DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00865A000100290001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 14, 1975
• Content Type: NOTES

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Thieu Looking for Better Military Leadership
Recent government reverses in Binh Tuy Prov-
ince may be spurring President Thieu to replace
several high-level commanders.
claims that Prime Minister Khiem ad-
vised Military Region 3 Commander Dong last week
to recommend replacements for the 18th Division
commander and the Binh Tuy province chief.
Although the first phase of the Communist
winter campaign may be over and the threat to the
northern reaches of Binh Tuy diminished, Khiem
was anxious to find a military leader who would
energetically defend government territory rather
than one whose ability was primarily in adminis-
tering villages and hamlets--a characteristic of
the existing province chief. On January 13, the
province chief was replaced by Colonel Tran Ba
Thanh, a former Regimental Commander in the 18th
Division.
The South Vietnamese 18th Division commander
has had a prolonged and serious eye ailment and
plans to come to the US for treatment after the
current fighting dies down. His impediment has
caused him to be absent frequently, however, and
performance of the division has suffered. (SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM)
January 14, 1975
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SECRET
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Q 865A000100290001-0
Communist AAA Increasingly Effective
Communist antiaircraft fire has been increasingly
effective and has been instrumental in their ability
to make recent offensive gains. It prevented resupply
of the government's beleaguered and isolated positions
at Phuoc Binh and atop Nui Ba Den.. This new tactic is
expected to be utilized in :Future operations against
isolated government targets, such as the Kien Tuong
provincial capital of Moc Hoa near the Cambodian border.
In addition to the normal 12.7-mm. machine guns,
the commander of the South Vietnamese 3rd Air Division
claims that 23-mm., 37-mm., and even 57-mm. weapons have
been used by the Communists since their campaign began
in early December. These larger weapons force the South
Vietnamese to bomb from altitudes of 6,000 to 8,000
feet, greatly reducing their effectiveness. Air drop-
ping of supplies from high altitudes to surrounded
troops has also been almost completely ineffective.
The Communists have also been very effective with
their highly mobile heat-seeking, hand-held SA-7 mis-
sile system. During the past 30 days, their kill ratio
has been one aircraft downed for every three missiles
fired (compared to one for five in 1974). Some losses
may be attributed to an increase in the number of lower
altitude government air missions during the recent
fighting. The South Vietnamese, however, can ill af-
ford additional losses of their attack and support air-
craft and probably will continue to restrict sharply
the number of missions flown within the 9,000-foot range
of the SA-7. (SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED
DISSEM)
January 14, 1975
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Secret
Secret
Approved For Release 2001/07/30 : CIA-RDP79T00865A000100290001-0