THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00472A002300010003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 3, 1965
• Content Type: MEMO

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3 November 1965
HIGHLIGHTS
/In South Vietnam the intensity of Viet Cong
military operations increased sharply during the pe-
riod 23-30 October with both Viet Cong and ARVN casual-
ties mounting to new highs. Despite this increased
activity government forces are killing over three
times as many Viet Cong as the ARVN are losing.
I. ?The Military Situation in South Vietnam: An
estimated Viet Cong company last night attacked a
village outpost defended by one Regional Forces com-
pany and one PAT (civic action) platoon in Quang Ngai
Province; a strong reaction by ARVN relief forces,
with naval gunfire and tactical air support, in-
flicted significant casualties on the attackers, ul-
timately forcing their withdrawal (Para. 1). Eighteen
USAF B-52 Stratofortresses last night launched the
second attack in 48 hours against a suspected Viet
Cong base camp in Tay Ninh Province, 30 miles north-
west of Saigon (Para. 2). According to MACV's Weekly
Military Report for 23-30 October, while the scale
of Communist-initiated activity declined slightly
from 811 to 782 incidents, the intensity of Viet
Cong military operations increased sharply, as re-
flected by the rising number of armed attacks and
ambushes (14), and by the heavy personnel and weap-
ons losses sustained by both sides (Paras. 4-6).
The current status of South Vietnam's major transpor-
tation routes and the coastal railway has been re-
ported (Para. 7). MACV has reported a major reposi-
tioning of Viet Cong/PAVN units in South Vietnam's
II Corps area (Para. 8). ARVN, Viet Cong, and US
casualties and weapons losses sustained during 23-30
October have been received from MACY (Paras. 9-11).
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II., Political Developments in South Vietnam:
The US Mission has assessed both the assets and weak-
nesses of the Ky government after its first four
months in office (Paras. 1-2). Retail prices of.
locally produced products, except rice, continued
to rise last week, and the rate of the piaster also
weakened in terms of the dollar (Para. '3).
III. Military Developments in North Vietnam:
Nothing of significance to report.
V. Communist Political Developments: Nothing
of significance to report.
VI. Other Major Aspects: North Vietnam is plan-
ning to increase significantly imports of motor
vehicles (Para. 1).
3 November 1965
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I. THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
I. An estimated Viet Cong company last night
attacked a village outpost manned by one Regional
Forces company and one PAT (civic action) platoon
near the provincial capital of Quang Ngai, but
failed to overrun it. According to preliminary
ARVN reports, six defenders were killed, five
wounded, one missing, and nine weapons seized.
An ARVN reaction force of one reconnaissance com-
pany, supported by naval gunfire from elements
of a Vietnamese junk division and tactical air
strikes, was dispatched to the scene, ultimately
forcing the withdrawal of the attackers. In a
sweep of the battlefield, 25 Viet Cong bodies
were discovered, while an additional estimated
35 guerrillas were believed to have been killed
(by air attack) and carried away.
2. Eighteen Guam-based USAF B-52 Stratof or-
tresses last night launched the second attack in
48 hours against a suspected Viet Cong base camp
in Tay Ninh Province, 30 miles northwest of Sai-
gon. Bomb damage assessment reports are not yet
available. No ground follow-up actions were
-
planned.
3. Press reports state that South VietnaMese
forces seized hundreds of pounds of ammunition, ex-
plosives, and equipment from a Viet Cong sampan
last night 80 miles southwest of Saigon. The
floating arsenal reportedly contained eight land
mines, 12 cases of machine gun'ammunition, 267
hand grenades, nine bangilore torpedoes, and mis-
cellaneous other explosives and equipment.
3 November 1965
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)(1
4. According to MACV's Weekly Military Report for
the period 23-30 October, the-EC-WTI of communist-ini-
tiated activity declined slightly from 811 to 782 inci-
dents, while the intensity of Viet Cong military opera-
tions increased sharply. The number of enemy armed at-
tacks and ambushes increased from nine to 14, including
an extended siege by two VC/PAVN regiments of the Viet-
namese Special Forces camp at Plei Me in Pleiku Province;
regimental-strength actions against ARVN-protected
rice harvesting activities near Tuy Hoa in Phu Yen Prov-
ince; a reinforced two-battalion attack against an ARVN
outpost at Due Lap in Hau Nghia Province, and the simul-
taneous mortaring of the provincial capital of Bao Trai;
and a battalion-sized assault against USMC defensive
positions near Da Nang. In addition, the-Viet COug
scored a major psychological/propaganda victory, during
the night of 26-27 October, ?when guerrilla mortar, and
demolition teams effected a limited penetration of two
US Marine airfields at Da Nang and a third at Chu Lai,
destroyingor damaging 62 US aircraft.
5. As a result of heavy fighting, mostly in a bat-
tle zone stretching from Phu Yen Province west? to Pleiku
and north ?to Thua Thien, personnel and weapons losses
on both sides increased markedly. -Friendly casualties
rose to 1,338 (1,199 ARVN, 139 US), the highest weekly
total since early June 1965. Viet Cong casualties were
roughly the same (1,397); however, the kill ratio con-
tinued to favor the government by approximately 3.2 to
1.
6. A statistical comparison of last week's guer-
rilla activity with that of the previous week follows:
Time
Anti-
Total
Period
Attacks
Terrorism
Sabotage
Propaganda
Aircraft
Incidents
16-23
Oct
9
444
99
51
208
811
23-30
Oct
14
446
105
43
174
782
3 November 1965
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Lei
CURRENT STATUS OF MAJOR TRANSPORTATION ROUTES AND THE COASTAL RAILROAD
Sections of operable railroad
Sections of closed road
Pleiku
Rt. 19 City
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X uan-L-ac
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49539 3/S
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7. Meanwhile, Viet Cong interdiction of South
Vietnam's major transportation routes and the coastal
railway continued unabated. As of 30 October, Na-
tionalltoute 1 was closed in.Quang Nam, Quang Ngai,
Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, and Binh Tuy Provinces; Route
9 was closed in Quang Tri Province; Route 14 was
closed in KontuM, Pleiku, Quang Due, Phuoc Long,
and Binh Long'Provinces; Route 7 was closed in Phu
Yen Province; Interprovincial Route 1 was closed
In Binh Long and Phuoc Long Provinces; and Inter-
provincial Route 10 was closed in Hau Nghia Prov-
ince. The coastal railroad was operational from
Saigon to Xuan Loc (Long Khanh Province); from Song
Luy (Binh Thuan Province) to Ninh Hoa (Khanh Hoa
Province); from the mountain resort of Dalat (Tuyen
Due Province) to Phan Rang (Ninh Thuan Province);
and from Da Nang to Dong Ha (Quang Tri Province).
8. MACV has concluded that the 32nd PAVN Regi-
ment was involved in the siege at Plei Me, prindi-
pally in the ambush of the multibattalion ARVN re-
lief column on 23 October. In addition, the Viet
Cong force which repeatedly attacked ARVN units in
Phu Yen Province reportedly contained elements of
the 95th PAVN Regiment. A major repositioning of
Viet Cong units in the II Corps area has apparently
occurred. The 18th and 95th PAVN Regiments, which
have traditionally operated in the central highlands,
have now moved to the rice-producing coastal areas,
while the 101st PAVN Regiment has reportedly moved
south into the III Corps area.
9. ARVN casualties during the period 23-30
October totaled 1,199 (363 KIA, 773, WIA, and 63
MIA/captured), almost double the previous week's
total of 682 casualties (143 KIA, 474 WIA, and 65
MIA/captured). ARVN weapons losses tripled to 317
(13 crew-served) from the 107 weapons (one crew-
served) reported lost last week.
10. During 23-30 October, the Viet Cong sus-
tained 1,397 known casualties (1,264 KIA and 133
captured), a significant increase in comparison with
the previous week's tot 1 of 868 casualties (761 KIA
3 November 1965
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and 107 captured). Government forces captured 358
weapons (12 crew-served) in contrast to the 266 weap-
ons (16 crew-served) seized last week.
11. US battle casualties processed at the close
of the 23-30 October MACV reporting period totaled
139 ,(23 KIA, 114 WIA, and 2 MIA/captured), a slight
increase from the previous week's corrected casualty
total of 118 (13 KIA, 92 WIA, and 13 MIA/captured).
American nonbattle casualties numbered ten (nine
deaths and one injury); last week's corrected total
in this category was 30 (14 deaths and 16 injuries).
3 November 1965
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II. - POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -IL SOUTH VIETNAM
1. In observing that the Ky government ba. now
been in office slightly over four months, the US
Embassy comments that South Vietnam's political and
administrative fabricis still weak even though the
over-all situation--political and military--is, bet-
ter than in early 1965. On the debit side, complex
problems, particularly in the economic sphere, are
providing the government's political enemies a "safe"
weapon with which ,to browbeat the regime. This in
turn is producing internal strains in the cabinet,
where there are already other pressures for a further
ministerial reshuffle. There is also some grumbling
in the military establishment, adding smoke if not
substance to the recent rash of coup rumors. Unless
and until the government can generate some momentum
and successfully cope with its serious problems, these
strains and rumors tend to encourage Vietnamese to
look for quick change rather than slow progress as
a solution.
2.. On the more positive side, the embassy believes
that Ky and members of his government are well aware
of the enormity of their problems. Ky, at least
outwardly, shows no sign of slackening his determina-
tion, and appears responsive to the need to confront
and win over his critics, both by persuasion and by
action. The embassy feels that he has scored some
successes, and that he retains the healthyrespect of
his rivals. Essentially, however, the embassy believes
that unity among the top ten generals on the military
Directorate remains the key to governmental stability,
a fact of which Ky seems well aware.
3. The US Mission reported on 2 November that
retail prices of locally- produced 'good continued to
rise last week, increasing by three percent over the
previous week. the price of rice, however, showed
some decline, with additional prospect of imports and
deliveries, even though government stocks have de-
clined. Gold and dollar prices of the -piaster.,,
after declining last week, rose again with the dollar
selling at 166 piasters and the rate, in Hongkong at
an apparent all-time high.
3 November 1965
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