COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTS
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080060-2
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
S
Document Page Count:
15
Document Creation Date:
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date:
March 12, 2009
Sequence Number:
60
Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 19, 1973
Content Type:
REPORT
File:
Attachment | Size |
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CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080060-2.pdf | 1.18 MB |
Body:
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Secret
NSA review completed
Communist Violations of the Vietnam
and Laos Settlement Agreements
and Related Developments
Secret
Copy No.
DIA review(s)
completed.
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Forty-Third Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS AND RELATED DEVELOPMENTS*
(This report covers the week
from 12 December through 18 December 1973 )
The Key Points
? The slow pace of troop infiltration continued last week, as
only two regular groups were observed in the pipeline.
? The 320E NVA Infantry Division withdrew some time during
the past three months from northern South Vietnam to
Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam. The 341st NVA
Division has been reconstituted in Quang Binh Province,
North Vietnam, adjacent to Quang Tri Province, South
Vietnam.
? Heavy Communist supply shipments continued and large
stocks of ordnance awaited shipment in southern North
Vietnam. Considerable vehicle activity was evident in Laos
as far south as the tri-border area, but vehicular activity in
northern South Vietnam continued to be impeded by poor
weather.
? Construction of the new road and the petroleum pipeline
in southern Laos continues southward.
* This report has been prepared jointly by the Central Intelligence Agency
and the Department of Defense.
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This report is the forty-third in a series summarizing evidence received
during the reporting period of (I) Communist efforts to infiltrate new
manpower and military materiel toward and into South Vietnam,
(II) Communist-initiated combat activity in violation of the Vietnam and
Laos settlement agreements, and (III) other developments affecting
Communist military capabilities in Indochina.
There will be no issuance in this series during Christmas
week. The next report will be published on Thursday,
3 January.
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I. Infiltration and Redeployments of North Vietnamese
Personnel and Military Supplies
Personnel Infiltration and Redeployments
1. The pace of troop infiltration slowed during the past week as
only two regular groups were observed moving in the pipeline. The groups,
each containing more than 500 troops, were detected in North Vietnam
destined for the western highlands and the COSVN area of Sauth Vietnam.l
In contrast to the movement of regular combat groups, however, the number
of special-purpose group detections increased over those of recent weeks.
Between 12 and l8 December, three special-purpose groups totaling more
than 125 persons were detected starting southward from North Vietnam,
while two other small groups totaling about 25 persons were observed
farther south in the infiltration system. Two of these groups are moving
to the COSVN area, two to the western highlands, and one to the central
coast of South Vietnam.
2. Although the North Vietnamese could still infiltrate large numbers
of troops before the end of the dry season, if they were planning an early
offensive the rate of troop infiltration probably would have been greater
than that observed in recent weeks. As shown in the following table, total
troop infiltration since 1 September 1973 is almost one-third lower than
during the comparable period last year. Moreover, reversing last year's
pattern, most of the troops infiltrating since 1 September have gone to
southern Laos and contiguous border areas.
Comparative Starts of Troops
from North Vietnam, by Destination
I September - 18 December
1. One other regular group previously included in our estimate as a "gap-filled" group, destined
for southern Laos or adjacent areas, also was detected last week.
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3. Recent (:CMINT indicates that. the 320B Infantry Division, with
an estimated 6,000 troops, some time during the past three months
withdrew from northern South 'Vietnam to its historical garrison area in
Thank Iioa Province of North Vietnam. This is the third NVA infantry
division to return home since the cease-firt:, the outer two being the 308th
and 312th Divisions. Moreover, the. move reduces tite number of such
divisions in the two nortltcrrt-most provinces of South Vietnam to three --
one less than was there during the early stages of the 1972 OFfensive.
4. Although the 320B Division was generally held in reserve and
used to protect captured territory during fihc offensive, its withdrawal
reduces the likelihood of an all-vut offensive in Military Region (MR) 1
during the next few months, Should Ilanoi decide to launch a major
offensive in MR 1, however, it has a largo reserve force of several divisions
(exclusive of the 320B Division) available in North Vietnam, most of which
could be dispatched to South Viet-gam quickly with little advance warning.
5. Aft?_r the lant-ary cease-fire, Hanoj apparently reactivated a new
341st Division in the North Vietnamese .Panhandle. Although intercepted
messages referenced a "341st Division" as early as April 1973, it was not
urrtil after communication procedures of North Vietnamese units were
changed in October that the division itself was identified. Until 1968, when
it was probably deactivated, a 341st Division had operated in Quang Binh
Province, North Vich~am, and elements }tad operated as far south as
northern Quang Tri Province in Sottt}t Vietnam. The new 341st has as yet
only two known st-bordinate regiments -- tltc 31st and the 32nd -and
is currently loe:ated in the southern part of North Vietnam's Quang Binh
Province.2
6. In northern Laos, COMINT indicated that between 8 and
10 December the 15th Engineer Battalion of the 316th lnfatttry Division
withdrew from the Ban Ban area to the major transshipment point at Muong
SCIt, just across tttc border in North Vietnam. This is the only battalion
of the division which 1-as bt;cn identified withdrawing to North Vietnam.
Last summer, a 25th Engineer Battalion also returned home, although
evidence suggests that it may have since returned to northern Laos. Both
units may be engaged in road construction or in moving supplies from North
Vietnam to norther-t Laos because CCIMINT reveals substantial shipments
of supplies moving west on Route 7 toward Laos.
2. Map 515529 shows the current distribution of Communist. and South Vietnamese combat forces,
by military region, and reflects the deletion of the 3208 Division. Because the 341st Division is
apparently in the rormative stages and has not communicated with the major NVA tactical authority
nsponsible For this area, it has not as yet been included in the GIA/D1A Order of Battle or Communist
units targeted against Souh Vietnam.
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Communist and South Vietnamese. Regular Combat Forces in Souti~ Vietr~~m
South Vie~rtam
regular C'ornbat Fords
VC/NY`A 1 r VN,:4F~
185,000 3ZQ,OOp
1, " IncPudes VCf NVA personnel in ground carnbaL
conrbaisul?port, and air defense units and locatforcc
cornpanies`drrd Platoons.
~, RvNAI~ Round ~}rder of 13dttle. Includes
assignod pesonncl in ARti'Nf VNM~ground combat
and combat suppdrt units; and 1Ycgional [~orce
b~ttalions,Althougli pteseflt-for duty strength is no
longer available, it is estimated to b~ about 8i?n of
assigned strength,
MR3
VC/NVA rVNAF
4?9 th. S;rl~p
C()Ji1111st71d
9th
7th
5th
MR4
V~JNVA ,lt V'1~AF
1~~ 21st
9th;:
7fih
MR 1-
_87,000
32 5th-
324B
304th -'
7-11th:
forces
h._..)-~
j Binh '-1
/' Thuan -_?__
v
~''~ .~.1'.,~ V fh Lon9 Kien Hna ~AP~~AL ^J iP~~~Q~.: ~~
~
9~
~
~Pno
~,?
~ v~
Ki;en Dinh Vinh
laann l r ~ ~ [x;.-ti
44th 5~ecial
`T~zctical2~e
Regiunai Forces
An l?~
Xuyen
riles-
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YC/NVA R VIVAF
3.4,000 68,000
320th _ 23rd -
]-0th 22nd
3rd l~cg~nal
~?--?
x.
~.~.r
~Khanh
~
_ l y ~
~Hoa
Military regitirr 6aundary
~_ -
Prgvince irou~dary _-
ICC& region tiauntlar~
r.~ r-'
Phu Bon Phu
/'t.~ ~ Yen _
'~..
i, i uYnn l -
?^ l~?
Duc t
iu~~
1
T
Lam Dong ?~ ?,
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Movement of Military Ecluil~nlcnt and Supplies
7. Last week, heavy supply shipments continued in southern North
Victnanl for thc? third straight week and large stockpiles of ordnance
awaiting shipment were noted throughout the area. In the Vino area, BT 8
received more than ?75 tons of ordnailcc on 11 December, about half of
which was antiaircraft artillery ammunition. During the next three days,
the unit shipped nearly 100 tons of cargo to northern Laas and had more
ths-n 600 tolls renlainialg to be shipped to that area, including some 115
tons of 130-mm ordnance. On 15 December, the unit reported that it had
some 1,100 tons of suppiics in storage, including nearly 300 tons of
ordnance.
8. To the south, a high Icvcl of activity was also noted between
Quang Khc and the Dlb'1Z. On ! 5 Decentbcr, BT 26 reported that it had
loaded more than 300 tons of supplies on trucks preparatory to an imminent
10-day supply offensive. Such 10-day ?crash~~ programs have occurred at
this time in past years and usually signal the acceleration of supply
sllipnlellt5 into Laos. The next day, BT 2fi reported that it had shipped
?00 tons of ordnance south on three barges, probably as part of this
program, and had more t}taal 1,300 tons of cargo in storage. Although the
type of stored cargo was not specified, mast of it is probably ordnance.
of northbound trucks increased.) (photography reflected little
truck traffic moving through the. tri-border exit into Kontum Province,
althougtl a motorablc single-lane road is available. Newly constructed large
storage/truck park areas along the new Laotian corridor apparently are being
used to stockpile cargos carried south this dry season.
] 0. Although only sporadic reporting was received, COMINT also
confirmed a substantial level of activity in the Laos Panhandle. On
13 December, COMINT revealed that at least several hundred vehicles were
active in the Panhandle, including 81 that had arrived at Ban Dan and 47
that had moved to the Croup 470 area in the extreme southern Panhandle.
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Food and gasoline were the only types of cargo specifically identified on
these trucks, although most of the cargo carried by them was unidentified.
11. In addition to this activity, plans to reopen the Mu Gia Pass for
cargo shipments from North Vietnam were noted. On 13 December the
Commander of the 14th Engineering Regiment was directed to inspect a
storage area in the Mu Gia Pass and to prepare for shipments through it.
This is the first reference to cargo shipments in this area this dry season,
and its timing suggests that it may be related to the 10-day supply offensive
scheduled to begin shortly in southern North Vietnam (see paragraph 8,
above).
12. In northern South Vietnam seasonal rains continue to make
sections of Route 9 and the Communists' western supply corridor
impassable and only light vehicular traffic was detected. Although little
activity was noted, there were indications that traffic in some areas was
being restricted to periods of darkness. Communist units regularly report
on Allied reconnaissance activity and this order, which may pertain to units
in Laos as well, could be an attempt to conceal traffic levels.
II. Communist-Initiated Combat Activity iti. South Vietnam
and Laos
13. In South Vietnam the total number of Communist-initiated
cease-fire violations reported by the South Vietnamese Armed Forces since
27 January, since 15 June, and for the last week (12-18 December) are
shown below:
Military
Total Since
27 January
Total Since
15 Jurte
last Week
Region
Cease-Fire
Cease-Fire
(12-18 Dec)
"Ibtal
Major
4,220
Minor
27,494
Major
1,851
Minor
13,539
Major
43(55)1
Minor
50g (519)1
MIZ I
1,514
5,532
489
2,173
14
MR `?
703
4,580
439
2,726
7
80
M R :~
641
4,880
239
2,304
11
93
MR 4
1,362
12,502
684
6,336
l l
263
I . Figures in parentheses denote totals of the previous week.
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14. Sonic of these violations may }lave been initiated by South
Vietnamese forces rather than Communist forces, and it is impossible in
all cases to determine the actual instigator. T.he tabtrl~ttion above and the
charts following tlt~ Annex, however, show fairly accurately the trend in
the amount of combat that has occurred in South Vietnam since the
cease-tire. The fact. that a combat incidc?nt occurred at a particular time
and place is generally reported accurately by the Sottth Vietnamese, even
though the question of who started it trray not always be treated objectively.
Laos
15. There was no significant military activity in Laos last week.
IiI. Other Developments Affecting Communist Military
Capabilities in Indochina
tbrrrrarrrraists ['arrtittrre Road' artd Pinelirre ~C'orrstrtectiorr
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1 G. Aerial photography (shows COIniYllrtllst COIlStfLlCtlon
crews working on the final gaps separating the Laotian dual-lane
road and its companion system, Route 14, running along the western
South 1lietnarnesc border. Tln photography shoFVS that about 10 miles
of new dual-lane. road have recently been cleared through the tri-border
area (see map SG 333?). Gaps totaling another 10-1 ~ miles still have to be
filled before the two systems arc jov~cd, but with the. aid of bulldozers
and large work crews, these probably can be finished by the end of the
year. A motorablc single-lane road already connects the two routes, but
appears to be used only for construction and communications traffic.
17. The same photography also indicated that the Communists arc
extending their petroleum pipeline system through the southern Laotian
Panhandle. paralleling tl~c new dual-lane road leading into the tri-border
area. P*iew clearing and sections of pipe. were observed from a point some
30 miles south of the last known tcrmvtus. extending about 17 milts farther
south along the eastern edge of flee dual-lane road to within 30 miles of
tine tri-border. Although most of the 30-mile distance separating the old
terminus and the new construction activity probably is connected with
pipeline -several camouflaged 3,500-gallon pol storage tanks have been
discovered beside the: new road south of the old pipeline terminus --jungle
cover precludes confirmation.
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r,~? ,~~
'~w,W;,,. ~h (anchorage) ~`fi
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T ~ C~~I
rWarn
Chamrap
(Mu Gia ~
Pass ~ r.:Am "'?
(7he Communists have designated
- the route within South Vietnam as
"Route 14.")
" Nampa sak t. ~`` CjiQf
n~~~ ~ - .!At[ ~~ '"- ~ ("Fib.
Nemea end boundary representation
are not necessarily authoritative
South Vietnam
and
Province boundary
Military region
International Commission
of Control end Supervision
region boundary
Road
POL pipeline
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INFILTRATION OF NORTH VIETNAMESE PERSONNEL
TO THE SOUTH
1. On 16 December, Group 3008, destined for the B-3 Front, was
detected in the BT 8 area near Vinh, North Vietnam. Although this group
was held back for two days, it has now been sent south. On 19 December,
Group 2035, destined for the COSVN area, also was detected at BT 8,
but it is uncertain whether this group has yet begun to move southward.
Group 5094, which had been included in our estimate previously as a
"gap-filled" group, also was referenced in intercepted enemy
communications last week. In addition, special-purpose groups M344,
M345 -- destined for the B-3 Front -- M426, M432 -- en route to the
COSVN area -- and 2101 -- moving to VC Military Region 5 -- were
detected last week. Groups M344, M345, and M432 were noted in the BT 8
area, and Groups M426 and 2101 were observed in southern Laos. Although
Group Z 101 is known to comprise high-ranking personnel, the compositions
of the M-prefixed groups are unknown.
2. Since the 15 June "second cease-fire," more than 39,000 North
Vietnamese have infiltrated southward, including over 37,000 combat troops
and more than 2,000 specialists. Since the 27 January agreement, about
89,000 personnel have infiltrated southward, including about 81,000 combat
troops and more than 8,000 specialists. Some 64,000 have started south
since 27 January, while 25,000 were in the pipeline moving southward as
of that date. The following table shows the number of North Vietnamese
infiltrators starting south, by month and destination, since 1 January 1973.
Number of Troops Entering the Pipeline Destined
for South Vietnam, Southem Laos, and Cambodia
Since 1 January 19731
COSVN
&3 Front
MR 5
MR Tri-Thien?Hue
Southern Laos/
MR 559
Total
Total
16,000
7,000
x,000
14,000
26,500
72,500
Jan
7,000
5,000
4,000
2,500
..
Ix,S00
f~eb
5,000
S00
....
1,500
1,000
tt,(F00
Mar
....
....
..
1,000
I,(NH)
Apr
1,000
....
...
....
I.(1(NJ
May
.... _
....
...
7,(100
..
?,[100
Jun
....
....
....
....
I,S00
I.S00
Jul
....
....
3,000
....
..
i,(xx)
Aug
....
....
....
....
1,500
1,500
Sep
....
....
2,000
2,000
3,(>v0
7,000
Oct
....
....
....
....
14,000
14.000
Nov
1,000.
1,000
....
....
5,500
7,500
Dec
1-]8
2,000
500
....
....
...
2,5(10
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GtAJt-tl~t ~[Ut,~R I fU~13 Iti JUU ~ n
VfFTNA~ A~ REPORTED BY RVNAF
f28 IANU~ARY iHR~UGN 31 lUlll 19731
lAN-f E6 zoo
MAR
APR
MAY
lUN
rv Ew..
CEASE-FIRE
Il111111111i
~,*;,I~ I-I I I I I I ~~1 r~ I I1 m rLIT~
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CEASE-FIRE VIOLATIONS IN SOUTN
VIETNAM AS REPORTED BY RVNAf
(1 AUGUST 1913 TO THE PRESENT)
AUG '??
NOV '??
?
200
DEC ~??
?
200
lAN ~??
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
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Secret
Secret
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