Page 472 - The Viet-Cong Tet_Offensive_1968

They gave to the Tet general offensive a new direction
to prove that the partyrs leadership could not have been rnistaken. As
a rnatter of fact, when the general offensive strategy was put out by
the partyts leadership, regional Cornrounist cadres were rnuch
perplexed a6 to how to irnplernent it to reach the huge goals set,
Narnely, the heart of the cities. Therefore there was rnuch doubt
about the success of the plan at its very onset.

Docurnents showed that the Cornrnunists had to postpone
twice the launching of the offensivers first phase. The second phase
was originally set for Feb. 15, 1968, but was later postponed to 17
June 1968 and then cancelled altogether, with only indiscrirninate
rnortar and rocket shelLings being launched instead. The third phase,
originally planned |or 22 April, was first delayed until 28 April and
later until 5 May 1968.

Internal di{f iculti.e s also forced the enerny to change
their forces, targets and troop itineraries. For exarnple, in the
Tri-Thien-Hue area, the Group 8 force replaced the Group 9 force
at the 1a6t rninute. The Znd sub-zone (North of Long An) had its targetB
substituted by those of the 3rd sub-zone (Alnn tan) and vi.ce-versa,
one day before the offensive. The 9th sub-zone which had originally
been scheduled to attack Saigonr6 9th Precinct was sent against the
Highway Bridge instead.
Major shortcornings also were noted in the enernyrs
cornrnunication and liaison network. No sooner than the offensive
was launched did the C ornrnunist cornrnand lose its contacts with the
Saigon front. Units attacking Saigon also were not able to cornrnunicate
with one another. Cornrnunist soldiers fled in cornplete disorder, and
rnany units got lost, Two cornpanies of the C ornrnuni st 6th Battalion
happened to enter the Phu Tho race track area while their target was
sornewhere else. The J.0th Ranger s lost contact with the Rrt f ront
tr
c ornrnand and the sub-zone one cornrnand. Political cadres based at
Phu Tho Hoa were unable to comrnunicate with the unit attacking the
Saigon Radio Station,
Also according to enerny docurnents, the Cornmuniets
adrnitted that although they were able to take control of Hue at the
beginning, their offensive plan was upset due to :
- weak defense positions after occupation of the city;
- loss of direction in street fighting;
- loose cornbined actions, slow deployrnents;

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