THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05850712
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: February 9, 2017
• Case Number: F-2015-02619
• Publication Date: November 15, 1965

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SC No. 09891/65
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Jkemorantrun
THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM
Information as of 1600
15 November 1965
PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
FURTHER DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS NOT AUTHORIZED
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CODE WORD MATERIAL
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This document contains classified information affecting the national
security of the United States within the meaning of the espionage
laws, US Code Title 18, Sections 793, 794, and 798. The law prohibits
its transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to
an unauthorized person, as well as its use in any manner prejudicial
to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any
foreign government to the detriment of the United States.
It is to be seen only by US personnel especially indoctrinated and
authorized to receive COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE infor-
mation; its security must be maintained in accordance with COM-
MUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE REGULATIONS.
No action is to be taken on any COMMUNICATIONS INTELLI-
GENCE which may be contained herein, regardless of the advan-
tages to be gained, unless such action is first approved by the
Director of Central Intelligence.
GROUP 1
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15 November 1965
HIGHLIGHTS
Heavy fighting apparently continues between US
and Viet Cong units near Plei Me. Five prisoners
taken by US forces in the battle all claim to be
from North Vietnamese units. In North Vietnam, Com-
munist jet fighters on 15 November unsuccessfully
attacked two US reconnaissance aircraft near Dien
Bien Phu, the first instance of such an attack out-
side the Hanoi area.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
Heavy fighting apparently continues between battalion-
strength elements of the 3rd Brigade/US 1st Cavalry
Division XAirmobilel and Viet Cong/PAVN main force
units west of Plei Me (Paras. 1-2). In Binh Duong
Province, elements of the US 1st Infantry Division
and the 7th ARVN Regiment, supported by three con-
secutive days of B-52 strikes, continue large-scale
ground sweeps against regimental-strength Viet Cong
troop concentrations and base camps (Para. 3-5). In
Binh Dinh Province, the 1st Brigade/US 101st Airborne
Division has terminated Operation SAYONARA, the 47-
day area and route security action in the vicinity
of Qui Nhon (Para. 6).- A review by COMUSMACV indi-
cates that carrier-based USN A4K attacked Xuan Hoa
village in the DMZ on 13 November through pilot
error (Para. 8).
II. Political Developments in' South Vietnam:
Premier Ky is back in Saigon following his trip to
South Korea (Para. 1). The body of a Japanese irri-
gation engineer, apparently murdered by the Viet
Cong, reportedly has been found near the coast north-
east of,Saigon (Para. 2).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
Communist jet fighters attempted unsuccessfully to
intercept two US reconnaissance aircraft near Dien
Bien Phu on 15 November, the first noted instance
of such activity outside the Hanoi areajParas. 1-2),
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TV. Other Communist Military Developments:
Nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: Concern
over internal security problems may account for
Hanoi's recent efforts to repatriate foreign na-
tionals from North Vietnam (Para. 1).
VI. Other Major Aspects: The first signifi-
cant southbound movement of trucks this dry season
has been observed on Route 23 (Paras. 1-2).
15 November 1965
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Heavy fighting apparently continues be-
tween battalion-strength elements of the 3rd Bri-
gad6/US 1st Cavalry Division ((Airmobile); and Viet
Cong/PAVN main force units west of the embattled
Vietnamese Special Forces camp at Plei Me, in the
central highlands of Pleiku Province. According
to MACV, at least two PAVN battalions have engaged
US 1st Cavalry forces participating in Operation
SILVER BAYONET. The ground sweep has thus far re-
sulted in estimated enemy losses of 1,321 killed
(376 by US body count), five captured, and 15weap-
ons (11 crew-served) seized. US casualties to
date stand at 77 killed and 127 wounded. In addi-
tion, two US helicopters, and one AlE Skyraider
have been downed by enemy ground fire. These sta-
tistics, reported by MACV, are apparently cumula-
tive totals since the beginning of SILVER BAYONET
on 10 November.
The five prisoners have identified them-
selves as members of the 304th, 320th, and 325th
PAVN divisions. Neither the 304th nor the 320th
has been identified in South Vietnam, however, and
these prisoners probably belong to composite infil-
trated units.
2. The US forces engaged west of Plei Me have
received continuous tactical air and artillery sup-
port. Last night 18 USAF B-52S bombed a suspected
multibattalion, PAVN assembly area four miles east
of the Cambodian border, and just west of the pres-
ent fighting.. Heavy smoke in the drop zone has
thus far prevented bomb damage assessment.
15 November 1965
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3, On 13 November, 21 Guam-based USAF B-52
Stratofortresses attacked a complex of five separate
but adjacent Viet Cong targets near the Binh Duong -
Binh Long Province border, approximately 30 nautical
miles northwest of Saigon. It was the third B-52
saturation bombing mission in this area in three
days against suspected Viet Cong base camps and regi-
mental-strength troop concentrations.
4. The 7th ARVN Regiment is presently conduct-
ing ground follow-up sweep operations in the vicinity
of the B-52 strike zones. Meanwhile, Operation ROAD
RUNNER, initiated on 10 November by one battalion of
the US 1st Infantry Division to provide route security
along Highway 13 for 7th ARVN Regiment troop move-
ments, continues according to plan. The battalion
has reported no further significant contact with enemy
units since it was attacked while in bivouac position
by an estimated Viet Cong main force battalion dur-
ing the night of 10-11 November. Casualties on both
sides in that engagement have been revised upward
by MACV, with Viet Cong losses currently, placed at
248 killed (198 by US body count) and six captured,
as against 20 US infantrymen killed and 83 wounded.
5. On 14 November, four battalions of 3rd
Brigade/US 1st Infantry Division initiatedarlsearch-
and-destroy operation near the former French-owned
Michelin Rubber Plantation in the northwestern sector
of Binh Duong Province. The ground sweep codenamed
Operation BUSHWACKER, is being conducted in conjunc-
tion with Operation ROAD RUNNER and ARVN 7th Regiment
operations in the B-52 strike zones. The four US
battalions have thus far encountered no enemy resist-
ance.
15 November 1965
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6. In central coastal Binh Dinh Province,
the 1st Brigade/US 101st Airborne Division has
terminated Operation SAYONARA--an action conducted
from 28 September to 13 November to provide area
and route security for Highways 1 and 19 in the
vicinity of Qui Nhon. Cumulative Viet Cong losses
were placed at 352 killed (88 by US body count),
52 captured, and 151 suspects detained. American
casualties totaled 18 killed and 74 wounded.
7. On 13 November, in Quang Ngai Province,
a patrol of 120 Vietnamese CIDG Special Forces
personnel, accompanied by one US and three Aus-
tralian advisers, established contact with an
estimated Viet Cong company northwest of Quang
Ngai city. In the firefight that ensued, two
Australians were killed and 10 Vietnamese wounded.
Enemy losses were unknown.
8. A review by COMUSMACV indicates that
carrier-based A4s attacked Xuan Hoa village in
the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on 13 November as
the result of pilot error. One South Vietnamese
policeman was reportedly killed and one wounded;
two civilians were also wounded. Several build-
ings, one a Buddhist pagoda, and the center span
of the bridge over the Ben Hai River were damaged.
The North Vietnamese Liaison Mision has sent a
protest to the International Control Commission.
15 November 1965
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II, POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Premier Ky returned to Saigon yesterday
after an absence of six days on an official trip
to South Korea. His public comments on his visit,
which he described as "very fruitful," added
nothing further on the substance of his talks with
Korean officials.
2. A Japanese irrigation engineer, missing in
South Vietnam since 9 November, reportedly was
found dead over the weekend in a rice field near
Phan Rang, Ninh Thuan Province, about 170 miles
northeast of Saigon. The engineer, Takashi Ota,
reportedly had been shot in the head with his hands
tied behind his back, presumably the victim of Viet
Cong terrorists. An American volunteer aid worker,
with a private organization under contract to the
US AID mission, was ambushed and murdered by the
Viet Cong in the delta on 12 November.
15 November 1965
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III,, MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS IN NORTH VIETNAM
1. Two US RF-101 Voodoo aircraft on a photo
mission over the DRV were intercepted by MIG8 north-
east of Dien Bien Phu on 15 November, The RF-101g
successfully evaded attack and returned safely to
their base.
2. No further information is available at this
time. North Vietnamese jet fighters--while staying
clear of armed fighters--have made several attempts
in recent weeks to attack US support aircraft such
as reconnaissance, ELINT, and rescue aircraft. The
presence of MIG fighters in the Dien Bien Phu area
would mark a significant departure from past practice;
DRV fighter activity has normally been confined to
the general Hanoi area.
15 November 1965
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IV� OTHER COMMUNIST MILITARY DEVELOPMENTS
1. There is nothing of significance to report.
15 November 1965
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL .DEVELOPMENTS
I. Concern over internal security problems
may explain Hanoi's recent efforts to repatriate
foreign nationals from North Vietnam. The exodus
of foreigners to date is small but growing and is
confined largely to former French legionnaires who
remained in North Vietnam after the cessation of
hostilities in 1954. Two Greek nationals were repa-
triated last spring after more than ten years of
residence in North Vietnam and in early October the
DRY asked the British consul general to assist in
the repatriation of 15 Spaniards together with their
Vietnamese wives and children. In November Hanoi
announced that an agreement had been reached with
the Tunisian Government to repatriate 20 Tunisians
who were former legionnaires.
15 November 1965
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.. , � ,
SOUTHEASTERN LAOS
12
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107
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Trucks observed
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Road built since 1964
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Road existing, 1964
Track or trail existing, 1964
Approiimate area of Communist control
101
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.late Oct.
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.1/1 OTHER MAJOR ASPECTS
1. The first significant southbound movement
of trucks in Laos this dry season has been observed
on Route 23 by a roadwatch team located on the
northern section of the route. A total of 59 trucks
moved south between 11 and 12 November. Forty-two
of the trucks reportedly contained unidentified
Communist troops. In addition, 120 troops were seen
walking south during the same period.
2. Meanwhile) no vehicular traffic has been
seen recently by the roadwatch team located in the
Mu Gia pass area. According to one informant, how-
ever, the North Vietnamese have recently completed
a new route bypassing the damaged sections of the
pass. The informant did not say whether the bypass
is being used by trucks. Farther south, informants
report that trucks were moving south on Route 92 in
late October in numbers as large as 17 at a time.
15 November 1965
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