Combined Action Platoons...

[NickM]

Guys:

 

The USMC's Combined Action Platoons (CAPs) were one of the most innovative tactics used during the Vietnam War in regards to the idea of 'grass roots' pacification; however, I was wondering what the overall effect was if any on the larger war or even if would have made a difference if used on a wider (IE: Country wide) scale; I'm sure ALL of us have read F. J. West's "The Village" & saw how it worked on a smaller scale. However that same book also clearly showed the vulnerability of the CAPs to attacks by larger VC/NVA units;

 

It seems to me that EVEN a large proportion of SVN villages had something like a CAP in it AND they were successful in denying their population & resources to the VC/NVA, as long as the NVA had their sanctuaries in Laos & Cambodia, they could pre-position supplies, and mass overwhelming force against these posts and STILL carry on the war indefinitely....unless some sort of combined action to deny the use of Laos and Cambodia as sanctuaries...

 

Your thoughts, please...

 

And also, any suggestions as to reading materials RE: this subject?

 

NM

[NickM]

Guys:

 

The USMC's Combined Action Platoons (CAPs) were one of the most innovative tactics used during the Vietnam War in regards to the idea of 'grass roots' pacification; however, I was wondering what the overall effect was if any on the larger war or even if would have made a difference if used on a wider (IE: Country wide) scale; I'm sure ALL of us have read F. J. West's "The Village" & saw how it worked on a smaller scale. However that same book also clearly showed the vulnerability of the CAPs to attacks by larger VC/NVA units;

 

It seems to me that EVEN a large proportion of SVN villages had something like a CAP in it AND they were successful in denying their population & resources to the VC/NVA, as long as the NVA had their sanctuaries in Laos & Cambodia, they could pre-position supplies, and mass overwhelming force against these posts and STILL carry on the war indefinitely....unless some sort of combined action to deny the use of Laos and Cambodia as sanctuaries...

 

Your thoughts, please...

 

And also, any suggestions as to reading materials RE: this subject?

 

NM

 

Ah...'bump'

[NickM]

Ah...'bump'

 

 

****btt***again.

[CV9030FIN]

And also, any suggestions as to reading materials RE: this subject?

 

Start with this article: One man's CAP By: David Sherman, Published: Marine Corps Gazette Volume 73, Issue 2, Feb 1989

This I founded accidentally whlie looking other things...

 

Couple of book's:

• The Village (A story of one CAP) by Francis J. West. This is still waiting in my table to get read....
  
• Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counter Insurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam (sort of lessons learn that has an analyze of CAP operations) by John A. Nagi. This book I've read and also came across CAP's that I founded very interesting (and bought the Villaege -book...)
  

Edited June 19, 2008 by CV9030FIN

[NickM]

Start with this article: One man's CAP By: David Sherman, Published: Marine Corps Gazette Volume 73, Issue 2, Feb 1989

This I founded accidentally whlie looking other things...

 

Couple of book's:

• The Village (A story of one CAP) by Francis J. West. This is still waiting in my table to get read....
  
• Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counter Insurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam (sort of lessons learn that has an analyze of CAP operations) by John A. Nagi. This book I've read and also came across CAP's that I founded very interesting (and bought the Villaege -book...)
  

 

I actually have 'The Village' too! The other ones, not yet...but I'm guessing the jury is still out RE: the nagging problem of a platoon of soldiers holed up in a village while the enemy can still mass a company, battalion or regiment against it...it seems there's never been a truly comprehensive review of the subject....

 

TiA

 

nickm

[Archie Pellagio]

Are there any more technical / scholarly text concerning the British army's use of similar tactics in afghanistan on 06/07?

 

its been reasonably well covered by journalist s and in books like 3para but is there anything more "meaty"?

[CV9030FIN]

Are there any more technical / scholarly text concerning the British army's use of similar tactics in afghanistan on 06/07?

 

its been reasonably well covered by journalist s and in books like 3para but is there anything more "meaty"?

 

Please tell me too when you find it...