Book contents
- Tactical Air Power and the Vietnam War
- Cambridge Military Histories
- Tactical Air Power and the Vietnam War
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Tactical Air Power Theory
- 3 Vietnam and Rolling Thunder: 1965–1966
- 4 Khe Sanh and Tet: 1967–1968
- 5 Commando Hunt I–III and Cambodia: 1969–1970
- 6 Commando Hunt V–VII and Lam Son 719: 1971–1972
- 7 Easter Offensive and Linebacker I & II: 1972–1973
- 8 Analysis and Conclusion
- 9 Epilogue
- Book part
- Index
8 - Analysis and Conclusion
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 January 2024
- Tactical Air Power and the Vietnam War
- Cambridge Military Histories
- Tactical Air Power and the Vietnam War
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Maps
- Tables
- Preface
- Abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Tactical Air Power Theory
- 3 Vietnam and Rolling Thunder: 1965–1966
- 4 Khe Sanh and Tet: 1967–1968
- 5 Commando Hunt I–III and Cambodia: 1969–1970
- 6 Commando Hunt V–VII and Lam Son 719: 1971–1972
- 7 Easter Offensive and Linebacker I & II: 1972–1973
- 8 Analysis and Conclusion
- 9 Epilogue
- Book part
- Index
Summary
Chapter 8 provides a brief history of US air power doctrine development after World War II, along with a synopsis of the modern air wars since Vietnam. Four operational and five environmental factors that impacted air operations in Vietnam are introduced to help explain when air power is likely to be effective. These nine factors are air superiority, air-to-ground capability, friendly ground force capability, enemy ground force capability, weather, lighting, geography and terrain, civilians, and concealment and cover. A summative assessment follows, which correlates these conditional factors with the military and political outcomes for the twenty-three modern US air campaigns. Finally, nine general observations are provided as to the overall effectiveness of modern air power.
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- Tactical Air Power and the Vietnam WarExplaining Effectiveness in Modern Air Warfare, pp. 202 - 228Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024