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Title:
Buildup of Vietnamese Communist forces continues after resumption of air attacks
Date of Creation:
February 21, 1966
Date of Declassification:
February 20, 1981
Type of Document:
Intelligence memorandum
Level of Classification:
TOP SECRET
Status of Copy:
SANITIZED
Pagination, Illustration:
24 p., 3 maps
Abstract:
Since the resumption on 31 January of the US air attacks against North Vietnam, the North Vietnamese have shown no weakening of their determination to maintain the flow of men and supplies into South Vietnam. Hanoi radio in recent broadcasts has pledged its all-out support to the revolution in South Vietnam. Private statements of the North Vietnamese leaders indicate a willingness and ability to support the war in South Vietnam for 20 to 30 years, if necessary. The infiltration of PAVN forces continues. Possibly as many as 6,000 men will infiltrate South Vietnam between mid-February and the end of March. If this level of infiltration is confirmed, it will bring the total number of confirmed PAVN personnel in South Vietnam to around 20,000. It is also possible that other infiltrators are moving South. The DRV has an apparent capability of training and infiltrating of at least 50,000 men annually, or the equivalent of 36 regiments, without impairing the strength of its armed forces in North Vietnam. There has been a decline in the aggressiveness of Communist military forces in South Vietnam since the end of 1965. Although the total number of armed attacks increased by 22% from December through January, the number of large-scale Communist attacks has been declining. Regimental strength attacks declined from 4 in November to 1 in December and none in January. Battalion-strength attacks declined from 8 in November and 7 in December to 3 in January. Recent Allied operations have disrupted Communist planning and thrown Communist forces off balance and made it increasingly difficult for them to mount mass surprise attacks. There has been no abatement of the logistic buildup since the resumption of the air attacks. At least 80,000 workers are involved in the maintenance of lines of communication in Military Region IV. Intensive reconstruction activity is also taking place in Laos. New road construction in Laos centers on the construction of a third by-pass around the Mu Gia Pass choke point, the possible construction of a new border cross point south of Mu Gia Pass, and the improvement of roads and trails further south near the border of South Vietnam. The Communist used the bombing pause to increase the flow of supplies through Laos to South Vietnam. Some 50-70 tons of the supplies being moved daily into Laos probably are moved forward to South Vietnam. This amount is far in excess of present VC/PAVN requirements of some 12 tons per day. It is adequate to support both a substantial buildup of VC/PAVN forces and an intensification of combat, or to make significant additions to stockpiles in South Vietnam. Recent reports confirm the use of Cambodian territory as a base and sanctuary area and as an infiltration route. At least 6 way stations have been identified along an apparent infiltration route in Cambodia. Photography also seems to confirm prisoner reports of Communist warehouses and installations associated with PAVN infiltration and logistic operations.
Indexing Terms:
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION INTO SOUTH VIETNAM
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION INTO SOUTH VIETNAM VIA LAOS
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION INTO SOUTH VIETNAM VIA CAMBODIA
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION ROUTES
NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCES IN SOUTH VIETNAM
NORTH VIETNAMESE SUPPORT FOR VIET CONG
NORTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY REGION 4
MU GIA PASS
HA TINH PROVINCE
THANH HOA PROVINCE
VINH
BEN THUY
CAM PHA PORT
HON GAY
CAMBODIA
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION INTO SOUTH VIETNAM VIA LAOS
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION INTO SOUTH VIETNAM VIA CAMBODIA
NORTH VIETNAMESE INFILTRATION ROUTES
NORTH VIETNAMESE FORCES IN SOUTH VIETNAM
NORTH VIETNAMESE SUPPORT FOR VIET CONG
NORTH VIETNAMESE MILITARY REGION 4
MU GIA PASS
HA TINH PROVINCE
THANH HOA PROVINCE
VINH
BEN THUY
CAM PHA PORT
HON GAY
CAMBODIA
Declassified Documents Reference System Location:
1984-000805
Link to Full Text: