Operation Rolling Thunder was the codename for a U.S. bombing campaign conducted during the Vietnam War. From March 1965 to October 1968, U.S. military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam. This massive air campaign aimed to exert military pressure on North Vietnam’s communist leaders and weaken their ability to wage war against the Republic of Vietnam government (South Vietnam), supported by the United States.
Operation Rolling Thunder marked the first sustained U.S. attack on North Vietnamese territory and represented a significant escalation of American involvement in the Vietnam War. In this article, Thefactsofwar will delve into analyzing various aspects of Operation Rolling Thunder, from its historical context, developments, objectives, to the controversies and consequences surrounding it.
Initial U.S. Intervention in Vietnam
Từ những năm 1950, Hoa Kỳ đã cung cấp thiết bị quân sự và cố vấn hỗ trợ chính phủ Việt Nam Cộng hòa (miền Nam Việt Nam) chống lại nguy cơ bị chính phủ Việt Nam Dân chủ Cộng hòa (miền Bắc Việt Nam) ) và lực lượng du Mặt trận Dân tộc Giải phóng miền Nam Việt Nam (thường được gọi là Việt Cộng) kiểm soát.
In 1962, U.S. forces began unrestricted operations within South Vietnam, targeting air support for the South Vietnamese military, destroying suspected Viet Cong bases, and spraying herbicides like Agent Orange to eliminate forest cover.
A notable fact is that unexploded ordnance from Operation Rolling Thunder and other bombing campaigns during the Vietnam War has caused numerous casualties in Vietnam, with some estimates suggesting this has continued since the U.S. withdrew combat troops in 1973.
President Lyndon B. Johnson expanded U.S. air operations in August 1964, authorizing retaliatory airstrikes against North Vietnam following a reported attack on U.S. warships in the Gulf of Tonkin (Gulf of Tonkin Incident).
Later that year, Johnson approved limited bombings along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of paths connecting North and South Vietnam through neighboring Laos and Cambodia. The president’s goal was to disrupt the flow of personnel and supplies from North Vietnam to their Viet Cong allies.
- U.S. aircraft spraying Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. (Source: Collected)
Reasons for Launching Operation Rolling Thunder
“Operation Rolling Thunder was launched on March 2, 1965, partly in response to a Viet Cong attack on a U.S. airbase at Pleiku. The Johnson administration provided several reasons for shifting U.S. strategy to include systematic airstrikes on North Vietnam.
One primary objective was to persuade North Vietnamese leaders to accept the anti-communist government in South Vietnam. Officials believed that heavy, continuous bombardment could force North Vietnam to the negotiating table. Additionally, the U.S. aimed to undermine North Vietnam’s production and transportation capabilities to support Viet Cong forces in the South.
Disrupting supply routes, particularly the Ho Chi Minh Trail, was deemed critical. Finally, Johnson and his advisors hoped to boost morale in South Vietnam while weakening the communists’ resolve. The Pleiku attack served as a catalyst, providing the impetus for this shift in U.S. military strategy.”
Escalation of the Campaign and U.S. Ground Troop Involvement
Operation Rolling Thunder gradually expanded in both scope and intensity. Initially, airstrikes were limited to southern North Vietnam; however, U.S. leaders eventually shifted targets northward to increase pressure on the communist government.
By mid-1966, U.S. aircraft were striking military and industrial targets across North Vietnam. The only areas considered off-limits for bombing were the cities of Hanoi and Haiphong and a 10-mile buffer zone along the Chinese border.
Shortly after the campaign began in 1965, Johnson deployed the first U.S. ground units to the Vietnam War. Though their initial mission was to protect airbases in South Vietnam used for the bombing campaign, their role soon expanded to include active combat against the Viet Cong. As North Vietnamese forces became increasingly involved, Johnson steadily increased the number of U.S. troops in Vietnam.
North Vietnam’s Defensive Capabilities
Though North Vietnam lacked a significant air force, its leaders devised ways to establish an effective defense against the bombings. With assistance from China and the Soviet Union, North Vietnam built a sophisticated air defense system.
Using surface-to-air missiles and radar-guided anti-aircraft guns, North Vietnam shot down hundreds of U.S. aircraft during the intense bombing campaign. As a result, pilots and weapons system specialists on these planes accounted for most American prisoners of war captured and held by North Vietnam.
North Vietnamese leaders also took other steps to mitigate U.S. bombing efforts. They constructed a network of tunnels and bomb shelters and sent teams out at night to rebuild roads, bridges, communication systems, and other bombed facilities. Additionally, the communists leveraged the devastating airstrikes for propaganda purposes to bolster anti-American sentiment and patriotism among the North Vietnamese populace.
- North Vietnamese forces preparing to fight in jungle waters, defending their territory against U.S. air attacks. (Source: Collected)
Consequences of the Rolling Thunder Campaign
The continuous bombing of North Vietnam lasted over three years, with brief interruptions. Johnson ultimately halted the campaign on October 31, 1968, to pursue a negotiated solution with the communists.
Historians hold varied opinions on the strategic value of Operation Rolling Thunder. Some argue the bombing campaign nearly crippled North Vietnam’s war-making capacity. Critics, however, contend its effectiveness was limited.
They argue that engagement rules designed to avoid provoking communist China and minimize damage to Hanoi and Haiphong prevented U.S. airstrikes from hitting key targets, including airfields, shipyards, power plants, and oil storage facilities. They also assert that U.S. leaders failed to coordinate the bombing campaign in North Vietnam with operations in South Vietnam.
Despite the challenges the Johnson administration faced with Operation Rolling Thunder, President Richard M. Nixon, Johnson’s successor, resumed bombing North Vietnam shortly after taking office in 1969. In 1972, Nixon launched another bombing campaign in North Vietnam, known as Operation Linebacker.
By the time the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam in 1973, the U.S. military had dropped approximately 4.6 million tons of bombs on Vietnam, destroying large swathes of the country’s towns and villages and killing an estimated 2 million Vietnamese.
- A KC-135 Stratotanker refueling an F-105D Thunderchief squadron during a bombing mission in North Vietnam, Operation Rolling Thunder. (Source: Collected)
Conclusion
Through the article “Operation Rolling Thunder: Why Did the U.S. Bomb North Vietnam?”, Thefactsofwar hopes to provide you with a comprehensive overview of this controversial bombing campaign in the Vietnam War. From 1965 to 1968, millions of tons of bombs rained down on North Vietnam to pressure the communist government and halt support to the South. However, with a robust air defense system and unyielding resolve, North Vietnam stood firm.
Translated by: Minh Tuan
Source: history.com – Operation Rolling Thunder
