"Air Power Unleashed: The Linebacker Operations" Topic

"The most famous supply route in history, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, consisted of many supply lines that ranged from a foot track to paved roads, and included river passages. These lines led from ports in North Vietnam to a thousand distribution points in South Vietnam. There were three principal routes: The first trail ferried troops by truck to Laos, from which they infiltrated on foot into South Vietnam. The second trail also ran through Laos, and was used primarily by trucks crossing through the Mu Gia and Nape passes. The third route used both trucks and boats, and passed through Cambodia.

The ability of American air power to stem the flow of supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail was irrevocably crippled when the decision was made not to attack shipping in Haiphong and other North Vietnamese ports. Instead of destroying supplies at their source and inhibiting their further importation, the civilian leaders in Washington elected to spend billions of dollars and far too much blood to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail. There resulted the curious spectacle of the most sophisticated aircraft, armament, and electronic equipment being directed against inexpensive Russian trucks, bicycles, and even porters carrying rice on their backs…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Excellent find, thank you!

… That air offensive should have started a few years earlier. Would it have made a difference ? We will never know …

Or never – since it accomplished zilch…

Depending on who you read … it's a matter of opinion … Regardless … in war you kill the enemy and destroy their infrastructure. It is just the way it's done.

Linebacker had played a crucial role in blunting the northern offensive by drying up its vital sources of supply. PAVN had evolved into a conventional military force, and such a force depended upon a complex logistical system, which made it vulnerable to aerial attack.[61] By September, imports into North Vietnam were estimated at 35 to 50 percent below what they had been in May, bolstering claims that the campaign had been successful in its interdiction effort.[62] Air Force General Robert N. Ginsburgh, of the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, summed up the attitudes of U.S. commanders by remarking that Linebacker had "a greater impact in its first four months of operation than Rolling Thunder had in three and one-half years."[63]

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Sounds like it did a lot to me … And that basically agrees with what I had studied and is accurate.

since it accomplished zilch…

As long and you are killing the enemy and destroying their infrastructure you are doing your job.

And …

Operation Linebacker was launched with the goal of slowing the enemy advance by striking transportation and logistical targets. These air attacks proved effective and by June, North Vietnamese units were reporting that only 30% of supplies were reaching the front. An effective campaign, Operation Linebacker helped halt the Easter Offensive and aided in restarting peace talks.

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Does not sound like zilch to me … sounds pretty damned effective …

Maybe you should restudy the Operations. Or zilch means something different to you than me …?

Stick Jane Fonda on a AAA weapon and….well maybe no Linebacker….but somehow I doubt it

😁 In an earlier time she'd have been considered a traitor. 👎👎

A votre service mon ami! (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

If Bomber Harris and Ira Eaker were in charge the "war" would have been over in 2 weeks with no need to send in troops, overall less loss of life and damage, no Agent Orange, or thousands of tons of unexploded ordinance around the countryside. Unless of course, Henry Kissenger interfered by giving in to all of the NV demands by extending the war and handicapping the US military.

Wolfhag

👍👍✊👊