COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

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CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2
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RIPPUB
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S
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22
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December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
February 26, 2009
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24
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Publication Date: 
April 13, 1973
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REPORT
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Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Secret NSA review completed Eighth Report COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS DIA Review Completed. (This report covers the week from 6 April through 12 April 1973) This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense Secret 25 13 April 1973 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 13 April 1973 Eighth Report COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS* (This report covers the week from 6 April through 12 April 1973) The Key Points Only two small groups of specialists started the infiltration trip south from North Vietnam during the week. Tenuous evidence suggests that elements of two NVA divisions in northern MR 1 may be returning to North Vietnam. If all elements of these divisions leave South Vietnam, the NVA would still have a force structure in MR 1 similar to that which existed on the eve of the Com- munist 1972 spring offensive. A high level of North Vietnamese logistic ac- tivity continued throughout the week. Once again, NVA logistic movements were particularly heavy in Quang Tri Province. The number of combat incidents initiated by the Communists remained at a moderate level in South Vietnam, but rose significantly in Laos. * This report has been prepared jointly by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 The Details NOTE: This is the eighth in a series of reports de- tailing recently received evidence of (a) Communist efforts to infiltrate new manpower and military ma- teriel toward and into South Vietnam, and (b) Commu- nist-instigated combat activity in violation of the Vietnam and Laos settlement agreements. A. Infiltration and Redeployments of North Viet- namese Personnel 1. During the reporting period two new spe- cial-purpose groups started south from North Vietnam. Farther down in the infiltration pipeline we also de- tected for the first time two additional small groups of specialists who had left North Vietnam sometime in March. The combined strength of the newly de- tected special-purpose groups, however, does not significantly affect our total estimate of 35,000 North Vietnamese personnel who were.either in the infil- tration system as of 28 January or who started their journey south since that date. Almost all of these infiltrators have now reached their destinations. 2. No new information is available on the diversion northward of the one regular infiltration group noted in the Special Note attached to our mem- orandum of last week. The group, initially identi- fied on 5 April in the Dong Hoi area of North Vietnam, was traveling northward--away from its original des- tination in northern South Vietnam. 3. A month has elapsed since the last infil- tration group of combat replacement personnel entered the pipeline in North Vietnam, and it appears that this dry season's infiltration of regular combat Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 troops has ended. In addition, fewer special-pur- pose groups have been detected entering the system during the past several weeks, indicating that the infiltration of civilian and military specialists also may be drawing to a close for this dry season. (Annex II contains a more detailed discussion, for US eyes only, of the information on North Vietnamese troop infiltration which we have received during the reporting period.) 4. Newly received evidence suggests that two NVA infantry divisions may be in the process of leaving Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, and re- turning to southern North Vietnam. The evidence is tenuous, and we are as yet unable to determine whether the change in status of the two divisions reflects a permanent relocation or a temporary move to rest and refit before rotating back into South Vietnam. (This development and the evidence relevant to it are dis- cussed in detail, in Annex III.) 5. Elsewhere in MR 1, recent evidence indi- cates that two NVA antiaircraft regiments are in the process of moving from Quang Tri Province into the Laos Panhandle. At least one of these units is scheduled to replace a newly formed antiaircraft regiment in southern Laos, which is now moving to- ward northeastern Cambodia. The destination of the other regiment moving out of Quang Tri Province is unclear, but there have been continuing indications of a Communist buildup of anitaircraft defense in southern Laos and extending into Cambodia. In other air defense developments, an additional North Viet- namese SA-2 site has been established near Khe Sanh during the past week. There are now a total of 10 SA-2 sites in the Khe Sanh area which have been con- structed since the beginning of this year. Four of these were observed to be occupied as of 9 April. 6. Farther south, evidence received during the week suggests that a headquarters element of a North Vietnamese armor regiment may have moved from the Hanoi area of North Vietnam to a point on the Cambodian border with South Vietnam, north of Loch Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Ninh town in GVN MR 3. The headquarters element probably will serve as the controlling authority for the large number of tanks noted moving to the COSVN area during this dry season. B. Movement of Military Equipment and Supplies by the North Vietnamese in Violation of the Agreements 7. Heavy Communist .logistic movements con- tinued during the week in northern South Vietnam and throughout most of the Laos Panhandle. NVA vehicle activity in Quang Tri Province was even heavier than in the preceding several weeks, as the North Viet- namese continued to move supplies into forward areas. (Annex IV, contains newly received evidence of efforts by Communist forces in Quang Tri Province to move war materiel in ways which will avoid detection by the ICCS.) The most significant observa- tions of NVA truck traffic in southern Laos were in the areas adjacent to Quang Tri Province and the A Shau Valley, but sizeable traffic flows were also noted in the Chavane area. Traffic moving south- ward through the Passes out of North Vietnam was slightly above the average weekly level in March. Heavy logistic activity was also observed during the week in the southern North Vietnam Panhandle. 8. The following instances of Communist lo- gistic activity were observed inside South Vietnam during the reporting period. Activity observed in South Vietnam probably reflects supplies which have recently entered the country. (The map on the fol- lowing page shows the roads and route numbers which appear below.) (a) NVA vehicle activity was observed each day on Route 9 in northern Quang Tri Province, as follows: (1) 29 cargo trucks were observed moving on the route be- tween Dong Ha and the Laos/South Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 \ x Hon Nieu Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 fi' '\,Vlnh Linh ~~. North Vietnam os (lift ~1, fern loss r. 1Ha Tinh 1A ai t)u(Tho Phurn Sdo~C Ash Romeo / ,Can Thi y1~..TPanh. -( Names end boundary representation ere not necessarily authoritetive 4 Tam Ky Pleiku VLng Tau CAFI'T'AL ." PEC#AL ZONE South Vietnam and North Vietnam Panhandle .-^-- - Province boundary ON 00 Military region International Commission of Control and Supervision region boundary --------- Railroad Road POL pipeline 0 25 50 75 Milos 25 0 25 50 75 Kilom el ers Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 (b) (c) (d) (2) (3) (4 (5) Vietnam border (.7 eastbound, 15 westbound, 7 parked). 59 cargo vehicles were noted on Route 9 in the immediate vicinity of the Sanh (24 eastbound, 19 westbound, 16 parked). 85 cargo trucks were moving on the segment between Dong Ha and Khe Sanh (19 east- bound, 31 westbound, 35 parked). 98 cargo vehicles were noted between Dong Ha and the border (43 eastbound, 39 westbound, 16 parked). were observe d on the segment west of Dong Ha (20 westbound, 14 eastbound, 29 parked). 63 cargo trucks in the A Shau Valley re- on Route 548 southeast of Khe Sanh (9 southbound, 6 parked). There were also 11 trucks noted on this route on 8 April (7 southbound, 4 northbound). gion, 15 cargo trucks were observed 21 cargo vehicles were ob- served on Route 6089 southeast of Khe Sanh (11 northbound, 6 southbound, 4 parked). 16 cargo vehicles the road. were detected moving on Route 616 southeast of Khe Sanh. Two of the vehicles were southbound, 3 were north- bound, and 11 were parked. Also on Route 616 in the same area, 11 cargo trucks and 31 57-mm AAA pieces were observed parked along Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 (e) (f) on Route 1 in northeastern Quang Tri, Province, 16 cargo vehicles and 41 buses were observed parked along the road north of Quang Tri City. In the same area, 9 cargo trucks (4 north- bound, 1 southbound, 4 parked)were ob- served with 4 buses parked along the road. 16 cargo trucks, 5 tanks, were seen parked along Route 547 south- west of Hue. 1 APC and field artillery pieces (g) 21 cargo vehicles were seen on Route 922 traveling on the segment immediately inside the South Vietnam/Laos border. Sixteen of the vehicles were moving south, six of them towing light artillery pieces. (h) In the period 6 through 12 April, 130 southbound cargo vehicles were ob- served on Route 1033 in the western DMZ. (i) vehicles were observed on Route 1000 in the eastern DMZ. rune southbound cargo 9. During the reporting period the following indications of North Vietnamese logistic activity in southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia were noted. Historical precedent would suggest that much of the activity in the area probably involved supplies des- tined for South Vietnam. (a) The following activity was observed on Route 99 in the central portion of the Laos Panhandle during the re- porting period: (1) I I50 cargo trucks were observed parked between Muong Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Nong and the intersection of Route 96. (2) 186 cargo vehicles were detected on the segment between Muong Nong and the Route 96 intersection (33 northbound, 50 southbound, 103 parked). (3) ~ o=. ~24 cargo trucks were traveling the route in the vi- cinity of Muong Nong (12 north- bound, 6 southbound, 6 parked). (4) 48 cargo trucks were on the highway between Muong Nong and the Route 96 intersec- tion (25 northbound, 15 south- bound, 8 parked). (5) 21 cargo trucks (9 south, 2 north, 10 parked) and 1 bulldozer were observed moving north on Route 99 just south of Muong Nong. In addition, one APC was observed parked along the road in the same area. 25X1 (b) (c) observed on Route 9222A near the Laos/ South Vietnam border. Six of the vehicles were traveling south and were towing three 37-mm AAA weapons. 20 NVA cargo trucks were near the South Vietnam border (9 west- bound, 11 eastbound, 8 parked). On served on Route 966 east of Chavane, 28 cargo trucks were ob- served in the same area (34 eastbound, 9 parked). 43 cargo vehicles were ob- 25X1 (d) I I on Route 9 west of the Laos/South Vietnam border, 9 cargo Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 seen in the same area 5 eastbound and 1 par bound trucks and 1 eastbound were trucks were seen parked. Ten west- (e) 18 cargo trucks were ob servec on moute 9211 southeast of Saravane, 11 moving south, 4 north, and 3 parked. 25 more trucks were observed (17 moving south, 6 north, and 2 parked). (f) On 8 April, a North Vietnamese logistic unit in northeastern Cambodia reportedly transported 77 tons of petroleum and diesel fuel, 88 tons of rice, and over 50 tons of food supplies to an NVA Engineer Regiment operating in the area. (g) bound, 17 parked). During the period were detected on Route 912 (10 north- southwest of the Ban Karai Pass, 27 cargo vehicles 322 vehicles were detected moving south and 323 traveling north through the Ban Karai Pass. 10. The following evidence was received during the week of military supply movements within North Vietnam. The goods involved are probably moving to- ward South Vietnam and southern Laos. (a) On 6 and 7 April, nearly 200 cargo vehicles passed through the opera- tional area of an NVA logistic unit south of Dong Hoi. The total in- cluded at least 85 southbound vehi- cles. The type and amount of sup- plies being carried by the vehicles could not be determined. The same unit reportedly had 146 vehicles (74 northbound, 72 southbound) pass through its area on 10 April. 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 C. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces in South Vietnam Since the Ceasefire 11. In South Vietnam, the total number of Com- munist-initiated ceasefire violations reported by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces since 28 January and for the last week (6-12 April) are shown below: Military Total Since Ceasefire Last Week (6-12 Apr) Region Level of Action Level of Action Major Minor Major Minor MR 1 721 2,546 34 91 MR 2 180 1,129 7 91 MR 3 252 1,610 24 121 MR 4 373 3,472 23 349 Totals 1,526 8,757 88(121)1/ 652(597)1/ 1/ Denotes totals of previous week. 12. Some of these violations may have been in- itiated by GVN forces rather than Communist forces, and it is impossible in all cases to determine the actual instigator. The table above and the chart on the following page, however, do show fairly ac- curately the trend in the amount of combat that has occurred in South Vietnam since the ceasefire. The fact that a combat incident occurred at a particular time and place is generally reported accurately by the South Vietnamese, even though the question of who started it may not always be treated in objective fashion. In some cases, the Joint Military Commission (GVN/PRG) also reports violations of the ceasefire. 13. The following is a chronological listing of only the most significant "major" Communist vi- olations of the ceasefire in South Vietnam that were reported by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces during the past week. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 JAN-FEB 4UU 300 200 L VIOL CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM AS REPORTED BY RVNAF (28 JANUARY 1913 TO THE PRESENT) WONE ~0 N? - 1IiJ L i t I N MAR 4UU 300 200 APR 4UU 300 200 MAY 41 7F I I 770r Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 MILITARY REGION 1 (a.) On 6 April, two Air America helicopters with ICCS markings were downed in the vicinity of Khe Sanh, at least one due to enemy ground fire. MILITARY REGION 2 (a) On 3 April, 15 miles southwest of Pleiku City, elements of an ARVN ranger border defense battalion re- ceived an enemy ground attack. (b) On 4 April, four miles south of Bong Son, elements of an ARVN ranger bat- talion received a ground attack by an enemy force. (c) On 8 April, an ARVN position 10 miles southwest of Kontum City was subjected to a ground attack. (d) On 9 April, four miles south of Bong Son, ARVN elements were subjected to an enemy ground attack. MILITARY REGION 3 (a) Nothing of significance to report. MILITARY REGION 4 (a) On 4 April, 15 miles northeast of Chau Doc, elements of an ARVN infantry bat- talion received a ground attack by an enemy force. (b) On 5 April, 11 miles northeast of Chau Doc, elements of an ARVN infantry bat- talion received a ground attack by an enemy force. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 (c) On 8 April, three miles northwest of Vi Thanh, a VNAF helicopter was struck by enemy ground fire. The aircraft was forced to crash land and sustained heavy damage. D. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces in Laos During the Week from 6 through 13 April 14. North Vietnamese Army forces launched heavy, sustained attacks during the week against Royal Lao Government units defending the Route 4 corridor south- east of the Plain of Jars in Laos Military Region II, forcing several Government units to begin withdrawing from the area. One NVA infantry regiment and sup- porting artillery and sapper units have been identified near Route 4 north of the village of Tha Vieng. There continues to be strong evidence that this NVA force is determined to eliminate the RLG presence in the area, thereby securing southeastern Xieng Khouang Province as Communist-held territory. A general lull in military activity prevailed throughout South Laos during the week. 15. Following is a brief account of significant combat incidents which occurred between 6 and 13 April, and which were clearly initiated by Communist forces in violation of the Laos ceasefire agreement: (a) On 6 April, no significant military activity occurred throughout Laos. (b) On 7 April, activity again was light throughout Laos, although there was an attack by an estimated two NVA companies against a Government de- fensive position south of Thakhek in MR III. (c) On 8 April, Communist forces launched coordinated attacks against six RLG positions near Route 4 southeast of the Plain of Jars. Defenders were driven from three of the positions. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Elsewhere in Laos, activity remained light and scattered. (d) On 9 April, Government troops were driven from another position south- east of the Plain. (e) On 10 April, Communist forces con- tinued the ground shelling attacks against Government elements along Route 4. (f) On 11 April, Communist pressure in- tensified southeast of the PDJ. Over 1,000 rounds of artillery and mortar fire fell on Government positions along Route 4 north of Tha Vieng village, and several Government units began withdrawing southward. (g) On 12 April, the NVA introduced tanks into the fighting along Route 4. Fire from two such vehicles near Tha Vieng prevented medical evacuation of friendly wounded, as the dislodged Government elements continued to withdraw slowly southward. The rest of the country remained generally quiet. (h) On 13 April, three government posi- tions 16 to 18 km. northwest of Bouam Long were lost following an attack. by an enemy force of unknown size sup- ported by recoilles rifle fire. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 25X1 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Post-Ceasefire Infiltration North Vietnamese Personnel to the 1. Two new special-purpose groups--with a combined strength of less than 80 personnel--were initially detected in Binh Tram 26's area of re- sponsibility near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam.during the past week. This is the first time since 27 March that special-purpose infiltration groups have been observed entering the pipeline in North Viet- nam. In addition, two other special-purpose groups with undetermined strengths were detected for the first time farther south in southern Laos and Cam- bodia. 2. Since 11 March, there have been no de- tections of regular combat troops entering the pipe- line in North Vietnam. Moreover, we have received no additional evidence regarding the northward- moving Group 7005, which was initially identified in the Dong Hoi area of North Vietnam on 5 April. Although this group originally was destined for MR Tri-Thien Hue in northern South Vietnam, it was sent back north when at least elements of the unit for which it was destined apparently withdrew from South Vietnam to North Vietnam. 3. The table on the following page lists those infiltration groups which were detected in the pipeline during the past week. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Infiltration Groups initially Reported During the Past Week Group. Date of Designator Strength Location Detection A214 Unk Cambodia 10 Apr A428 Unk South Laos 7 Apr Y272 32 North Vietnam 5 Apr Y772 42 North Vietnam 5 Apr Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 1. A limited amount of evidence from communi- cations intelligence suggests that two NVA infantry divisions--the 304th and 312th--are possibly in the process of returning to the north from Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. According to North Viet- namese civil communications some elements of all three of the subordinate regiments of the. 304th Division have been identified in southern North Viet- nam since late January. In addition, around the beginning of April these regiments ceased communi- cating with the senior NVA tactical authority for northern South Vietnam. Other COMINT, as well as collateral evidence, however, indicates that at least some elements of the 304th Division were still in Quang Tri Province as of the first week of April. 2. In the case of the 312th Division, recent changes in the communications patterns of the divi- sion could indicate that it also is in the process of leaving northern South Vietnam. Not only has there been no reflection in COMINT of tactical ac- tivity in Quang Tri Province by subordinate ele- ments of the division since early March, there also has been a noticeable lack of communications of the subordinate regiments with the division headquarters and that of the senior tactical authority for the area since late March. Moreover, between 14 and 29 March, the division headquarters relocated from southwest of Quang Tri City to just north of the DMZ in North Vietnam. 3. If the 304th and 312th Divisions are in fact leaving South Vietnam, they would be the second and third such units to do so in recent months. The NVA 308th Infantry Division returned north to Ha Tinh Province of North Vietnam from Quang Tri Prov- ince earlier this year. The withdrawal of the three divisions would reduce Communist combat forces in MR 1 by a combined total of some 20,000 troops, but would still leave an NVA combat structure in MR 1 similar to that which existed at the beginning of the 1972 Communist spring offensive. Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 New Evidence of Surreptitious Su bar NVA Logistic Units A communications compromise by the North Viet- namese during the reporting period has provided new information concerning the covert movement of war- related equipment in Quang Tri Province, South Viet- nam. A 10 April intercepted message from Binh Tram 12, the major NVA logistic entity operating in north- ern South Vietnam, contains instructions to two of the Binh Tram's subordinate transportation battalions concerning the anticipated movement of weapons and other cargo. The cargo movement cited is apparently across the DMZ since, according to the instructions, vehicles will be dispatched from Dong Ha in northern South Vietnam to pick up cargo at. Dong Hoi (southern North Vietnam), for movement to Huong Hoa, located in South Vietnam near Khe Sanh, The pertinent section of this message reads as follows: "...the International Committee will be inspect- ing our roads for three more days, therefore we haven't been able to implement our plan to transport the weapons. The supply point at Dong Ha has been cleaned out on the morning of 1.1 April., all of the vehicles of the two battalions will. go out to Dong Hoi to pick up the cargo and transport it to Huong Hoa. When we are able to transport the weapons, I will let you know. From 1.1 April, our tankers will pick up gasoline at A-19 and no longer pick up gaso- line at A-17." 2/PT/2997-73 (VCJ) Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2 Secret Secret Approved For Release 2009/04/08: CIA-RDP78TO2095R000700080024-2