Vietnam Firebases 1965-73: American and Australian Forces

by Randy E. M Foster, Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

Overview

Artillery fire support bases of the Freeworld forces played a critical role in the conduct of operations during the Vietnam War. They served to lay down high-volume fire on enemy firing sites, supported friendly infantry operations, and executed harassing fire missions where exact targets were not known. But the firebases themselves which housed a range of other facilities such as troop shelters, surveillance radars and command centers had to be defended against ground attack, and as a result became significant fortifications in their own right. This book describes the design, development and operational history of the fire support bases throughout the conflict.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782002222
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	08/20/2012
Series:	Fortress , #58
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
Sales rank:	681,627
File size:	18 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Randy E.M. Foster is an independent British military historian who has observed modern armies at close hand, including studies of NATO tactics in Germany. He has specialized in the Vietnam War, with his first articles on US tactics appearing in War in Peace magazine Nos. 48 and 50, in 1983-4. Since then he has contributed to the wargame press and he is currently active in the Battlefields Trust, for whom he is regional organizer for North-West England.

Peter Dennis was born in 1950. Inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn he studied illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects. He is a keen wargamer and modelmaker. He is based in Nottinghamshire, UK
Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn, leading him to study Illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects, including many Osprey titles. A keen wargamer and modelmaker, he is based in Nottinghamshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction     4
The place of fortification in a widening war
A war in five acts
Defending the bases
What is a firebase?     14
Building a firebase     19
The operational use of firebases     33
LZ Bird in the Christmastide battle
FSB Crook, June 5-7, 1969
Tour of a firebase: design and developments     43
Life in a firebase     50
Aftermath     57
The sites today     60
Select bibliography     62
Glossary and abbreviations     63
Index     64

Editorial Reviews

This is one of the best-written volumes in the entire series, well organized and well illustrated with photos and drawings. Those interested in field fortifications or in the great tragic American adventure in Indo-China will find this an excellent book. I highly recommend it.” —Bolling Smith, The Coast Defense Journal

“The author provides a well-written text that introduces the reader to the era... The images in the book are for the most part well-chosen and very useful for modelers... those that wish to have a proper setting for a model, will find this book very useful. Other modelers who may wish to get a bit ambitious could also construct a position to include a bunker complex; again this book is the place to start! Highly recommended.” —Frank De Sisto, missing-lynx.com

“... a very nicely done book.” —J. E. Kaufmann, Site O

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