MOON PHASES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01720R000700040042-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 19, 2004
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: January 31, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Approved Fo 'Release 2004/10/28: CIA-RDP80R017QQR000700040042-1
31 January 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: Moon Phases
1. You might find the attached of some interest and value. It is a
handy gamesmanship device for possible use downtown but also has more
serious uses since much enemy action in Indochina is indeed keyed to the
moon phase (to inhibit night-time aerial observation or interdiction).
2. From the moon data, the North Vietnamese surge we are
anticipating would seem most likely to come somewhere between 9 and 17
February, with the 12-14 dates the optimum ones within that range. If I
were calling the shots, I would key on the night of 11 /12 February since
that would give me about nine days of relative moon darkness to count on
in getting my offensive rolling.. The first night of Tet (14/15) might offer
itself for consideration on other grounds, but since Hanoi cannot count on
that kind of surprise again, there would not be much point in wasting three
good nights after the 11th.
25X1
Ge ge A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
Approved For- Release 1fent I- CIA-RDP80R0l720R000700040042-1