DRAFT DCI BRIEFING FOR RIVERS SUBCOMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 10, 1966
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 Approv For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79J827A000400150005-3
5
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 25X1
pproved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79TO08
10 October 1966
DCI BRIEFING FOR
RIVERS SUBCOMMITTEE
SOUTH VIETNAM
I. You are no doubt aware that in South Vietnam
the Marines have moved stronger forces toward
the Demarcation Line between the North and
South, and that U. S. Army troops have been
deployed into the Da Nang area for the first
time to back up the Marines.
A. This is in answer to a number of indications
over the past five or six weeks that North
Vietnamese forces have been engaged in
an intensive build-up of troops and supplies
for offensive operations immediately south
of the so-called De-militarized Zone, in
Ouang Tri Province.
25X1
II. This build-up has been disrupted to some extent
25X1
by US air and ground operations
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 AO
proved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T0084
7A000400150005-3
A. For example, the US Marine operation
code-named PRAIRIE, which has been
under way in uang Tri Province since
early August, has killed more than 950
enemy troops by actual body count, and
taken several hundred prisoners.
1. There have also been two unusual
instances of group surrenders by
North Vietnamese troops--more than
60 in one case, and 35 in another.
B. US air operations in this area and over
the DMZ have caused numerous secondary
explosions and fires, indicating that
they are hitting supply and ammunition dumps.
C. Nevertheless, the enemy build-up is
continuing.
25X1
Appro
 25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-1
forces in the Quang Tri Province - Demi i-
tarized Zone area include
(1)
logistics force supporting these troops in the
DMZ area.
B. Moreover, there apparently is an extensive
Vftw"
25X1
Ap
25X1
 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
Against these Communist forces in Quang Tri
Province, at present we have six US Marine
Battalions in Operation PRAIRIE--about
8,100 men--and another six battalions of
South Vietnamese in the adjacent operation,
comprising about 2,250 troops.
1. It is to back up these committed
forces that the Marines have moved
more units toward the DMZ.
V. It is our present assessment of the Communist
build-up that they are not likely to attempt
a major offensive before the rainy season
sets in around the end of the month. Until
that time, US air and firepower superiority
should be able to successfully stave off any large
scale push.
25X1
Apprioved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T008274000400150005-3
 AO
proved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79TO08
7A000400150005-3 ( t
A. It is important to remember, however, that the
Communists have gone for a considerable period
of time without any sort of a significant mili-
25X1 tary victory.
have indicated that the Communists are preparing
for just such a needed victory in the I Corps
area--preferably to come before the US elec-
tions in early November.
1. Moreover, past Communist practice has
shown that they are not adverse to throw-
ing large numbers of troops into a battle
if they believe they can achieve a signifi-
cent objective. In the present circum-
stances, the buildup that has already
taken place--clearly the most significant
current event in the war--gives rise to
the possibility that they may "go for
broke" in northern South Vietnam to gain
that elusive victory so necessary to their
morale.
B. In any case, it is estimated that Communist
forces in Quang Tri Province still retain the
capability to launch a multi-regimental of-
fensive in the coming weeks. Such a push
could be aimed at the series of towns along
Route 9 in central Quang Tri Province.
A proved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T008 7A000400150005-3
 Approv,For Release 2004/08/16: CIA-RDP79 O827A000400150005-3
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 25X1 -i ApprovJ F
lo October 1966
Con ress; Briefin
-RDP7 8200 00150005-3
25X1
STATUS OF PETROLEUM IN DRV
1. DRV is believed to have a 70-100 days petroleum stockpile.
Recent deliveries by sea, and some transshipments through China, are
believed to have been adequate to meet consumption r_jquirements to dateatest -
II. About -percent of the DRV's petroleum storage
Sd ~ 16,000 tons
monthlyy.
.
capacity of 75,000 tons is full.
199ei9 L-"Y~~IPf a ~d E A! /!A "
TNT t4'4 e i - /~#iilP fxcf _ __
'aQC.C /!r
A. 8 principal storage sites`Vf-- account for about
30,000 tons of this capacity.
s
for .11 B. Up to 100 (dispersed; small tank site account
another 20,000 tons capacity.
C. About 130 thousand 55 gallo~drums and an unknown
number of small military and industrial sites --
account for some 25 thousand tons capacity.
III. Since the bombing of petroleum facilities in Hanoi and
Haiphong in late June, no single petroleum storage area
can accept a fully loaded tanker carrying 10,000 tons.
A. Oil jetties at the Haiphong petroleum facilities still
are available, but the destruction of storage tanks
prevents use.
25X1 I Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
 Approve or Release 2004/08/16: CIA- DP79 827A000400150005-3
1. Destruction: about 3/4 of DRVA oil storage facilities have
been destroyed by US air attacks, and a small portion of
other dispersed storage areas have been destroyed.
2. Consumption: Requirements at current level of activity-
16,000 tons per month - Basis - Estimated consumption of
civilian and military transport sectors, agriculture, and
industry.
~,r ~'. Rates of import:
Prior 1 Sep 1965 - 12,000 tons/ month
1 Sept 1965-28 Jun 66 - 20,000 tons/month
28 Jun 66-present - 11,000 tons/month
5 4. Estina ted days supply on hand on 1 October 66 at current
consumption levels - not less than 70 days and may be as
much as 100 days.
4-5 Current Source of Supply:
USSR - 95%; 5% from Rumania/Hungary
Tanker shipments and dry cargo shipments from Black
Sea - Probable rail shipments across China.
Approved Fqr Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDT79T00827A000400150005-3
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3
Approved For Release 2004/08/16 : CIA-RDP79T00827A000400150005-3