THE BATTLE OF AN LOCIntroductionThe Battle of An Loc Vietnam was also considered the Easter Offensive as it began on the Thursday before the Easter weekend and lasted 96 days. It preceded the TET offensive of 1968 and may have been one of the most prolific battles of the era. The Battle of An Loc demonstrated the will and fortitude of the enemy, as well as tested the perseverance of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) defense forces. Along with all this it showed a more modern form of battle that used land as well as air power, and laid the foundation for the superiority of air power used today. their Viet Cong (VC) counterparts were pushed back to the Cambodian border. Through political interventions South Vietnamese forces, including US counterparts, were ordered not to advance into Cambodia to follow the NVA/VC. During the period between 1968 and 1972 the United States withdrew its forces from Vietnam in the hope that the ARVN could protect their country. By 1972 U.S. forces were down to 100,000 troops, of which only 5,000 were combat troops. While U.S. forces were being withdrawn, the North Vietnamese Army was steadily building up its forces in Cambodia. Once troop levels reached over 200,000, the North Vietnamese asked for help from Russia and China ensuring victory and the fall of Saigon. Backed by the Russians with 200 tanks, anti-aircraft artillery, and surface-to-air missiles, the NVA/VC attack was ready. With elections looming in the United States and its involvement in an already unpopular conflict, the NVA/VC thought this would be a prime opportunity to attack with t... middle of paper... and the battlespace was not foreseen in the minds of air power. Towards the end the institution of command and control was developed which hovered over the battle and can be seen in use today. From this battle came the guarantee that all players are where they should be and the elimination of friendly fire casualties. The use of airplanes to place precise and effective supplies in a small, targeted location in the form of HALO drops on pallets has also been developed which reduces losses. of aircraft and crew and increasing the ability to provide support to ground troops in battle. The last and most important lesson learned by aviation today is the development of aircraft survivability equipment and techniques. Through trials and tribulations we are able to provide the means to operate safely in an environment of modern technology that aims to disable aviation assets.