Examination of the 1968 Battle of Hue: A Detailed Analysis
The third installment of the Urban Warfare Project Case Study Series delves into the Battle of Hue, a significant event that has left an indelible mark on urban warfare doctrine. This article, authored by Major Jayson Geroux, an infantry officer with The Royal Canadian Regiment and currently with 1st Canadian Infantry Division Headquarters, and John Spencer, the chair of urban warfare studies at the Urban Warfare Project's website and the codirector of MWI's Urban Warfare Project, offers a comprehensive analysis of the battle.
The Battle of Hue, which took place from the initial attack in January 1968 until early March, was destructive and took a heavy toll on both combatants, noncombatant residents, and the city itself. One of the Tet Offensive's chief targets, Hue was unique in certain key ways, as it notably influenced U.S. urban warfare doctrine due to its intense close-quarters combat, house-to-house fighting, and the challenge of distinguishing enemy combatants from civilians. The battle highlighted the need for integrated military and civilian considerations, improved small-unit tactics, and coordination in dense urban environments.
Unique lessons include the importance of combined arms integration, specialized training for urban terrain, and maintaining logistical support under difficult conditions. Major Jayson Geroux, an urban operations subject matter expert and urban warfare historian, emphasizes these aspects, drawing on his twenty-six years of service in the Canadian Armed Forces and his two decades of experience in urban operations training.
John Spencer, who previously served as a fellow with the chief of staff of the Army's Strategic Studies Group and has twenty-five years of infantry experience, including two combat tours in Iraq, provides valuable insights into the battle. He notes the pivotal role the Battle of Hue plays in the way the US military conceptualizes urban warfare.
This article is accompanied by an image credit for Staff Sergeant J. L. Harlan, US Marine Corps, who captured compelling images during the Battle of Hue. Harshana Ghoorhoo, a website intern, conducted the initial research and framed this and following case studies.
The Urban Warfare Project Podcast, hosted by John Spencer, will delve deeper into the Battle of Hue and its lessons in the near future. Stay tuned for more insights into the world of urban warfare.
