THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001700010075-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 28, 2004
• Sequence Number: 75
• Publication Date: March 22, 1967
• Content Type: MEMO

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
State Department review completed
Top Secret
:.11
22 March 1967
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HIGHLIGHTS
Intensified Communist resistance has been en-
countered by allied operations in the coastal low-
lands and western highlands of II Corps, and in Long
Khanh Province northeast of Saigon.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
Recently intensified Communist aggressiveness against
allied operations in northern Quang Tri Province and
War Zone "C" has been paralleled by intensified re-
sistance to allied operations in the coastal lowlands
and western highlands of II Corps, and in Long Khanh
Province northeast of Saigon (Paras. 1-5). Allied
and enemy casualty totals reached record highs for
the week 12-18 March--Weekly Review of South Viet-
namese Battle Statistics (Paras. 6-8).
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The militant Bu is' tlerics have appealed to sev-
eral world leaders for at least: a day-long cease-
fire on 23 May, Buddha's birthday (Paras. 1-2).
III. Military Deveelo ments in North Vietnam:
There is nothing of significance to report.
IV. Other Communist Military Developments:
There is nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: Nguyen
Huu Tho once again described as Front chairman
(Para. 1).
South Vietnamese and Viet Cong Casualties
And Weapons Losses - 1962 to 28 Feb 1967:
- General Statistical Data
- Composite Annual Totals
- Viet Cong Incidents
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,.ra,d, D.4 i(itariasd Zone
THEN
='ANG NAM.
B IN H'fn
Pleiku An1She
tel. El u>-'IQui Nhon ? ~~
.Sihan0
Tay Ninik',..,'~~{ phu .Mirth
_pHO NC\ f JONG
BINH
TUY
VunTau
t10 N.. f1F 8&:F
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Viet Cong/North Vietnamese Army (NVA) forces
are continuing to intensify their resistance to large-
scale allied sweep operations in widespread areas of
South Vietnam.
2. In Binh Dinh Province, elements of the US lst
Air Cavalry Division and a Communist force possibly
of battalion size engaged in a two-day running battle
32 miles north-northwest of Qui Nhon during 20-21
March. According to preliminary casualty reports,
78 enemy troops were killed, raising cumulative Viet
Cong/NVA losses in the six-week long Operation PERSH-
ING to 819 killed and 122 captured. US losses in
the 20-21 March battle totaled 14 killed, 40 wounded,
and eight missing.
3. Elsewhere in Binh Dinh Province, a reinforced
battalion of the 18th Regiment/NVA 3rd Division on
21 March engaged an ARVN battalion conducting search-
and-destroy Operation AN DAN 805 approximately 28
miles north-northwest of Qui Nhon. Thirty-six Commu-
nist soldiers were killed in the eight-hour fire.-fight,
in contrast to ARVN losses of seven killed and 27
wounded.
4. In the western highlands, company-strength
elements of the US 4th Infantry Division partici-
pating in Cambodian border surveillance Operation
SAM HOUSTON fought estimated NVA companies in separate
actions 35 miles northwest and southwest of Pleiku
city on 21 March. Combined US losses totaled 21
killed, 59 wounded, and three missing. Enemy losses
were unknown.
5. Northeast of Saigon, an estimated Viet Cong
battalion on 21 March ambushed an ARVN infantry com-
pany on a road-clearing mission 10 miles east of Xuan
Loc, the capital of Long Khanh Province. Thirty-four
government regulars were killed, 19 wounded, and two
missing, against unknown enemy losses. A reaction
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force from the US llth Armored Cavalry Regiment was
subsequently dispatched as reinforcements, but failed
to re-establish contact with the attackers. Elements
of the Viet Cong 274th Regiment/Viet Cong 5th Light
Infantry Division have maintained an attack posture
in the Xuan Loc area for the past several weeks.
Weekly Review of South Vietnam Battle Statistics
6. The number of enemy killed for the last week
was reported as 2,675, the highest weekly total to
date.
7. American casualties in South Vietnam also
reached the highest weekly total last week. For
the week 12-18 March, 211 Americans were reported
killed and another 1,869 wounded. The step~up in
enemy aggressiveness throughout the country is also
evidenced by the high number of South Vietnamese
casualties reported--1,226. Many of these can be
attributed to the increase in most categories of
enemy-initiated incidents in addition to enemy at-
tacks.
8. The week of 12-18 March compared with the
week of 5-11 March.
I. Viet Cong Incidents
5-11 March 12-18 March
Attacks 54 61
Regimental . . . . . . . . . 0 ., . . . . . . . . 0
Company . . . . . . . . . 2 ., . . . . . . . 1
Harassment 370 442
Terrorism 22 28
Sabotage 12 12
Propaganda 6 10
Antiaircraft 229 231
TOTAL INCIDENTS 693 784
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Ii. Casualties
VC/NVA
Mar 12-18 Mar_ 5-11 Mar 12-18 Mar
Killed 1,407 2,675 263 357
Wounded ----- ----- 593 752
Missing/ 101 117
Captured
TOTALS 1,407 2,675 957 1,226
US FREE WORLD
5-11 Mar 12-18 Mar_ 5- 1 Mar 12-18 Mar
Killed 175 211 Not 5
Wounded 892 1,869 Reported 32
Missing/ 0 0
Captured 0 -
TOTALS 1,067 2,080
III. Weapons Captured
VC/NVA - GVN
Mar 12- -Mar- S711 Mar 12-18 Mar
individual 587 Not 273 340
Crew-Served 36 Reported 7 10
TOTALS 623 280
Field reporting of enemy captured. figures is now based on a
monthly count of POWs held in POW camps. Figures for enemy captured
will thus be incorporated in the monthly "Personnel Losses" chart
which appears in the Situation in South Vietnam.
22 March 1967
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II, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. The leading bonzes aligned with the militant
Buddhist faction have sent letters simultaneously to
all factions in the Vietnam war as well as several
world leaders requesting a cease-fire on the oc-
casion of Buddha's birthday on 23 May, according to
the US Embassy. In the first display of coopera-
tion in some time between the militant and moderate
Buddhist factions, progovernment bonze Thich Tam
Chau issued a communiqud along the same lines, ap-
parently because of its appeal to international
Buddhist movements.
2. Similar requests in connection with Buddha's
birthday have been raised by Buddhist leaders in
the pasty However, there have been recent rumors
that the militant Buddhists may hope to make politi-
cal capital of the peace theme.,
Itne presen
cease- ire request a eginning of a three-part
plan conceived by militant monk Thich Tri Quang in
hopes of achieving a permanent cease-fire. If the
request were honored, Tri Quang would eventually of-
fer to serve as a mediator between the opposing
sides in the war.
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Appr~
I110 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.
22 March 1967
III-IV - 1
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
Nguyen Huu Tho Described as Front Chairman
1. The NFLSV"s Liberation Radio on 19 March
broadcast a speech celebrating "Anti-US National
Day" by Nguyen Huu Tho, who was described by his
title "Chairman of the South Vietnam National Liber-
ation Front," the post he has occupied since March
1962. This was the third reference to Tho as chair-
man of the Front in the Communist press in recent
days and offers conclusive evidence that reports
emanating from Saigon in early March to the effect
that he had been replaced by Front Secretary Gen-
eral Huynh Tan Phat were incorrect.
22 March 1967
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South Vietnamese and Viet Gong Casualties and
Weapons Losses: 1962 - 28 February 1967
Viet Killed Wounded
Cong in in Captured Total Weapons
Time Inci- Action Action or Missing Casualties Losses
Period dents GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC
1962 1825 299 1294 475 212 116 390 890 1896 - -
Jan 1963 927 453 1754 908 318 102 379 1463 2451 457 683
1964 1770 343 1223 913 - 555 240 1811 1463 917 532
1965 2206 904 2203 1938 - 471 565 3313 2768 1700 711
1966 3914 747 2648 1557 - 450 588 2754 3236 935 979
1967 3369 887 6064 2036 - 166 - 3089 -- 738 2360
1962 1460 244 1205 300 316 124 353 668 1874 - -
Feb 1963 788 379 1082 656 303 82 292 1117 1677 253 399
1964 2078 374 1055 916 - 303 289 1593 1344 708 471
1965 1982 880 1564 1840 - 1394 309 4114 1873 2454 620
1966 3100 1015 4727 2095 - 477 508 3587 5235 1076 1219
1967 3183 771 7341 2125 - 154 - 3050 -- 532 2395
1962 1961 523 1456 737 551 140 523 1400 2530 - -
Mar 1963 1282 410 1443 851 368 66 222 1327 2033 467 367
1964 2160 439 1456 1249 - 345 531 2033 1987 814 532
1965 2056 751 2022 1633 - 720 394 3104 2416 1442 698
1966 3670 938 5685 1961 - 466 604 3365 6289 1393 1632
1962 1933 387 1596 532 292 151 415 1070 2303 - -
Apr 1963 1331 506 1660 878 256 96 388 1440 2304 797 468
1964 2284 594 1671 1584 - 398 245 2576 1916 990 424
1965 1860 591 1909 1650 - 232 529 2473 2438 757 973
1966 3190 573 2818 1522 - 121 483 2216 3301 594 829
1962 1825 390 1756 509 352 94 524 993 2632 - -
May 1963 1208 435 1895 889 295 94 695 1418 2885 463 564
1964 2143 458 1135 987 - 202 242 1647 1377 723 281
1965 2263 1049 1975 2143 - 873 548 4065 2523 1701 831
1966 3566 661 4239 1454 - 196 652 2311 4891 493 1087
1962 1477 325 1666 613 413 77 441 1015 2520 - -
Jun 1963 1311 389 1863 772 310 90 437 1251 2609 580 394
1964 2062 494 1005 1145 - 313 230 1952 1235 718 387
1965 2597 1211 2208 1920 - 1260 189 4391 2397 2387 793
1966 3359 860 4815 1800 - 183 752 2843 5567 735 3761
1962 1564 384 1544 686
Jul 1963 1368 529 1918 1071
1964 3045 900 1427 1812
1965 2520 1160 2980 1591
1966 2844 862 5532 1638
424 212 542 1282 2510 - -
372 306 387 1906 2677 663 374
- 510 219 3222 1646 1889 447
540 580 3425 3560 1375 882
- 242 414 2742 5946 744 1483
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Viet
Cong
Time Inci-
Period dents
Killed
in
Action
GVN VC
Wounded
in
Action
GVN VC
Captured Total Weapons
or Missing Casualties Losses
GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC
1962 1642 377 2271 626 367 63
Aug 1963 1349 411 1685 804 237 352
1964 2580 721 1449 1612 478
1965 2498 808 3624 1945 - 287
1966 2401 722 5857 1491 -
1962 1375 419 2218 646 365 59
Sep 1963 1763 672 1982 1155 234 566
1964 3091 819 1187 1759 - 737
1965 2473 655 3485 1724 - 1266
85
1966 2864 566 4447 1554 -
669 1066 3307 - -
482 1567 2404 637 428
282 2811 1731 1106 619
606 3040 4230 705 1074
924 2422 6781 654 1298
446 1124 3029 - -
347 2393 2563 878 389
230 3315 1417 1465 525
838 2645 4323 778 838
839 2305 5286 426 1580
1962 1357 365 1967 619 286 64 373 1048 2626 - -
Oct 1963 1422 428 1520 989 244 398 236 1815 2000 753 330 48 1964 2827 739 1617 1583 - 693 6576 3015 2193 60 3602 4534
1510 1482
1965 3330 961 3874 2416 -
1966 2923 906 5665 2118 - 216 2438 3240 8103 851 1977
1962 1311 410 1982 834 368 92 561 1336 2911 - -
Nov 1963 3182 664 2333 1554 373 4665 252 2883 2958 1595 455
10 570 2388 2317 1104 515
1964 1 1982 574 1 1747 1404 -
3
1965 3638 1034 5516 2056 - 520 592 36100 66108 043 1126 2164 816
1966 2778 804 5227 1933 -
1962 1346 294 2203 618 289 78 463 990 2955 - -
Dec 1963 1921 389 1440 961 191 320 190 1670 1821 724 546
1964 2504 1002 1813 2053 - 1092 516 4427 4592
2111 1666
1965 4106 1239 4076 2262 -
1966 2837 815 3864 1851 - 338 701 3004 4565 830 1338
Composite Annual Totals
VC
Time Inci- KIA
Period dents GVN VC
Captured Total Weapons
WIA or missing Casualties Losses VC
GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN
1962 19076 4417 21158 7195
1963 17852 5665 20575 11488
1964 . 28526 7457 16785 17017
1965 31529 11243 35436 23118
1966 37446 9469 55524 20974
**l967 6572 1658 13405 4161
*Monthly data unavailable for 1962 Weapons Losses.
**Through 28 February 1967
4235 1270 5700 12882 31093 5195 4049*
3501 3137 4307 20290 28383 8267 5397
- 6036 4157 30510 20942 14055 5881
- 7848 6326 42209 41762 16915 11755
- 3283 9719 33726 65243 9381 18606
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2. Viet Cong Incidents: 1962 - 28 February 1967
Time
Period
1962 1825
Jan 1963 927
1964 1770
1965 2206
1966 3914
1967 3369
1962 1460
Feb 1963 788
1964 2078
1965 1982
1966 3100
1967 3183
1962 1961
Mar 1963 1282
1964 2160
1965 2056
1966 3670
1962 1933
Apr 1963 1331
1964 2284
1965 1860
1966 3190
A T T A C K S
mall- Bn. Size
Scale Co. Size or Larger Total
528 21
242 8
218 2
57 5
42 23
125 16
480 20
181 13
211 3
73 6
50 10
115 -
561 27
333 11
198 4
80 3
32 10
470 27
371 9
211 6
38 1
61 7
1962 1825 490
May 1963 1208 344
1964 2143 170
1965 2263 40
1966 3566 37
1962 1477 339
Jun 1963 1311 398
1964 2062 128
1965 2597 62
1966 3359 47
1962 1564
Jul 1963 1368
1964 3045
1965 2520
1966 2844
437
398
166
42
91
0 549
2 252
3 223
1 63
5 70
1 142
28 0
13 0
3 2
7 11
9 7
528 892
357 608
175 418
58 1558
53 2552
0 500 613
1 195 433
3 217 1389
3 82 1411
9 69 1829
2 117 1499
0 588 660
0 344 653
1 203 1632
3 86 1476
10 52 2332
0 497 1024
3 383 688
3 220 1738
4 43 1407
9 77 2238
23 0 362
11 1 410
10 2 140
1 6 69
10 11 68
10
8
12
0
0
Harassment &
Terrorism
839
447
1244
1489
2490
1772
180
49
129
272
312
70
Propa-
ganda
257
179
174
170
299
128
137 210
69 91
210 271
Anti-
Aircraft
212
743
1257
267 91 131
201 172 829
39 76 1452
290 423
131 154
158 167 -
240 90 164
212 154 920
220 192
105 155
169 157 -
149 96 165
252 110 513
93 150 -
217 140 193
365 115 170
295 106 560
736 157
652 107
1390 176
1784 469
2382 211
448 735
407 698
185 2132
48 1706
91 1906
222 -
142 -
162 194
103 172
110 588
80 183 -
286 224 218
400 154 212
200 86 561
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Time Viet Cong
Period Incidents
1962 1642
Aug 1963 1349
1964 2580
1965 2498
1966 2401
A T T A C K S _
Small- Bn. Size
Scale Co. Size and Larger Total
368
356
107
38
51
1962 1375 382
Sep 1963 1763 483
1964 3091 110
1965 2473 19
1966 2864 78
1962 1357 406
Oct 1963 1422 359
1964 2827 75
1965 3330 24
1966 2923 107
1962 1311
Nov 1963 3182
1964 1982
1965 3638
1966 2778
411
631
57
26
80
1962 1346
Dec 1963 1921
1964 2504
1965 4106
1966 2837
375
258
81
32
84
10
11
3
9
8
378
368
113
52
64
885
647
1775
1597
1752
9 0
17 3
4 4
7 5
6 2
12 1
6 0
2 6
8 12
12 2
7
11
2
16
4
8
3
9
18
13
391 624
503 889
118 1938
31 1530
86 1972
419 583
365 802
83 1790
44 1969
121 1749
3 421 614
3 645 1990
1 60 1391
10 52 2234
2 86 1701
1 384 670
0 261 1298
6 96 1719
7 57 2572
4 101 1761
Composite Annual Totals
1962 19076 5247
1963 17852 4354
1964 28526 1732
1965 31529 531
1966 37446 760
*1967 6552 240
*Through 28 February 1967
212
121
60
81
112
6
15
41
73
66
3
5465 8875
4490 9805
].833 19556
685 20730
938 24664
259 3271
Ppa-
Sabotagegroanda
146
113
315
349
113
233
221
173
200
87
178 182
164 207
482 178
278 185
90 115
Anti-
Aircraft
204
300
385
375
449
601
105 150 -
480 197 277
415 198 704
103 81 869
144 132
269 278
247 109
486 255
125 72
107 185
111 251
318 128
442 317
98 112
175
611
794
243
718
765
2060 2676 No Data
1396 2161 No Data
3178 2080 1879
4132 1974 4008
2212 1504 8128
109 204 2709
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Harassment &
Terrorism
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