B-52s Influence On Vietnam War

Throughout history, humankind has evolved in not just physical capacities, but in technological capacities as well. With this fact, no one can deny the truth that those who possess the most advanced technology ultimately become the most dominant of their time. Starting with the bow and arrow, then fleet ships and iron-built weapons, to flintlock weapons and cannons, all the way up to cyber warfare and the final ultimatum of our time, the atomic bomb or ICMBs, he with the biggest stick wins the war. Why bring up such a terrifying subject? Because, that is what wins battles and turns the tides of war. A prime example is what the United States brought to the fight during the Vietnam War. The world witnessed the dawn of a new method of

The 2nd largest bomber ever created, the B-52 is capable of carrying thousands of pounds of explosives ranging from smaller, widespread munitions, to carrying up to six high-yield, thermo-nuclear bombs, capable of destroying entire cities. The bomber ran sorties throughout the war and created massive destruction wherever it flew. Next to the Huey, it was a staple image of the Vietnam War with its massive wingspan and payload capacity that reflected American might and the media used this. Many missions incorporated the use of B-52s for their shaping operations or strategic use when fixing enemy positions or installations. Before laser or radar guided munitions, the B-52 had to use carpet-bombing (dropping bombs over a straight-line that the aircraft could fly over) techniques to destroy targeted areas. Bombers were not the only aircraft raining bombs. The introduction of the newest fighter jet came with the F-4 Phantom. Capable of providing air support for both ground and air units. Once equipped, the fighter-bomber could deliver munitions to repel or destroy enemy forces and protect itself while on mission. By comparison, the F-4 Phantom became the dominant fighter in the air over

Higher power and more mobile, handheld radios used a very specific, high-frequency method of the electro-magnetic spectrum: Stratospheric bounce. Since normal communications would have relied on landlines or telephone poles, using the stratosphere to bounce radio signals from one side of a heavily forested are to another vaulted the American’s ability to communicate, coordinate, and send requests without the threat of cute lines, tapped lines, or reliance on fixed sites. With the rolling hills, valleys, and mountains, bouncing signals over such obstacles became a much-needed advantage over the enemy’s regular use of line of sight