THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM - 30 JANUARY 1968 - 1968/01/30

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06753741
• Document Creation Date: July 27, 2018

Approved for Release: 2018/07/26 C06753741
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
30 January 1968
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Situation in South Vietnam
(As of 12 NOON EST)
Some additional details have been received on the enemy
attacks reported in the situation report early this morning.
Information is now available on two new attacks against Ninh
Hoa and Tuy Hoa cities in coastal II Corps.
In addition, the press has reported Khe Sanh airstrip
closed due to enemy artillery bombardment. There is no con-
firmation of this as yet from US military sources. Otherwise,
the situation along the DMZ appears quiet.
Da Nang Area
1. Enemy forces launched coordinated mortar, rocket and
ground attacks in the Da Nang area on 30 January. �Targets
within the urban area included the airbase, a strategic high-
way bridge, and the Vietnamese and US Army military headquarters.
At about the same time as the attack on the city, the enemy hit
several other installations in �the area, including the "Marble
Mountain" air facility, a US Marine regiment northwest of the
city, and Vietnamese forces guarding the strategic Hai Van Pass.
2. Almost simultaneous enemy mortar barrages were di-
rected into at least five aircraft.landing zones throughout
the area of Operation WHEELER/WALLOWA�astride the Quang Nam/
Quang Tin borders�and in the area surrounding Chu Lai.
Approximately 15 miles south of Da Nang, the Quang Nam pro-
vincial capital of Hoi An was apparently attacked by an enemy
force which had first launched a diversonary attack on .a Viet-
namese artillery base.
3. Reports presently indicate that the situation is
quiet in the Chu Lai and WHEELER/WALLOWA area. Allied forces
in Da Nang appear to have repulsed enemy incursions and are
conducting a house to house mopping up operation. The situa-
tion in Hoi An, however, is less clear. Press reports indicate
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that allied forces in and around Hoi An have not yet forced
the enemy to abandon positions he seized.
Qui Nhon
� 4. Anestimated Viet Cong sapper company has penetrated
the provincial capital of Binh Dinh Province and is presently
controlling the radio station facilities and a nearby allied
maintenance complex.
/ Preliminary casualty re-
ports show Communist losses of 50 killed and US losses of three
killed and five wounded.
Nha Trang
5. Sporadic fighting continues in the provincial capital
of Khanh Hoa with allied reaciton forces presently attempting
to cut off enemy units exfiltrating from the city. The Com-
munists, estimated to range from two sapper companies to a
full battalion, have thus far sustained losses of 60 killed
and 15 captured. Allied casualties to date stand at 21
killed and 66 wounded.
Pleiku City
6. Heavy fighting apparently continues in the Pleiku
provincial capital, with ARVN reaction forces attempting to
block enemy routes of escape from the area. Battle results
to date include 103 Communists killed, as against allied losses
of 7 killed and 22 wounded. The enemy force is estimated to
total at least two companies.
Kontum City
7. The Kontum provincial capital is now reported under
secure allied control, with artillery and tactical air strikes
�being employed against an estimated two Communist battalions
on the outskirts of the city. At least 165 enemy troops have
been reported killed thus far, in contrast to allied losses of
seven killed and five wounded.
Ban Me Thuot
� 8. Fighting continues within the Darlac provincial
capital, with anEstimated two Communist battalions apparently
poised to strike on the outskirts of the city. An enemy
captive has .stated that th 33rd NVA Regiment planned to
infiltrate and take Ban Me Thuot. Enemy losses thus far in-
clude 91 killed and 28 captured, as against allied casualties
of seven killed and 16 wounded.
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Ninh Hoa
9. Sporadic fighting continues in this important
district town in coastal Khanh Hoa Province. Eleven Viet
Cong have been killed to date.
Tuy Hoa
10. Heavy fighting has broken out in the provincial
capital of Phy Yen. Allied reaction forces, attempting to
intercept enemy units leaving the city, have thus far
killed 36 of the attackers, while sustaining friendly losses
of seven killed and 31 wounded.
Tan Canh
11. Sporadic contact continues between elements of an
ARVN regiment and an enemy force of unknown size. No results
are available.
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