Project Eldest Son
Operation Eldest Son, also known as Project Eldest Son, was a covert U.S. military operation during the Vietnam War, initiated by the Studies and Observations Group (SOG) in 1967. The primary objective of this operation was to sabotage enemy ammunition supplies in order to undermine the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army's (NVA) confidence in their weaponry and logistics.
Objectives and Methods
Sabotage Tactics
The SOG devised a plan to infiltrate enemy supply lines with altered ammunition. This involved disassembling captured rounds of AK-47 and 12.7 mm machine gun ammunition, as well as 82 mm mortar shells, and replacing the propellant with explosives. These modified rounds were then reassembled and mixed with legitimate ammunition before being distributed to enemy forces. The goal was twofold: to potentially injure or kill the user upon firing and to create doubt about the reliability of their weapons[1][2][3].
Psychological Warfare
In addition to physically sabotaging the munitions, the operation included a psychological component. The SOG spread disinformation suggesting that Chinese factories were producing faulty ammunition, hoping to sow distrust between the North Vietnamese and their Chinese allies. This narrative was reinforced through various means, including fake communications that were dropped in enemy areas[1][2][3].
Implementation
The operation saw the insertion of thousands of sabotaged rounds into enemy supply caches across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. SOG teams would strategically place these rounds during ambushes or when discovering enemy ammo dumps, ensuring that only one sabotaged round was included per magazine or belt to avoid detection[2][4]. Reports indicate that over 12,000 sabotaged rifle and machine gun rounds were produced, along with nearly 2,000 mortar shells[1].
Conclusion and Legacy
Project Eldest Son was ultimately abandoned in 1969 after details began leaking to the media, but its legacy has persisted. While definitive data on its success is scarce, it is believed that the operation succeeded in creating uncertainty among enemy forces regarding their ammunition's reliability. The tactics employed in this project have reportedly influenced similar operations in other conflicts, including recent reports of similar strategies being used in Syria[1][3].
In summary, Operation Eldest Son exemplified unconventional warfare tactics aimed at destabilizing enemy morale through sabotage and psychological operations during one of the most contentious periods of the Vietnam War.
Citations: [1] https://militaryhistorynow.com/2016/11/18/project-eldest-son-the-secret-u-s-scheme-to-sabotage-charlies-ammo/ [2] https://sogsite.com/2021/03/24/project-eldest-son/ [3] https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/weird-history-the-true-story-of-project-eldest-son/ [4] http://arcana.wikidot.com/project-eldest-son [5] https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/9w3sqa/til_the_us_government_had_a_secret_military/ [6] https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/panel/battle/70022300.HTM [7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASbCxkawly4 [8] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgcdd3rbog8