KHE SANH MILITARY AREA SOUTH VIETNAM 1639N 10644E

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 24, 1968
• Content Type: MISC

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
ATTACHMENT TO N0054
24 APRIL 1968
PAGE 1
KHE SANH MILITARY AREA
SOUTH VIETNAM
1639N 1o644E
1. SIGNIFICANCE:
THIS BRIEFING BOARD PORTRAYS THE U.S. MILITARY CAMP AT KHE SANH, THE
WESTERN ANCHOR OF THE ALLIED DEFENSE LINE ALONG THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE
BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH VIETNAM. THE SIEGE OF KHE SANH BY A NORTH
VIETNAMESE FORCE ESTIMATED AT BETWEEN 20,000 AND 40,000 MEN WAS
LIFTED AT 0619152 APRIL 1968, WHEN THE 1ST ARVN TROOPS LANDED ON THE
AIR STRIP.
2. LOCATION:
KHE SANH MILITARY COMPLEX IS LOCATED AT 1639N 10644E ALONG ROUTE 9
WHICH CROSSES THE LAOS/SOUTH VIETNAM BORDER APPROXIMATELY 9 NM WEST OF
THE COMPLEX.
3. BACKGROUND:
OPERATION NIAGARA, A SPECIAL AIR OPERATION IN DEFENSE OF KHE SANH, WAS
TERMINATED BY COMUSMACV EFFECTIVE 31 MARCH 1968. THE CUMULATIVE AIR
SUPPORT SORTIES IN SUPPORT OF KHE SANH FROM 19 JANUARY 1968 TO 31 MARCH
1968 IS AS FOLLOWS:
USAF TACTICAL STRIKES
ARC LIGHT B-52'S
9,691
2,548
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Collateral Support
Division, NPIC.
GROUP I
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SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
ATTACHMENT TO N0054
24 APRIL 1968
PAGE 2
USN TACTICAL STRIKES 5,337
USMC TACTICAL STRIKES 7,078
TOTAL STRIKES 24,654
USAF RECONNAISSANCE SORTIES 1,398
USAF FAC SORTIES 1,598
TOTAL STRIKE AND STRIKE
SUPPORTING SORTIES 27,650
TOTAL USAF AIRLIFT SORTIES 1,041
TOTAL USAF AIR SUPPORT SORTIES 28,691
THE DAILY SORTIES PROGRAMMED TO SUPPORT THE NIAGARA EFFORT WERE
398; USAF TACTICAL - 150, ARC LIGHT B-52 - 48, USN - 100, AND USMC -
100.
AS OF 31 MARCH 1968 THE TOTAL ORDNANCE EXPENDED BY USAF AIRCRAFT WAS
744,100 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION AND 72,216 TONS OF MUNITIONS - 12,674 TONS
BY TACTICAL AIRCRAFT AND 59,542 TONS BY B-52 AIRCRAFT.
REVEALS EVIDENCE OF EXTENSIVE B-52 STRIKES IN THE FORM OF NUMEROUS LONG
STEADY LINES OF BOMB CRATERS. THESE CRATERS EXTEND GENERALLY FROM
HILL 1015 WESTWARD INTO LAOS. BOMB CRATERS FROM STRIKES BY OTHER AIRCRAFT
ARE DISCERNIBLE THROUGHOUT THE AREA, PARTICULARLY IN THE IMMEDIATE
VICINITY OF HILLS 881 SOUTH, 861, AND THE MAIN CAMP.
4. MISSION READOUT:
PHOTOGRAPHY
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Collateral Support
Division, NPIC.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
ATTACHMENT TO N0054
24 APRIL 1968
PAGE 3
ENEMY TRENCHES WERE PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED EXTENDING TOWARD THE
EASTERN END OF THE CAMP AND IN SEVERAL INSTANCES APPEARED TO HAVE
REACHED THE OUTER DEFENSE AREA OF THE CAMP. SCALE AND QUALITY OF
PHOTOGRAPHY PRECLUDES THE IDENTIFICATION OF NEW CONSTRUCTION OF
TRENCHES NOT PREVIOUSLY REPORTED.
AMS SERIES JOG(G) 1501, NE 48-16, 1ST ED
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Collateral Support
Division, NPIC.
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP83-01074R000100040002-4