Vietnam What if?
Discussion
If UK forces including RAF and RN had been involved in the Vietnam war, what ships and aircraft might have been used?
Ark Royal with it's Buccaneers and Phantoms would be an obvious choice, maybe HMS Eagle as well.
RAF Canberras would have made sense since the Americans and Australians used them, presumably replaced by Buccaneers later. Would Vulcans have been too vulnerable?
Ark Royal with it's Buccaneers and Phantoms would be an obvious choice, maybe HMS Eagle as well.
RAF Canberras would have made sense since the Americans and Australians used them, presumably replaced by Buccaneers later. Would Vulcans have been too vulnerable?
Wozy68 said:
I’ve read a lot about the Vietnam War (french and American) and I’m still gobsmacked to this day that when we’ve just about joined every war the US have been involved in since WW2 that we had the guts to say no and stay well out the way of that unwinnable one.
The problem I think was when the US forces going north met the Chinese going south. Or was it the Russians? Anyway with the possibility of a nuclear war kicking off one side had to back down. Whilst no expert on the conflict, I seem to recall the US was fighting with one hand tied behind its back for political reasons.NB Don't forget the US joined in two of 'our' wars, and I don't fancy our chances had they not done so in the second.
Eric Mc said:
Some U.K. force personnel DID participate.
Participate in what way?I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
Dr Jekyll said:
Participate in what way?
I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
That's why I used the word "personnel". I know for sure of one chap who served with the New Zealand Army. He told me hair raising tales of flying into dangerous areas in Bristol Freighters.I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
Wozy68 said:
I’ve read a lot about the Vietnam War (french and American) and I’m still gobsmacked to this day that when we’ve just about joined every war the US have been involved in since WW2 that we had the guts to say no and stay well out the way of that unwinnable one.
Harold Wilson's finest hour (he didn't have many).Simpo Two said:
The problem I think was when the US forces going north met the Chinese going south. Or was it the Russians? Anyway with the possibility of a nuclear war kicking off one side had to back down. Whilst no expert on the conflict, I seem to recall the US was fighting with one hand tied behind its back for political reasons.
NB Don't forget the US joined in two of 'our' wars, and I don't fancy our chances had they not done so in the second.
I think that was Korea, the Russian and Chinese involvement was less direct in Vietnam. Although Russian, Chinese and DPRK pilots are widely believed to have taken an active role. NB Don't forget the US joined in two of 'our' wars, and I don't fancy our chances had they not done so in the second.
Its mad how the Americans fought that war, bombing their allies not their enemy. Odd strategy.
nikaiyo2 said:
I think that was Korea, the Russian and Chinese involvement was less direct in Vietnam. Although Russian, Chinese and DPRK pilots are widely believed to have taken an active role...
Chinese involvement in Vietnam was limited to only supplying the Vietcong. Later on, they did indeed cross the border, while Vietnam was busy sorting out the Khmer Rouge in CambodiaDr Jekyll said:
Participate in what way?
I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
Plenty of rumours regarding UKSF operating there at the time, either direct combatant roles when on exchange with Aus NZ SF, and in non combatant mil-advisor roles.I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
Given our successes in that theatre previously, I suspect the latter rumour to be probably true.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Dr Jekyll said:
Participate in what way?
I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
Plenty of rumours regarding UKSF operating there at the time, either direct combatant roles when on exchange with Aus NZ SF, and in non combatant mil-advisor roles.I've heard of British personnel in the Australian forces participating, and a few in the New Zealand and US forces, but not as UK forces. I've heard of UK forces in the country during the war, for example at the UK embassy, but not participating. Present but not involved to coin a phrase The nearest I've heard of to participation is the occasional UK exchange crew member on a transport flight.
Were there actually UK forces involved officially if secretly? Or where some of those Australian troops with UK passports actually UK forces sent over on the quiet?
Given our successes in that theatre previously, I suspect the latter rumour to be probably true.
His father was by then a serving staff officer at the time, but said his father when a junior officer, was one of about half dozen British Army personnel that had officially served in a combat role in Vietnam while on exchange with Aus/NZ Army units.
aeropilot said:
30 years ago I worked with a grad engineer, who had been sponsored through Uni by the Army with intention of being a RE officer, but got medically discharged while at Sandhurst after sustaining bad injury while playing rugby.
His father was by then a serving staff officer at the time, but said his father when a junior officer, was one of about half dozen British Army personnel that had officially served in a combat role in Vietnam while on exchange with Aus/NZ Army units.
Well there you go... Rumour confirmed. His father was by then a serving staff officer at the time, but said his father when a junior officer, was one of about half dozen British Army personnel that had officially served in a combat role in Vietnam while on exchange with Aus/NZ Army units.
Thanks.
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