PROPOSED GROUND WEAPONS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR CIA IRREGULAR FORCES IN LAOS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02353698
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: February 8, 2018
• Case Number: F-2016-01079
• Publication Date: January 1, 1971

Approved for Release: 2018/01/29 CO2353698
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Nue EYES -.40
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
WSAG PAPER
MEMORANDUM FOR:
SUBJECT:
/The Honorable Henry A. Kissinger
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
The Honorable U. Alexis Johnson
Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs
The Honorable David Packard
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Proposed Ground Weapons Improvement
Program for CIA Irregular Forces
in Laos
REFERENCE: CIA Memorandum dated 23 July 1970,
Same Subject
1. On 23 July 1970, the Washington Special Action Group
briefly considered the feasibility of upgrading the ground weapons
systems of the CIA special guerrilla unit (SC U) battalions in Laos.
The systems included M.-16A1 rifles and M-60 machine guns. No
conclusion was reached. This memorandum discusses the necessity
for this improvement program, the allocation availability of the
individual weapons included, and a cost estimate for the additional
funding required.
2. Referent memorandum pointed out that there were three
measures that could be taken to improve the combat effectiveness of
the existing CIA irregular forces. Two of those measures were
Exthidtd from autoratit;
iiangrading and
declessiiication
SENSITIVE
EYES 0
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EYEisbIttL.Y.,
NEW
initiated last year and continue. They are a reorganization and
retraining program and a program of combat leadership training.
The third measure was an improvement of the individual weapons
carried by the irregular in combat. This measure has not yet
been undertaken although it should be noted that 8, 000 M- 16A1
weapons have been issued to CIA irregular forces since late 1969.
The improvement program being recommended includes M-16Alls
for the remainder of the CIA irregular forces. The M- 16A1 rifles
issued to date to the irregular ranks have been particularly
effective in placing these forces on a more even footing with the
North Vietnamese and Pathet Lao who were armed with the Soviet
AK-47.
3. CIA irregular forces are currently heavily engaged in
the defense of Long Tieng and in the south Laos interdiction program.
We can expect that the CIA irregular forces will continue to be(b)(1)
heavily engaged for some time to come. The bulk of these for((b)(3)
are still armed with World War II type weapons. The Thai
forces in Laos, alongside whom the CIA irregulars are
fighting, are armed with the improved ground weapons. The North
Vietnamese and Pathet Lao they are facing are all armed with the
Soviet AK-47.
4. Consequently, our Vientiane Station has recommended
an improved ground weapons system for the CIA irregulars. (b)(1)e
weapons requirements are 15,000 M- 16A1 rifles and 150 M-6(b)(3)
light machine guns. The cost for the weapons and a supply of
ammunition for the remaining four months of FY 1971 is
The cost of ammunition for FY 1972 will be
5. The allocation of the M- 16A1 rifles and M-60 light machine
guns must be approved by the Department of the Army. We under-
stand that the current stocks for the M- 16A1 rifles and the M-60
light machine guns are currently allocated to designated units up
to production capacity. The availability for our increased use,
therefore, must be achieved through a reallocation.
SECRET/SE ITIVE
EYES ONL
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6. The funds for these weapons are not included in the
CIA FY 1971 budget. It is requested, therefore, that the Department
of Defense be asked to examine the feasibility of providing without
cost the M- 16A.1 rifles, M-60 light machine guns and ammunition
for these weapons.
Thomas H. Karamessines
Deputy Director for Plans
Attachment
Budget Schedule
3
SECR
SITIVE
EYES ONL
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SECR SENSITIVE
EYES LY
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
SECR ENS1TIVE
EYES 0
Approved for Release: 2018/01/29 CO2353698