Page 458 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968
P. 458

C ornbat Preparation:

                          Depending  on the irrportance of each city target and
        its defense systern,  the enerny attacking  forces would receive  the
        following assignrnents  : The rnain forcers role was to attack, support,
        assault, reinforce, and defend occupied positions;  the role of the
        in-city force including rnilitary  and para-rnilitary elernents and
        political organizations, was to receive, guide forces  c orning frorn
        outside, attack frorn within, help the rnain force expand to connected
        areas after taking control of a city,  and rernai.n in the city for further
        underground  activity in  case of withdrawal of the rnain force  etc.
                                                                                        ".
        the workers force would accornpany the cornbat units and carry  out
        logistical  tasks; the political force  cornposed of leaders of the uprising
        cornrnittee would take over the city  adrnini str ation, with the help of
        Cornrnunist  cadres previously disguised as nationalist elernents.

                          B attle{ield  Preparation  :

                          The preparation  was carried out on all three {ields  :
        rnilitary,  political and pro s elyting.

                          Off ensive Plans  :
                          Each force was supposed to have its  own plan with
        specific rnentions  of its rnission, cornposition, direction, behawior
        and other c ornbined directives,


                          Mea  .  s and trquiprnent :
                         Mernbers of each force should be well trained for  the
       handling of rnodern weapons incLuding those captured frorn govern-
       rllent troops such as the M,79, M"72 etc. Units trained for  sabotage
       action, rnine attack, convoy attack, destruction  of buildings and
       bunkers, should know how to drive a tank or navigate a 6hip if neces-
       sary; reconnaissance  tearns should be equipped with civilian clothes
       and ARVN uniforrns and insignias; in{antry elements should be
       equipped  on the  basis of two AKrs for  one 8"40 or B.41, and each
       soldier, in  addition to his own equiprnent, rnust carry one B.40
       rocket, or a round of 60 rnrn or 82 rnrn rnortar or DKZ.

                          3. City cornbat techni.ques : Attacks outside  and inside
       the city,  attacks  on buildings  and bunkers,  and counter assaults,

                          Outside  -the- city  phase   :
                          This includes circurnstances  that require no arti.llery
       preparation  and circurnstances that require artillery  preparation,



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