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Technological breakthroughs in warfare: Why must the U.S. military expand night strike capabilities during the Vietnam War?
The Vietnam War was an extremely complex conflict. In addition to political and social factors, technological innovation of the military forces of various countries was also one of the key solutions. In the 1960s, the U.S. Air Force launched a program code-named "Operation Greenhouse" to enhance its night strike capability. The background, significance and failure of this program are worth our in-depth discussion.
Background and Requirements
The United States' military involvement in Vietnam gradually escalated, especially the interruption of supply routes along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Americans were puzzled by the North Vietnamese's ability to exploit weather and darkness to conceal their supply and movement routes. When conducting target attacks during the day, we often face the problems of difficulty in finding targets and poor strike effects. Therefore, expanding night combat capabilities has become an urgent need.
The U.S. military needs new tactics and technologies to break through the enemy's defenses at night and in adverse weather conditions to ensure its air superiority.
The beginning of the project
Operation Hothouse was proposed in 1966, reflecting the U.S. Air Force's urgent need for flexible tactics to deal with North Vietnam's transportation lines. Since the Korean War, the U.S. military's focus has shifted to strategic deterrence, resulting in insufficient preparation for conventional operations and a lack of dedicated attack aircraft.
Highlights of Greenhouse Action
The core of the project includes improving communication and navigation systems, and developing sensors and lighting equipment for nighttime and bad weather.
Communication and Navigation
The success of a nighttime air raid requires not only an accurate navigation system but also an unimpeded communication link. The U.S. improvement of the Long Range Navigation System (LORAN) includes improvements in operational command, which can shorten the distance between commanders and attack forces and achieve higher strike efficiency.
Exploration of Sensors
Another focus of Operation Greenhouse is the establishment of a night vision system, including low-light television (LLLTV), forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and other technologies, so that targets can be located and effectively struck even in the dark.
An unattainable vision
Although the plan covered many technology improvement projects, the vast majority of aircraft and equipment failed to achieve the expected tactical effects due to the lack of technological maturity and practicality.
Conclusion
From the attempt of "Operation Greenhouse", we saw the gap between war technology and actual combat needs, and realized that technological innovation is not only a means in war, but also a capability to foresee the future in advance. In today’s warfare, how should military forces adapt and advance in the face of emerging technological and tactical challenges?
