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My 10mm Viet Cong Battlegroups

Introduction

The Vietcong were not a conventional force like the Allies or their North Vietnamese Army counterparts. First and foremost they were a guerilla army and this kept their organisation in a constant state of flux.

The Vietcong forces were organised on three levels; Local, Regional and Main Force. In my games I shall be dealing only with Regional or Main Force units since Local forces rarely had sufficient strength to confront the allies in any kind of engagement above platoon or possibly company size. The Regional and, in particular, the Main Force units were capable of large-scale engagements suitable for CWC.

The Main Force units (Chu-Luc) were organised along conventional lines although as with any guerilla army their manpower and equipment levels fluctuated wildly. It was also the case that many North Vietnamese regulars served with the Main Force units long before the North Vietnamese Army became deeply involved in the War. They were, to all intents and purposes, as capable of combat operations as any regular, conventional army.

The Chu-Luc were always assisted by Local and Regional forces and it is the Chu-Luc that carried out most of the more spectacular attacks against allied units and installations.

The Vietnamese people deeply love independence, freedom and peace. But in the face of United States aggression they have risen up, united as one man. - Ho Chi Minh

Viet Cong Army, Vietnam (1968)

  • CO
  • Recce Unit (Local Guerillas)
  • Sniper Team
  • 3 x Engineer Units (Sappers)
  • Infantry
    • HQ
    • 3 x Infantry Units (Regional Guerillas)
    • 3 x Upgrade (RPG-2)
    • HQ
    • 3 x Infantry Units (Regulars)
    • HQ
    • 3 x Infantry Units (Regulars)
  • Support
    • 1 x HMG
    • 1 x 57mm Recoiless Rifle
    • 1 x 82mm Mortar
    • 1 x Air Defence Unit (AA, HMG)

The list represents a VC Main Force Rifle Company at 1:1 or a Battalion if playing at higher level. The Company has the following elements; Company HQ, a reconnaissance unit consisting of Local Guerillas, one Rifle Platoon Companys of Regional Force guerillas and two Rifle Platoons of Chu-Luc (Main Force) regulars (one platoon of Chu-Luc regulars are upgraded to RPG-2), a Company Combat Support Platoon, a Sapper Platoon, a sniper team and an air defence unit.

The National Liberation Front (NLF)

In researching the National Liberation Front (NLF) it has become apparent that a great deal more is known and has been recorded regarding it's politics and ideology than is available regarding the detailed organization of it's parallel military forces. As a consequence, whilst it has been possible to discover the hierarchical structure of the NLF military, I have encountered considerable difficulty in uncovering the details of their battlefield organisation in terms of established Tables of Organization and Equipment.

For a more detailed examination of the NLF see my article concerning their political and military structure available on my Eleven-Bravo website.

Who and where are the Enemy?

The Vietnamese people - North and South, Communist and non-Communist - share the same basic racial background. For this reason it is extremely difficult to identify an enemy unless he is in uniform or shooting at you. Moreover, this makes recognition of friends (or non-enemies) most important, for mistaking one for an enemy makes him, his relatives, and his friends your enemies. The child on the water buffalo may be a Viet Cong spy, but it is better to treat him as a friend in case of doubt. - Know Your Enemy: The Vietcong (US Army Pamphlet)