NORTH VIETNAM'S INTERNAL SUPPLY PROBLEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-295-8-32-1
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: August 12, 2010
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: September 28, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/03/07: LOC-HAK-295-8-32-1
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THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN...
7057
INFORMATION
September 28, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM: ALEXANDER M. HAIG, JR.-
SUBJECT:
North Vietnam's Internal Supply Problems
Serious- disruption of North Vietnam's internal supply system by our air
and naval actions was candidly admitted in a' recently obtained article in the
Hanoi Party monthly Hoc Tap.
The article stated that the "management of technical material supplies in
the present situation is very heavy and difficult. " It admitted that supply
management has shown "many weaknesses," that "a rather large amount
of material sources" is wasted and "the percentage of use for equipment
and materials remains very low. "
Hoc Tap explained that the dispersion of supplies necessitated by the
bombing has led to this waste and inefficiency. Supplies are scattered
about in a disorderly fashion often in inadequate storage places or left
in the open. Thus, valuable supplies are damaged, lost or.cannot be
located when needed. In addition, pilferage and corruption reduce avail-
able supplies. The problem is further compounded by a shortage of
trained supply management personnel.
The article, which was designed to spur improved performance in this field,
warned: "In a fierce war situation each shortcoming and weakness in
protecting materials can lead to disastrous consequences..."
The disruption of North Vietnam's internal supply system is virtually
impossible to quantify; therefore, this result of our air and naval actions
is generally slighted in the intelligence estimates on the effects of our
operations against North Vietnam; nevertheless, we believe that kind of
logistic disruption described by Hoc Tap significantly affects Hanoi's
ability to maintain its economy and prosecute the war.
CLASSIFIED BYJohn H Nnldrsriv__,___
SUBJECT TO GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER U652
AUTOMATICALLY DOWNGRADED AT TWO 1980
YEAR INTERVALS AND DECLASSIFIED ON DEC. 3_ _?r,,.,
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/03/07 : LOC-HAK-295-8-32-1
 7nr,7
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/03/07: LOC-HAK-295-8-32-1
MEMORANDUM VF W ACTION
CONFIDENTIAL
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
September 26, 1972
SUBJECT: North Vietnam's Internal Supply Problems
FROM: JOHN H. HOLDRIDGEc ti:
Recent intelligence estimates on the effects of our air and naval operations
against North Vietnam consistently slight or omit the significant impact of
these operations on North Vietnam's internal supply system. We recently
obtained an article in the August number of Hanoi' s monthly theoretical
journal Hoc Tap which quite candidly describes the supply management
problems caused by our actions against North Vietnam. -
We have prepared a summary of this article (Tab A) for the President
which might help balance some of less than positive estimates we have
been getting from the intelligence community.
Recommendation:
That you sign the memorandum to the President at Tab A.
CLASSIFIED BY John H. Holdrid
SUBJECT TO GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
ScIIEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
AUTOMATICALLY DOWNGRADED AT TWO
YEAR INTERVALS AND DECLASSIFIED ON DEC. 31,8_0
CONFIDENTIAL
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2012/03/07: LOC-HAK-295-8-32-1