Page 324 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

Banmethuot

A. GE.NERAL DEVELOPMENTS

Banrnethuot is a srnall town and the caPital city of Darlac
province. It is located on a vast {lat expanse in the Central Vietnarn
highland. It is surrounded bycenturies oldjungles with scattered srnall
tribal concentrations which are generally nornadic and live frorn
rninor {arrning and hunting. It has never becorne an irnportant battle
area since the rnidforties or the beginning of the Indochina War.

The city enjoyed relative cakn and never gerved as an
objective for a rnassive ground offensive frorn the Cornrnunists until
the spring of. 1968. This was due to the fact that Rhade tribes, who
accounted Ior the rnajority of the local population, resented Cornrnu-
nisrn and the fact that the province itsel{ had a food deficit, depressed
area. Neither elernent favored Cornrnunist guerriLlas or regular troops
since they had to bring food, supplies and aknost everything else aII
the way frorn North Vietnarn through jungle trail s.

The Cornrnunists were very rnuch aware of this unfavo -
rable situation. They brought in equiprnent and food for rnonths before
they unleashed the offensive, These supplies were infiltrated frorn
their way stations and supply bases in Carnbodian border areas. Their
support personnel were recruited or drafted frorn arnong the lowlan-
ders all the way {rorn coastal provinces and frorn those who had
settled in governrnent sponsored land developrnent colonies in the
province. Local guerrillas were also provided thern in this way. The
entire enerny assault force, regular and irregular' waa estirnated at
about 3,500 rnen. It foreboded great danger for the city garrison
which had never faced such an overwhelrning enerny {orce before.
With such a large manpower cornrnitrnent the enerny seerned intent on
taking over the city and turning it into either a rear base or a politi-
ca1 capital for the Cornrnunist Ied National Liberation Front,
After a week fighting the enerny failed to occuPy any
Vietnarnese rnilltary installations or cornpounds His force spread
'
into the populated areas and engaged in seesaw battles against the
city defenders who were supported by arrnor artillery and air strikes
which extensively darnaged the property and life o{ the local civilian
population.