Operation Linebacker II and the Sea-Power Factor

 The Nguyen Hue Offensive and the importance of sea power to the allied victory were highlighted in Operation Linebacker II. This article focuses on Air Force losses in the operation and the role of sea power in the victory. Also included are the experiences of young airmen, such as those who maintained F-4E Phantoms. This article is a good read if you want to learn more about the battle.

Air Force losses in Operation Linebacker II

The Sea-Power Factor greatly affected Air Force losses during Operation Linebacker II. Bad weather hampered the effectiveness of air strikes. In addition, the limited number of tactical air strikes made by U.S. aircraft resulted in 26 aircraft lost over a twelve-day period. Unfortunately, the losses were not entirely a direct result of poor weather but rather a direct result of enemy defensive actions.

Nevertheless, the air campaign had many benefits. The initial aim of Operation Linebacker II was to force the North Vietnamese government to negotiate with the U.S. and allied forces. The mission also resulted in some of the largest heavy bomber strikes since World War II. The air strike targeted the North Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, as well as several major target complexes south of the Seventeenth Parallel.

However, the monsoon season posed a significant threat to the Red River Valley dike system and jeopardized Linebacker I operations. In August, targeteers began reviewing the list of targets and decided on those that were best suited for all-weather bombing techniques. Data on weather windows from Navy aircraft conducting combat air patrols also helped the Air Force plan a more effective campaign.

Importance of sea power to allied victory in Nguyen Hue Offensive

The Nguyen Hue Offensive was launched in early 1968 by PAVN-VC soldiers. It began with a signal flare that lit the night sky. Two battalions of the PAVN 6th Regiment attacked the Citadel's western walls with the objectives of capturing the Mang Ca Garrison, the Tay Loc Airfield, and the Imperial Palace.

In August of 1975, the Allies' newest attack on Hue was a massive and devastating victory. The ARVN and PAVN had been losing significant numbers of men and civilians, and the city was undefended. Moreover, the city had been ravaged by Tet holidays, so many of the ARVN troops were on leave.

At the beginning of the operation, the seven ships of the Seventh Fleet's Detachment Charlie were downsized to eight personnel, but still tasked with coordinating the air campaign with the commander of the Seventh Air Force. One of the cruisers, Lieutenant Jake Jacoby, would become director of naval intelligence and three-star director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

In the course of the operation, the Seventh Fleet struck multiple targets in North Vietnam. The USS Joseph Strauss (DD-871) fired on two SAM sites near Vinh while the destroyers Higbee (DD-806) and Bausell(DD-845) conducted suppressive fire missions. Task Unit 77.1, which included the flagship Oklahoma City, fired 11,679 rounds at targets in North Vietnam.

Young airmen involved in maintenance of F-4E Phantoms

The F-4E Phantom is a modern jet that was first used by the United States Air Force as a fighter aircraft during World War II. The aircraft is now employed by Israel for various testing missions. The name Phantom is less controversial than the more provocative "Satan."

The F-4E Phantom was the first jet to be used in combat. In 1970, a raging dogfight took place over the Gulf of Suez, involving Israeli and Soviet Phantoms. The Israelis shot down five MiG-21 fighters and bombed a 2,500-ton Z-class destroyer. The F-4E Phantoms killed 105 of 112 people on the plane.

After the Vietnam War, the Phantom was used in reconnaissance operations against the MiGs and other enemy aircraft. During the Operation Nickel Grass, Israel added 34 Phantoms to its inventory. Ultimately, the F-4E Phantom received 204 aircraft. In the 1980s, Iran started using the F-4E Phantom for reconnaissance purposes and a RF-4E was shot down by a rebel shoulder-mounted missile, landing in the clear Gulf of Suez.

In September 1970, the RAAF received the first F-4E Phantoms. These aircraft were adapted for the air-to-ground role and for training the RAAF's aircrew to operate the new F-111s. The RAAF's intensive training program resulted in the return of twenty-three F-4E Phantoms to the USAF in two batches, in October 1972 and June 1973.