Final answer:
The "Whole Base" protective system was necessary during the Vietnam Conflict to counter the guerilla warfare tactics of the VC and NVA, protect US bases from unexpected massive attacks, and address the challenges of fighting an enemy using hit-and-run tactics and subterranean tunnel networks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The "Whole Base" protective system was needed during the Vietnam Conflict due to the unconventional warfare tactics employed by the Vietcong (VC) and the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). Instead of engaging in direct, pitched battles, the VC and NVA used guerilla warfare, employing hit-and-run tactics, and leveraging complex networks of tunnels to evade and ambush US troops. This presented significant challenges in identifying and targeting the enemy effectively. US military tactics, such as the use of defoliants like Agent Orange and widespread bombing campaigns, were aimed at destroying the ecosystems and supply lines that the VC relied on, further necessitating a solid defensive strategy to protect US bases from the sudden large-scale offenses.
The shift in tactics by the VC and NVA during the Tet Offensive, which included massive attacks against US and South Vietnamese bases, was unexpected because it deviated from their previous strategy of avoiding head-on confrontations. To counter this, US military leaders devised strategies to protect their bases, limit casualties, and mitigate the element of surprise inherent in guerilla warfare.