Ho Chi Minh Trail 1964-73: Steel Tiger, Barrel Roll, and the secret air wars in Vietnam and Laos

The Trails War was a major part of the 'secret war in South East Asia, yet it received far less coverage than campaigns like Rolling Thunder and Linebacker. It had a profound effect on the outcome of the war and on its perception in the USA, with pilots like the Raven forward air controllers and USAF rescue services carrying out hazardous missions to recover aircrew. The Steel Tiger campaign was less covert, with Arc Light B-52 strikes and the AC-130 introduced to cut the trails. Thousands of North Vietnamese troops and civilians devised ingenious means of survival, but the campaign could never be fully successful.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 17 September 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Trails War, a significant component of the so-called "secret war" in South East Asia, garnered relatively less media attention compared to campaigns like Rolling Thunder and Linebacker. However, its impact on the war's outcome and its perception in the United States was profound. In the northern region, the Barrel Roll campaign saw daring pilots operating obsolete aircraft, such as the T-28 and A-26A, as US forces continued to rely on antiquated piston-engined planes. These pilots performed countless heroic deeds, operating from primitive airstrips in close contact with fierce enemy forces. The USAF rescue services undertook extremely hazardous missions to recover aircrew who would have been swiftly executed by Pathet Lao forces. Reconnaissance pilots routinely risked their lives in solo, low-level missions over hostile territory, providing vital intelligence to the military.

Further south, the Steel Tiger campaign adopted a less covert approach. Frequent Arc Light B-52 strikes were conducted, and the formidable AC-130 was introduced to cut the trails. Thousands of North Vietnamese troops and civilians undertook the long and arduous journey along the trail, often using trucks or pushing French bicycles laden with ammunition and rice. They faced constant threats of air attack and sustained significant losses, yet they devised innovative methods of survival. The campaign to cut the trails persisted throughout the Vietnam War, but the United States could only achieve partial success. This captivating title delves into the history of this campaign, examining the forces involved and exploring why the United States could never fully conquer the Ho Chi Minh trail.

Weight: 314g
Dimension: 186 x 246 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472842534