THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

Document Type:

CREST

Collection:

General CIA Records

Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):

CIA-RDP79T00826A001600010016-1

Release Decision:

RIPPUB

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Document Creation Date:

December 20, 2016

Document Release Date:

December 20, 2006

Sequence Number:

Case Number:

Publication Date:

January 20, 1967

Content Type:

MEMO

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CIA-RDP79T00826A001600010016-1.pdf	710.31 KB

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DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE No Foreign Disreni /17 (O Approved Fcoelease 2007/04/02: CIA-RDP79TO08~,0016YI0110Q46-1 MEMORANDUM The Situation in Vietnam State Dept. review completed 25X1 ARMY review(s) completed. Top Secret 1-.2 20 January 1967 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010016-1 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010016-1 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010016-1 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A00160001001 Information as of 1600 20 January 1967 HIGHLIGHTS The South Vietnamese Government has made arrangements to have deputy premier and defense minister General Co remain out of Vietnam at least until after Premier Ky's return on about 27 Jan- uary. Co apparently has not been informed of his dismissal, which was agreed upon by the Saigon gov- ernment's military leaders on 17 January. I. The Military Situation in S outh Vietn am: The US Marine base at Phu Bai, ten miles southe of Hue, was struck on 20 January (Paras. 1-2). ast Eighteen Communist troops were killed by US Army forces of Operation THAYER II on 20 January (Para. 3). Viet Cong guerrillas simultaneously attacked a district town and an ARVN battalion in Vinh Binh Province (Para. 4). The 18th NVA Regiment in the Quang Ngai - Binh Dinh Province area has been ex- periencing difficulties (Paras. 6-9). Weekly re- view of South Vietnam Battle Statistics (Para. 10). II. Political Developments in South Vietnam: Chief of State T ieu reportedly has ordered General Co, who has been dismissed as deputy premier and defense minister to proceed from Taiwan to South Korea on a temporary military assignment in an ef- fort to keep him out of Vietnam until Premier Ky returns from New Zealand (Para. 1). On 19 Jan- uary, if~constituent Assembly began its debate on the initial draft of the constitution, and approved the first three articles (Para. 3). III. Military Developments in North Vietnam: There is nothing of significance to report. 25X1 25X Appro Appro IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There is nothing of significance to report. Communist Political Developments: lCommunist China has con- demned recent Thai assistance to South Vietnam (Para. 3). 20 January 1967 Approv4d For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A001600p10016-1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X Approved For ase 2007/04/02: CIA-RDP79T008201600010016-1 NORTH \Dong Hoi VIETNAM 2 yyy' 9 Sepone? Savannakhet L. An Khe 1I QI "Ban Me Thuot ?Sihano vide I FN , e41- Bien Asa I(uan Loc SOUTH VIETNAM 25 50 75 100 miles 25 50 75 100 Kilometer, 654741-67 CIA Approved For Fkelease 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A001600010016-1 Demilitarized Zone Quang Tri Hue? ? PhL Bai l:` l 1, Tr ?'~ _ ?Da Nang ,~ Chu Lai 1- _ ?Quing Ngai 1 Kontum? Pleiku? Approve or Release - I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM 1. The US Marine base ten miles southeast of Hue in northern Thua Thien Province was hit by approxi- mately 35 rounds of 82-mm. mortar during a pre-dawn attack on 20 January. Countermortar fire was di- rected against suspected enemy positions and a reac- tion force was dispatched. One American was killed and 36 wounded; there was no major damage to equip- ment or facilities on the base. Enemy losses are unknown. A larger number of marine units have recently been deployed to the Phu Bai area in an effort to prevent the Communists from taking any of the rice harvest in the area and to support other marine units now in blocking positions south of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). 3. A US Army platoon participating in the eight battalion search-and-destroy Operation THAYER II in the northern section of coastal Binh Dinh-Province reported two encounters with Communist units of un- known size about 30 miles northwest of Qui Nhon on 20 January. Seven Americans were killed and eight wounded in the two engagements. Enemy casualties were re- ported as 18 killed. Since this vast sweep opera- tion began on 24 October, nearly 1,300 enemy troops have been killed compared with 161 Americans killed and 635 wounded. Both North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong units, with an estimated total of 7,200 men, are believed operating in this area of Binh Dinh Prov- ince. 4. In the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Binh, a Viet Cong force of unknown size early on 20 Janu- ary simultaneously fired mortars at a district town ten miles northwest of Phu Vinh, which was defended by a Regular Force company, and attacked a South Viet- namese Army (ARVN) battalion nearby. Artillery and US armed aircraft supported the friendly forces. 20 January 1967 25X1 25X Appro Appr~ Twenty-eight South Vietnamese were killed and 71 wounded. At least 15 Viet Cong were killed. A re- action operation was initiated several hours later, but no contact with the attacking force has been re- ported. 5. A five-battalion South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) operation named DAN CHI 275C, presently being con- ducted in southernmost An Xuyen Province, has reported several light engagements since it began on 18 Janu- ary. Sixteen Viet Cong have been killed compared with ARVN casualties of only two wounded. Communist losses also include 26 individual weapons, small-arms ammunition, and a number of bombs, mines, and grenades captured. Reorganization of the 18th NVA Regiment the regiment is experiencing difficulties as a result of allied operations. 7. the 18th Regiment had dispersed in late December into company-size units in an effort to avoid allied forces. the US 1st Air Cavalry's great mobility, along wit air strikes and artillery attacks, had lowered the morale In addition, approximately twol?thirds of the regiment was suffering from malaria and other diseases. 8. the 18th will at- tempt to counter allied pacification work in rural areas. move to permit it to regain strength and build-up manpower, rather than indicative of a trend to breakup permanently larger Communist units. the 3rd Division cadres were recon- noitering areas along the Binh Dinh - Quang Ngai Prov- ince border in connection with its winter-spring cam- paign, which has the purpose of "regaining prestige." 9. The 18th is apparently still subordinate to the 3rd Division, and its dispersal and shift of emphasis to smaller scale activities may therefore be only a temporary 20 January 1967 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X Appr Approve For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A0016000100 Weekly Review of South Vietnam Battle Statistics 10. The week of 8-14 January compared with 1-7 January: I. Viet Cong Incidents Time At- Regimental Battalion Period tacks size size 1-7 Jan 21 0 0 8-14 Jan 42 0 1 Time Company Period size Harassment Terrorism 1-7 Jan 3 391 35 8-14 Jan 5 360 24 Time Sabo- Propa- Anti- Total Period tage ganda Aircraft Incidents 1-7 Jan 16 42 180 8-14 Jan 19 18 448 VC/NVA GVN 1-7 Jan 8-14 Jan 1-7 Jan 8-14 Jan Killed 626 1,176 120 197 Wounded Missing/ Captured 155 213 31 4-5 1,389 667 20 January 1967 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010p 16-1 25X1 25X Approv Killed Wounded Missing/ Captured FREE WORLD 1-7 Jan 8-14 Jan 479 1,044 7 64 TOTALS 548 1,187* 10 96 III. Weapons Captured VC/NVA GVN Individual 232 Not 104 203 Crew-Served 7 Reported 3 1 *As reported by MACV, although no known operations have accounted for this unusually high casualty figure. 20 January 1967 25X1 25X Approv Appro II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM Constituent Assembly Debate on Draft Constitution Under-Way 3. After two earlier postponements, the Con- stituent Assembly on 19 January began its plenary debate on the draft constitution, and approved the first three articles. These provisions are con- tained in the first chapter of the constitution called "Basic Provisions," and include statements on Vietnamese sovereignty, guarantees of the basic 20 January 1967 App -1 25X1 25X Approve rights and equality of all citizens, and the deline- ation of executive, legislative, and judicial re- sponsibilities. The latter provision caused a long and rather disorderly semantic debate which was gen- erally resolved by a compromise provision. The as- sembly plans to hold two sessions daily until the Tet holiday break beginning on 8 February. 20 January 1967 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO0160001001611 Ap Droved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A00160001001611 III. MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM 1. There is nothing of significance to report. IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS 1. There is nothing of significance to report. 20 January 1967 25X1 25X Ap Appr4 V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 1. Mai Van Bo, chief of the North Vietnamese delegation in Paris, reportedly reiterated to a mem- ber of the American Friends Service' Committee on 17 January his remark of 5 January that if the US were permanently to stop bombing North Vietnam, this would be "a concrete action" sufficient to prompt Hanoi to examine closely US proposals for negotia- tions. Although Bo's recent remarks do not commit Hanoi to any action in response to a cessation of air strikes by the US, he apparently is having some success in conveying to certain of his listeners the impression of a major concession. The American Friends Service Committee member stated that it was his impression that Bo "may well have been saying in the most noncommittal way possible that North Vietnam would indeed agree to negotiations if the bombings were first stopped and there was reasonable evidence that they would not be started up again." 2. Mai Van Bo also seemed more encouraging about permitting American Friends Service Committee representatives to go to Hanoi for discussions on the Friends' proposed thedical aid program. He gave the impression that visas for two members of the committee would shortly be forthcoming. 3. Peking, as Hanoi did earlier this month, has denounced recent Thai actions in support of the US effort in Vietnam. A Chinese Foreign Ministry state- ment of 19 January protested the Thai Government's decision to send troops to South Vietnam and its, alleged acquiescence in permitting the US to station B-52 bombers in Thailand. Peking claimed that the "peoples of Vietnam and other Indo-Chinese states" would "deal resolute counterblows" against the Thai Government and that the Thai people would rebel against it. China also asserted that Thai aid would not save the US from defeat in Vietnam. 20 January 1967 Approve 25X1 25X Approved Fcoelease 2007/04/02: CIA-RDP79T00810001600010016-1 25X1 South Vietnamese and Viet Cong Casualties and Weapons Losses: 1962 - 31 December 1966 Time Viet Cong Inci- Killed in Action Wounded in Captured Action or Missing Total Casualties Weapons Losses Period dents GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC 1962 18255 299 1294 475 212 116 39 0 890 1896 - - Jan 1963 927 453 1754 908 318 102 37 9 1463 2451 457 683 1964 1770 343 1223 913 - 555 24 0 1811 1463 917 532 1965 2206 904 2203 1 938 - 471 56 5 3313 2768 1700 711 1966 3914 747 2648 1 557 - 450 58 8 2754 3236 935 979 1962 1460 244 1205 300 316 124 35 3 668 1874 - - Feb 1963 788 379 1082 656 303 82 29 2 1117 1677 253 399 1964 2078 374 1055 916 - 303 28 9 1593 1344 708 471 1965 1982 880 1564 1 840 - 1394 30 9 4114 1873 2454 620 1966 3100 1015 4727 2 095 - 477 50 8 3587 5235 1076 1219 1962 1961 523 1456 737 551 140 52 3 1400 2530 - - Mar 1963 1282 410 1443 851 368 66 22 2 1327 2033 467 367 1964 2160 439 1456 1 249 - 345 53 1 2033 1987 814 532 1965 2056 751 2022 1 633 - 720 39 4 3104 2416 1442 698 1966 3670 938 5685 1 961 - 466 60 4 3365 6289 1393 1632 1962 1933 387 1596 532 292 151 41 5 1070 2303 - - Apr 1963 1331 506 1660 878 256 96 38 8 1440 2304 797 468 1964 2284 594 1671 1 584 - 398 24 5 2576 1916 990 424 1965 1860 591 1909 1 650 - 232 52 9 2473 2438 757 973 1966 3235 573 2818 1 522 - 121 48 3 2216 3301 594 829 1962 1825 390 1756 509 352 94 52 4 993 2632 - - May 1963 1208 435 1895 889 295 94 69 5 1418 2885 463 564 1964 2143 458 1135 987 - 202 24 2 1647 1377 723 281 1965 2263 1049 1975 2 143 - 873 54 8 4065 2523 1701 831 1966 3566 661 4239 1 454 - 196 65 2 2311 4891 493 1087 1962 1477 325 1666 613 413 77 44 1 1015 2520 - - Jun 1963 1311 389 1863 772 310 90 43 7 1251 2609 580 394 1964 2062 494 1005 1 145 - 313 23 0 1952 1235 718 387 1965 2597 1211 2208 1 920 - 1260 18 9 4391 2397 2387 793 1966 3359 860 4815 1 800 - 183 75 2 2843 5567 735 3761 1962 1564 384 1544 686 424 212 54 2 1282 2510 - - Jul 1963 1368 529 1918 1 071 372 306 38 7 1906 2677 663 374 1964 3045 900 1427 1 812 - 510 21 9 3222 1646 1889 447 1965 2520 1160 2980 1 591 - 540 58 0 3425 3560 1375 882 1966 2844 862 5532 1 638 - 242 41 4 2742 5946 744 1483 25X1 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010016-1 Approved Fowlease 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79TOO810001600010016-1 Time Period 1962 Aug 1963 1964 1965 1966 1962 Sep 1963 1964 1965 1966 1962 Oct 1963 1964 1965 1966 1962 Nov 1963 1964 1965 1966 1962 Dec 1963 1964 1965 1966 Viet Killed Cong in Inci- Action dents GVN VC 1642 1349 2580 2498 2401 1375 1763 3091 2473 2864 1357 1422 2827 3330 2923 1311 3182 1982 3638 2942 1346 1921 2504 4106 2837 Wounded in Action GVN VC 377 2271 626 367 63 669 1066 3307 411 1685 804 237 352 482 1567 2404 637 721 1449 1612 478 282 2811 1731 1106 808 3624 1945 287 606 3040 4230 705 722 5857 1491 209 924 2422 6781 654 419 2218 646 365 59 446 1124 3029 672 1982 1155 234 566 347 2393 2563 878 819 1187 1759 737 230 3315 1417 1465 655 3485 1724 266 838 2645 4323 778 566 4447 1554 185 839 2305 5286 426 365 1967 619 286 64 373 1048 2626 428 1520 989 244 398 236 1815 2000 753 739 1617 1583 693 576 3015 2193 1510 961 3874 2416 225 660 3602 4534 762 906 5665 2118 216 2438 3240 8103 851 410 1982 834 368 92 561 1336 2911 664 2333 1554 373 665 252 2883 2958 1595 574 1747 1404 410 570 2388 2317 1104 1034 5516 2056 520 592 3610 6108 1126 804 5227 1933 200 816 2937 6043 650 294 2203 618 289 78 463 990 2955 389 1440 961 191 320 190 1670 1821 724 1002 1813 2053 1092 503 4147 2316 2111 1239 4076 2262 926 516 4427 4592 1728 815 3864 1851 338 701 3004 4565 830 VC Time Inci- Period dents 1962 19076 1963 17852 1964 28526 1965 31529 **1966 37655 WIA KIA GVN VC 4417 21158 5665 20575 7457 16785 11243 35436 9469 55524 Captured Total or Missing Casualties GVN VC GVN VC Captured Total or missing Casualties Weapons Losses GVN VC 428 619 1074 1298 389 525 838 1580 330 482 1013 1977 455 515 2164 1423 546 666 1158 1338 Weapons Losses GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN 7195 4235 1270 5700 12882 31093 5195 11488 3501 3137 4307 20290 28383 8267 17017 - 6036 4157 30510 20942 14055 23118 7848 6326 42209 41762 16915 20974 3283 9719 33726 65243 9381 *Monthly data unavailable for 1962 Weapons Losses. **Through 31 December 1966 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79TOO826AO01600010016-1 VC 4049* 5397 5881 11755 18606 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A001600010016-1 a 25X1 Time Period Viet Cong Incidents 1962 1825 Jan 1963 927 1964 1770 1965 2206 1966 3914 Small- Scale 528 242 218 57 42 Bn. Size or Larger 21 8 2 5 23 1962 1460 480 20 0 500 Feb 1963 788 181 13 1 195 1964 2078 211 3 3 217 1965 1982 73 6 3 82 1966 3100 50 10 9 69 1962 1961 561 27 0 588 Mar 1963 1282 333 11 0 344 1964 2160 198 4 1 203 1965 2056 80 3 3 86 1966 3670 32 10 10 52 1962 1933 470 27 0 497 Apr 1963 1331 371 9 3 383 1964 2284 211 6 3 220 1965 1860 38 1 4 43 1966 3190 61 7 9 77 1962 1825 490 28 0 528 May 1963 1208 344 13 0 357 1964 2143 170 3 2 175 1965 2263 40 7 11 58 1966 3566 37 9 7 53 1962 1477 339 23 0 362 Jun 1963 1311 398 11 1 410 1964 2062 128 10 2 140 1965 2597 62 1 6 69 1966 3359 47 10 11 68 1962 1564 437 10 Jul 1963 1368 398 8 1964 3045 166 12 1965 2520 42 0 1966 2844 91 0 549 252 223 63 70 448 407 185 48 91 Harassment & Terrorism Propa- ganda A Air nti- craft 839 180 257 447 49 179 1244 129 174 - 1489 272 170 212 2490 312 299 743 613 137 210 - 433 69 91 - 1389 210 271 - 1411 267 91 131 1829 201 172 829 660 290 423 - 653 131 154 - 1632 158 167 - 1476 240 90 164 2332 212 154 920 1024 220 192 - 688 105 155 - 1738 169 157 - 1407 149 96 165 2238 252 110 513 892 154 251 - 608 93 150 - 418 217 140 193 1558 365 115 170 2552 295 106 560 736 157 222 - 652 107 142 - 1390 176 162 194 1784 469 103 172 2382 211 110 588 735 158 223 - 698 80 183 - 2132 286 224 218 1706 400 154 212 1906 200 86 561 Approved For Releas ? Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826A001600010Q16-1 Time Period Viet Cong Incidents 1962 1642 Aug 1963 1349 1964 2580 1965 2498 1966 2401 Small- Scale 368 356 107 38 51 Bn. Size and Larger 10 11 3 9 8 378 368 113 52 64 885 647 1775 1597 1752 1962 1375 382 9 0 391 624 Sep 1963 1763 483 17 3 503 889 1964 3091 110 4 4 118 1938 1965 2473 19 7 5 31 1530 1966 2864 78 6 2 86 1972 146 113 315 349 113 Propa- ganda 233 221 173 200 87 Anti- Aircraft 204 300 385 178 182 - 164 207 - 482 178 375 278 185 449 90 115 601 1962 1357 406 12 1 419 583 189 166 Oct 1963 1422 359 6 0 365 802 105 150 - 1964 2827 75 2 6 83 1790 480 197 277 1965 3330 24 8 12 44 1969 415 198 704 1966 2923 107 12 2 121 1749 103 81 869 1962 1311 411 7 3 421 614 144 132 - Nov 1963 3182 631 11 3 645 1990 269 278 - 1964 1982 57 2 1 60 1391 247 109 175 1965 3638 26 16 10 52 2234 486 255 611 1966 2778 80 4 2 86 1701 125 72 794 1962 1346 375 8 1 384 670 107 185 Dec 1963 1921 258 3 0 261 1298 111 251 - 1964 2504 81 9 6 96 1719 318 128 243 1965 4106 32 18 7 57 2572 442 317 718 1966 2837 84 13 4 101 1761 98 112 765 1962 19076 5247 212 6 5465 8875 2060 2676 No Data 1963 17852 4354 121 15 4490 9805 1396 2161 No Data 1964 28526 1732 60 41 1833 19556 3178 2080 1879 1965 31529 531 81 73 685 20730 4132 1974 4008 *1966 37446 760 112 66 938 24664 2212 1504 8128 Approved For Release Harassment & Terrorism ? ? Approved Foolease 2007/04/02: CIA-RDP79T0080001600010016-1 Viet Cong Attacks DECEMBER 101 Viet Cong Incidents 3000 (Excluding Atta4ks) DECEMBER 2736 M-L-I i KJ I )j" t.I ! 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 J 1 1 , IA, 1- 11,11 ULIJ..S..1..J.. J L a i_ L I I i..!_J. i1Aa. LJ I. I A_,...: 8'- 14 JAN 41 TOTAL ~4 I 37 Less than Company 5 Company and Over Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010016-1 Approved Fo lease 2007/04/02: CIA-RDP79T0080001600010016-1 Weapons Losses - --- T ------T - V iet Cong G VN DECEMBER 133 8 830 1.?I,. I , I I. J _I I_IJ: 1 .."I_ _. .,A.. J . ~.J.._h_.. .,.~..Le.~_~.. ~. ~.!LI I_I. I_.. tdi 11 1 1 J...1 1 1 L) I ? I I I I I I I i Personnel Losses (Excluding Wounded) Viet Cong/ NVA GVN/US/other F ree World DECEMBER 4565 1305 .L-J. I I;! I I L 1_.L '. 1_1_).111.1_I 1.1 l.. I I I I I I I I I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1! , 11 1 1 1 1 1 I! I I US Casualties to Date: Killed 6, 854 Wounded 39,261 Captured 99 Missing 375 Approved For Release 2007/04/02 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO01600010016-1 50 500 250

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THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM