Military Logistics Efforts during the Vietnam War Supply Chain Management on Both Sides

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of military logistics operations during the Vietnam War. It looks at the technical and strategic role of logistics, and the physical obstacles that had to be overcome in Vietnam. The US had highly sophisticated war machinery that was deployed in a country that lacked not only the transportation infrastructure (roads, ports, airports) but also had extreme terrain and climate conditions. On the other hand the Vietnamese had a well-oiled supply chain which often was carried on bicycles and literally on the backs of humans not only along the Ho Chi Minh Trail but throughout the north and south of Vietnam. On the US side helicopters played an important transportation role substituting land transport with air transport. The war effort escalated so rapidly that there was literally no time for logistics advancement operations and prepositioning of assets which resulted in a parallel run of war fighting and logistics operations. Naval operations had to provide their own landing crafts due to the lack of deep seaports with adequate lifting equipment. At the same time airlifts required runways and aircontrol facilities which needed to be provided by the US. Even the US Department of Defense (DOD) food supply chain was supported from abroad while local war fighters could live off the land. The Vietnam War logistics effort reached over to neighboring countries, and Thailand played an important role with its naval and airbases close to Sattahip, U-Tapao and northern parts of Thailand. There are valuable lessons to be learned for both military logistics as well as private sector supply chain management.