THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM NO. 8

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06766051
• Document Creation Date: January 28, 2019

A proved for Release: 2019/01/17 C06766051
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� CENTRAL INTELLIGEICE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
2 February X968
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Situation in South. Vietnam No. 8
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1. The Communist Tot offensive continued into
its fourth day with Communist forces resisting al-
lied mopping-up operations within, or on the out-
skirts of key cities throughout South Vietnam. The
Lighting in Saigon is subsiding; hew:over, the Com-
munists still maintain strong positions in the prov-
incial capitals of Hue, Kontum;;Dan Me Thuot, Da Lat,
and several cities in the delta provinces.
2. Enemy losses continue', to soar with US mili-
tary authorities in Saigon claiming well over 10,000
Communists killed in the first, three days of fight-
ing. An additional 3,000 suspect Communists have
reportedly been detained. By Contrast only some
1,700 individual and crew-served enemy weapons have
been recovered in the fighting. Friendly losses now
total 559 killed (232 US) and Oome 2,300 wounded
(1,000 US). 1
3. Saigon WAN relatively quiet during the
night of 1-2 February. In ear1y morning action,
however, the Viet Cong overran two South Vietnamese
'police precinct stations. Sporadic firing was re-
ported at several other points. in the city and
fighting continued early, this morning near Tan Son
Nhut airbase just northwest of the capital. Only
limited aircraft traffic Was permitted at the air-
field due to reports of an imminent rocket attack.
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4. Available evidence indicates that the enemy
troops involved in the Saigon area were mostly in
the 16 to 18 age bracket and were well armed with
modern automatic rifles and rocket launchers. Sev-
eral prisoners stated that they had infiltrated into
the city in civilian clothes wherb they were armed
from weapons caches which had been set up well in
advance. The enemy in Saigon did not appear to be
well trained, although their morale was high in the
early stages of the fighting.
3. Several enemy units in the city have been
tentatively identified as Viet Con g units from the
Mekong Delta and from as far west as Tay Minh Prov-
ince. Reports of North Vietnamese units in the
Saigon fighting have not been confirmed, but north-
erners assigned to nearby Viet Cons units as cadre
and fillers possibly participated.
6./
/the Communists are planning to organize
popular demonstrations in the callital to protest
the "wanton and indiscriminate killing and burning
of homes" by allied forces. The 'government has begun
to organize special civic action teams to counter
these efforts.
Corps
7. The city of Hue is stili the focal point
of stubborn enemy resistance in Smith Vietnam's
northern I Corps area. The rest of the major cities
in the northern provinces are under the control of
allied forces, although scattered attacks were con-
ducted against some of them on 14 February.
8. Hue: The two-square-mile, walled citadel
area is gm partially occupied by enemy forces
this Morning. Two South Vietnamese armored battalions
are commited to the clearing operatiOns around the
citadel, and a US let Air Cavalry :battalion may be
added to the effort. Three other South Vietnamese
battalions have encountered stiff enemy resistanca
in clearing operations in some areas on the outskirts
of the city. All US and South Vietnamese installa-
tions within Hue remain under allied control.
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9. Cam Lo: The Combined Adtion Platoon Head-
quarters at. Cat to was attacked with mortar and
small arms fire early today. The enemy was forced
to withdraw afteria heavy six-hour battle.
10. Phu Loc: The Phu Loc Area, located some
25 miles sciali-Ur Huelwas subjected to a day-long
attack, which ended late last night.- The Phu Lee
District Headquarters and village were reported secure;
however, a sizeable enemy throat'is believed still in
the general area. Accbrding to an unconfirmed report,
the US Marine base at Phu toe wadi overrun at one point
in the fighting.
11. Tam- Ky and Quang Ngai: Both of these prov-
incial capraUFIAZTWANW6Z-BY Communist mortarmen
during the night of 1-2 February: The bombardment
of Tam Ky reportedly included artillery fire. No
reports of casualties or damage have been received.
12. Duy Xuyen: This district capital located
several miroW irEwest of Hoi An in coastal Quang
NaM Province was reported still under the control
of an unknown-sized enemy force. 'A South Korean
brigade has moved into the area in preparation for
�a counterattack later today.
II Corps
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13. Kontum: Tho most serious threat in the
II Corps aia-Fcintinuea to exist .in the city of
Kontum in the western highlands. The enemy con-
tinues attacks in and around the city, and has es-
tablished strongpoints in several:buildings, in-
cluding pagodas and churches. An entire North
Vietnamese battalion is still believed in control
of approximately half of the city. The airfield
has been cleared out is now open to emergency
traffic.
14. Ban Me Thuot: At last report, elements
of the NorTE-Vietnameso 33rd Regiment were still
occupying most of the city. Two South Vietnamese
23rd Infantry Division battalions, together with US
units, are attempting to regain control of the city.
The airfield is still opoa, but has been hit by
mortar and small arms fire.
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15. Da Lai:: At last roport,'Communist forces
still hola-in-market place in the center of town
as well as scattered strongpoints'within the city.
South Vietnamese forces are loading the effort to
drive the attackers out of the city.
16. an An: A total of 208 enemy troops were
reported kraird-during a fierce two-hour battle yes-
terday, when they attempted to overrun this village
which is located some 15 miles southwest of Pleiku.
The village was defended by South Vietnamese irregulars
who sustained light losses.
17. Phan Thiot: Heavy figliting WRS still re-
ported fronithis coastal provincial capital through
the mid-morning of 2 February. Tho MACV and Sector
Headquarters compounds have not yet� come under attack.
US and South Vietnamese troops have established a
blocking position and are presently attempting to
sweep through the city in an effort to drive the
attackers out.
III Corps
IS. To the north of Saigon in in Corps--the
area where the current Communist campaign has so
far been the lightest�several new attacks wore
reported during the night of 1-2 February. Xuan Loc,
the capital of Long Khanh Province, was under heavy
attack throughout the night. One Viet Cong platoon
penetrated into the town, but by morning allied reac-
tion troops had cleared them out. First reports indi-
cated that US And South Vietnamese casualties were
light in the action. Other enemy assaults and mortar
attacks occurred in Phuoc Thy, Hau Nghia, and Tay
Ninh but few details were available.
IV Corps
19. In the Mekong Delta, Sharp fighting con-
tinues within several provincial capitals and a num-
ber of smaller towns.
20. Some 700-800 Viet Cong are still believed
to be inside Ben Tre, the capital of Kien Hoa Prov-
inco,,vohore two companies of the US 0th Infantry
Division companies have arrived to reinforce ARVN
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forces. Heavy fighting occurred during the night in
the provincial capital of Vinh Long. A US Navy patrol
boat base in the city was overrun but later retaken .
by South Vietnamese forces.
21. Allied troops were aleo engaged with Viet
Cong forces in Can Tho, My Tho and Moe Roa, the
capital of nen Tuong Province; The latter city was
under heavy mortar and rocket attack early this
morning. The Viet Cong were reborted using loud-
speakers to appeal to. ARVN troops to lay down their
arms.
Prospects for the Immediate Future
22. The situation reported at SA Dec is char-
acteristic of many areas in Smith Vietnam, where
enemy forces have been pushed out of the urban area.
but continue to maintain positions on strategic ground
nearby. It seems possible that, in some areas, the
Communist units will attempt to renew their attacks
on urban areas, or will attempt tp remain nearby in .
an effort to keep the situation tense and the populace
intimidated.
23. Although the enemy units so far involved
in the current action have reportedly taken heavy
losses in some of the fighting, it appears certain
that the enemy high command was fully prepared to
sacrifice these units in their entirety, if necessary,
in order to carry out the offensive.* This would
strongly suggest that the enemy has not thrown his
full weight into the current effort, but that it is
rather a careful, selective application of his power.
In the bitterly contested fighting in Rue, for ex-
ample, only elements of the North Vietnamese 6th
Regiment have been identified, along with a few,
possible local force elements. This would indicate,
in view of the standard PE for the area, that at least
one other full NVA regiment is in this sector, and
at least three other regiments within 20 miles.
24. Although the Commuiiists are probably in-
capable, in the immediate future, at least, of again
mounting a coordinated attack against so many targets
as in the past four days, they do appear to have
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tho necessary punch in reserve to keep up heavy pres-
sure on selected semi-urban and urban areas for a
considerable period. Prospects for Much enemy pres-
sure appear good. �
25. Khe Sanh: The situation in the Khe Sanh
area of western quang Tri Province remains static.
Tho US Marino garrison there received a light mortar
attack durfhg the night. According: to % rallier and
a prisoner; however; the second phase of the Communist
Khe Sanh offensive will begin on 3 February with
"artillery, tanks, and twice as many troops."
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