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THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

Document Type: 
CREST
Collection: 
General CIA Records
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
24
Document Creation Date: 
December 16, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 4, 2004
Sequence Number: 
37
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 24, 1967
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3.pdf889.44 KB
Body: 
Approved FC%Release 2005/08/17: CIA-RDP79T008 400200WOSTret 3 25X1 MEMORANDUM DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE The Situation in Vietnam 25X1 ARMY review(s) completed. Top Secret 110 24 May 1967 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved Information as of 1600 24 May 1967 25X1 25X1 Evidence is continuing to accumulate indicating large-scale infiltration of North Vietnamese forces into areas of South Vietnam ranging from the Demili- tarized Zone to the central highlands. I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam: Allied troops have completed their operations in the southern half of the DMZ and are moving southward in an effort to trap enemy forces in northern Quang Tri Province (Paras. 1-3). Heavy fighting was reported in Lam Dong Province early on 24 May following an enemy battalion-size attack on a CIDG position (Paras. 4-6). Mounting infiltration into South Vietnam is reported (Paras. 7-13). The weekly review of South Vietnam battle statistics reveals record-setting American casualties for the week ending on 20 May (Paras. 14-16). 25X1 IV. Other Communist Military Developments: There is nothing of significance to report. V. Communist Political Developments: A Hungarian military delegation has just concluded a week-long visit to North Vietnam (Paras. 1-3). 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000014037-3 25X1 IV. OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS 1. There is nothing of significance to report. 24 May 1967 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 Approved V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 1. A high-level Hungarian military delegation headed by Defense Minister Czinege visited North Vietnam between 15 and 23 May, according to Commu- nist press reports. The North Vietnamese announced the visit only after it had been concluded, a custom instituted last year after US air strikes were ini- tiated in the Hanoi-Haiphong area. 2. While in North Vietnam, the delegation met with a variety of leading DRV party and mili- tary leaders, including Defense Minister Giap and party First Secretary Le Duan. No information on the purpose of the visit was revealed in the routine pledges of support voiced by both sides and no communique" has as yet been-published. It is prob- able, however, that the provision of military as- sistance to the Vietnamese was discussed. 3. In addition to Defense Minister Czinege the delegation also included Brig. General Janos Kados, deputy chief of staff who has a background in rear services (logistics), Brig. General Imre Gabor, chief of operations who has an engineering background, and Brig. General Joszef Lantodi, a ground forces specialist. The background of these three men would seem to qualify them to discuss a variety of military aid specialties, including, but not necessarily limited to, conventional ar- tillery systems. French Premier Receives DRV Representatives 4. In a continuing display of the growing warmth of Paris-Hanoi relations, French Premier Pompidou received the North Vietnamese representa- tive in Paris for the first time on 23 May, grant- ing him the full title of delegate general. The DRV representation in Paris had been raised from a trade mission to a "general delegation" in Au- gust 1966, but Mai Van Bo had been designated "Delegue" General Par Interim." Prior to the audience on 23 May, he had been received only by lesser officials of the French Foreign Ministry. 24 May 1967 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 Appro~ This official gesture on the part of the French Gov- ernment formally grants the DRV diplomat the same full diplomatic status that Hanoi has recently ac- corded on an unofficial'basis to Simon de Quirielle, the French representative in North Vietnam. De Quirielle, although technically still assigned on an ad interim basis, has been received by DRV Premier Pham Van Dona F-- I 24 May 1967 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approve VI. OTHER MAJOR ASPECTS 1. Cambodia is continuing its efforts to limit smuggling activities across the South Vietnamese bor- der. Cambodian border forces along the border with South Vietnam's Chau Doc Province have been d to block unauthorized traffic, Th once-effective bribes por e y become futile, or have skyrocketed. 2. It is doubtful that smuggling activities, including those involving the Viet Cong, have been seriously curtailed inasmuch as the border remains open in the extensive unpatrolled areas. Phnom Penh's action in attempting to curtail this illegal traffic is, however, consistent with other evidence that Si- hanouk has become increasingly concerned with the del- leterious effects on the Cambodian economy of smuggling activities. 24 May 1967 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 Approved p Release 2005/08/17: CIA-RDP79TOO046AO02000010037-3 25X1 6000 16000 4000 4,0r Ly persorrn-e'l killed , e s to Dee: { re lt +tw css u a *Due to a zhange in the rePorling o$personne? Poses, jeginning 12 February 7967, the weekly figure will rpresent Personnel, -Losses (Killed only)` iet Cong/NVA ~N~US/other free World 1965 1964 253 d 113 di " APRIL 4,227 35 i,Iu 4000J- 19 6 1967 1967 Wounded 61,42Captured 158 Missing 420 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved P elease 2005/08/17: CIA-RDP79T0O A002 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 25X1 Approved Fo lease 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79TO08W002000010037-3 25X1 South Vietnamese and Viet Cong Casualties and Weapons Losses: 1962 - 30 April 1967 Time Period 1962 Jan 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1962 Feb 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1962 Mar 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1962 Apr 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1962 May 1963 1964 1965 1966 1962 Jun 1963 1964 1965 1966 1962 Jul 1963 1964 1965 1966 25X1 Viet Killed Wounded Cong in in Inci- Action Action dents GVN VC GVN VC Captured Total or Missing Casualties GVN VC GVN VC 1825 299 1294 475 212 116 927 453 1754 908 318 102 1770 343 1223 913 - 555 2206 904 2203 1938 - 471 3914 747 2648 1557 - 450 3369 887 6064 2036 - 166 1460 244 1205 300 316 124 788 379 1082 656 303 82 2078 374 1055 916 - 303 1982 880 1564 1840 - 1394 3100 1015 4727 2095 - 477 3183 771 7341 2125 - 154 Weapons Losses GVN VC 379 1463 2451 457 683 240 1811 1463 917 532 565 3313 2768 1700 711 588 2754 3236 935 979 - 3089 -- 738 2360 353 668 1874 292 1117 1677 253 399 289 1593 1344 708 471 309 4114 1873 2454 620 508 3587 5235 1076 1219 - 3050 -- 532 2395 1282 410 1443 851 368 66 222 1327 2033 467 367 2160 439 1456 1249 - 345 531 2033 1987 814 532 2056 751 2022 1633 - 720 394 3104 2416 1442 698 3670 938 5685 1961 - 466 604 3365 6289 1393 1632 3379 1718 10313 2786 - 468 - 4372 10313 984 4215 1933 387 1596 532 1331 506 1660 878 2284 594 1671 1584 1860 591 1909 1650 3190 573 2818 1522 3494 935 6227 2490 256 96 388 1440 2304 797 468 - 398 245 2576 1916 990 424 - 232 529 2473 2438 757 973 - 121 483 2216 3301 594 829 - 134 - 3559 -- 725 2118 1825 390 1756 509 352 94 524 993 2632 - - 1208 435 1895 889 295 94 695 1418 2885 463 564 2143 458 1135 987 - 202 242 1647 1377 723 281 2263 1049 1975 2143 - 873 548 4065 2523 1701 831 3566 661 4239 1454 - 196 652 2311 4891 493 1087 1477 325 1666 613 413 77 441 1015 2520 - - 1311 389 1863 772 310 90 437 1251 2609 580 394 2062 494 1005 1145 - 313 230 1952 1235 718 387 2597 1211 2208 1920 - 1260 189 4391 2397 2387 793 3359 860 4815 1800 - 183 752 2843 5567 735 3761 1564 384 1544 686 424 212 542 1282 2510 - - 1368 529 1918 1071 372 306 387 1906 2677 663 374 3045 900 1427 1812 - 510 219 3222 1646 1889 447 2520 1160 2980 1591 - 540 580 3425 3560 1375 882 2844 862 5532 1638 - 242 414 2742 5946 744 1483 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved Foelease 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T008002000010037-3 25X1 Viet Killed Wounded Cong in in Captured Total Weapons Time Inci- Action Action or Missing Casualties Losses Period dents GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC 1962 1642 377 2271 626 367 63 669 1066 3307 - - Aug 1963 1349 411 1685 804 237 352 482 1567 2404 637 428 1964 2580 721 1449 1612 - 478 282 2811 1731 1106 619 1965 2498 808 3624 1945 - 287 606 3040 4230 705 1074 1966 2401 722 5857 1491 - 209 924 2422 6781 654 1298 1962 1375 419 2218 646 365 59 446 1124 3029 - - Sep 1963 1763 672 1982 1155 234 566 347 2393 2563 878 389 1964 3091 819 1187 1759 - 737 230 3315 1417 1465 525 1965 2473 655 3485 1724 - 266 838 2645 4323 778 838 1966 2864 566 4447 1554 - 185 839 2305 5286 426 1580 1962 1357 365 1967 619 286 64 373 1048 2626 - - Oct 1963 1422 428 1520 989 244 398 236 1815 2000 753 330 1964 2827 739 1617 1583 - 693 576 3015 2193 1510 482 1965 3330 961 3874 2416 - 225 660 3602 4534 762 1013 1966 2923 906 5665 2118 - 216 2438 3240 8103 851 1977 1962 1311 410 1982 834 368 92 861 1336 2911 - - Nov 1963 3182 664 2333 1554 373 665 252 2883 2958 1595 455 1964 1982 574 1747 1404 - 410 570 2388 2317 1104 515 1965 3638 1034 5516 2056 - 520 592 3610 6108 1126 2164 1966 2778 804 5227 1933 - 200 816 2937 6043 650 1423 1962 1346 294 2203 618 289 78 463 990 2955 - - Dec 1963 1921 389 1440 961 191 320 190 1670 1821 724 546 1964 2504 1002 1813 2053 - 1092 503 4147 2316 2111 666 1965 4106 1239 4076 2262 - 926 516 4427 4592 1728 1158 1966 2837 815 3864 1851 - 338 701 3004 4565 830 1338 VC Time Inci- KIA Period dents GVN VC Captured Total Weapons WIA or missing Casualties Losses GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC GVN VC 1962 19076 4417 21158 7195 4235 1963 17852 5665 20575 11488 3501 1964 28526 7457 16785 17017 - 1965 31529 11243 35436 23118 - 1966 37446 9469 55524 20974 - **1967 13445 3711 28983 9437 - 1270 5700 12882 31093 5195 4049* 3137 4307 20290 28383 8267 5397 6036 4157 30510 20942 14055 5881 7848 6326 42209 41762 16915 11755 3283 9719 33726 65243 9381 18606 922 -- 14070 -- 2979 10699 *Monthly data unavailable for 1962 Weapons Losses. **Through 30 April 1967 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved Fo lease 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T008 002000010037-3 25X1 Time Viet Cong S mall- Bn. Size Har assment & P ropa- Anti- Period Incidents S cale Co. Size or Larger Total Te rrorism g anda Ai rcraft 1962 1825 528 21 549 839 180 257 Jan 1963 927 242 8 252 447 49 179 1964 1770 218 2 223 1244 129 174 - 1965 2206 57 5 63 1489 272 170 212 1966 3914 42 23 70 2490 312 299 743 1967 3369 141 142 1772 70 128 1257 1962 1460 480 20 0 500 613 137 210 - Feb 1963 788 181 13 1 195 433 69 91 - 1964 2078 211 3 3 217 1389 210 271 - 1965 1982 73 6 3 82 1411 267 91 131 1966 3100 50 10 9 69 1829 201 172 829 1967 3183 115 - 2 117 1499 39 76 1452 1962 1961 561 27 0 588 660 290 423 - Mar 1963 1282 333 11 0 344 653 131 154 - 1964 2160 198 4 1 203 1632 158 167 - 1965 2056 80 3 3 86 1476 240 90 164 1966 3670 32 10 10 52 2332 212 154 920 1967 3379 212 - 7 219 1844 50 45 1221 1962 1933 470 27 0 497 1024 220 192 - Apr 1963 1331 371 9 3 383 688 105 155 - 1964 2284 211 6 3 220 1738 169 157 - 1965 1860 38 1 4 43 1407 149 96 165 1966 3190 61 7 9 77 2238 252 110 513 1967 3494 155 - 7 162 1992 67 109 1164 1962 1825 490 28 0 528 892 154 251 - May 1963 1208 344 13 0 357 608 93 150 - 1964 2143 170 3 2 175 418 217 140 193 1965 2263 40 7 11 58 1558 365 115 170 1966 3566 37 9 7 53 2552 295 106 560 1962 1477 339 23 0 362 736 157 222 - Jun 1963 1311 398 11 1 410 652 107 142 - 1964 2062 128 10 2 140 1390 176 162 194 1965 2597 62 1 6 69 1784 469 103 172 1966 3359 47 10 11 68 2382 211 110 588 1962 1564 437 10 1 448 735 158 223 - Jul 1963 1368 398 8 1 407 698 80 183 - 1964 3045 166 12 7 185 2132 286 224 218 1965 2520 42 0 6 48 1706 400 154 212 1966 2844 91 0 0 91 1906 200 86 561 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 25X1 Approved Ffto2elease 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T008*tA002000010037-3 Time Viet Cong Small- Bn . Size Harass men t & Propa- Anti- Period Incidents Scale and Larger Total Terro ris m ganda Ai rcraft 1962 1642 368 10 0 378 88 5 146 233 - ,Aug 1963 1349 356 11 1 368 ?64 7 113 221 - 1964 2580 107 3 3 113 177 5 315 173 204 1965 2498 38 9 5 52 159 7 349 200 300 1966 2401 51 8 5 64 175 2 113 87 385 1962 1375 382 9 0 391 62 4 178 182 - Sep 1963 1763 483 17 3 503 88 9 164 207 - 1964 3091 110 4 4 118 193 8 482 178 375 1965 2473 19 7 5 31 153 0 278 185 449 1966 2864 78 6 2 86 197 2 90 115 601 1962 1357 406 12 1 419 58 3 189 166 - Oct 1963 1422 359 6 0 365 80 2 105 150 - 1964 2827 75 2 6 83 179 0 480 197 277 1965 3330 24 8 12 44 196 9 415 198 704 1966 2923 107 12 2 121 174 9 103 81 869 1962 1311 411 7 3 421 61 4 144 132 - Nov 1963 3182 631 11 3 645 199 0 269 278 - 1964 1982 57 2 1 60 139 1 247 109 175 1965 3638 26 16 10 52 223 4 486 255 611 1966 2778 80 4 2 86 170 1 125 72 794 1962 1346 375 8 1 384 67 0 107 185 - Dec 1963 1921 258 3 0 261 129 8 111 251 - 1964 2504 81 9 6 96 171 9 318 128 243 1965 4106 32 18 7 57 257 2 442 317 718 1966 2837 84 13 4 101 176 1 98 112 765 1962 19076 5247 212 6 5465 887 5 2060 2676 No Data 1963 17852 4354 121 15 4490 980 5 1396 2161 No Data 1964 28526 1732 60 41 1833 1955 6 3178 2080 1879 1965 31529 531 81 73 685 2073 0 4132 1974 4008 1966 37446 760 112 66 938 2466 4 2212 1504 8128 *1967 14425 623 - 17 640 710 7 226 358 5094 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Top 'cRcgt For RLase 2005/08/17: CIA-RDP79T00826k000010037-3 Top Secret Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved 25X1 25X1 South Vietnam Battle Statistics 1963 to week of 14-20 May 1967 -Weapons and Personnel Losses -Viet Cong Attacks and Incidents South Vietnamese and Viet Cong Casualties And Weapons Losses - 1962 to 3,0 April 1967 -General Statistical Data -Composite Annual Totals -Viet Cong Incidents 24 May 1967 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T008202000010037-3 kSavannakhet Khe San t' -T `` f; Hue 'Pakse C A M B O D I A PHNOM,, -' PENH(j,, 'Ban Me Th.ot J Kontum? t.. Pleikue -;-Phuo Wnfi L Bien' A M 00'+G Bao LOc SOUTH VIETNAM 0 25 51' 75 100Miles 25 50 7S I C KI.~mele~s 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 App I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM Quang Tri Province/DMZ Activity 1. US Marines and South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) forces have completed their sweeps through'the southeastern portions of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and are now moving southward within Quang Tri Province. 2. MACV estimates that most of the enemy forces that had been in the southeastern DMZ have now with- drawn across the Ben Hai River to North Vietnamese territory. No enemy contact has been reported since operations resumed at midnight on the 23rd (local time), following the Buddha's birthday cease-fire. However, one to three enemy battalions are thought to be in the operational area below the DMZ. In addition to these units, as located the comma post of the "29th Regimen --believed to be the same as the NVA 18C Regiment--of the NVA 325 Division in an area southwest of Con Thien. indicating that this regiment oo p fighting at Con Thien on 16-17 May and that more fighting can be expected in this area. 3. Communist resistance to the allied sweep operations in the DMZ varied from moderate to heavy, with Marine Operation HICKORY and ARVN Operation LAM SON 54 reporting the heaviest contacts. As of 23 May, confirmed enemy losses stood at 641 killed as against allied casualties of 123 killed (99 US) and 717 wounded (602 US). Communist Battalion-size Attack in Lam Dong Province 4. Heavy fighting was reported in Lam Dong Province early on 24 May following an attack by an estimated battalion-size Communist force on a South Vietnamese CIDG company position approximately eight miles southeast of Bao Loc. Two South Vietnamese 24 May 1967 25X1 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 Appro Ranger battalions--supported by intensive allied air and artillery--are presently sweeping the area in search of the attacking enemy force, which withdrew after more than three hours of heavy contact. Initial casualty reports show friendly losses of 15 killed and 29 wounded; six enemy bodies have been counted thus far. 5. This activity may presage an upsurge of Commu- nist military operations in this area by as yet unidenti- fied enemy forces. It is possible that these forces are part of a newly introduced Communist unit, or they may be subordinate elements of the Viet Cong 5th Light Infantry Division. This division traditionally operates in the Phuoc Tuy - Long Khanh province area to the south, but some elements may have recently deployed northward to mount operations against specific allied military tar- gets in Lam Dong Province. 6. There have been recent reports of a continuing Communist military build-up in this area, particularly to the south of the province capital of Bao Loc. These reports, together with other indications such as improved weapons and increased Viet Cong propaganda, suggest that an intensification of the Communist effort is under way in the province where over-all security continues to de- teriorate. Mounting Infiltration Into South Vietnam 7. Evidence of large-scale infiltration by regular North Vietnamese Army infantry units into areas of South Vietnam ranging from the DMZ to the central highlands is continuing to accumulate. The cur- rent activity is reminiscent of the heavy in i ration during the first six months of 1966. 25X1 25X1 24 May 1967 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A00200Q010037-3 Weekly Review of South Vietnam Battle Statistics 14. American casualties for the week ending on 20 May set a new weekly record in both the killed and wounded categories. The total number of Ameri- cans killed during the week--337--exceeded the previous high weekly figure by 63. The number of wounded in the past week also rose, climbing above the 2,000 mark for the first time with a total of 2,282 reported. The total number of Americans killed in Vietnam since 1961 passed the 10,000 mark last week and presently stands at 10,253. The num- ber of Americans wounded since 1961 now totals 61,425. 15. The weekly high in American casualties may be attributed at least in part to the intensi- fied Communist activities in the northern provinces and the increased enemy aggressiveness in the western highlands. 16. The week of 14-20 May compared with the week of 7-13 May: I. Viet Cong Incidents 7-13 May Attacks 57 Battalion or larger .............. 1 Small Unit ....................... 56 Harassment 379 Terrorism 59 Sabotage 15 Propaganda 10 Antiaircraft 205 TOTAL INCIDENTS 725 14-20 May 24 May 1967 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 Approveq' II. Casualties Killed Wounded Missing/ Captured 7-13 May 14-20 May 7-13 May 14-20 May 257 241 ---- 547 705 TOTALS 1,942 2,464 19 18 823 964 25X1 US FREE W ORLD 7-13 May 14-20 May 7-13 May 14-20 May Killed 235 337 9 50 Wounded 1,319 2,282 37 72 Missing/ Captured 0 0 TOTALS 1,554 2,619 46 III. Weapons Captured VC/NVA GVN 7-13 May 1 -20 May 7-13 May 14-20 May Individual 562 Not Crew-Served 36 Reported TOTALS 598 143 210 4 4 147 214 24 May 1967 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826A002000010037-3 25X1 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3 ~.~ Yunnani Airfield Ban Chieng ? Cua Roa V\N?WF* r g hai THAILAND ~'? Muang Nakhon Phan.-i 1` NORTH VIETNAM / ~?Savannakhet 1 DEng Van 1 ?Khammouane ?J4a Tinh Du?ng Ha B Ho Su ?QuangTri ^ SOUTH 'm u.ng Non$.^ VIETNAM LAOS Approved For Release 2005/08/17 : CIA-RDP79T00826AO02000010037-3
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