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Title:
Effects of the Rolling Thunder program and North Vietnam's reaction to the bombing pause
Date of Creation:
February 2, 1966
Date of Declassification:
November 1, 1987
Type of Document:
Memorandum
Level of Classification:
NOT GIVEN
Status of Copy:
ORIGINAL
Pagination, Illustration:
6 p.
Abstract:
Between 2 March and 24 December 1965 the Rolling Thunder Program carried out a total of over 24,000 sorties against military and economic targets in North Vietnam. The attacks against fixed economic targets in North Vietnam destroyed almost 17 percent of total petroleum storage capacity, over 27 percent of electric power generating capacity, and about 5 percent of railroad yard and port capacity. The air strikes have caused a gradual erosion of national capacity in specific military areas--ammunition depots, 34 percent; barracks, 15 percent; and supply depots, 9 percent. Almost 1,200 pieces of transport equipment were destroyed and over 2,000 were damaged by the air attacks. In addition to these direct losses the air attacks have exacted an increasing toll in terms of higher costs and disruption of normal activity. Costly reconstruction efforts have required a widespread reallocation of manpower and a resulting decline in industrial performance. Problems consequent to destruction of food supplies have become fairly common. The bombings have also forced the regime to accept losses resulting from its inability to maintain important export trades. The North Vietnamese have taken advantage of the bombing pause to recoup, to the maximum possible extent, from the effects of the Rolling Thunder Program.
Indexing Terms:
Declassified Documents Reference System Location:
1988-002030
Link to Full Text: