THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001100130020-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: June 8, 1972
• Content Type: IM

 Approved For Release 2008/11/18: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100130020-0
SECRET
25X1 61
OCI No. 0789/72
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of intelligence
8 June 1972
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Situation, in Vietnam
(As of EDT)
1. Combat activity picked up somewhat in the
northernmost provinces on 7-8 June, but the over-
all military situation remains essentially unchanged.
2. In Quang Tri Province, elements of the
South Vietnamese Marine Division have initiated
a limited offensive drive north from the My
Chanh River on a 14-mile front. Press reports
indicate that as many as 2,500 marines are in-
volved in this operation. The same sources re-
port that the marines have encountered little
ground opposition but are being heavily shelled
by North Vietnamese 130-mm. artillery units near
Quang Tri City. Official reports as of 0300 EDT
this morning indicated that the marines had ad-
vanced approximately one mile.
3. Immediately to the south in Thua Thien
Province, Communist forces initiated a series of
shelling attacks on five ARVN fire support bases
during the night of 7-8 June. The attacks were
of limited duration, however, and were not followed
by any significant ground action.
4. In the central highlands no new develop-
ments were reported. Kontum City was quiet during
the night and government forces have made no
further progress in opening the Kontum Lass. In
coastal Binh Dinh Province, however, the pace of
combat has quickened. Continuous fighting is
reported from An Nhon district, where the Communists
appear to have committed two battalions. Approxi-
mately 50 government troops have been killed in recent
clashes and the enemy has taken control of about
one kilometer of Route 1 north of An Nhon town.
SECRET
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SECRET
5. In Military Region 3, the Communists are
continuing to tie down government forces around
An Loc. Over 300 rounds of artillery fire hit
the town during the past 24 hours, and the ARVN
relief column is still, stalled to the south along
Route 13. The Communists are still ste,oping up
their pressure in the other provinces west and
northwest of Saigon.
6. in
addition to the current enemy operations in Hwu
Nghia and Tay Ninh provinces, the Communists may
i
i
i
soon
n
t
ate new thrusts in Binh Duong Province.
elements of the Viet
ong 9th Division are concentrating in the Phu
Giao district and intend to attack south along
Route 16 beginning about 10 June. The 9th
Division has not been in action since the initial
battles for An Loc, and it may indeed have moved
to Binh Duong Province.
7.
elements o the NVA 101st and 174th Regiments are
concentrating in the Tri Tam district of Binh
Duong and are recei ing reinforcements.
these units intend to Partici-
pate in a second p ase of the current enemy offen-
sive commencing on 15 June.
SECRET
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Approved For Release 2008/11/18: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100130020-0