0 - The Black Vault

THE
3BDM CORPORATION
* M-16 rifles were provided long after the enemy had em'loyed the
Russian AK-47 rifle
* M-48 tanks and 175 mm self-propelled artillery were provided only
;affta the enmmy had deplnyPd T-54 tanks and 130-mm guns.
SThe outcome of the 1972 Easter Invasion provided the US with aP
uneven basis 'or assessing RVNAF performance and the status of Vietnamization.,
Some Divisions like the 2 3 d (detending Kontum) and elements of the
5th (holding An Loc) acquitted themselves well, Elite units like the
Srangers and marines geoerally fought tenaciously, Other divisions, like
the 3 d and 2 2 d
and effectiveness.
on the other hand revealed glaring weaknesses in discipline
Territorial forces performed unevenly and were rated
from outstanding to poor, And, the contribution of the PSDF was evaluated
as marginal 158/
Regardless of the uneven RVNAF
showing in 1972, an important test had
been passed and pacification and Vietnamization were moving ahead under
heavy pressure from the US.
American ground combat troops were no longer
available to support and bail out the RVNAF. President Nixon began tu
press hard for a negotiated settlement, Tne stalemate in the negotiations
was broken and after several false starts a cease-fire agreement was final-
1 v sioned in Paris on 27 January 1973. All US combat forces were withdrawn
within 60 days.. In the interim, the departing US forces literally duinped
tons of military eouipnent, haraware and supplies on the RVNAF. The effort
was massive. 159/ Vietnamization came to an end. By the terms of the
agreement, the US rould not introduce additional heavy weapons into RVN,
but was restricted to supporting the equipment on hand at the time of the
agreement,
The net result of proeiding such massive aid was that it
increased the RVNAF's dependence on continuing US support to obtain:
* spare parts
a
- fuel
ammunition
0- * special maintenance equipment and t-chniciars 160/
RVN could produce nonr of these and the US willingness to continue
to supply these commodities came into question as a war-weary
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