What do the many guerrilla-style hit-and-run missions of the Viet Cong teach them about the nature of their enemies, the South Vietnamese and the Americans?

Even though they sustained heavy casualties in many of their early attacks, the Viet Cong used these opportunities to get close to the U.S.-backed forces and study their equipment and tactics. By the time of Ap Bac, they devise a number of plausible means to defend against the superior equipment and firepower of the ARVN.