COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T02095R000700080030-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2009
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: May 25, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

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Sec
NSA review completed
DIA Review
Completed.
Fourteenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS
(This report covers the week from
18 May through 24 May 1973)
This memorandum has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense
Secret
25.May 1973
25 25X1
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25 May 1973
Fourteenth Report
COMMUNIST VIOLATIONS OF
THE VIETNAM AND LAOS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS*
(This report covers the week from
18 May through 24 May 1973)
The Key Points
Almost 3,000 additional combat troops were de-
tected starting the infiltration trip south
from North Vietnam during the week. All of
these troops are headed for northern MR 1.
Recent evidence suggests that for the past
several months the North Vietnamese have been
temporarily rotating a number of units out of
South Vietnam's Quang Tri Province for rest
and refitting. In at least one case, a regiment
which we had speculated might be withdrawing
from South Vietnam is still committed to the
DMZ/Quang Tri, area.
NVA logistic activity in the northern portion-
of the Laos Panhandle has diminished as in-
creasingly heavy rains begin to hamper opera-
tions. Heavy Communist logistic activity con-
tinued in the tri-border area and in northern
South Vietnam, however, and substantial south-
ward movements of weapons and ammunition were de-
tected during the week in the North Vietnam
Panhandle.
* This report has been prepared jointly by the
Central Intelligence Agency and the Department
of Defense,
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The Details
NOTE: This is the fourteenth in a series of reports
detailing recently received evidence of (a) Commu-
nist efforts to infiltrate new manpower and mili-
tary materiel toward and into South Vietnam, and
(b) Communist-initiated combat activity in viola-
tion of the Vietnam and Laos settlement agreements.
Infiltration and Redeployments of North Viet-
namese Personnel
1. The infiltration of regular combat per-
sonnel to northern MR 1 continued during the past
week, as five new regular groups destined for that
area were observed entering the pipeline in North
Vietnam. The total strength of these groups is
almost 3,000 personnel. In addition, one small
group of civil and military specialists, who are
also destined for the northern part of MR 1, was
observed departing North Vietnam.
2. Including these new groups, our present
estimate of North Vietnamese personnel who have started
the infiltration trip south since 27 January stands
at 24,000. Total infiltration since the cease-fire
now stands at about 49,000 personnel, including some
25,000 who were already in the pipeline and traveling
south on 27 January. Of the total of 49,000)all but
several thousand infiltrators have already reached
their destination. (Annex II,
contains a more detailed discussion of the information
on infiltration which was received during the past
week.)
3. Some evidence -- not yet conclusive --
indicates that the 52nd Regiment of the NVA 320B
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Infantry Division may be withdrawing from South
Vietnam's Quang Tri Province to North Vietnam. This
regiment was last identified in South Vietnam in late
March 1973. While its movement, if confirmed, could
represent a permanent relocation of the unit back to
North Vietnam, it is more likely that the move is only
a temporary rotation out of northern Quang Tri Province
for purposes of rest and refitting. Other reporting
indicates that since December of last year various
regiments of this division have been temporarily ro-
tated in this fashion.
4. A month ago, we reported inconclusive evi-
dence that some elements of the NVA 304th Division
had moved out of Quang Tri Province back to North
Vietnam and we speculated that. the Division might be
withdrawing. The headquarters of the Division's 66th
regiment has now been identified -- for the first
time since December 1972 -- in the central DMZ area.
This identification indicates that the unit was with-
drawn only for rest and refitting, and that it con-
tinues to be committed to South Vietnam.
B. Movement of Military Equipment and Supplies
Toward and Into South Vietnam and Laos
5. NVA logistic activity appears to be slow-
ing down in the northern portions of the Laos Panhandle
as increasingly heavy rains begin to hamper operations.
A substantial flow of traffic was observed during the
week on the principal north-south roads in this area,
but at levels lower than those of the preceding week
and well below those seen in late April. Increased
activity, however, was detected in the tri-border
area of southern Laos and northeastern Cambodia, where
good evidence indicates that large quantities of sup-
plies are continuing to move from Laos to NVA units
in the central highlands of South Vietnam. A high
level of Communist logistic activity also continued in
northern South Vietnam, particularly in the western
MR-1/Laos border area where sizable shipments of muni-
tions were detected and large quantities are in storage.
In addition, substantial logistic flows were observed
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in southern North Vietnam, where large rail ship-
ments of munitions were noted at Vinh, and heavy
vehicle activity was evident south of Vinh in the
southern part of the panhandle.
6. Evidence received during the week indi-
cates that the headquarters of two major NVA logis-
tics command and control authorities in the Laos
Panhandle/northeastern Cambodia area moved eastward
either toward or into South Vietnam. These moves
may be only temporary and their meaning at this
point is unclear. If they represent permanent
shifts, however, they would be further evidence
that the Communists are preparing to carry out an
increasing proportion of their logistic activity
within South Vietnam rather than in Laos.
7. The following instances of Communist lo-
gistic activity were observed in South Vietnam dur-
ing the period. Activity observed in South Vietnam
probably reflects supplies which have recently en-
tered the country. (The map on the following page
shows the roads and route numbers which appear be-
low.)
a)
the new road under
construction south from Route 19 in
GVN MR-2 had been extended another
10 miles in Darlac Province since it
was last observed on A
total of 60 miles have been con-
structed since Several of
the recently detected segments are
two lanes in width and run parallel
to the original roadbed, indicating
the road will have a substantial
logistic capability.
b) The following activity was observed
in the operational area of an NVA
logistic unit which operates west
of Khe Sanh and into the adjacent
areas of the Laos pPanhandle:
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Paksanel NBP~
PBSS Ha Tinh