Vietnam 1972: Quang Tri
THE EASTER OFFENSIVE STRIKES THE SOUTH

Campaigns 362 Vietnam 1972 Quang Tri

Author:

Charles D. Melson

Illustrator:

Ramiro Bujeiro

This 96-page paperback book is the 362nd book in the Campaign series of books that are available from Osprey Publications.

By early 1972, Nixon’s policy of “Vietnamization” was well underway: South Vietnamese forces had begun to assume greater military responsibility for defense against the North, and US troops were well into their drawdown, with some 25,000 personnel still present in the South. When North Vietnam launched its massive Easter Offensive against the South in late March 1972 (the first invasion effort since the Tet Offensive of 1968), its scale and ferocity caught the US high command off balance. The inexperienced South Vietnamese soldiers manning the area south of Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone in former US bases, plus the US Army and Marines Corps advisors and forces present, had to counter a massive conventional combined-arms invasion.

The North’s offensive took place simultaneously across three fronts: Quang Tri, Kontum, and An Loc. In I Corps Tactical Zone, the PAVN tanks and infantry quickly captured Quang Tri City and overran the entire province, as well as northern Thua Thien. However, the ARVN forces regrouped along the My Chanh River, and backed by US airpower tactical strikes and bomber raids, managed to halt the PAVN offensive, before retaking the city in a bloody counteroffensive. Based on primary sources and published accounts of those who played a direct role in the events, this book provides a highly detailed analysis of this key moment in the Vietnam conflict. Although the South’s forces managed to withstand their greatest trial thus far, the North gained valuable territory within South Vietnam from which to launch future offensives and improved its bargaining position at the Paris peace negotiations.

The contents of this book are:

  • Origins of the Campaign
    • Development of the VNMC, 1974 – 1975
    • Development of the U.S. Marine Advisory Unit, 1955 – 1973
  • Chronology
  • Opposing Forces and Commanders
    • North Vietnam
    • South Vietnam
    • VNMC
  • Opposing Plans
    • The prelude to defeat
  • The Campaign
    • The Spring Offensive
    • Easter Sunday at Dong Ha
    • Confusion at Quang Tri City
    • Collapse
    • The Defense of Hue City
    • Holding the My Chanh Line
    • The Marines Attack
    • In the Balance
    • Quang Tri City redeemed
    • The final assault on Quang Tri Citadel
    • Returning North
    • The eleventh hour
  • Aftermath
    • The final act
    • Victory from Defeat, 1972
    • Victory Lost, 1973 – 1975
    • The Battlefield Today
  • Bibliography
    • Sources
    • Bibliography and further reading
  • Acronyms
  • Index

Summary

Vietnam 1972: Quang Tri is an excellent look into this Easter Offensive and its ramifications. In 96 concise pages you are provided with a nicely detailed history of this campaign. The Historian, or Vietnam enthusiast will enjoy the detailed look at this Campaign and will definitely want to add this Campaigns book to their library. The modeler or figure painter will get a lot of uniform information and ideas for dioramas or vignettes from all the drawings and photographs. Finally, the wargamer will get the history of the campaign from which they will be able to create their own scenarios from the excellent information provided. So, as you can see, Campaigns #362, Vietnam 1972: Quang Tri has a little something for everyone and is a book that would be an excellent addition to anyone’s library.

This book is available from Osprey Publications.

 

Paperback

$24.00

eBook (ePub)

$19.20

eBook (PDF)

$19.20