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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