THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM NO. 29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02397537
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: February 10, 1968

Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 CO2397537
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
10 February 1968
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM ,
The Situation in South Vietnam No. 29
----(hri--61.rriara P.M. EST)"
The situation at Khe Sanh and throughout South
Vietnam has remained comparatively quiet. Fighting
continues in Hue. Bien Hoa Airbase was hit by a�
rocket attack. Fighting in Saigon continues at ap-
proximately the same level as in the past few days.
I Corps
1. The Khe Sanh air strip is again open. It
had been closed for several hours following the crash
of a KC-130. This plane, a tanker, was carrying
kerosene fuel into Khe Sanh, and was hit by 12.7
machine gun fire on the last leg of its approach.
The plane exploded just after landing. Two of
the crew were killed, three are missing, and four
were badly burned and evacuated. Three other
planes, including two tankers, were able to land
supplies at Khe Sanh successfully.
2. There was sporadic shelling of the Khe Sanh
base throughout the night of 9-10 February, A Marine
listening post 3 km. northwest of the base was at-
tacked by an estimated 35 to 40 NVA. The marines
withdrew to their company perimeter where the en-
suing fight resulted in two Marines killed and three
wounded. Enemy casualties are unknown.
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. 4. Sharp fighting continues in Hue. South
Vietnamese forces were reinforced by three battalions
of Vietnamese marines. MACV estimates that some
three-fifths of the city is held by allied forces,
but that there are some 2,000 Communist troops still
in Hue. Press reports claim the Communists still
hold about one-third of the two square mile Citadel
north of the Perfume River; as well as much of the
north bank of the river.
5. There are continuing indications
that at least one battalion
of the 803rd NVA regiment is making attack prepara-
tions in coastal Quang Tri Province. The activity
Currently seems to be centered north of the Cua Viet
river and involves the transport of supplies and the
organization of the local populace into supporting
armed Units and transport elements.
6. The target of the activity is not exactly
specified, but it appears to involve allied military
facilities and units in the Dons' Ha - Gio Linh area
and could involve an attack on these urban centers
themselves.
Ir Corps
7. The situation in II Corps remained relatively
quiet. In Darlac, elements of the NVA 33rd Regiment
had been located about 20 kilometers southeast of
Ban Me Thuot as of 8 February, indicating their in-
terest in that city.
co
8. Bien Hoa received approximately 20 rounds
of 122-mm.:rocket fire late on the night of 10 Feb-
ruary. First reports indicate one American. was killed
and 39 wounded. Six aircraft were destroyed and
7 damaged, including both fixed wing and helicopters.
9. Saigon passed its quietest night since the
beginning of the Pet offensive. There were small
incidents in the 5th and 6th precincts, the largest
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being an engagement between friendly forces and
an estimated 40 VC at the southern edge of the Phu
Tholtace Track. A number of reports have been re-
ceived of activity by VC units of various sizes,
ranging up to battalion, in the Go Val) district
of Gia Dinh province on the northern perimeter of
Saigon.
10. A state of alertness in Saigon is being
maintained in view of numerous unconfirmed reports
that the VC may launch another attack. Reports on
the timing of a new attack vary from the 10th to the
15th of February.
11. An ammunition bunker at Tan Son Nhut air-
base was the scene of some rather spectacular fire-
works on 10 February. Two rounds of Communist B-40
ammunition fired into the base started a brush fire
.which spread to the bunker. The bunker contained
2,000 rounds of 105 ammunition all of which apparently
exploded; no casualtes were reported.
IV Corps
12. An indication of the lingering impact of
the Communist Tet offensive in some of the delta prov-
incial capitals is contained in the description of
the situation in My Tho, capital of Dinh Thong Prov-
ince, by an Embassy Provincial officer. Re describes
the city as unrecognizable, devastated by two days of
fighting. An estimated 30 percent of this city of
50,000 was completely destroyed with almost 5,000
homes burned and some 25,000 - 30,000 persons home-
less. Many people aro still in a state of fear,
dreading another attack, and kept on edge by almost
daily VC mortaring and retaliatory shelling and air
Strikes by US/GVN forces. Despite heavy losses, an
estimated three or four enemy battalions remain on
the outskirts of the city, reportedly preparing for
a new attack over the weekend.
13. ARVN performance during the crisis left
bitter feelings in some quarters in My Tho. The ARVN
7th division was criticized for inadequate protection
of the routes into the city, failure to close in
battle with the Communists, and over-reliance on
airpower which resulted in much of the city's devasta-
tion. On the other hand provincial performance in
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handling welfare and refugee problems is reported
as impressive. The Province Chief appears to have
taken a firm hand, food is being distributed, and
prices are under control. The rubble is being
cleared away and temporary structures are being
erected on old foundations.
Etiellulom_situation
14. The current status of security along major
roads outside the cities in South Vietnam is still
far from clear, but it appears that little civil traffic
is moving over any of them yet, and it is probable
that many sections are out due to sabotage
and/or Communist checkpoints or harassment.
15. Important Route 4 from Saigon south into the
delta is the subject of conflicting information, but it
is apparently closed to through traffic 'even between
Saigon and My Tho. According to the US Embassy in
Saigon, on 10 February, Route 1 was open to Phan Thiet,
but civilian traffic was not moving. Route Ii. between
Phan Rang and Dalat was closed, and no traffic was
operating over important Route 20 which runs through
central III Corps to Da Lat.
16. Among otherproblems, the road security situa-
tion is contributing to a serious shortage of POL in
many delta and III Corps Provinces.
DRY Aircraft on Bombing Mission
17. Further field analysis of the flight of
two IL-14's to the southern portion of the DRV on the
evening of 8 February (Vietnam time) reveals that the
aircraft took part in an abortive bombing mission,
apparently aimed at unspecified targers in the DMZ
area.
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