ENEMY ACTIVITY IN DAK TO/TRI BOARDER AREA SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03431423
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: April 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: November 21, 1967

REFERENCE:
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 003431423
CON
TIAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
ATTACHMENT TO L-4503
21 NOVEMBER 1967
ENEMY ACTIVITY IN DAN TO/TRI BORDER AREA PAGE 1
SOUTH VIETNAM
1445N 10740E
1. SIGNIFICANCE:
THIS BRIEFING BOARD DEPICTS SEVEN VC/NVA MILITARY STRONGPOINTS
IN THE DAN TO/TRI BORDER AREA OF SOUTH VIETNAM.
2. LOCATION:
THE ENEMY ACTIVITY IS LOOMED IN THE SOUTH VIETNAM/CAMBODIA/
LAOS BORDER AREA, 270 MITES NORTH OF SAIGON.
3. BACKGROUND:
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORILD THAT FOUR NORTH VIETNAMESE INFANTRY
REGIMENTS OF THE 1ST DIVISION MOVED INTO THE JUNGTFS SURROUNDING DAN
TO DURING SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 1967. THE 40TH REGIMENT, A HEAVY
WEAPONS OUTFIT CARRYING ROCKETS, MORTARS AND PERHAPS 75 MM PACK
ARTILTFRY, WAS SPLIT BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH FORCES.
FROM HILLTOP OBSERVATION POSTS THE NORTH VIETNAMESE COULD CLEARLY
SEE THE DAN TO SPECIAL FORCES CAMP AND AIRSTRIP, THE SMALL TOWN AND
DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, REFUGEE CAMPS AND THE BARRACKS OF SOUTH VIETNAM'S
42ND REGIMENT.
TWO CASUAL CONTACTS ON 03 NOVEMBER 1967 BEGAN THE FIRST ACTIVITY.
UNDER THE ENEMY PLAN, ONE REGIMENT WAS TO ATTACK ON 05 NOVEMBER WHILF
ANOTHER REGIMENT MOVED INTO BLOCKING POSITIONS ACROSS ROUTE 14. OTHER
REGIMENTS WERE IN RESERVE, BUT THE 40TH WAS TO OPEN WITH ROCKETS, MOVE
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.
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couPerrnri
3.5(c)
(c) NATIONAL
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
REFERENCE:
ATTACHMENT TO L-4503
3.5(c)
21 NOVEMBER 1967
PAGE 2
INTO MORTAR RANGE AND COVER THE MAIN BATTLE.
THE U.S. 4TH DIVISION MOVED UNITS INTO DAN TO ON 28 OCTOBER
1967. SEVERAL ELEMENTS MADE MAJOR CONTACT LITTLE MORE THAN FOUR
MILES SOUTH OF THE DAN TO AIRSTRIP ON 05 NOVEMBER. A BATTALION OF
THE U.S. 173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE CAME UP AGAINST THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
174TH REGIMENT IN A SERIES OF FIGHTS ABOUT SIX MILFS FROM THE LAOTIAN
BORDER, ACROSS WHICH THE ENEMY HAS ITS MAIN SUPPLY LINES.
BY 11 NOVEMBER THE FIGHTING HAD LAPSED, BUT THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
REPERIEDLY MORTARED THE DAN TO AIRSTRIP AND OTHER MILITARY INSTALLA-
TIONS ON 15 NOVEMBER. THERE WAS LIGHT MORTARING OF THE AIRSTRIP ON
16 NOVEMBER.
THE PRESS REPORTS HAVE INDICA1ED THAT THE COMMUNISTS ARE 1RYING
TO REINFORCE UNITS IN THE AREA, AND RENEWED FIGHTING IS EXPECTED AT
ANY TIME. THE PROXIMITY OF THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE CAMBODIAN AND LAO
BORDERS AND THE PRESENCE OF TROOP RESERVES ACROSS THE FRONTIER WOULD
MAKE POSSIBIR THE RAPID RESUPPLY AND REINFORCEMENT OF THE VIET CONG
AND TWA TROOPS COMMITTED TO IRE DAN TO AREA.
3.3(h)(2)
4.
MISSION READOUT:
REVEALS THE FOLLOWING
SEVEN
VC/NVA MILITARY STRONGPOINTS IN THE DAN
TO/TRI BORDER AREA:
1) A STRONGROINT AT UTM ZB011161 APPROXIMATELY THREE NM SOUTH
OF DAN TO. THIS S1RONGPOINT IS LOCA1ED THE CLOSEST TO DAN TO OF THE
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.
CO TIAL
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for Release: 2019/03/29 C03431423
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3.5(c)
(c)
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
REFERENCE:
ATTACHMENT
3.5(c)
TO L-4503
21 NOVEMBER
1967
PAGE 3
SEVEN STRONGPOINTS. (NOT DEPICIRD ON GRAPHIC)
2) A STRONGPOINT AT UTM 15885321 CONSISTING OF TWO A/W POSI-
TIONS AND NUMEROUS FOXHOLES.
3) A STRONGPOINT AT UTM YB832342 CONSISTING OF AN A/W POSITION
AND NUMEROUS FOXHOLES.
4) A STRONGPOINT AT UTM YB830324, SIX NM FROM THE TEl BORDER
AREA, CONSISTING OF NUMEROUS FOXHOLES AND A TRENCH SYSTEM.
5) A STRONGPOINT AT UTM YB838326 CONSISTING OF NUMEROUS FOXHOLES
AND POSSIBLY NUMEROUS FIRING BAYS WITH AN INTERCONNECTING TRENCH
SYSTEM.
6) A STRONGPOINT AT UTM YB882328 APPROXIMATELY FOUR NM SOUTH
OF A U.S. INSTALLATION ON ROUTE 14 AT UTM YB894406. THE SIRONGPOINT
CONSISTS OF NUMEROUS A/W POSITIONS,FOXHOTES, AND HUTS.
7) A SIRONGPOINT AT UTM YB859310 APPROXIMATELY THREE NM NORTH
OF A U.S. INSTALLATION LOCATED ON ROUTE 512 AT UTM YB876260. THE
STRONGPOINT CONSISTS OF AT LEAST THREE A/W POSITIONS, ONE LONG TRENCH/
DITCH, NUMEROUS FOXHOLES ENCIRCLING A HILL, AND PROBABLE STACKED OPEN
STORAGE.
ALSO OBSERVED IS HILL 1338 LOCATED AT UTM YB988152 WITH NO
DISCERNIBLE ENEMY ACTIVITY.
HILLS 889 AND 875 THAT ARE DEPICTED ON THE IOCAIRR MAP HAVE BEEN
RECENTLY INVOLVED IN HEAVY FIGHTING.
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.
CO TIAI
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03431423
3.5(c)
REFERENCE:
Approved for Release: 2019/03/29 C03431423
CONBDElincAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
ATTACHMENT TO L-4503
21 NOVEMBER 1967
PAGE 4
5. REMARKS:
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED ON 17 NOVEMBER 1067 THAT THE
U.S. 4TH INFANTRY DIVISION SEIZED THE CREST OF HILL 1338 LOCATED
FOUR MITPS SOUTH OF THE DAK TO AIRSTRIP OVERLOOKING THE ALLIED
HOLDINGS. THE LOSS OF HILL 1338, NAMED FOR ITS HEIGHT IN METERS,
DEPRIVED THE NORTH VIETNAMESE OF AN EXCELLENT POSITION FOR DEPLOY-
MENT OF ROCKETS AND ARTILLERY.
UTM COORDINATES ARE TAKEN FROM AMS SERIES L7014, SHEET 6538 III.
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 th otes contact Chief, Collateral Support
Division, NPIC.
CONF e TIAI
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CAIZA
ENEMY ACTIVITY IN DAK TO/TRI BORDER AREA
SOUTH VIETNAM
14-45N 107-40E
-.1 3.5(c)
3.5(c)
SOUTH VIETNAM
SOUTH VIETNAMESE
INSTALLATION �
FOXHOLES
PROB U/I OPEN STORAGE
A/W POSITION
U. S. INSTALLATION
FOXHOLES .
US. IlaKELATION
a. -
ROUTE 14
US. INSTALLATION
FOXHOLES
FOXHOLES
CONFIDENTIAL
NPIC 14503 NM
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