Expansion of Viet Cong and PAVN

The expansion of the Viet Cong (VC) and the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) marked a critical phase in the Vietnam War, particularly following the Tonkin Resolution. Anticipating an increase in U.S. military involvement, Hanoi initiated a significant buildup of its forces in the south. The VC, which began with a strength of approximately 5,000, saw its ranks swell to about 100,000 by the end of 1964. This growth was facilitated by the influx of personnel and resources from the North, including the standardization of equipment with AK-47 rifles and the establishment of the 9th Division. Concurrently, the PAVN also experienced a substantial increase in strength, rising from around 850,000 to nearly one million during the same period. This military expansion was a strategic response to the evolving battlefield dynamics and the anticipated arrival of U.S. troops.