THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00826A002400490001-6
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
18
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 4, 2004
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 2, 1967
Content Type: 
IM
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00826A002400490001-6.pdf803.69 KB
Body: 
Approved For R?se 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826 4 0 -6 MEMORANDUM DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE The Situation in Vietnam ARMY review(s) completed. Top Secret 116 25X1 2 Aug 1967 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 Approv Information as of 1600 2 August 1967 25 25 25X1 No large-scale fighting has been reported, al- though US forces had several sharp encounters in the Da Nang area. I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam: Although there has been no large-scale fighting, several sharp battles have been reported south and west of Da Nang, and sporadic fighting is continuing in Operation CORONADO south of Saigon (Para. 1). Recent reconnaissance reports point to further long- range rocket attacks against US bases (Paras. 2-4). The US 101st Airborne Brigade has reported nearly 500 enemy killed during the seven-week Operation MALHEUR II in Quang Ngai Province (Paras. 4-8). Weekly Review of South Vietnam Battle Statistics (Para. 9). II. Political Developments in South Vietnam: The election campaign officially opens on 3 August (Para. 1). The militant Buddhists have criticized Chief of State Thieu for reportedly approving a new Unified Buddhist Association charter submitted by the moderate wing (Paras. 2-4). III, North Vietnamese Military Developments: MACV reports infiltration of 18,900 Communist per- sonnel so far in 1967 (Paras. 1-3). IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There is nothing of significance to report. V. Communist Political Developments: There is nothing of significance to report. Approv 25 25 25X1 Appr South Vietnam Battle Statistics 1963 to week of 23-29 July 1967 -Weapons and Personnel Losses -Viet Cong Attacks and Incidents South Vietnamese and Viet Cong Casualties and Weapons Losses - 1962 to 30 June 1967 -General Statistical Data -Composite Annual Totals -Viet Cong Incidents 2 August 1967 25X1 App ved For Release 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP79T00826AO0240 THAILAND PHNO 1 PENH 106 NORTH VIETNAM v I Q Sepone `QUANG TRI I KIEN TUONG co ?Saravane < QUANG NAM QUANG TIN BINH LONG PH UOC LONG ?.THUA THIE '?:. A Shau `J QUANG DUC BINH TUY DARLAC 'Ban Me Thuot QUANG NG ./ BINH TH UAN,- PHU YEN KHANH HOA , NINH6 THUAN GULF OF XUYEN Almomm ang 100 Miles 0 25 50 75 1 0 K7ometerv Approved FSelease 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP79T00lkA002400490001-6 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 25 25X1 Appr 1. No large-scale fighting was reported on 2 August. Several sharp encounters were reported in Quang Nam Province to the south and west of Da Nang. Sporadic fighting in Operation CORONADO south of Saigon has resulted in 46 more enemy killed. In this action, the Communists have lost 229 killed in five days; 95 suspects have been detained. Enemy Rocket Positions Reported 2. Recent reconnaissance reports describe possible enemy rocket launcher positions near US bases and indicate that additional long-range rocket attacks can be expected. 3. On 24 July allied patrols discovered five excavations which were oriented toward the new US air base at Pleiku city. The sites were located about six miles northwest of the base. They were of a size and configuration which could accommodate Soviet-made 140-mm. rocket launchers. 4. On 28 July aerial reconnaissance approximately 18 miles southwest of Da Nang disclosed a possible rocket position oriented toward Da Nang. Two hours after the initial observation, a second flight found the site completely camouflaged. US aircraft at- tacked the area, but no damage assessment could be made. this is the location of North Vietnamese infantry and rocket units which have recently infiltrated into South Vietnam through the A Shau Valley. Operation MALHEUR II Ends 5. Three battalions of the US 101st Airborne Brigade report killing nearly 500 enemy in seven- week-long Operation MALHEUR II in Quang Ngai Prov- ince. US casualties in the operation, which ended on 1 August, were 30 killed and 260 wounded. 2 August 1967 25X1 Ap roved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A0024 25X1 2 August 1967 Appr~ 6. MALHEUR II was the second and final phase of an operation aimed at disrupting an anticipated summer offensive by the North Vietnamese Army's 3rd Division against a network of allied Special Forces camps and South Vietnamese district head- quarters in southeastern Quang Ngai. 7. There have been indications that the operation was successful in keeping the 3rd Division off balance. Several reports have suggested that the 3rd has been unable to support local Viet-Cong forces in Quang Ngai and that a number of these local units have been forced to convert from infantry to sapper units. Also, the two abortive enemy attempts this year at seaborne infiltration of weapons and ammunition into southern I Corps-- despite the high risk involved--indicate that enemy forces in the area may be unusually short of combat supplies. Prisoner interrogations have also sug- gested an ammunition shortage. Finally, MACV estimates that, at the present time, only six enemy battalions in Quang Ngai are combat effective and that these will probably attempt to avoid large allied units. Weekly Review of South Vietnam Battle Statistics 8. The week of 23-29 July compared with the week of 16-22 July: I. Viet Cong Incidents 16-22 July 23-29 July Attacks 48 33 Battalion or larger ............. 3 ..... Small Unit ................... .45 ..... .. 1 .. 32 Harassment 338 348 Terrorism 36 36 Sabotage 52 42 Propaganda 20 9 Antiaircraft 174 169 25X1 App joved For Release 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP79T00826A0024004 Approvo II. Casualties 90001-6 VC/NVA GVN 16-22 July 23-29 July 16-22 July 23-29 July Killed 1,702 1,399 175 61 Wounded ----- ----- 499 287 Missing/ Captured ----- ----- 33 12 TOTALS 1,702 1r 99 707 25 US FREE WORLD 16-22 July 23-29 July 16-22 July 23-29 July Killed 164 114 16 30 Wounded 1,442 893 34 45 Missing/ Captured ----- 1 TOTALS 1,606 1,007 51 75 III. Weapons Captured VC/NVA GVN 16-2 2 July 23-29 July 16-22 July 23-29 July Individual 370 Not 143 118 Crew-Served 55 Reported 4 6 2 August 1967 25 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO024004p0001-6 Appro II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM 1. The official campaign for the presidential and senatorial elections opens on 3 August. The All Vietnam Bloc, Premier Ky's national political "front" of various parties and religious groups, is scheduled the same day to open a convention in Saigon of representatives from throughout the country. 2. In the meantime, Chief of State Thieu's reported approval of a new charter submitted by the moderate wing of the Unified Buddhist Association (UBA) has provoked a letter of criticism from the militant Buddhists, according to press reports. The letter reportedly.says Thieu is attempting to "sabo- tage the unity of the Buddhist movement" by invali- dating the existing statute of the UBA and substitu- ting a new one. 3. This criticism of Thieu follows 25X1 a series of meetings in Saigon involving some 400 country-wide representatives:. They are trying to fix on a policy toward the various presidential candidates. 25X1 have not provided any clear indication as to w is way the militants will turn other than to suggest that they will not make an issue of the Provi- sional National Assembly's rejection of the presidential candidacy of their reported favorite, "Big" Minh. There has been some question whether the militants will adopt any open position with regard to the. elections after the failure of their boycott against. last year's Con- stituent Assembly election. Their letter of protest in reaction to Thieu's apparent political move to woo Thich Tam Chau's moderate faction of the church, how- ever, could foreshadow a public campaign by the mili- tant Buddhists against the Thieu-Ky ticket. 125X1 4. Which candidate the militant Buddhists might support, is not clear, but it would probably be either Tran Van Huong or Phan Khac Suu. If press reports from Bangkok that "Big" Minh is now openly endorsing Huong's 25X1 candidacy are correct, Thich Tri Quang and his entourage might well follow suit. 25X1 is also trying to line up the mi i an Buddhist vote, which he estimates at approximately 400,000 as opposed to an estimated 60,000 voters favoring the moderate faction. II-1 2 August 1967 25 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002400490001-6 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 Approve INFILTRATION TOTALS SINCE 1 OCT. 1965 Based on MACV holdings as of 31 July 1967 ACCEPTED CONFIRMED PROBABLE TOTAL MONTHLY TOTALS 1965 October 7,000 - 7,000 200 7,200 November 3,300 - 3,300 1,000 4,300 December 200 400 600 700 1,300 1966 January 4,200 1,800 6,000 3,000 9,000 February 6,700 2,400 9,100 2,100 11,200 March 11,700 1,400 13,100 3,600 16,700 April 100 500 600 600 1,200 May 900 900 1,800 3,500 5,300 June 12,100 900 13,000 1,700 14,700 July 3,300 1,100 4,400 4,400 8,800 August 1,800 400 2,200 3,000 5,200 September 1,400 700 2,100 600 2,700 October 100 600 700 4,600 5,300 November 500 - 500 600 1,100 December 800 200 1,000 2,500 3,500 1967 January 900 100 1,000 1,700 2,700 February 900 1,200 2,100 900 3,000 March 2,900 100 3,000 4,700. 7,700 Apri 1 2,800 900 3,700 400 4,100 May 500 400 900 500 1,400 June - - - - - July - - - - TOTALS 62,100 14,000 76,100 40,300 116,400 MONTHLY AVERAGE (1 OCT 1965-31 JULY 1967) ACCEPTED: CONFIRMED AND PROBABLE 4150 TOTAL ACCEPTED AND POSSIBLE 6250 ACCEPTED INFILTRATION: Those NVA personnel, groups, and units which have entered South Vietnam and are carried in the confirmed or probable categories. CONFIRMED: A confirmed infiltration unit/group is PROBABLE: A probable infiltration unit/group is one which one which is accepted in South Vietnam on the basis is accepted in South Vietnam on the basis of information of information provided by a minimum of two POWs provided by one POW or returnee (Hoi Chanh) from the or returnees (Hoi Chanh) from the unit/group, or two unit/group, or a captured document, supported by information captured documents from the unit, or a combination of from other sources which can be evaluated as probably true. personnel and documents. POSSIBLE INFILTRATION: A possible infiltration unit/group is one which may be in South Vietnam on the basis of information which can be evaluated as possibly true even though no POW, returnee (Hoi Chanh), or document is available to verify the reports. NOTE: In addition to the infiltrators which fall into the above infiltration categories, other units or groups have been mentioned in agent reports, captured documents, interrogation reports and sightings by friendly forces, but the information is insufficient to warrant inclusion of these units or groups in any of the above categories. MONTH OF INFILTRATION: The month established as the date an infiltration unit/group crosses the international border into South Vietnam for the first time. Oproved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002400490001- 25X1 Appi 1. MACV reports that 18,900 North Vietnamese troops have been detected after infiltrating into South Vietnam during the first seven months of 1967. Of these, 8,000 are listed as confirmed, 2,700 as probable, and 8,200 as possible. Moreover, there are indications 25X1 which suggest that additional large-scale infil- tration has taken place into the I, II, and III Corps areas during this period. 2. The bulk of this year's infiltrators are believed to have been replacements for various Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army units. It is difficult to detect the'presence of these personnel because they join established Communist units. In many cases, it may be as long as six months before they show up in MACV's infiltration statistics. 3. If average infiltration is computed for the period 1 October .1965 through 31 January 1967 (the period for which the data is considered to be rela- tively complete) the figures show approximately 4,150 men per month for the accepted category, and approxi- mately 6,250 men per month for the accepted and pos- sible categories together. 2 August 1967 25X1 25 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A0024Q0490001-6 Approved For R?se 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP79T00826i400490001-6 Weapons Losses Viet Cong GVN Personnel Losses (Killed only)* V G iet Cong/NV VN/US/other Free World JUNE A 1fixy. A vt,~ 1-4 "' 7,354 M- _ ~ } 3} 1 673 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 MAY JUN JUL 1967 US Casualties to Date: Killed 12,269 Wounded 74,718 Captured 192 Missing 489 *Due to a change in the reporting of personnel losses, beginning 72 February 7967, the weekly and monthly figure will represent only personnel killed. 25 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 Approved For R?se 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP79T00826PO400490001-6 Viet Cong Incidents (Excluding Attacks) 25 Approved For Release 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02400490001-6 25X1 Approved For As T00826A?400490001-6 South Vietnamese and Viet Cong Casualties and Weapons Losses: 1962 - 30 June 1967 Viet Cong Time Inci- Killed in Action Wounded in Action Captured or missing Total Casualties Weapons 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 1967 3379 1718 10313 2786 - 468 - 4372 10313 984 4215 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 1967 3494 935 6227 2490 - 134 - 3559 -- 725 2118 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 1967 3571 1026 9808 2830 - 148 - 4006 9808 646 2781 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 1967 2893 771 7354 2118 - 139 - 3028 7354 536 1979 1962 1564 384 1544 686 424 212 542 1282 2510 Jul 1963 1368 529 1918 1071 372 306 387 1906 2677 663 374 1964 3045 900 1427 1812 - 510 219 3222 1646 1889 447 1965 2520 1160 2980 1591 - 540 580 3425 3560 1375 882 1966 2844 862 5532 1638 - 242 414 2742 5946 744 1483 25X1 Approved. For Relea$e 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP7* 25X1 Time Period Approved For Res Viet Killed Cong in Inci- Action dents GVN VC 1962 1642 377 Aug 1963 1349 411 1964 2580 721 1965 2498 808 1966 2401 722 1962 1375 419 Sep 1963 1763 672 1964 3091 819 1965 2473 655 1966 2864 566 1962 1357 365 Oct 1963 1422 428 1964 2827 739 1965 3330 961 1966 2923 906 1962 1311 410 Nov 1963 3182 664 1964 1982 574 1965 3638 1034 1966 2778 804 1962 1346 294 Dec 1963 1921 389 1964 2504 1002 1965 4106 1239 1966 2837 815 VC Time Inci- 1962 19076 4417 21158 .1963 17852 5665 20575 1964 28526 7457 16785 1965 31529 11243 35436 1966 37446 9469 55524 **1967 19899 5508 46147 WIA GVN VC 7195 4235 11488 3501 17017 - 23118 20974 14385 Captured Total or missing Casualties GVN VC GVN VC 1270 5700 12882 31093 3137 4307 20290 28383 6036 4157 30510 20942 7848 6326 42209 41762 3283 9719 33726 65243 1209 -- 21102 -- *Monthly data unavailable for 1962 Weapons Losses. **Through 30 June 1967 Wounded in Action GVN VC 2271 626 367 1685 804 237 1449 1612 - 3624 1945 5857 1491 2218 646 365 1982 1155 234 1187 1759 - 3485 1724 4447 1554 1967 619 286 1520 989 244 1617 1583 - 3874 2416 5665 2118 1982 834 368 2333 1554 373 1747 1404 - 5516 2056 5227 1933 2203 618 289 1440 961 191 1813 2053 - 4076 2262 3864 1851 9TOO826AO400490001-6 Captured Total or missing Casualties GVN VC GVN VC 63 669 1066 3307 352 482 1567 2404 478 282 2811 1731 287 606 3040 4230 209 924 2422 6781 59 446 1124 3029 566 347 2393 2563 737 230 3315 1417 266 838 2645 4323 185 839 2305 5286 64 373 1048 2626 398 236 1815 2000 693 576 3015 2193 225 660 3602 4534 216 2438 3240 8103 92 561 1336 2911 665 252 2883 2958 410 570 2388 2317 520 592 3610 6108 200 816 2937 6043 78 463 990 2955 320 190 1670 1821 1092 503 4147 2316 926 516 4427 4592 338 701 3004 4565 Weapons Losses GVN VC 637 428 1106 619 705 1074 654 1298 878 389 1465 525 778 838 426 1580 753 330 1510 482 762 1013 851 1977 1595 455 1104 515 1126 2164 650 1423 724 546 2111 666 1728 1158 830 1338 Weapons Losses VC GVN 5195 4049* 8267 5397 14055 5881 16915 11755 9381 18606 4161 15459 25X1 Approved For Relea~e 2004/08/17: CIA-RDP[7 25X1 Approved For R?se 2. Viet Cong Incidents: 1962 - 30 June 1967 9TOO826PID400490001-6 Time Viet Cong Small Bn . Size Har assment & Propa- Anti- Period Incidents Unit or Larger Te rrorism Sa botage ganda Aircraft 1962 1825 549 549 839 180 257 Jan 1963 927 250 252 447 49 179 1964 1770 220 223 1244 129 174 - 1965 2206 62 63 1489 272 170 212 1966 3914 65 70 2490 312 299 743 1967 3369 141 142 1772 70 128 1257 1962 1460 500 0 500 613 137 210 - Feb 1963 788 194 1 195 433 69 91 - 1964 2078 214 3 217 1389 210 271 - 1965 1982 79 3 82 1411 267 91 131 1966 3100 60 9 69 1829 201 172 829 1967 3183 115 2 117 1499 39 76 1452 1962 1961 588 0 588 660 290 423 - Mar 1963 1282 344 0 344 653 131 154 - 1964 2160 202 1 203 1632 158 167 - 1965 2056 83 3 86 1476 240 90 164 1966 3670 42 10 52 2332 212 154 920 1967 3379 212 7 219 1844 50 45 1221 1962 1933 497 0 497 1024 220 192 - Apr 1963 1331 380 3 383 688 105 155 - 1964 2284 217 3 220 1738 169 157 - 1965 1860 39 4 43 1407 149 96 165 1966 3190 68 9 77 2 238 252 110 513 1967 3494 155 7 162 1992 67 109 1164 1962 1825 518 0 528 892 154 251 - May 1963 1208 357 0 357 608 93 150 - 1964 2143 173 2 175 418 217 140 193 1965 2263 47 11 58 1 558 365 115 170 1966 3566 46 7 53 2 552 295 106 560 1967 3571 189 4 193 1 985 74 59 1260 1962 1477 362 0 362 736 157 222 - 1963 1311 409 1 410 652 107 142 - 1964 2062 138 2 140 1 390 176 162 194 1965 2597 63 6 69 1 784 469 103 172 1966 3359 57 11 68 2 382 211 110 588 1967 2893 166 2 168 1 557 72 44 1052 1962 1564 447 1 448 735 158 223 - Jul 1963 1368 416 1 407 698 80 183 - 1964 3045 178 7 185 2 132 286 224 218 1965 2520 42 6 48 1 706 400 154 212 1966 2844 91 0 91 1 906 200 86 561 Approved For Rele 25X1 Approved For Retse 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDP7 T00826A?400490001-6 25X1 Time Viet Cong S mall Bn . Size H ar assment & Propa- Anti- Period U nit o r Larger - Te rrorism Sabotage ganda Aircraft 1962 1642 378 378 885 146 233 Aug 1963 1349 367 368 647 113 221 1964 2580 110 113 1775 315 173 204 1965 2498 47 52 1597 349 200 300 1966 2401 59 64 1752 113 87 385 1962 1375 391 0 391 624 178 182 - Sep 1963 1763 500 3 503 889 164 207 - 1964 3091 114 4 118 1 938 482 178 375 1965 2473 26 5 31 1 530 278 185 449 1966 2864 84 2 86 1 972 90 115 601 1962 1357 418 1 419 583 189 166 - Oct 1963 1422 365 0 365 802 105 150 - 1964 2827 77 6 83 1 790 480 197 277 1965 3330 32 12 44 1 969 415 198 704 1966 2923 119 2 121 1 749 103 81 869 1962 1311 418 3 421 614 144 132 - Nov 1963 3182 642 3 645 1 990 269 278 - 1964 1982 59 1 60 1 391 247 109 175 1965 3638 42 10 52 2 234 486 255 611 1966 2778 84 2 86 1 701 125 72 794 1962 1346 383 1 384 670 107 185 - Dec 1963 1921 261 0 261 1 298 111 251 - 1964 2504 90 6 96 1 719 318 128 243 1965 4106 50 7 57 2 572 442 317 718 1966 2837 97 4 101 1 761 98 112 765 1962 19076 5459 6 5465 8875 2060 2676 No Data 1963 17852 4475 15 4490 9805 1396 2161 No Data 1964 28526 1792 41 1833 19556 3178 2080 1879 1965 31529 612 73 685 20730 4132 1974 4008 1966 37446 872 66 938 24664 2212 1504 8128 *1967 19899 978 23 1001 10649 372 461 7406 *Through 30 June 1967 25X1 Approved For Releafe 2004/08/17 : CIA-RDF79T00826AO02400490001-6