COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080032-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 27, 2009
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: June 8, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

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NSA review completed
~LLIG LLIl
~W n
Sixteenth Report
DIA Review
Completed.
Secret
Secret
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(This report covers the week from
1 June through 7 June 1973)
This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense
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Sixteenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS*
(This report covers the week from
1 June through 7 June 1973)
The Key Points
Only a few civil and military specialists began
the infiltration trip south from North Vietnam
during the week. One group of NVA combat per-
sonnel, however, was detected en route to
northern Laos.
A number of North Vietnamese units have recently
made significant moves, or are planning moves,
from one area to another within Indochina.
The downward trend of North Vietnamese logistic
activity in the Laotian Panhandle has continued
as the rainy season progresses. There is still
moderately heavy Communist logistic activity,
on the other hand, in northern South Vietnam.
Combat activity in violation of the ceasefire
increased toward the end of the week in South
Vietnam, and remained at a low level in Laos.
* This report has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department
of Defense.
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The Details
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NOTE: This is the sixteenth in a series of reports
detailing recently received evidence of (a) Commu-
nist efforts to infiltrate new manpower and military
materiel toward and into South Vietnam, and (b) Com-
munist-initiated combat activity in violation of the
Vietnam and Laos settlement agreements.
Infiltration and Redeployments of' North Viet-
namese Personnel
1. Only one group of NVA combat personnel
(specific strength unknown) was detected entering the
infiltration system and starting the trip out of
North Vietnam during the week. This group was headed
toward northern Laos rather than South Vietnam, and
it was the first infiltration group of combat person-
nel observed traveling to the northern Laos area
since November 1972. Four small groups of civil and
military specialists were the only new North Vietna-
mese personnel observed infiltrating toward South
Vietnam during the week.
2. Our total estimate of North Vietnamese
personnel infiltrated into South Vietnam or adjacent
border areas since 27 January still stands at some
50,000 -- 25,000 of whom were already in the infil-
tration pipeline as of 27 January plus 25,000 who
started their infiltration trip since that date.
(ANNEX II, contains a more de-
tailed discussion of the information pertaining to
infiltration which was received during the past week.)
3. During the past week, we have also received
evidence that a number of Communist units have re-
cently redeployed from one area to another within
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Indochina, or are planning to redeploy. The head-
quarters of an NVA administrative services regiment
which had been employed in support of the infiltra-
tion pipeline along a portion of the Ho Chi Minh
Trail in southeastern Laos, for example, moved from
that area to western Pleiku Province of South Viet-
nam's MR 2. This redeployment follows the recent
relocation of two major NVA logistic authorities
from Laos into western South Vietnam and indicates
a continuation of an eastward shift of the NVA rear
services apparatus into South Vietnam this rainy
season. It also suggests that--if infiltration con-
tinues in the future--a number of North Vietnamese
infiltrators may move south via the new road system
within South Vietnam. Other evidence clearly indi-
cates, however, that the North Vietnamese are by no
means abandoning their present road network in
southern Laos. (See paragraph 9 below).
4. Farther south, an NVA antiaircraft regiment
apparently has deployed through Cambodia into South
Vietnam's MR 3. The move -- to Loc Ninh in Binh
Long Province -- occurred in March 1973, but we only
received firm evidence of the move last week. This
is the first time that an NVA air defense regiment
has been detected so far south, and the unit will
significantly augment Communist air defense capa-
bilities in northern MR 3. In another redeployment
affecting northern MR 3, at least one and probably
two regiments of the NVA 5th Division have recently
moved from Dinh Tuong Province of MR 4 to Tay Ninh
Province of MR 3.
5. In Laos, the NVA 102B Regiment may be re-
locating from the Saravane area of the Panhandle to
North Vietnam. Although the move of the entire unit
cannot yet be confirmed, the headquarters of the
regiment was identified in the vicinity of Thanh Hoa,
North Vietnam, in early june. Elements of the regiment
were last noted to be in southern Laos in. late May.
6. In the Plaine des Jarres area of northern
Laos, other evidence indicates that the North Viet-
namese are currently preparing to redeploy a number
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of combat units. We cannot yet determine the extent
and direction of the planned movements, but they
appear to involve elements of at least the NVA 316th
Division, and the NVA 88th Infantry Regiment.
These units have been operating in the vicinity of
the Plaine des Jarres for some months and probably
are simply repositioning themselves for the rainy
season, although we cannot preclude the possibility
that they are preparing for a withdrawal to North
Vietnam.
7. There have also been several recent changes
in the air defense posture of Communist units within
North Vietnam. At least two North Vietnamese SAM
regiments have moved from the Thanh Hoa area of
central North Vietnam to locations farther south in
the North Vietnamese Panhandle. This further
strengthens the major Communist air defense complex
which Hanoi has been building in the whole area of
southern North Vietnam, northern South Vietnam, and
the Laotian Panhandle. (ANNEX III,
contains a more detailed discussion of the
moves of these SAM regiments.)
B. Movement of Military-Equipment and Supplies
Through and Into Laos and South Vietnam
8. Continuing the downward trend since the
rainy season began, observed NVA logistic activity
during the reporting period was extremely light over
the entire Laotian Panhandle. Although some cargo
is still being moved in most areas of southern Laos,
only small numbers of vehicles are being observed.
Within the northern.areas of South Vietnam, where
inclement weather is not a factor until later this
year, moderately heavy Communist logistic activity
is still in progress. A substantial volume of ac-
tivity also continues to be observed in the southern
part of the North Vietnam Panhandle.
9. We have reported over the past several weeks
that the Communists have been engaged in a major road-
building effort in northern and western South Vietnam.
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We have suggested that the Communists might, over
time, shift a significant portion of their traffic
from the Ho Chi Minh Trail system in southern Laos
to this new road network within South Vietnam. Re-
cently received evidence, however, makes it clear
that the North Vietnamese are also carrying out a
major program of widening and improving the exist-
ing roads in the Laotian Panhandle. The North
Vietnamese are presently working on roads in a
number of locations in southern Laos, and the pat-
tern of the roads being improved suggests that
Hanoi intends eventually-to link the various seg-
ments into a 300 mile all-season high capacity
road from the entry passes on the North Vietnamese
border southward to the tri-border area.
10. The following instances of Communist logis-
tic activity were observed in South Vietnam during
the period. Activity observed in South Vietnam prob-
ably reflects supplies which have recently entered
the country. (The map on the following page shows
the roads and route numbers which. appear below.)
a) During the period 24 through 30 May,
an NVA logistic unit operating in the
Cua Viet River region of northeastern
Quang Tri Province had over 5,400 ve-
hicles active in its area. About half
of the vehicles were cargo trucks.
(ANNEX IV, con-
tains more details on this item.)
b)
served on Route 548 southwest of Khe
Sanh (9 northbound, 22 southbound,
56 cargo vehicles were ob-
25 parked).
c) 32 cargo trucks were seen
bound, 2 southbound, 21 parked). On
the same day 16 cargo vehicles were
noted on Route 9 between Dong Ha and
Khe Sanh (4 eastbound, 9 westbound,
3 parked).
on Route 1 north of Dong Ha (9 north-
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 Hon Niou
(a~ horage)
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Mu Gia
Pass -
Udon
Ralchath eni
Kara;
Pass
Khong
;"done
9 rr
Phum Sdocll
Ach Romeas
"War
Chamrap
Vung Tau
CAP'S t`A
-Tam Ky
Tin
South,,
inh Dinh
Names and boundary representation
are not necessarily authoritative
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CIAL ZONE
South Vietnam
and
North Vietnam Panhandle
- Province boundary
i Military region
International Commission
of Control and Supervision
region boundary
Road
Railroad
POL pipeline
0 25 50 70 Milos
0 25 50 75 K'il ometers
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d)
e)
f)
29 cargo trucks were travel-
parked).
ing on Route 616 southeast of Khe Sanh
(3 northbound, 16 southbound, 10
111 cargo trucks were ob-
served on Route 9 between Dong Ha and
the Laos/South Vietnam border (44
eastbound, 24 westbound, 43 parked).
11 cargo vehicles were seen
on Route 1 north of Dong Ha (6 north-
bound, 5 southbound). On the same day,
20 cargo vehicles were traveling on
Route 548 north of the A Shau Valley
(9 northbound, 6 southbound, 5 parked).
11. During the reporting period the following
indications of North Vietnamese logistic activity in
Laos were noted. Historical precedent would suggest
that much of the activity in southern Laos probably
involved supplies destined for South Vietnam.
a) The table below lists observed NVA
vehicle activity on selected routes
in the Laos Panhandle during the re-
porting period.*
Route 99
Route 9211
22
(14-N,
8-S)
3(1-N,
1-S)
3
(3-S)
'14(2-N,
6-S)
6(3-N,. l-S)
0
0
0
11(Parked)
4(1-N,
3-S)
0 3(3-S)
The first number in each entry is
ber of vehicles. Of these totals,
Route 958
0
1 (1-S)
NC**
NC**
0
1
(1-S)
7
(1-N)
the
total
num-
the
number of
trucks moving north (N) or south (S) are noted
in the parentheses after each total. The re-
mainder of the vehicles detected were parked
along the roadway.
No coverage.
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b) During the first week of June, small
groups of tanks were observed in the
northern portion of the Laotian Pan-
handle on three occasions. The tanks
are probably headed south, although
our evidence on the direction of move-
ment is not conclusive.
C)
d)
e)
f)
g)
and six antiaircraft artillery pieces
were observed deployed along Route 7,
the major east/west road across the
northern Plaine des Jarres. There
was no evidence to indicate when
these weapons entered the country.
On the same date, two 37-mm AAA weap-
ons were seen being towed west on
Route 7.
five field artillery pieces
Tchepone (9 northbound, 14 southbound,
6 parked). On 2 June, 28 cargo ve-
hicles were seen on this route (2
northbound, 11 southbound, 15 parked)
and on 4 June there were 21 trucks
heading south on the road.
served on Route 911 northwest of
29 cargo trucks were ob-
of the Ban Karai Pass (39 parked,
18 southbound).
the segments of Route 911 southwest
largo trucks were on
served on Route 912 south of Ban Karai
Pass (3 northbound, 11 southbound).
On the same route on 5 June there were
12 cargo trucks seen (10 northbound,
2 southbound) .
14 cargo vehicles were ob-
on Route 110 west of the Laos/South
Vietnam border (4 westbound, 13 east-
bound, 13 parked).
30 cargo vehicles were seen
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h)
19 cargo vehicles were noted
on Route southeast of Tchepone (2
westbound, 17 eastbound).
12. There is additional evidence of the con-
tinuing movement within North Vietnam of military and
other supplies probably destined for South Vietnam
and southern Laos.
a) On 30 and 31 May, over 130 vehicles
were noted moving through the opera-
tional area of an NVA logistic unit
south of Dong Hoi. Of the vehicles
seen on the 31st., 16 were northbound
and 42 were southbound.
b) On 31 May, six cargo vehicles were ob-
served transporting over 16 tons of
57-mm AAA ammunition between two
storage facilities in an area near
Vinh.
c) On 1 June, 72 cargo trucks were de-
tected moving through the Xuan Son
area south of Dong Hoi. The direction
in which the vehicles were moving
could not be determined.
d) On 1 June, a major NVA logistic unit
which operates south of Dong Hoi re-
ceived over 2,000 tons of cargo. The
unit had some 300 tons of cargo on
hand at the time it took delivery of
these supplies.
e) On 4 June, at least 21 tons of muni-
tions, comprising mostly mortar rounds,
were dispatched from a storage facility
located in the Vinh area.
f) On 5 June, 20 tons of weapons and am-
munition were transported on seven
cargo vehicles between two storage
facilities located in the Vinh area.
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g) On 5 June, 25 northbound and 40 south-
bound cargo vehicles were observed
crossing the Troc River south of Dong
Hoi.
C. Combat Activity Initiated by Communist Forces
in South Vietnam Since the Ceasefire
13. In South Vietnam, the total number of Com-
munist-initiated ceasefire violations reported by the
South Vietnamese Armed Forces since 27 January and
for the last week (1-7 June) are shown below:
Military
Total Since Ceasefire
Last Week
(1-7 June)
Region
Level of Action
Level' of Action
Major
Minor
Major
Minor
MR 1
991
3,253
32
76
MR 2
240
1,757
12
68
MR 3
385
2,415
17
130
MR 4
621
5,820
25
268
Totals
2,237
13,245
86(80)1/
542(496)1/
1/ Denotes totals of previous week.
14. 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 accurately
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.
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~~zF CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN SOUTH
VIETNAM AS REPORTED BY RVNAF
lr" (2B JANUARY 1913 TO THE PRESENT)
JAN-FEB 200
100
0
200
MAR 100
0
200
APR 100
0
200
MAY 100
0
200
JUN 100
0
200
JUL 100
0
400
300
30 Lb 11 10 17 LV L1 LL LJ Z4
1 4 J 4 3 b /
1 1. J ?1 O 0 / 0 V 1V 11 1L 1J 14 1
111111111111177
/ O 0 JU 11 LL 1J 14 1b 10 If 1O IO ZU ZI ZZ
6 9 10 11 12 13 14 1
11 1 11 17T
24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
1
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