility of the American presence at a time when the US Army did not want to be seen as taking over the conduct of the war.
Initially, Army units deployed in Vietnam without their tank units. Marine Corps forces, however, arrived overseas with their organic tank units. |