VINH-MU GIA PASS LOGISTICS NETWORK NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A006800010007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 16, 2000
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: February 1, 1969
• Content Type: REPORT

Approver( Ef I O00/05/10: CIA 78 A4, A? 068 007
PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT
VINH-MU GIA PASS
LOGISTICS NETWORK
NORTH VIETNAM
NPIC/R-10/69
FEBRUARY 1969
GROUP 1 EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
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This document contains information affecting
the national defense of the United States,
within the meaning of Title 18, sections
793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended.
Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is
prohibited by law.
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a1BRUARY 1969
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SEC. CLASS. LOCATION
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 Approved For Release 2000/Gj'f I F N-T E78BO456OA0068OW10OD)less
V IN H -M U G IA PASS
LOGISTICS NETWORK
NORTH VIETNAM
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/05/10 : CIA-RDP78BO456OA006800010007-7
 Approved For Release 2000 'pD J DP78B04560A006
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 Approved For Release 2000/iCID ?IDIIqTMP78BO456OA006800B*I,QGTo769
ABSTRACT
Analysis of recent aerial photography has revealed the North Vietnamese are
moving an unprecedented amount of supplies over a well-developed and coordinated
logistics network from Vinh through Bai Due Thon to the Mu Gia Pass. This net-
work utilizes one major rail and water route and several roads. Transshipping
points have been constructed at critical locations to permit transloading from one
transportation mode to another. Utilization of this network allows maximum use
of vehicles, vessels, and rolling stock and ensures a rapid and smooth flow of
supplies. The present lack of overflowing stockpiles in the Vinh area reflects the
capability of this logistics network to clear and move the very large quantities of
supplies being transported into Vinh from the north.
WATERWAY
The most significant component in the logistics network (Figure 1) is a 50-
nautical-mile (nm) waterway, which is navigable to large barges. This waterway,
connecting the Vinh and Ha Dong Areas, utilizes portions of the Song Ca, Song
La Giang, and Ngan Sau rivers. The largest transshipment point in the Vinh area
has been established recently at Yen Dung (Figure 2). Four primary transshipment
25X1 D
FIGURE 2. YEN DUNG TRANSSHIPMENT POINT, VINH AREA, NORTH VIETNAM.
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points are being utilized in the vicinity of Ha Dong, where the southernmost
navigable portion of the waterway parallels Route 15 and a reactivated segment
of the Vinh-Dong Hoi rail line.
Although there is extensive use of sampans on the waterway, the greatest
bulk of materiel is being transported by dumb (non-motorized) barges. Normally,
six to eight of these barges, each with at least a 100 ton capacity, are towed in
tandem by a motorized barge or smaller river craft (Figure 3). A single reconnais-
sance mission revealed 70 of these barges and approximately 300 sampans on the
lower 70 percent of the waterway. (This does not include the transshipment points
near Vinh where a large number of barges and craft have been repeatedly observed.)
The primary cargo is crated goods with some bagged goods and POL drums.
Numerous large stacks of these materials, in both open and covered storage, are
located adjacent to the primary off-loading points. These transshipment points
at the southern terminus of the waterway are characterized by a general lack of
storage sheds and off-loading facilities (Figures 4 and 5).
RAIL LINE
25X1 D As of late approximately 14.5 nm of the Vinh-Dong Hoi rail
line was being utilized as the central component in the logistics network. This
rail segment, extending between transshipment points in the Ha Dong (Figure 5)
and Bai Duc Thon areas, is only serviceable to lorries and two-axle rail cars. It
serves chiefly to augment the vehicular routes by shuttling material to the major
infiltration staging areas near Bai Duc Thon. There are at least eight lorries and
45 cars currently involved in this operation.
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FIGURE 3. SOUTHBOUND CARGO BARGES, NORTH VIETNAM.
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25X1 D
FIGURE 4. TRANSSHIPMENT POINT, HA DONG AREA, NORTH VIETNAM.
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25X1 D
FIGURE 5. RAILROAD AND WATER TRANSSHIPMENT POINTS, HA DONG AREA, NORTH VIETNAM.
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It appears that the operational portion of this line will be extended northward.
There are approximately 5 nm of serviceable track north of Ha Dong and recon-
struction of the line is underway for at least 10 additional miles. Included within
this expansion are two short rail spurs which will probably serve additional water-
to-rail transshipment points.
South of Bai Due Thon, the rail line is serviceable to the major river crossing
at Thuong Phong Trang. An additional 14 nm of serviceable track extends south-
east from the river crossing towards Quang Khe and Dong Hoi. Although unrelated
to the Vinh-Mu Gia Pass logistics routes, recent activity along these segments
probably indicates a further expansion of the rail line's functions.
MOTORABLE ROUTES
There has been a significant increase in the daytime traffic on the primary
25X1 D roads between Vinh and Mu Gia Pass since This is particularly
true of the Route 15 segment south of Bai Due Thon, where the various com-
ponents of the logistics network converge for the final leg into Laos (Figure 6).
The major routes being utilized between Vinh and Bai Due Thon are 1A, 82,
151, 15, and 152. These roads have remained essentially unaltered during the past
two months, with vehicles merely circumventing bomb craters. Numerous temporary
pontoon by-pass bridges, particularly north of Ha Tinh, and unimproved fords
continue to be used in spite of the greatly increased volume of traffic and the
elimination of the bombing threat. The only substantial impediment to vehicular
movement is the Song Ca (river), south of Vinh, where a ferry is in operation
at Ben Thuy.
Although some vehicles may transit the entire network directly from Vinh to
Mu Gia Pass, the large number of truck parks in the Bai Due Thon area indicates
that the bulk of the materiel is probably transloaded, stored, or held for shuttling
into Laos. This may also be true for the vehicles which complement the operational
rail segment between Ha Dong and Bai Due Thon. Additional congestion in this
area is no doubt attributable to the limitations imposed on daytime vehicular
movement in Laos.
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25X1 D
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FIGURE 6. SOUTHBOUND TRUCK CONVOY, ROUTE 15, NORTH VIETNAM.
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Mission Date Camera Frames Classification/Control
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ACIC. USAF Pilotage Chart, PC J-11DG, 2d ed, Aug 67, scale 1:500,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
REQUIREMENT
DIA-58-8 (XX-2)
NPIC Project 250016AL
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